Pa’s fiddle and songs were a constant through the Laura Ingalls Wilder “Little House” books. From comic parodies, to minstrel tunes to religious hymns, music was a great enjoyment for everyone in the Ingalls' house. Music also brought distant neighbors together for dances and “play parties” (a play party is a song sung without instrumentation with accompanying dance and movement parts).

With songs from the historic book series, Mike Haverkamp will lead audiences through the Ingalls' life and daily routines like making cheese (tune: “Old Grimes”), major social events like a local dance (tunes: “Buffalo Gals,” “Arkansas Traveler”), and also times of family joy: the night before Laura’s wedding (tune: “Love’s Old Sweet Song) and heartbreak such as the night before Pa walked 300 miles to find work (tune: “The Campbell’s are Coming”). In addition everyone attending will get to learn and participate in two different play parties: “Oats Peas Beans and Barley” and “The Miller."

Haverkamp is a versatile folk musician who plays banjo, fiddle, guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, and more. Haverkamp has performed throughout the midwest as a solo act, a member of the Iowa Sesquicentennial Touring Arts Team, and as part of the old-timey band, Acoustic Mayhem.  He is also a school staff developer and instructional coach.

Audiences at Haverkamp's performances get hands-on experience with unusual instruments and learn how "American" music results from the contributions of many peoples. Audiences will sing folk and traditional songs that have historical significance and are just plain fun.  

Haverkamp will perform on the Coffeyville Community College campus on Tuesday, April 3, as part of the CCC Humanities Project. The public is invited to the 10:30 a.m. Tuesday humanities performances at CCC.  The performances are free and held in the Spencer/Rounds Performing Arts Theatre.

For more information about the humanities project at CCC, please call 620-251-7700, ext. 2166.