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Banjos in the Museum: Music and Public History

Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:32 PM

Brad Kolodner (L) and Greg C Adams (R) warm up while Ken Kolodner (rear) gets ready to join in on the hammer dulcimer. (Photo by GT Johnston)

In a workshop sponsored by the Stevenson University Public History Program, participants were challenged to see how live music performances can improve the educational program of their public history venue. Long used as entertainment and to support fundraising events at museums, parks, and historical societies, attendees learned that live performances can be a great way to promote dialogue and to frame presentations of history. All of this took place at the annual meeting of the National Council for Public History being held in Baltimore this week.

Although the workshop was conceptualized by the Stevenson PHIST Program, it was delivered by three musicians playing at various times banjos, fiddles, bones, and hammer dulcimer. Ken and Brad Kolodner, a popular father-son duo throughout the region, played old time music and were joined by Greg C. Adams of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage on the banjo. Playing to a standing room only house, the three musicians were clearly at ease as they spoke about the history of their instruments, the music they play, and the times that created both of them. Greg Adams spoke of the history of the banjo and minstrelcy as well as their connections to issues of race and gender.

As the workshop progressed, it became clear that it had achieved-- and surpassed-- the objectives of almost everyone in the room. As the music filled the room most folks found themselves tapping their feet, humming along, or capturing the performance on their phone or iPad. If there had been just a little more room folks would have been on their feet dancing.

Keywords: career, experiential learning, history

Posted by: Glenn Johnston

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