How's it bee?
How’s it bee? is an interactive children’s art song recital using music, theater, dance, puppetry, and illustrations.
How’s it bee? is an interactive children’s art song recital. Award-winning recitalist Courtney Miller and pianist Rebecca Hass use theater, dance, puppetry, and illustrations to follow bees, butterflies, and other winged creatures around the garden.
Courtney and Rebecca also engage the audience in writing a poem and encourage dance. The program features stories of self-acceptance, including Prokofiev’s The Ugly Duckling and Lenny the Leopard by Irving Fine. Wonderful Bay Area artists Nidhi Chanani and Kevin Okulolo contribute illustrations and animations for the program. While geared towards children, the show is for all ages.
The goal is to bring this recital to schools, libraries, community centers, and the like around the Bay Area - and beyond!
Program Notes
"As a classically trained opera singer, I continue to see music literacy and appreciation declining in our country; and that starts with the lack of arts education in schools. Through my work in schools around the Bay Area with the San Francisco Opera Guild, I see first hand how few schools have music or art programs in their curriculum and how eager kids are to perform and be involved in the arts. I have curated this recital to help bring both music, theater, and visual art to local Bay Area families. The multidisciplinary shows that I create reflect my belief that art fosters connection and deepens empathy. Every performance strengthens my conviction that art is not only about personal expression, but about building relationships – both with other artists and with the audiences we serve. In these times when connection can feel fractured, art provides a shared space to reflect, heal, and celebrate our common humanity."
- Courtney
The length of the program is adjustable based on need with an optional butterfly puppet making craft.
Immediate funding needs:
Artist fees for each performance - $600
Ongoing administration fees - $1000
Projector - $86
Projector screen - $100
Speaker/amp/mixer - $205
Keyboard case - $100
Foldable wagon for transport of equipment - $120
Additional art supplies - $200
Long-term funding goals:
Additional illustrations and animations - $3,000-$10,000
Recording fees for album and YouTube distribution - $3,000-$10,000
Fundraisers
Official fundraiser
Help keep "How's it bee?" buzzing!
We are grateful to Opera San Jose for hosting the first performance and filming of "How's it bee?"!!! To keep up the buzz and recoup expenses, we need your help! In addition to this initial fundraiser, our next step is to apply to state and national grants. The goal is to bring "How's it bee?" to schools, libraries, community centers, and the like around the Bay Area - and beyond! Immediate funding needs (Self-funded): $5,284 Artist rehearsal fees - $800 Illustrations and animation fees - $4000 Costume pieces, puppets, and art supplies - $184 Administration fees - $300 Continued funding needs (Next steps): $2,411-$10,000 Artist fees for each performance - $600 x 10 = $6000 Ongoing administration fees - $1000 Projector - $86 Projector screen - $100 Speaker/amp/mixer - $205 Keyboard case - $100 Foldable wagon for transport of equipment - $120 Additional art supplies - $200 Long-term funding goals: $6,000-$20,000 Additional illustrations and animations - $3,000-$10,000 Recording fees for album and YouTube distribution - $3,000-$10,000
- Raised
- $0
- Goal
- $5,000
Donors
Michael Miller