ReadingSongs.comMailing ListFAQOrderContactMonty Harper

"Monty Harper is known for his library friendly songs"
- School Library Journal

 

Monty Harper Biography

“Vibrant images of a child's world are a hallmark of Mr. Harper's work,” says Dave Kinnoin of SongWizard Records, “and his prolific playfulness delights the child in all of us.” Based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he lives with his wife and six-year-old daughter, Harper has been writing, recording, and performing songs for kids since 1989.

Harper's songs and recordings have garnered many rave reviews and awards including Parents' Choice Awards, NAPPA Honors Awards, Unisong Awards, and Children's Music Web Awards.

Harper began creating music for kids as a way to combine various interests such as writing, music, performance, and working with children. After completing his master's degree in mathematics at Oklahoma State University (just in case) he immediately began to explore the possibility of children's music as a career.

In the ensuing years, Harper has engaged many thousands of children with his interactive programs at libraries and schools throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. He is one of the most often booked performers on the Oklahoma Arts Council Touring Roster and has penned many songs for clients such as The Oklahoma Department of Libraries and the LAUSD Nutrition Network. Harper's award-winning recordings are available at CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, and iTunes.

 

 

Monty's Reading Connection

Monty Harper began his children's music career with volunteer performances at his home town public library. He enjoyed sharing his own enthusiasm for books and reading with the kids so much that he began writing songs especially for upcoming summer program themes. In a few short years Harper was one of the most sought after acts on the Oklahoma summer library circuit.

Harper wrote and recorded four collections of songs for the Oklahoma Department of Libraries: Blast Into Books, Magical Madcap Tour, I'd Sooner Read, and Stampede to Read. Each was distributed to public libraries throughout Oklahoma for use with their reading programs. Many of the songs from these collections are now available on the Reading Songs Volume I: Blast Into Books CD.

More recently Harper has released CDs of original songs inspired by the Paws Claws Scales and Tales and Get a Clue CSLP themes.

Harper is adept at writing songs that grab kids' attention and celebrate reading in imaginative ways. From a "Great Green Squishy Mean Bibliovore" who learns to appreciate books as more than mere snacks to an alien who demands, "Take Me to Your Library," Harper's songs are filled with characters and situations that vividly depict reading as an adventure worth pursuing.

Harper's own favorite books and series include Green Eggs and Ham, The Great Brain, The BFG, Nate the Great, Junie B. Jones, Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte's Web, Bartimaeus, Larklight, and Harry Potter.

 

 

Performance Schedule

To book Monty at your library, inquire here.


 

 


March 2010

3/27/2010
Your Computer, Anywhere, UStream.tv at 11:20 am CST
The Saturday Show
Tune in and participate live online!

3/29/2010
* Byars, OK, Byars Elementary School at 10:00 am
Say It in a Song

3/31/2010
* Minco, OK, Minco Elementary at 9:45 am
Say It in a Song

 


April 2010

4/3/2010
Your Computer, Anywhere, UStream.tv at 11:20 am CST
The Saturday Show
Tune in and participate live online!

4/15/2010
Stillwater, OK, Stillwater Public Library at 6:00 pm
Born to Do Science
What is the Shape of the Molecule?
Using X-ray Crystallography to Deduce Protein Structure
Dr. Christina Bourne from the OSU Department of Veterinary Pathobiology will speak about how potential disease-fighting drugs can be developed through understanding the shapes and functions of key protein molecules.

4/25/2010
Oklahoma City, OK, 2010 Festival of the Arts - Children's Stage at 4:00 pm
Wacky Witty Way-Out Songs

 


May 2010

5/3/2010
* Geronimo, OK, Geronimo Elementary at 10:00 am
Say It in a Song

5/20/2010
Stillwater, OK, Stillwater Public Library at 6:00 pm
Born to Do Science
The Older the Rock, the Brighter It Glows
Using Luminescence Dating to Determine the Ages of Rocks
Dr. Regina DeWitt from the OSU Physics Department will speak about a dating technique she has developed based on the natural ability rocks accumulate over time to luminesce. Dr. Dewitt's work is funded by NASA and her luminescence dating instrument may be selected for inclusion on a future Mars rover!

 


June 2010

6/1/2010
Wilburton, OK, Latimer County Public Library at 1:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/1/2010
Hartshorne, OK, Hartshorne Public Library at 4:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/2/2010
Meeker, OK, Meeker Public Library at 1:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/7/2010
Cushing, OK, Cushing Public Library at 6:30 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/14/2010
Norman, OK, Norman Public Library at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/15/2010
Purcell, OK, Purcell Public Library at 10:30 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/15/2010
Moore, OK, Moore Public Library at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/16/2010
Blanchard, OK, Blanchard Public Library at 10:30 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/16/2010
Newcastle, OK, Newcastle Public Library at 2:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/17/2010
McLoud, OK, McLoud Public Library at 11:00 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/17/2010
Tecumseh, OK, Tecumseh Public Library at 2:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/21/2010
Watonga, OK, Watonga Public Library at 2:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/21/2010
Fairview, OK, Fairview Municipal Library at 10:00 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/22/2010
Noble, OK, Noble Public Library at 10:00 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/22/2010
Shawnee, OK, Shawnee Public Library at 2:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/23/2010
Lawton, OK, Lawton Public Library at 11:00 am & 1:30 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/24/2010
Ada, OK, Ada Public Library at 10:30 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/29/2010
Checotah, OK, Jim Lucas/Checotah Public Library at 2:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

6/29/2010
Ft. Gibson, OK, Q.B. Boydston Library at 10:30 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

 


July 2010

7/6/2010
Stillwater, OK, Stillwater Public Library at 10:00 am, 1:30 pm & 3:30 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

7/17/2010
Duncan, OK, Duncan Public Library at 11:00 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

 


August 2010

8/4/2010
Fargo, ND, Fargo Public Library at 10:00 am
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

8/4/2010
Grand Forks, ND, Grand Forks Public Library at 2:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

8/5/2010
Seeking a venue near Fargo, ND for morning performance
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

8/5/2010
Fargo, ND, Branch of Fargo Public Library at 2:00 pm
Wacky Witty Wet 'n' Wild Songs

 


October 2010

10/20/2010
Seeking a venue in or near St. Louis, MO for morning performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/20/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Indianapolis, IN for late afternoon and/or early evening performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/21/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Columbus, OH for morning performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/21/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Pittsburgh, PA for late afternoon and/or early evening performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/22/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Baltimore, MD for morning performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/22/2010
Seeking a venue near Washington, DC for late afternoon and/or early evening performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/24/2010
Washington, DC, USA Science and Engineering Festival at TBA
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/27/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Roanoke, VA for morning performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/27/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Knoxville, TN for late afternoon and/or early evening performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/28/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Nashville, TN for morning performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/28/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Memphis, TN for late afternoon and/or early evening performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/29/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Little Rock, AR for morning and/or early afternoon performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

10/29/2010
Seeking a venue in or near Tulsa, OK for late afternoon and/or early evening performance
Songs from the Science Frontier

 


* Events marked with an asterisk are made possible with assistance from the Oklahoma Arts Council.

 

More

These links will take you to other Monty Harper related websites...

 

ReadingSongs.comJoin our mailing list!
 Name: Email: