General Interest:America’s
Musical Melting Pot
Did you know that jazz evolved from multi-cultural roots to become the grand-father of
American musical styles including rock, country, and rap? How and why did it happen here?
Bradley Sowash demonstrates early American musical influences from Europe, Africa,
Appalachian and Latin cultures on piano, Colonial fife and drum, African kalimbas, and
homemade instruments used by slaves and mountain peoples. The presentation concludes with
participants clapping authentic rhythmic accompaniments interactively. By hearing how
elements of these styles were forged into jazz, participants gain insight into the roots
of their music and appreciate what can happen when diverse peoples willingly share their
cultural backgrounds.
"I have never seen someone deal with the elements of Jazz in such an instantly
engaging and creative way." - Barry Oreck, Arts Giftedness Specialist, NYC
Are You An Artist?
Jazz pianist and composer Bradley Sowash will set us thinking about the artistic
process by exploring such questions as What is creativity? Do you have to be gifted to
call yourself an artist? What are qualities that make someone creative? Along the way he
will lead us through engaging creative activities we can tackle from our seats and
demonstrate his own creative work by performing selections from his critically-acclaimed
solo piano recordings.
Happiness, Creativity, and Gratitude
(Ideal for recognition events such as awards banquets)
An inspirational talk designed to simultaneously acknowledge the achievements of those
being honored and challenge them to go further. The three part presentation is aimed at
honorees, their mentors, and the general public. Includes integrated live piano
performance.
Contact 
Artist's Fees |
Media Credit: Eric Poole
Bradley Sowash speaking at Southern Utah Unviversity's Convocation in Cedar City, UT |
| For Churches: Where Two or More Are
Gathered
A Workshop in Alternative Worship Strategies (60 min.)
How would it feel to participate in an extravagantly creative worship experience? How
should original ideas mix with church tradition? What role should the arts play in worship
planning? Do alternative worship services enhance or alienate the church community? How do
they effect outreach? Come prepared to sing, play, and create as we try out new worship
ideas first-hand.
Sowash was definitely one of the highlights of the meeting. He is extremely
talented. - Church conference participant
How To Organize A Jazz Worship Service (45
min.)
Drawing on his participation in innumerable jazz worship services across the nation,
Sowash informally explains the rationale behind integrating America’s indigenous
music into worship. Detailed information will be offered including sample liturgies, hymn
suggestions, where to find musicians, using jazz for outreach and why concerns about
congregational misgivings are unfounded.
Go And Serve (45 min.)
"Go and serve the Lord" is often heard in benedictions following worship
services but where to begin? Sowash inspires us with his account of his own epiphany and
subsequent journey that led from honing his skills in night clubs to becoming
"one of this country’s experts on jazz ministry" - Ft. Wayne
Journal Gazette. Live piano excerpts entertain and emphasize the important points in
his commentary. Listeners are encouraged by his example to identify and use their unique
gifts to benefit others.
Contact
Artist's Fees |
Bradley Sowash lecturing at the Ohio Council of Churches
meeting in Columbus, OH |
| For Music Teachers Improvising
is for Everyone
Eye players read music. Ear players improvise. Today’s well-rounded students need
instruction in both. Learn to use the basic theory and music reading you already teach as
a foundation for students learning to improvise.
Learn Your Chords, Kid!
Tips from a jazz musician on making chords and scales more fun to practice and more
relevant to your students' repertoire.
The Blues
Want to include some jazz in your students' lessons? Learn how to play and teach this
essential American music form.
Just wanted to tell you that I've been teaching blues
to a few of my students! And they are loving it! Since they are already familiar with I,
IV and V chords, it's been easy to show them the 12- bar blues and then get them to noodle
around on the blues scale. Some of them are getting pretty good with it! Eventually, I'm
going to get everyone doing it. - Kathy (piano teacher)
Contact
Artist's Fees
More Music Education Options |
Taping the national TV music education series, The Piano
Guy, with host Scott Houston |
| For Artists, Teachers, and Art Organizations: The Spirit of Learning
Call it respect, awe, imagination, curiosity, myth… people and students are
motivated when their understanding of a given subject is presented intellectually,
emotionally, and spiritually. Sowash inspires educators to lead students beyond rote and
routine learning by illuminating the wonder behind the facts they teach.
Self-Marketing for Artists
Discover the secrets of self-marketing from an artist who has publicized, produced and
presented his work single-handedly for over 15 years. The presentation will set you
thinking about new ways to get the word out about your creative efforts and includes many
practical tips which can be put to use immediately.
Making Programming Decisions
Tips for presenters on identifying undiscovered but worthy artists to share with your
audiences.
Contact
Artist's Fees |
With Gamma Eta President Barbara Moran prior to speaking and performing for the
educational organization's annual luncheon. |
