Soli’s life as a concert guitarist and ensemble performer has taken him around the world over the last 30 years. Soli has performed as a featured soloist at World Jazz festivals in Finland and Italy, studied Spanish/classical guitar at the conservatory in Madrid, and performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the Queen and other royalty. In the US, he toured and performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Dizzy Gillespie and many more. Some folks may remember Soli as a member of bands like Flyte Time, Moore by Four, Crystal Haze, and the Sounds of Blackness. Listen for his music on the soundtrack of the Disney film John Henry.
Program Offerings
Residencies
The Science of Sound Laboratory
In this two week residency students will gain an understanding of how sound works, from a technical and musical instrument perspective. The effects of frequency, wave form, hertz, oscillation, and physical space will be explored. Students will connect these effects through physical, acoustical, geometric, mathematical equations and experiments and the use of a recording mixing board to work with EQ. In addition, by working in groups, using everyday items, musical instruments and electronic/digital synthesizers, students will get to create and take home their own sound CD.
The Math Inside Music
This residency is for sites who would like to focus on the mathematical aspects of The Science Of Sound Laboratory residency. The Math Inside Music emphasizes math conversions in MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), as well as geometry and other mathematical forms used in listening and determining EQ. A test will be given at the end of the residency to demonstrate students’ increase in knowledge. More info on skill building and test can be furnished upon request.
The Digital Rock Clock & HistoPop
This two week residency re-creates the physical environment of the history of rock ‘n’ roll by individual decades. Residency students look at specific geo/social/music/media/pop culture characteristics that shaped each era and then make connections between these trends of the past and the current digital technology and media influence of today.
Throughout the residency, the classroom is transformed into various decades allowing us to “walk through history” with musical-visual cues. Rotary phones, yo-yo’s, platform shoes, vinyl albums, 45 rpm records and more are brought right into the classroom setting to catalyze conversation and bring the past to life. Students participate in such activities as singing, dancing, debate, and playing musical instruments as they learn to create (or re-create) the sounds and cultures of each time.
The residency culminates with a live rock show featuring the students performing various songs and dances in clothes from the decades. Teachers and staff are welcome to be a part of the show. The community is encouraged to come dressed in their favorite decade. A great addition to history and social studies classes.
Beatlemania & the British Invasion
An extraction from the Digital Rock Clock residency, this week focuses on one particular era of the Sixties that many people remember. Beatlemania and the British invasion is a great example of how pop culture affected everyday life in America. It influenced fashion, politics, gender relationships and more. While learning about the worldwide and direct effect in the US of this event, students in this residency will also learn and perform some of the Beatles & British groups songs at a culminating community show. Great for social studies and history classes.
The Art Of Music Production
A lot more goes into a song than the vocals and instrumentation. In this three week residency students will learn what else is needed when producing a song. Students will explore lessons on recording and song selection, mixing tracks and editing, performance and marketing, and more. Current aspects of the music business and industry career types will be discussed and tried out. This residency has a student centered approach. Each student will leave with a completed project based on what part of the industry they wanted to explore.
Black Footprints
This residency emphasizes the roles of Black innovators in the New World. We’ll explore their relationships with other cultures; their STEM and musical contributions to America; and links to other cultures that have benefited from the ground-breaking work they have laid.
Black Footprints grew out of an earlier residency called Africa To America, which took the students all the way from the West African coast, through the Middle Passage, and on into the slavery era, Reconstruction, and modern times. If your site wants to explore the additional historical information, we would be happy to provide this 2-week residency.
Music & Media: Magic or Madness
Throughout the two week residency, students learn the relationships between music and various forms of media. This residency starts in the 70’s and looks at the explosion of computers, technology, radio/news communications the intersection, their influence on music and media. into current trends of today. Pop culture fads, group discussions, live examples, and video give students a historic/current events education and encourage them to analyze, debate, and grow with future trends and changes. Great for history, social studies, music, or debate classes.
Performance
Rockin’ Through the Decades
Kick up your heels, raise your hands, come dressed in your favorite decade, and shout it out! Students and staff experience a movin’, shakin’ live rock ‘n’ roll show with an artist who knows the songs, dances, and the history; because he has lived it and played it.
Students and staff get to hear rock favorites and dance with me as I take them through decades of twangy 50’s, acoustic 60’s, disco 70’s, rock ballad 80’s, and alternative 90’s into the current mix of hip hop & pop. The stage is set as you enter the auditorium or gym. Surrounded on both sides of the center mic are disco shirts, fringe vests, a Temptations jacket, a 50’s motorcycle jacket, numerous guitars, and more. Don’t forget to notice the extra 4 to 6 mics – those are for volunteers to come up on stage and add background vocals, dance, and add some cool free stylin’ moves of their own. This is a live 1 hour and 15 minute explosive rock show performance designed to connect you to the decades of songs, dances, and clothes while engaging your participation through the fun of a rock show. You can even volunteer to be a set-up or a tear-down roadie. Some songs you will hear include: Johnny B. Goode, My Girl, Come together, Black or White, 867-5309, Sledgehammer, Pumped Up Kicks and more!
- 2 hour set up and 1 hour tear-down time required.
- Soli will bring his own sound equipment, and there is an additional $100 cartage fee.
- Designed for Auditoriums or Gyms.
Hear many great hits and stories by, Soli Hughes, a gifted musician who has played it, lived it and even met some of the artists represented in the show! You’ll hear songs by Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Santana, The Temptations and many many more.
Workshop
The History of Rock’n Roll
The workshop focuses on the turbulent 60s and the crazy 70s. Students learn about what shaped each decade’s individual character, using a discussion of key songs, politics and world events as a timeline basis for debate and discovery. Students will explore some of the historic facts that have shaped rock n’ roll and are still major influences today.
Note: Mileage calculated from Big Lake, MN
