Programs, Workshops & Keynotes

In addition to traditional concert and festival performances, Andrew does workshops and programs tailored for all ages, as single events, or daylong and multi-day residencies. He has appropriate offerings for libraries , schools, conferences, corporate events, Special Music Services in churches , keynote presentations for conferences, intensive career workshops on performance for colleges, and more.

Whatever the setting, you can expect a consummate professional from the booking and negotiation through the warm interaction with the audience. Our Publicity materials are easy to use and effective, and Andrew's interactions with presenter, event volunteers, and audience warm and gracious. Please visit our electronic presskit (EPK) or traditional presskit page for his resume, press and video and audio samples. 

And if you don't see exactly what you'd like to present, let's create something together to meet those goals.

Performances

 

Workshops & Programs for Adults and Students

In addition to his considerable experience on stage and in the classroom, Andrew also spent three years working in his daughter's daycare with kids aged 18 months through kindergarten. From writing songs about the life cycle of butterflies and learning how to interact with others, to co-opting traditional folk melodies to create songs for the harvest of the season, he uses a wealth of resources, different musical instruments and styles, and the gift of creativity to create mirth and music with little people.

Andrew's workshops have three common goals in any setting:

  • To provide a nurturing and inspiring environment for individual creativity and learning
  • To provide a usable understanding of some of the tools and techniques needed both for the workshop and for subsequent independent subject exploration
  • To provide "hands-on" opportunities to build confidence in successfully applying the acquired knowledge and skills

 

School workshops are always tailored to meet appropriate Standards of Learning, and can include development of pre- and post-workshop activities with the faculty coordinator to complete the lesson unit.

Programs and workshops are available as single and multi-day residencies, and length and content can be appropriately tailored for multiple age ranges from preschool through college and adult learners. Some of Andrew's past projects include taking 3rd graders from writing a song together and through field trips to record at a local studio and share their finished songs on a local radio station, and with 4th graders writing, filming and producing a documentary about George Mason, author of the Bill of Rights.

Presenters in Virginia may be eligible for funding support through the Virginia Commission for the Arts - click here for more details.

We welcome your questions and ideas about tailoring an event for your community. Contact us by email or call 540/338-3233.

"His work with our students and the public concert for our supporters were, in a word, magical. As a performer and teaching artist, Mr. McKnight is passionate, dedicated, relatable and so very gifted...His work with our local schools was high energy and riveting – it is a rare to see nine and ten-year-old students so focused and engaged. At the public concert, Mr. McKnight was so very entertaining, bringing the audience to new levels of understanding, empowerment and enjoyment. His blend of folk/Americana and history is unique in my experience and I fielded requests for a return visit for weeks after his performance."
- Laura Romanowski, Arts Council of the Twin Counties, Galax VA

"He came in to teach and share in our songwriting workshop/camp with 20 young and eager musicians/students.  Right from the start Andrew magically charmed the camp kids and our staff with his calm and inspiring voice and instrumental prowess. He directed us and patiently steered each of us with his quick wit, well-honed instructional skills and powerfully positive and creative ideas.  He did a tremendous job with relating purpose into songs and gave us numerous examples of chords, lyrical and melodic ideas that coaxed and challenged the students create music in new and personal ways."
- Wayne Estes, The Catoctin School of Music

"I teach in a school which is in a lower socio-economic district, with more than 50% free and reduced lunch. These children probably would not have had the live experience of folk music, if you hadn't come to perform for them. To see their smiling faces, and their eagerness to join in, and sing along with your engaging choruses, was a pure joy to witness! Your performance of songs like 'The Road to Appomattox' and 'These Shoes,' was so meaningful, and relevant to my students, when we replayed them while studying The Civil War and Reformation period. They remembered you, and sang along once again, bringing deeper meaning to the lyrics, when played in context. Thank you again, for delighting our children, enveloping them in an entire genre of music, which they might not have ever been exposed to otherwise, and building those strong connections to their country's past through music!"
- Maura Mills, lead 2nd Grade teacher, West View Elementary School, Spartanburg SC

“his workshop was well organized, highly informative, and, most importantly to me, attuned to the needs of artists.  Creative exercises, constructive feedback, professional tips - all shared in a comfortable, inclusive format.  Andrew has a gift for working with students, just as he does with audiences.  In fact, I am still practicing some of the writing tips he provided that day.”
- Meredith McMath, Producer and Playwright, Run Rabbit Run Theater, Hillsboro VA

"Appreciate your diligence and honed talents applied to facilitating two Songwriting Workshops along with your hands-on, personable approach with the young, novice songwriters, several of which went on to be award winners. And on behalf of our President Rick Hill, thank you for your selfless service representing F.A.M.E. in support of Chords of Courage’s inaugural STEP UP! Frederick Songwriting Contest, 2018."
- Tomy Wright, Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise, Frederick MD

"a very personable presenter who explained difficult concepts very simply and gave great examples"
- Don Bridges, President, Songwriter's Association of Washington

"captivated his songwriting students with examples of musical styles, rhythms and mood-setting guitar riffs ... adeptly wove in musical theory and song structure throughout in a way that made sense ... encouraging and casual throughout. What a way to learn!"
- Judy Matzen, Off Square Music, Woodstock IL