Thad Beach is an entertainer, musician, teaching artist and songwriter. He enjoys giving energetic performances, sharing his humorous songs and historical ballads, demonstrating how to play a variety of instruments, and conducting music and songwriting workshops. Thad plays ukulele, harmonica, guitar, washboard, bucket bass, jaw harp, limber jack and homemade folk instruments. He is inspired by musical styles ranging from traditional, folk, mountain ballads, old-time and country blues to Tin Pan Alley. Thad performs for community events and celebrations, library summer reading programs, museums, historical societies, cultural and educational venues, fairs and festivals. Thad’s programming appeals to a wide range of audiences. Thad’s career and involvement as a teaching artist has focused on music and songwriting. He presents over 400 curriculum-related programs a year to individual classrooms for preschool through high school. He has also conducted over 300 week-long songwriting residencies throughout the Midwest and southeastern U.S. During these residencies he has helped students and teachers explore their local history, heritage and culture and taught the basics of writing and other language elements that are necessary for lyric writing. His interdisciplinary programs have yielded songs about many different subjects, as well as related artwork, video documentation, publications, performances and audio/video recordings.

Thad’s concert performances are a blend of his original songs, stories and traditional tunes seasoned with humor and lots of audience participation. He features a variety of instruments: ukulele, harmonica, guitar, washboard, bucket bass, jaw harp, limber jacks and homemade folk instruments. Kansas Heritage Concerts (The Sunflower State, Famous Kansans, Dust Bowl Survivors, Rails and Trails) Music and Songwriting Residencies and Workshop Thad’s Band in a Bucket Instrument Making and Playing Workshops School Assemblies and Classroom Presentations Library Performances and Workshops, including themed Summer Library Programs After School Programming Summer Camp Programming Many Program Choices Available

Performances and Workshops rates depend on length, type of program, and number of performances requested, plus travel and workshop materials if applicable.
Multiple performances and block booking rates are available. $350 to $750 Residency (5-day School-Based Community)

– begins at $3000 (some factors to consider are the number of sessions, locations, community outreach) Additional Fees: Travel, lodging and residency materials Short Term Residencies. Fees are per day plus travel – $750 Additional programming options – $150 to $500

Performances, exploratory workshops, artist talks for museums, historical societies, libraries, senior living residences, special populations, parks and recreation programs, summer camp and after school programs, preschools, and local performance venues. Community residencies can feature research-based collection of stories from local sources about a topic or event related to local history, heritage and culture. Thad can also customize programs and activities based on special community initiatives and themes.

Educational Activities and Arts Integration programs range from single classroom workshops, grade level performances to larger group assemblies and week-long or extended artist residencies. As a teaching artist, using the power of music and song in a residency setting gives students the opportunity to be guided on a journey through the creative process.

• カンザス歴史遺産コンサート
• 学校での集会と授業でのプレゼンテーション
• 音楽と作詞作曲のレジデンスとワークショップ
• アフタースクール・プログラム
• クリエイティブ・ライティング・ワークショップ
• 科学と自然のコンサートとワークショップ
• 言語と読み書きのコンサートとワークショップ
• 楽器を作って演奏するワークショップ
• ダストボウルワークショップ
• Meet the Songwriter Sessions Songwriting

Residencies explore foundational skills in songwriting, playing homemade instruments, and learning to work together using words and music to tell a story. A song is created about a topic of local history, heritage or culture. After researching, interviewing, and experiencing the creative process the program wraps up with a performance/skit with visuals and props as students sing, play instruments and celebrate their creation.

Post Cards from the Dustbowl, a 5-day interdisciplinary residency has students explore life in the 1930s, the Great Depression, agricultural practices and environmental conditions. Thad performs original songs about the dust bowl and uses keynote images to help students build a foundation of knowledge for a series of sketching and writing exercises that lead to a final project.