Flute Making may be offered as a standard artist in residency school program or a private group (out of school) class. Under Hawk’s tutelage, the students will learn the cultural and historical background of the Native American flute. They will make a Native American style flute from river cane, mathematically calculating and mapping out the placement of the holes for their flute, burning the holes, and fashioning the rest of the instrument. They will decorate the instrument to their own personal satisfaction using prescribed techniques known to have been used on flutes several hundred years ago. They will also learn a traditional song and to create music playing their flutes. During this residency Hawk will display his collection of primitive flutes, horns, and wind instruments collected from various cultures all over the world. There is no additional fee for this traveling exhibit.
Residency Details: Best for 5th grade and up. Five (5) instructional hours are required for students to successfully craft, decorate, and learn to play the flute. With smaller groups, flutes can be completed in four (4) instructional hours. Students will craft, decorate, and learn to play their flutes. The fees for this class will vary, dependant upon the number of participants, the number of classes per day, travel expenses, and materials cost. Please Contact Hawk for any questions or for a price estimate.
Included in each rivercane Flute Making residency, Hawk will offer ONE FREE ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE for all of the participating students. This assembly will allow the students to hear the Cherokee legend of the First Flute; listen to some flute playing; and learn some cultural information about flutes and their valued place in traditional Native American society. This assembly also offers an excellent opportunity to emphasize the goals and safety aspects of the residency.
The goals of this residency are:
• Using the activity of creating flutes to teach cooperative skills, patience, and an appreciation of the values and mores of indigenous peoples.
• Allowing students to have fun while experiencing an art form that has ancient roots in the culture of the Southeastern Native American tribes.
• Reinforcing the curriculum by stressing the: * botanical elements of the activity (the rivercane itself). * the history and social studies elements (i.e. who are the people who traditionally make these flutes and how and why do they make and play them). * the language arts elements (i.e. storytelling and its relationship to music and the arts in general). * the mathematical element (calculating the placement for the finger holes). * the musical elements (hearing and learning to play a different type of musical form).
CLICK HERE to watch a short video of students making a flute
CLICK HERE for more information about Rivercane Flutes
“Thanks for helping us make the flutes - I have never made anything that looked and sounded so beautiful. I cannot wait to teach my little sister how to make one!” - Karson, 5th grade student
“I wanted to thank you for providing our son and his classmates with such a wonderful experience. He has always been interested in wood working and making a flute has been especially fun for him. I’m sure it will be one of his favorite memories form his years at Porter Gaud!” Becky, Parent of 5th grade student
“I love, love, love my flute sooooo much. Thanks for helping us be so creative.” Sonja, Elementary School Student
“My daughter recently made a flute with you and cannot stop playing it. It is amazing how quickly she is starting to master the songs. I would like to order one for myself so that she and I can play them together.” Mother of Flute Making Student
“Thank you for coming to Sewee Center to bring the wonderful gift that you have for flute making. The students were absolutely fascinated by your skill with the rivercane and your beautiful, Native American flute playing.” - Rebecca Ashley, Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center
Storytelling
Two distinct types of storytelling programs are available: Stories & Music from the Dawn of Time and Stories for Life.
Both programs are available as artist-in-residency programs, in-school field trips, or private group (out of school) classes.
Stories & Music from the Dawn of Time
Hawk shares stories and music with individual classes or small groups, demonstrating a variety of storytelling techniques to the students. Highly educational, inspiring, and fun! This program dynamically bring the wonders and wisdom of ancient cultures to life. Audience participation is an integral part of each show. The stories and songs Hawk shares, offer a fresh perspective of how indigenous people came to value and respect the unique diversity of each other and the natural world around them. Also Available: Book signing opportunities with Hawk Hurst: The Story of the First Flute.
Many of his programs incorporate unique musical instruments from around the world, such as the rivercane flute, turtle-shell rattles, and beaver skin drums of North America; the gourd udu, djembe, and talking drums of West Africa; and the bullroarer of Australia. Storytelling may include: traditional legends and first hand accounts from his time spent with the First Nations people of the Cherokee, Makah, Navajo, Yoruba, and Zulu tribes; teaching stories about the origins of musical instruments, fire, and the world; personal tales from his childhood spent on a family-owned ranch in Kansas.
Stories & Music from the Dawn of Time - Residency Details
Best for Kindergarten up to Adult. This program may be offered at Schools, Libraries, Camps, and Retreats. Stories are selected with age group and class size considerations. Instructional hours can range from One (1) to Five (5). The fees for this program will vary, dependant upon the number of participants, the number of classes per day, and travel expenses. Please Contact Hawk for any questions or for a price estimate.
The goals of this residency are:
Through the art of storytelling, students will learn:
* the interactive value of the storytelling experience.
* the significance of oral traditions.
* the importance of character development in the creation of a story.
* the connection between storytelling and all other art forms.
Stories For Life
Stories for Life: a storytelling residency, wherein Hawk teaches the students how to become storytellers. An approved, Stories for Life instructor, all of Hawk’s stories emphasize positive character development and the importance of finding our own creativity. Stories for Life is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to teaching children the art of storytelling. The flagship program, “Owning Their Words”, is a language arts curriculum that enables children to develop their oral and written skills through storytelling. Developed in conjunction with South Carolina State Education Standards, “Owning Their Words” is a powerful teaching tool that fosters an appreciation for the oral tradition, while at the same time, profoundly enhancing student’s ability to become more effective communicators. Students progress from group storytelling to a final performance in which each child shares his or her own storytelling skills. Book signing opportunities with Hawk Hurst: The Story of the First Flute.
CLICK HERE to Learn More about Stories for Life and ‘Owning Their Words’
Stories for Life Residency Details: Best for 4th through 6th Grade. Five (5) instructional hours are required for students to successfully begin crafting, sharing, and writing their own stories. The fees for this class will vary, dependant upon the number of participants, the number of classes per day, and travel expenses. Their is no additional fee for the curriculum, and at the end of the residency the school will own the rights to continue using “Owning Their Words”. Please Contact Hawk for any questions or for a price estimate.
Included in each Stories for Life residency, Hawk will offer ONE FREE ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE for all of the participating students. This assembly will allow the students to watch and learn from a professional storyteller. The stories shared during the performance will be relied upon to demonstrate story structure.
The goals of this residency are:
Through guided discussions, exercises, and games, students will learn: * the interactive value of the storytelling experience. * the significance of oral traditions. * the importance of character development in the creation of a story. * the technical aspects of storytelling. * how to transition from oral storytelling to a written composition.
“I LOVED learning to tell stories. I never knew it could be so easy and fun.” - Kimberly, 5th grade student
“As a teacher, I believe that learning takes place best if lessons are complimented with stories. Hawks stories go a step beyond entertaining - they have encouraged the children I teach to become storytellers, to create their own stories, and to explore the cultures from which his stories originated. As an educator, I could ask for no more!” - Jon, Teacher, Boone, North Carolina
“Telling stories is so awesome. I can’t wait to show my family what I have learned.” - Kwamee, 5th grade student
“I was reading folktales with my students about Native American traditions when my students began to tell the story that Hawk shared about the turtle and to sing some of the songs. It was so great to hear them retell the story.” - Joyce, Media Specialist, Charleston, SC
“As president of several storytelling and community organizations, I have worked with Hawk on numerous occasions. He presents an accomplished, polished performance, incorporating music in with his stories, and always leaving the audience wanting more!” - Dianne Hackworth, Professional Storyteller, Tennessee
Gourd Musical Instrument Making and Gourd Crafts
Instructor, Hawk Hurst has been sharing his joy of gourd crafts for nearly two decades. This class will provide each student with a chance to create a unique musical instrument or gourd craft. During the program, under Hawk’s tutelage, the students will learn the historical and cultural uses of gourds by people across the world. Students will also become familiar with botanical information. Students will clean off their gourds and then open them up using a tool called an awl. Next they will clean out the seeds and proceed to create their Udu drum, maraca, Storygourd, or gourd craft. To learn more about Gourd UDU Drums and Storygourds and see some pictures CLICK HERE.
Participants will have an opportunity to decorate their gourds with stone pigments, relying upon ancient artistic techniques developed and refined by early, Native American inhabitants of this region. The differences between petroglyphs and pictographs will be examined and students will have several of books to look through with these types of designs. Upon completion, they will be provided group and individual instruction on how to play some traditional West African and Native American songs with their maracas or drums.
During the Udu Drum or Maraca making programs, Hawk often sets up his EARTH Band Traveling Museum - a large collection of rattles, shakers, maracas, and bells from around the world. Students who finish early are encouraged to explore these items with their eyes, hands, and minds. Questions posed: What are they made from? Where did they come from? How many are made using gourds?
Gourd Residency Details: This program can be offered at schools, libraries, camps, churches, retreats, and private parties. Please see below for the number of hours required for students to successfully clean, craft, decorate, and learn to play their maracas and drums. The fees for this class will vary, dependant upon the number of participants, the number of classes per day, travel expenses, and materials cost. Please Contact Hawk for any questions or for a price estimate.
The goals of this residency are:
• Using the activity of creating musical instruments and crafts from gourds:
* to teach cooperative skills, safety.
* to share an appreciation of the values and mores of indigenous peoples.
* to have fun while experiencing an art form that is found in many different cultures.
• Reinforcing the curriculum of the young people by stressing the:
* botanical elements of the activity (i.e. what is a gourd? Pollination and life cycles).
* the history and social studies elements (who are the people who traditionally made these crafts and how and why do they make and play them).
* the language arts elements (storytelling and its relationship to musical storytelling).
* the musical elements (hearing and learning to play a different type of musical form).
Want more information about gourds? Download a free article by Steve Watts by CLICKING HERE.
“The genuine interest Hawk shows in the success of each student is remarkable. His answers to questions are thought provoking and open ended. I strongly recommend Hawk to anyone wishing to work with a gentle, wise, and professional cultural arts educator.” - Shelton Wilder, Art Teacher, Watauga High School, Boone, NC
“I was so happy for you to teach us how to make a maraca out of a gourd. You are very funny but we learn lots of stuff. I wish you stayed at our school always.”- Jaylyn, 2nd grade student
“The week long activities were a direct reinforcement of what we were discussing and doing in our class. The students had an excellent experience of being able to make and play their own musical instruments in a most traditional way.” - Scott Turnmyre, Music Teacher, Ashe Central High School, Jefferson, NC
“I love my gourd drum. My parents like it because it is not too loud and I’m not doing video games whenever I play it. I think I want to grow up to be a musician.” - Jeremy, student
News Articles about Hawk’s Programs
Click on the links below to read some news articles about Hawk’s Programs:
