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Nancy & John Bryan

CATEGORIES: Performing Arts, Music, Launguage Arts
CURRICULUM CATEGORIES: ELA, PBL
AGES: Grades K-12, All Ages, Seniors
PROGRAMS: Available Live
ALSO AVAILABLE: Customized Programming, Team/Goup Building

Nancy Bryan is a Grammy-nominated songwriter who has written for Walt Disney Records, including having written for such beloved characters as "The Little Mermaid" and "Winnie the Pooh". She has also been a featured vocalist-writer on various Disney CD's and Disney Channel productions such as "Winnie the Pooh: 90 Years of Friendship", "Mickey Mouse Travel Songs", and more. She and her husband John, professional musician and producer, are recording artists in their own right. They were signed by Acoustic Sounds, the largest audiophile record label in the world. Two CD/LP's were released worldwide and were distributed by Universal Records. One of the songs from these recordings was included on the CD/LP "The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals", released by Universal in 2018. Other artists appearing are vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Rickie Lee Jones, Diana Krall, Nina Simone and more. Another song, "Nobody's Buying", was included on a compilation recording with Miles Davis, Susan Tedeschi, and Isaac Hayes, and was released in 2022.

They are also teaching artists, and have performed and taught the art of songwriting in Los Angeles, the famed Orme School in Arizona, and in New York. They have written and recorded hundreds of songs with participants of all ages for schools, libraries, community centers and historical societies throughout the Finger Lakes. The Bryans have always made it their overriding goal to serve as a conduit in the creative process, leaving the sense of ownership completely with the participants.

Performances

"A Song for Disney"
Singer/songwriter Nancy Bryan, with accompaniment from John Bryan, professional guitarist and producer, sings songs she wrote for various Disney projects, including "The Little Mermaid" and "Winnie the Pooh." Children relate to these beloved Disney characters and learn from them. In "My Room in the Sea", Ariel sings of becoming a fuller person by reading and creating in her special place. In "Friendship Light," the Pooh characters express their affection for one another and their gratitude for the friendships they have.

Children will love singing along! During the class, Nancy and John will write a song with the children. Children will also see Nancy's Gold record which she earned for the "Winnie the Pooh" recording, "Take My Hand," which sold over 500,000 units. The Bryans can design a program to fit your kindergarten through second grade class needs!

(Grades K-2) - 45 minutes to 1 hour - Limit 40 per session.

Workshops

"Time to Shine"
Give your students the experience of writing and recording songs with a Grammy-nominated singer/ songwriter, and a professional musician and producer! Participants will feel like stars when they record their songs, singing with a full track of drums, piano, bass and guitar! Students will come to love the beauty of the English language by exploring their natural poetic abilities when creating their original lyrics together! Creating builds confidence, not only in their own creative voice, but in the voices of their co-creators as well. They will have a full taste of the recording process as they multi-track their vocals, and watch their creations evolve towards a professionally recorded song! It is an experience they will never forget!

Multiple sessions will involve writing and recording.. Day one will be devoted to writing; Day two wil be for recording. These sessions can be spread out over a two week time frame, and can involve several sessions each day. The Bryans will design a program schedule that will accommodate your school's needs.

The school will be given a master of the song on thumb drive, MP3, and CD. A recording of the complete instrumental track with no vocals will also be given so the song may be performed by these and future students. Teachers may pick a topic from their curriculum if desired.

(Grades 3-12) - 45 minutes to 1 hour - Limit 40 per session.

 

"All Together Now"
Community members of all ages, from 7 to 97, come together at your library or community center to write and record an original song. This series of workshops concludes with a performance for peers and family. Led by Nancy and John Bryan, participants wil learn about song structure and brainstorm on chosen topics. They will learn about blending and have a birds' eye view of recording as their vocals are multi-tracked until the sound is full and powerful. This workshop breaks down the barriers of age as people develop trust and respect, finding they can learn from one another, no matter their differences. It is a fun process, and the audience is always inspired by the unity they see as the group performs their song. The Bryans can design a program that will fit your organization's needs!

(Grades K-12, All Ages, Seniors) - 90 minutes - Limit 40 per session.

“Nancy Bryan is an extremely talented singer/songwriter. I’ve continued to use her writing skills through the nine years that I’ve been A&R Director at Walt Disney Records. She has made a significant contribution to our record projects. As a performer and workshop leader, there is no one that is more inspired or inspiring than Nancy Bryan. Not only will students learn a lot, but they will also feel that they have been communicated with in a very personal and special way”.
Harold Kleiner, Director A&R, Walt Disney Records

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