Live and Virtual Programs

Called the “Musical Ambassador to Children,” the “Bonnie Raitt of Children’s Music,” and the “Pied Piper of Louisiana Music Traditions,” Johnette Downing is internationally known for her Louisiana roots music performances and catchy original songs. With Cajun, Creole, blues, jazz, Afro-Caribbean and zydeco influences, this New Orleans native serves up a gumbo of toe-tapping, two-stepping tunes, stirred with a passion for sharing her rich culture with children, and offering plenty of opportunities to sing and dance along.

Time
45 minutes Live Concerts

30 minutes for Virtual Concerts

Audience age
Pre-K through 3rd Grades

Audience size
For live concerts school and library assemblies, audience size limited to 300 students per concert. Discounts given for two concerts (same day/same location). 

For virtual concerts, there are two options: 1) Pre-recorded concerts, and 2) Zoom-type live concerts. Audience sizes vary for each virtual type.

Live concerts in Performing Arts Center and Festival audience sizes vary depending upon venue.

Recipient of the 2017 Louisiana Writer Award, and revered internationally for her “singable” books and trickster tales, Johnette Downing offers a unique musical author visit experience for audiences by combining her books and her music. With their rhythmic cadences and sung refrains, books come alive for audiences through participation in the singing-reading connection, encouraging reluctant readers to get jazzed about literacy.

Time
45 minutes for Reading Rocks! Author Visits

30 minutes for Virtual Author Visits

Audience age
Pre-K through 3rd Grades

Audience size
For Reading Rocks! school and library assemblies, the audience size is limited to 300 students per presentation. Discounts given for two author visits (same day/same location).

For Virtual Author Visits, there are two types: 1) Pre-recorded author visits, and 2) Zoom-type live author visits. Audience sizes vary for each virtual type.

Live concerts in Performing Arts Center, Museum and Festival audience sizes vary depending upon venue.

An early childhood music educator, keynote speaker, and presenter with twenty-eight years of international experience, Johnette Downing offers educator workshops of her classroom-tested techniques and activities for using music in the language classroom as a teaching tool. By applying her concepts, learning becomes memorable, purposeful and culturally meaningful. Through easy language skills-based songs and musical games, children find they are able to grasp and apply the concepts with ease. Drawing on students’ innate aptitude for integrating music and language, Johnette helps make teaching language a song and a dance.

Time
1-3 hours

Audience Age
Educators - Elementary School, ESL and TESOL

Audience Size
Ideal size is 30-40 educators.