SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. – For the third year, the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center (SHAMc) will host the Safety Harbor Song Fest on April 2-3, 2016 and are scheduled to bring in Joe Craven, a musician and educator, to put on a local music playshop.
The only thing stopping them from bringing this program to Seminole Elementary, is funding. A GoFundMe page has been launched to allow people to make donations online to help pay for Craven’s music improvisation playshop.
Any additional funds raised will go toward future programs at SHAMc and to Instruments of Change, a non-profit that provides mentorship and access to instruments to economically disadvantaged music students in elementary and middle school.
In addition to funding the construction of the center, the non-profit’s goals include providing art and music outreach programs to the Tampa Bay region. Sometimes those goals exceed the group’s budget.
“We recently met with Glen from Instruments of Change and spoke to him about looking for ways we could work together,” said festival organizer, Todd Ramquist.
They found a great opportunity to partner with Instruments of Change by bringing Joe Craven to one of their music classes at Seminole Elementary to teach the kids about music improvisation.
“You don’t work music, you play it,” explains Joe Craven, music educator and musician. Hence the name he gives to his sessions, playshops.
At Seminole Elementary the playshop will focus on how to improvise with music. Learning music is traditionally taught by repetition and stresses accuracy. Craven helps students become more open to the spur of the moment. “Instead of preparing for outcomes, let’s learn how to spend time preparing for what may come,” is Joe’s motto.
“We really wanted to broaden SongFest’s impact on the community. By providing an opportunity like this to a group of kids who would never have the chance to experience it otherwise, we feel like we are fulfilling a big part of our mission,” added festival organizer Kiaralinda (no last name).
This year, SongFest’s confirmed lineup includes national recording artists Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Otis Taylor, Shawn Mullins, Love & Theft, Ben Sollee, Matt the Electrician, Daphne Willis, Chris Gelbuda, Joe Craven, Billy Strings, SHEL, Anne Harris, The Vespers, The Shook Twins, HONEYHONEY, Dan Rodriguez, David Jacobs-Strain, Tall Heights, The Mastersons, and more musicians to be announced that pull from a wide range of influences, including blues, bluegrass, country, jazz, pop, world beat and more.
Donations are being accepted at www.gofundme.com/hyp43yj8.
Performances will be enjoyed at two stage areas on both days, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Musicians will also perform at local venues in downtown Safety Harbor throughout the weekend. Tickets can be purchased directly from www.safetyharborsongfest.com.
Event sponsorships are still available and will directly go towards funding the festival. For more information on Safety Harbor SongFest and Safety Harbor Art and Music Center please visit www.safetyharborartandmusiccenter.com.
About Safety Harbor Music and Art Center and Safety Harbor Song Fest
SHAMc is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote education in the fine art, visual arts, and performing arts. Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda (no last name) wanted to create a community arts center for many years. SHAMc is currently under construction in downtown Safety Harbor and is quickly becoming a landmark. Founders Ramquist and Kiaralinda are both local artists who are globally renowned for their art house, Whimzeyland.
