Program Description: Ann Caldwell is a vocalist and performing artist. A native of Denmark, SC, Ann brings with her the spirits of her ancestors who lived on oak lined dirt roads, and used music as a way to commune with each other. Ann was a student of the late June Bonner, former Metropolitan Opera singer.  Additionally, she is a gifted song writer.

Through music, students learn to dissect vocabulary words for the emotions and meanings they portray. Ann Caldwell uses her guitar and songs to introduce students to meaningful writing and expression. Ann performs music from several historical times and genres: Jazz, Spirituals, Pop Standards, Folk and Rhythm & Blues.

Sample Experience: 

Captivate student interest in history through music and song! Ann teaches students about the enslaved Africans before, during and after the Civil War. Songs and music of the times teach children how the slaves communicated with one another about their ordeals.

Day 1: The capturing of Africans; Door of No Return; Middle Passage; Students will sing songs of time while Ann Caldwell plays the African drum

Day 2: Rhythm and spirituals taught and relevance of how these were used to help the slaves in the fields set the pace of work

Day 3: Mock sermon with a fun song demonstrates to the students how to create meaning and mood of songs

Day 4: The importance of coded messages in songs such as the Underground Railroad and Big Dipper

Day 5: Spirituals from the the Civil War and how they were used during the Civil Rights Movement