ARTIST RESIDENCY: MUSIC

Tom and Chris Kastle
Folk Music & Songwriting

c/o Sextant Music, Ltd.
PO Box 56474
Chicago, IL 60656-0474
773/774-7216
kastle@enteract.com
http://www.schoonerman.com/sextant.htm

Tom and Chris Kastle offer several interactive musical programs, many based in folk tradition, for a wide range of age groups. Their knowledge, life experience, and good humor have helped to inspire creativity and positive self-esteem for more than 20 years through performances, workshops, and residencies. During a Kastle residency, students are afforded a special opportunity to write and perform their own original ballads and work songs while recognizing that they are part of an ongoing cultural process. On occasion, simple puppetry, instrument building, and scrimshaw may also be incorporated into a residency.

The Kastle's particular area of expertise is maritime traditions, although they have done residencies focusing on a wide range of topics including local history, ecology, and creatures of the sea. They are interested in the many ways that our waterways have shaped culture, and have both crewed professionally on traditionally rigged vessels since 1985. Tom is a licensed captain for vessels up to 100 tons. Their professional sailing experience and graduate degrees in environmental planning have also helped them to develop and participate in a number of shipboard educational programs.

As artists-in-residence, they can act as catalysts for students to synthesize their own creative works based upon the foundation their teachers have already laid. As seasoned, professional touring artists, they can share their experience with students while demonstrating that the arts can be a viable career.

Suitable for grades K-12

Education/Experience: Both Tom and Chris Kastle have BA degrees from the University of Illinois and Master's degrees in Human Ecology from Governor's State University; full-time performers for more than 20 years; many educational residencies and workshops.

Availability: Year-round.

Education Resource Artist The Kastles involve teachers in all aspects of planning to utilize the artists' extensive experience as maritime folk musicians and scholars of cultural traditions in planning interaction with current areas of curricular study.

Resource to subject areas: Music, Arts, Creative Writing, Ecology, History, Language Arts.

Preferred for grades 5-8

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