 “The
full house leapt to their feet in applause for the show. Shouts
of ‘ Bravo!,’ and ‘That was AWESOME!’ were heard
in the balcony and on the main floor. Even after the program was
over and when I was in the parking structure elevator, a mother stopped
me to say that she thought that this was the best program she
and her young daughter had ever heard. When a seven-year-old tells me a
program is awesome, I know it was enjoyable.”
--Mary Steffek Blaske
Executive Director
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
November 23, 2004 “Tales & Scales
is one of the most creative and original ensembles I have worked
with. Their
innovative style of storytelling almost literally brings the personalities
of the instruments alive. . . . The music is always engaging and designed
to allow emotions to speak in a free and conversational way. The
actors are truly remarkable for their ability to so completely integrate
the music-making with their brilliant acting. This is real virtuosity.”
--David Lockington
Music Director
Grand Rapids Symphony
“The
members of Tales & Scales have impeccable credentials in music,
theatre and dance, and they also have prestigious references. . . . It
concerned us that we might be asking too much of the Troupe and had overscheduled
them, but they assured us that this was the job they were coming for. Despite
the arduous schedule, they performed every service with equal
freshness, treating each audience as though it were their first. . . . Without the
least objection, they several times went beyond the contract to provide
something extra and special, like interacting with the audience after
the performance and performing at a party for VIPs. . . . Tales & Scales’ positive
attitude and smiles were so charming and contagious, it became apparent
to us that this was not simply part of their stage personae. For
the sheer delight of it, they ignite imagination wherever they go and
spread uncommon joy in the process. Yes, we want them back! They
were sensational. Once is not enough!”
--Margaret Van Every
T&S Residency Project Director
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
March 31, 2001
“Tales & Scales
. . . sets the conceptual stage for a work that can only be described
as a masterpiece of musical imagination in motion. . . . As an enthrallingly
visual and acoustic joy, this wonderful collaborative work seems to be
an ideal vehicle for conveying the vitality and relevance of contemporary
music today to young audiences and their families and thereby cultivating
a climate of receptivity to the cause of such music.”
--John de Clef Piñeiro
New Music Connoisseur
November 16, 2001
“Tales & Scales
has, without a doubt, one of the most imaginative, musically
creative, and professionally executed approaches to music education that
I have
ever encountered. The four enthusiastic young musicians in the group
combine considerable individual talent with engaging stage presence to
produce a show which is compelling, interesting for audience members
of all ages, and unique in its approach. Simply put, this is great music
education!”
-Keith Lockhart, Conductor
Boston Symphony Orchestra
January 12, 2000
“After
15 years of creating music to set scenes, dramatize narration and animate
action in its annual ‘music-telling’ performances, Tales & Scales
is using sound to explore silence.... Several hundred men, women
and children listened with rapt attention, raucous laughter, delighted squeals
and a few howls in the adaptation of William Stafford’s The Animal
That Drank Up Sound.”
-Roger McBain, Staff Writer
Evansville Courier & Press
September 13, 2000
“The
thing about a symphony orchestra concert is, there usually isn't
much running around. Instruments are rarely used as props, the musicians are
not traditionally dressed in Technicolor T-shirts and sneakers, and it
is not often they make their way out into the audience. That is, unless
the Tales & Scales ensemble is in town.”
-Amanda Savio, Staff Writer
Record-Journal, Meriden, CT
March 26, 2000
“I have
been bombarded with requests to bring Tales & Scales
back next year. Teachers at [the] middle school commented that the
Tales & Scales
artists knew exactly how to interact and inspire young people.”
Les Epstein, Executive Director, Children’s Theatre
of Winston-Salem
“As we all know, southern Illinois is a culturally depressed area.
Children in the younger grades have a thirst for musical and theatrical
presentations not generally available locally. It is wonderful that we
have a talented musical troupe which, ironically, is only 40 miles away.
Thanks Tales & Scales for your vision – and for sharing it with
so many of us.”
Jerry Bayne, Wabash Valley Arts Center, Mt. Carmel, IL
“The group sparked the imagination of students and adults alike.
I was amazed and never dreamed where you could “go” with instruments! The audience learned about the ‘world of music’ and what it
offers, and also the power you may receive in life or strive for may have
big responsibilities with it. The students learned a wonderful lesson on
life and probably weren’t aware they were learning!
Shari Carpenter, Rend Lake College, Ina, IL
“Tales & Scales makes art accessible to children – the
future artists. T&S allows art to be enjoyed by everyone. This is important
in a society where art is viewed as a sacred right to the social elite.
Everyone is able to enjoy Tales & Scales.
Mary Stagaman, Dir. of College Relations, Raymond Walters
College, Cincinnati
“The hands-on interaction was fabulous! The
kids will talk about this for a long time to come. You guys are great! Come back soon!
Miki Thompson, Stephen F. Austin Children’s Series,
Nacogdoches, TX
“ . . . most
incredible display of virtuosity I have ever seen!”
Stan DeJarnett, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Madison,
GA & musician
“Tales & Scales staff is both talented and extremely kind, warm
humans. As I watched the audience, I saw children actually squeal
with delight.”
Stephanie Holman, Monroe County Library, Ellettsville, IN
“This is the only real “family oriented” show we presented
this season and it therefore needed to be a good show, which it was. Very
good audience feedback. My 80-year-old mom enjoyed it as well as my 2 ½-year
old son!”
Sali Gill-Johnson, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
“Introduces musical instruments and musicianship to students in
a very positive way.”
Karen Farruggia, Education Manager, Kravis Center, West Palm
Beach, FL
“Superb
music education program (a rare treat for us) plus terrific
storytelling (our standard is high because we thrive on weekly storytelling
programs).”
Allison Day, Youth & Family Programs, Brooklyn Museum
of Art, Brooklyn, NY
“Tales & Scales seemed to capture and hold
the attention of the entire audience . . . particularly the younger children who are difficult
to keep interested. [They] made a conscious effort to include all in the
program.”
Andrea Garrison, Fine Arts Discovery Series, Stroudsburg,
PA
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“Surely
there is NO group in the US doing what Tales & Scales
is accomplishing: playing inventive music with incredible musicianship while
moving and dancing around the stage, explaining, and telling stories....all
at the same time. Any one of these facets would be a challenge for most
groups, but Tales & Scales manages to synthesize it all,
and the outcome is delightful, musical, informative, and incredible! I
would think in particular, music educators connected with Orff Schulwerk
would
be lining this group up quickly -- it is so what Orff Schulwerk is about.
Bravo, Tales & Scales! and long may you play and
tell.”
Judith
Thomas, Author/Consultant -- Scott Foresman,
“Making Music K-8 Series”, March, 2007
“I’ve
had very
positive comments from the teachers. I loved
. . . the message of the play – that it’s okay to be different.
I know you have stimulated their ideas about using their imaginations.”
Peggy Mastropaolo,
Art Teacher
Slate Run Elementary, New
Albany, IN
“The excellent ties of music expression to literature were easily
seen from our audience. I continue to be impressed by your creativity!
You were a highlight to our Fine Arts Week!
Anonymous teacher
Perry Hill Elementary, Ft. Wayne, IN
“The performance was one
of the best I have seen. The greatest
benefit is to see how this type of music helps to tell a story. It was
thrilling for me to see the students so engrossed with the performance.”
Judy Van Hoosier, Principal
Good Shepherd School, Evansville,
IN
“[The performance] correlates well with our curriculum. . . .
and with the music and drama standards for our CATS tests. Players
attitudes and characterizations were great!”
Joe Bruner, Principal
East Heights Elementary School,
Henderson, KY
“The children were able to see the musician/actors up close and
even touch the instruments. They also saw a creative means of expression,
a remarkable alternative to the play or concert alone. I think they
loved it. I know that many of them were considering whether they wanted to
play the clarinet, flute, trombone or drums after the performance.”
Sue Versenyei, Carrboro Elementary School
Carrboro, NC
“The students need to be exposed to the creative arts. Music
is a wonderful teaching tool. Students should learn how to use their imaginations.”
Anonymous teacher
St. Anthony (IN) Elementary School
“I observed [the students] were quiet and attentive. From our
class discussion after the performance, it was obvious they discovered
more ideas than they thought! I think it’s great exposure!”
Anonymous teacher
Manchester Elementary School, North
Manchester, IN
“Wonderful
integration with language arts and literature. The
combination of dance, drama, music and literature shows how adding the
integral art forms enhances learning and retention.”
Julie White
Owensboro Board of Education,
Owensboro, KY
“You make audiences see possibilities for endless creativity using
nothing but a few instruments and your incredible imaginations. You
are an inspiration and the adults look forward to your show as much as the
kids! Thanks!”
Diane Barron, Montessori Academy
Evansville, IN
“The performance was high-energy from start to finish. The actors
did a wonderful job of creating their characters with a minimum of costumes,
props, or scenery. Their use of the instruments to create the illusion
was amazing. The musicianship of the artists was outstanding. [The students]
reported that working with the Tales & Scales actors in the residency
program was great fun and educational.”
Susan Edge, Sixth Grade Teacher
Hanes Middle School, Winston Salem, NC
 Back
to the top
I am not magic. I
thought your show was magic. You pretended that the
sticks were swords. I liked the instruments. They made silly sounds.
Corey,
Sutton School, Owensboro, KY I loved the Arabian Nights. I loved it when the music would change if
Neil or Pat was in trouble! The music really helps me picture
things.
Brittany,
Guilderland, NY Elementary I like the part when the old lady was high up. I loved your play. It
was fantastic and you were great professionals. I liked all the music.
I have so so so much to tell you I can’t even fit it on this piece
of paper.
Marissa,
Glenwood Landing School, Glen Head, NY
I liked your show the best because I had never been to a symphony, and if you come back I will go to your next concert.
Arthur,
Mesilla Valley Christian School, Las Cruces, NM I want to thank
you for coming to our school. Jay your trombone was
loud. I like the name trombone. It sounds kind of slidey.
Ashley,
Sutton School, Owensboro, KY
My name is Jennifer. I’m eight years old. Before I used to
like music, but now I LOVE music and the Tales & Scales performances!!
Jennifer,
Guilderland, NY Elementary In the show Pandora’s Box, I like the part the girls were singing, “Pandora,
Pandora.” The music was so beautiful I almost fainted, but I love
the music.
Brittany,
Blaisdell Elementary, Bradford, PA
I really liked the part when Pandora
opened the box and they all fell down and got crazy. I really really liked
the part when Pandora acted
like Britney Spears and sang “You Drive My Crazy”. But
I really really really liked the part where the three headed dog shaked
their butts. Thank you so much.
Corey,
Lalumiere & Morris School, Glen Carbon, IL I enjoyed the show Jabberwocky. I thought it would be puppets. I’m
glad it wasn’t. We think you should do the show to other
schools.
I think my favorite part was when the kid met Mimsy because Mimsy sounds
wiggly and I like to wiggle a bunch.
Brenda,
Sutton School, Owensboro, KY
Your
performance was very good. The instruments were very shiny. I liked
when Medusa was on stilts. The guy on the trombone looked like my cousin.
Brent,
Bright School, Chattanooga, TN Thank you so much for that great presentation. I think that was the best
show I ever saw at the Kravis Center. That was really neat how you
made that instrument out of garbage.
Lauren,
Lighthouse Elementary, Jupiter, FL
I liked the part when you turned into
Medusa. You were tall! In the beginning you know how you played the flute?
You played a part from Peter
and the Wolfe. And I’m telling you a rare secret. I’m
in ballet and have danced to that kind of music.
Larissa,
Northeast Tacoma Elementary, Tacoma, WA I saw your show in Las Cruces at the Symphony and I liked it. You did
the show about the Magic Horn when I was there. It was neat how you could
play your instruments while you were jumping around. Thank you for doing
the show for us and coming to a small town like Las Cruces.
Adam,
Mesilla Valley Christian School, Las Cruces, NM
My name is Dan. Pat,
I saw you playing the clarinet and now I want to play it!! Deborah, I think
if I don’t play the clarinet I might
play the drums! Your evil laugh, Zadie, was very good. P.S. I was the
kid who yelled tell another story! at the end!
Daniel,
Guilderland, NY Elementary
That was an awesome show. I kept my eyes open the whole time. The saxophone
was cool. The piccolo was a high sound. The trombone was great. I hope
you can come back.
Julian,
Bright School, Chattanooga, TN
I love the stories you tell. So do all my friends. I thank you for your
grace and talent. We all miss you. My favorite part is when you made
that flying horse. You will always have a place at Sutton School.
Chaella,
Sutton School, Owensboro, KY
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to
see what the children are saying