Stoneridge in Piedmont and Sacred Heart in El Reno

I got through my morning show at Stoneridge in pretty good shape. By the afternoon, my voice actually felt a bit stronger. Let's hope that trend continues!

At Sacred Heart I performed for Pre-K through 6th grade. First to enter the room was a group of three-year-olds, and they were each carrying a paddle-shaped fan with my face on it and the words "Monty Harper Fan Club" on the back! I was flabbergasted, to say the least. They had been listening to my Jungle Junk cd, and were clamoring to hear "The Kid Who Ate a Bug."

Well, that song is not normally part of my "Oklahoma CenTUNEial" program, not to mention that the Oklahoma program isn't really designed for three year olds, so I wasn't sure how this would all pan out. But I was amazed at how sweet and well behaved those little ones were through the whole program, so naturally I tagged "The Kid Who Ate a Bug" to the end for them - how could I not?

Tomorrow, Northwood in Seminole, then Saturday it's "Breakfast With Santa" in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Ironically, after all the effort I've put into celebrating Oklahoma's centennial, which is tomorrow, I'll be spending that evening in a hotel room in Arkansas! Life is weird sometimes.

I won't get to post again until Saturday at the earliest, so I'll say it now:

Happy 100th, Oklahoma!!

Chisholm Elementary in Edmond

I did two shows today in Chisholm Elementary with my croaky voice. The kids didn't seem to mind that. Both groups were great participators and seemed to enjoy the show. The painting I'm posing in front of is just one of a dozen or so that cover the cafeteria walls. Very cool!

Three days to go...

Millwood and Cordell

I wish I could've been running a video camera from onstage during "The Wind Energy Song" at Cordell Elementary today! The kids did such a great job - it looked really cool. I did the next best thing and took a photo of the audience from the stage after the show. I also stopped at Thomas on the way home and took some photos of the wind farm that stretches along Highway 40 right there. So you can combine the two photos in your imagination!

Oh, man, I have nightmares like the way today started out, where I have a show about to start while one thing after another keeps me from getting there to set up. Meanwhile the audience is arriving...

I'll give you the quick version: I got lost on the way to the school, got lost in the wrong building, got lost in the right building, and got lost looking for the auditorium. By the time I carted my sound system into the room to set up it was five minutes to showtime and the Pre-K were already seated.

But my contact person at Millwood was great and we got it all sorted out.

Then there was the run in with the police (wrong way on a one way street) and the misbehaving sound system at Cordell, plus my voice nearly giving out. But as you already saw, that one turned out well in the end.

I don't think I've ever had such a string of bad luck on one day! Wish me good luck for the next four!

Pretty Prairie

I spent the night in Wichita last night, so I could drive to Pretty Prairie, KS in the morning for a "Reading Celebration" program. Then I spent the day at Pretty Prairie meeting with smaller groups for Q&A and a bit of songwriting.

Thanks to librarian DeAnna Goering for taking these photos of me with the kids, and also for the cool illustration of my "Take Me to Your Library" song, which she hung in the hallway in preparation for my visit. All last week, apparently, kids were trying to figure out the meaning of the alien's speech balloon. When they finally heard me sing "Akbo ekto... " etc., it clicked - "Hey, that's what the alien in the hallway is saying!" Pretty cool!

Wish me luck - I have five more days in a row of performing this week, and my voice is already starting to give out, due to drainage down the back of my throat. Yuck!

Geary, Oklahoma, Geary, Oklahoma, Geary Oklahoma

I had a fun time in Geary, OK today. I performed for PreK-4th, then after lunch I met with three small groups to talk about songwriting and share some extra songs. The 3rd and 4th grade group seemed especially interested and we got into all sorts of details about the mechanics of creating melody.

Tomorrow Duncan, and twelve shows next week!

P.S. Here's a photo of "Annie," a puppet named after the pony in Evalyn and my song, "Oklahoma Annie"!

Lisa and I Visit Evalyn's Class + A Buffalo at Sooner Elementary

Yesterday Lisa and I visited Evalyn's first grade class at Richmond. Lisa usually goes in on Tuesdays to read to the kids. Here's a rare photo I took of her in action!

I came along with Lisa yesterday to rehearse "Oklahoma Annie." Evalyn and I were asked to lead the class in a performance of our song for the opening assembly coming up Monday the 19th.

Today I performed my Oklahoma program for two enthusiastic groups at Sooner Elementary in Moore, OK. Here I am, posing with the buffalo that greets visitors in the front foyer.

Tomorrow I'm in Geary, then Duncan on Friday; next week, six days in a row of programs! The centennial is the 16th. After that I get a break from performing for a while, and I plan to do some writing and recording, plus catching up on all kinds of things...

TPAC Library Programs

I had two more shows based around the book Tomas and the Library Lady in Tulsa libraries today. For the first program, at the Nathan Hale branch, there were six kids and two adults in the audience. I did a new song inspired by the book, "Reading Lifts Me Up." I improvised the verses based on input from the audience. It's nice with such a small group because each kid got to help make up their own verse, and that was a lot of fun.

At South Broken Arrow, I had no audience! The librarians couldn't leave the checkout desk, so I brought my guitar and concertina out into the main library and sang a few songs for them.

It's really too bad these shows weren't more well attended, because the concept is really cool. About four times a year the Tulsa Performing Arts center brings in a play based on children's literature. They call it the "Imagination Series." Some titles they've done include Pippi Longstocking, Little House on the Prairie, and Junie B. Jones. Coming up are Madeline and the Bad Hat, and Miss Nelson Has a Field Day, plus of course Tomas and the Library Lady, on the 9th of this month.

In conjunction with each of these plays, the TPAC Trust and the Tulsa Library Trust present a series of library programs based around the books, in which the performer reads from the book as part of the show. They also give away a free pair of tickets to see the corresponding play at the TPAC.

It's disappointing that this series isn't wildly popular. I'm afraid if they keep going unattended they'll disappear. Let's hope the library system keeps plugging them, and that they'll catch on!

Eufaula Elementary

Wow, this morning I got to be a rock star! The kids at Eufaula have been listening to my CDs. They recognized me in the hallway when I arrived and were excited to see me, giving high fives and even asking for autographs. This was the first time I did my Oklahoma program for a group who had learned the songs ahead of time. I absolutely loved hearing the kids sing right along! That's the kind of stuff that makes this a fun job!

The librarian, Robyn Burris, even wrote a new verse for my "Oklahoma Heroes at the Library" song! Here it is, but I'm not going to supply the answer - you'll know it anyway.

She was a small town girl attending NSU
When she left Oklahoma for her tv debut.
On American Idol she could not be beat,
Her songs have topped the country charts week after week.
Her family in Checotah always knew she was good.
Sing a song at the library with...

I learned a couple of new greetings for the "Howdy Song," as well...

In Afghanistan they say "sing-gay" and the word for friend is "jor-day."
Also, the Creek say "stungo."

Immanuel Christian Academy, Martin Regional Library

This morning's Oklahoma CenTUNEial Celebration program was at Immanuel Christian Academy in Broken Arrow. A student took these photos after the show. I was invited to stay for lunch, and enjoyed talking with the kids.



Then it was off to Martin Regional where I did another of the programs centered around the book Tomas and the Library Lady. As you can see they have a very colorful and cozy little story time room. It was fun singing in there.

I have a very early morning drive tomorrow to Eufaula! Then on Saturday, two more Tulsa Library shows. I hope to see you at one of them!

Halloween Madness

Evalyn was a butterfly for Halloween, as you can see!

I sang a few songs at her class party, after the costume parade and refreshments. It helps to have an "in" with the party planner, which was Lisa. If you'd like to hear my Halloween songs, click "Halloween Madness" in the list of podcast titles in the right-hand column of this page.

We had a fun time trick or treating with Evalyn. This was the first year she didn't feel timid about it, and we came home with a pumpkin-load of candy.

Today will be interesting. I have two shows to do in the Tulsa area. The first is an Oklahoma Centennial program at an elementary school, and the second is a reading program at a library. This may be the first time I've done two completely different shows in one day!

Prague Elementary

I had a fun day performing at Prague Elementary! The kids were fantastic. I can't believe what super audiences I had. Both the PreK - 1st grade group and the 2nd and 3rd grade group were enthusiastic participators and singers, yet at the same time they became quiet and attentive after each song without my having to say anything. That kind of cooperation always brings out my best performance, and I just really enjoyed singing for these kids today! It's great to have days like this that remind me why I do what I do!

Thanks to my wonderful host, Karen Taylor, for taking these photos!

Broken Arrow Library

Lisa and Evalyn came with me this evening for a 7:00 PM program at the Broken Arrow Library. It was an interesting show. The Tulsa library series I'm doing this week and next is to help publicize the bilingual theater production of "Tomás and the Library Lady" presented by the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust as part of the Imagination Series on Nov. 9. (For ticket information, call the PAC at 596-7911.) The play is based on a picture book called Tomás and the Library Lady by Pat Mora. So I chose songs to go with the book, and also read the book to the audience.

We had a very small group - mostly a single family (see the photo). But the kids were great and we had fun.

Tomorrow I get up early and drive to Prague, OK for two Oklahoma CenTUNEial shows at Prague elementary school.

The next Tulsa library show is Tuesday at 3:00 in Collinsville. I hope to see you there!

OSU Homecoming

OSU Homecoming was last weekend. Lisa and I took Evalyn and our neighbor to the walk-around Friday and to the parade Saturday morning.

As we were reminded constantly by the house decoration soundtracks, OSU's homecoming is the biggest in the country.

Evalyn and Janay had fun at the walk-around, but Lisa and I were alarmed by the unbelievable crowds. At one point we had to traverse a street that was jam packed with a sea of people. It took us ten minutes or so to walk one block. We had to carry the girls for fear of their getting trampled, and I accidentally stepped on a dog!

Later we got separated heading in to see one of the displays. By the time Evalyn and I made our way to the other end of the crowd, Lisa and Janay were nowhere to be seen. Thank goodness for cell phones!

Our favorite decoration was the Alice in Wonderland one. You can see in the photo above a giant Pistol Pete with his head, arms and feet sticking out of a campus building (Old Central?). This one also included fountains, which were flooding the nearby street corner!

Anyhow, the house decorations are fun, but I'm not at all sure they're worth the effort of dealing with those enormous crowds!

Tomorrow evening, I'll be performing at the library in Broken Arrow, at 7:00pm. More Tulsa area library shows are coming up over the following week as well. See you soon, I hope!

Eliot Elementary, Tulsa OK

I was up rather early, driving through the rain in the dark to an 8:00 AM program at Eliot Elementary School in Tulsa this morning. This was my third visit to Eliot, although it was their first time to see the "Oklahoma CenTUNEial" program. The kids were great (as always), and afterwards I got to meet and greet some students in the library for CD sales (see the photo).

More Tulsa shows are coming up at several library branches. The next is this Thursday at Broken Arrow at 7:00 PM. Check out my schedule for more dates, and I'll see you at the library!

Songbook, Bicentennial, and Broken G-String

Congratulate me - this is my 200th post to this blog! Man, I ramble prolifically.

Today I visited Evalyn's classroom and sang three and a half songs. The half because my last song was interrupted when one of my guitar strings broke. That's only the second time it's happened to me while performing, and the first in probably fifteen years! I'm just glad it wasn't during a show.

I've spent a lot of time over the past few days updating my online songbook. That's where I post the lyrics to all my songs. It isn't perfect yet, but it does list a lot more songs than it used to - I'm up to 107 songs now, organized by title, recording, and topic. Check it out!

St. Mary's in Edmond

I did my "Oklahoma CenTUNEial Celebration" program for St. Mary's Episcopal School in Edmond, OK this morning. The kids were wonderful! Thanks to Cathy Pugsley for this photo!

We watched the big centennial parade on TV yesterday. It's getting pretty exciting - only 32 days to go to November 16. Happy 100th birthday, Oklahoma!

New Schedule

Wow, when it rains it pours, and it's been raining gigs around here. I've spent much of this week settling details and sending out contracts for upcoming shows. (Is it Friday already?)

Here are some highlights of my upcoming schedule:

- Oklahoma CenTUNEial Celebration shows at schools in OKC, Tulsa, Prague, Broken Arrow, Eufaula, Moore, Geary, Duncan, Cordell, Edmond, Piedmont, El Reno, and Seminole.

- Reading Celebration shows in Tulsa (at five branch libraries) and in Pretty Prairy, KS.

- Breakfast With Santa at the Ft. Smith Convention Center in Ft. Smith, AR, Nov 17.

Get the details here: Monty's Schedule.

Podcast Announcement

This is just a quick announcement about my new podcast, which you already know about, being such a faithful reader! I'm posting it here so that iTunes subscribers will know how to find the new podcast. You can listen if you want (by clicking the title above), but I warn you that it's dreadfully dull.

Hilltown Family Variety Show

Meet Persephone. She is the Kindergarten co-host of a radio show in Northampton, MA, called "The Hilltown Family Variety Show." Persephone usually hosts the show with her mom, Sienna, but recently, I was privileged to sit in with her as the guest host!

We met up on Sunday September 30, after the Children's Music Network national conference. Lisa, Evalyn, and I got away from the conference a bit late, and then we managed to drive in a big circle on the New York turnpike before finally pointing ourselves out of Albany and towards Northampton.

So we rushed into the studio late to record. The original plan was to have Evalyn help out, but she was too tired to take any interest. And Persephone, having never had a chance to see me perform, wasn't quite sure who I was. On our first attempt she was pretty quiet and I was pretty frazzled. But as you'll hear, it didn't take long for us both to relax into it, and Sienna did a fantastic job editing the show.

Thank you to Sienna and Persephone for sharing your program with me and giving me a chance to play some of my favorite children's music! It was a lot of fun!

Listen to the show now at the Hilltown Families blog. Enjoy!

P.S. Visit the link above and leave a comment for a chance to win a Sugar Free All-Stars CD. Then leave a comment here for a chance to win an additional CD.

Electronic Playdate

We've been traveling! Lisa, Evalyn and I went to Albany, NY for the Children's Music Network national conference. We were gone most of two weeks and are just now getting back into the swing of things at home. I'll post lots of photos from the trip over the next week or so.

One of the best things about this trip was that we hooked up with our friend Mr. Billy and his kids, Taelor and Will. It was the first time our kids met, and Evalyn and Taelor became fast friends. They've been missing one another since we parted ways at the end of the conference last Sunday.

So yesterday we set up the computer for a video conference, and Evalyn and Taelor had an electronic playdate! They drew pictures of one another and played with their Littlest Pet Shop play sets, comparing and contrasting their pets via the video screen.

The top photo above shows Ev and Tae from our point of view; below that is a shot Mr. Billy took from his house. Mr. Billy and I marveled together about how their generation sees nothing remarkable in such wondrous modes of communication. The girls seemed to have a great time, playing together almost as if they were in the same room.