Please let us know if you have an online class, zoom training, teacher professional development workshop, or group of students you'd like for us to work with! So far, we've been able to adapt all of our offerings to the online world. Read more about our programs below, and contact us today to discuss your options!

educational performances

Zoe Speaks has been delighting audiences of all ages for over 20 years with performances and workshops that include traditional and original songs, mountain tales, and clogging, from the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky where they grew up. Zoe Speaks can come to your school or organization and do a performance, a day of workshops, or a combination of the two! IN RESPONSE TO COVID, WE ARE ALSO OFFERING ALL WORKSHOPS VIRTUALLY AT THIS TIME! Contact us to set up a custom program for your group. We also offer teacher PD sessions.

Email us at zoespeaksmusic@gmail.com

Or visit our contact page HERE

Appalachian Heritage Variety Show

K-5

This is Mitch and Carla's signature K-5 show filled with Jack tales, participation stories, sing-alongs, clogging, tunes on banjo, dulcimer, and guitar and a lot of information about traditions in the mountains. This is great for schools that wish to expose children to many art forms in one performance. This is a very fast-paced, participatory show and can hold the attention of all ages. 
Length: 45-55 minutes.

Faces of Appalachia

Grades 8-12

In this trio performance, Mitch and Carla are joined by upright bassist Owen Reynolds. In it, the artists combine a diverse array of stories and songs from the mountains with their original music and humor to give students a broader understanding of the region, while encouraging them to live their dreams and appreciate their own backgrounds and talents. Traditional tunes are given a contemporary slant to make them relevant to modern issues and concerns, while maintaining the integrity of the tradition. 
Length: 50-60 minutes.

workshops

Appalachian Dance

Clogging, Flatfooting, and Group Dances

Carla’s workshops in clogging and old-style flatfoot dancing are suitable for all ages and are popular with both schools and festivals. Classes are offered in beginning and advanced levels, and can vary in length from one hour to multiple days. Students will start with basic steps, then learn how to create rhythms that will let them be “percussionists with their feet.” Students also explore group-dance traditions from the mountains including singing games and circle dance.

Storytelling

In these lively group workshops, Mitch leads students through lots of warm-ups and theater exercises, teaches them to draw on their personal experiences, and leads them in story creation, in an empowering and self-esteem-building style.

Songwriting

Writing & Recording

Mitch and Carla offer a songwriting classes of varying lengths. In these sessions, the artists cover various aspects of the creative process, including generating ideas for songs, warm-up exercises for writing, dealing with the inner critic, song form and structure, and telling stories through song. Participants are then invited into the creative process as they craft a song with the artists.