"[Skye] is traveling from senior center to senior center,
singing the complex, syncopated standards penned by Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Duke Ellington, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.
And her audience is singing right along with her."
- Donna Riley-Lein, Neighbors Newspaper in Northern Rhode Island
While Skye entertains regularly for retirement communities, assisted living centers, and nursing homes (see listing), her sing-alongs are not designed just for seniors; she has twenty-five different programs - each with songsheets - created for adults of all ages, some particularly suited for family gatherings, and one for children alone. Themes include the seasons, holidays, Roaring 20s, musicals, movies, music of the night, travel, patriotism, Tin Pan Alley songwriters, a celebration of the spirit, and an "Old Tyme" sing-along. All are an uplifting combination of familiar, singable songs that are appropriate interactive entertainment for such events as community outreach programs, reunion gatherings, club meetings, mother/daughter banquets, and concerts-in-the-park, or, in combination with Skye's vocal and/or harp solos, entertainment for business meetings and corporate functions. Libraries, church groups, private organizations, and family gatherings are among the many who have enjoyed her performances. Although Skye plays her traveling harp (see Footnotes) for most of the sing-along programs that she conducts, she chooses her floor harp when both solos and singalongs are requested.
Skye frequently opens her programs with the song "Hallelujah" because of its words: "Sing a song...we'll follow along...and we'll fill our hearts with joy" and closes with either "Que Sera, Sera, (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" or her theme song "Side By Side" ("just traveling along singing a song"). Those, and all the songs in between, draw a smile, a tear, some foot-tapping, occasional dancing, and lots of singing.
Footnotes:
Like a laptop computer is a compact version of a desktop computer, Skye's traveling harp is a compact version of her floor harp. Her traveling harp was made by Blevins Instruments.
| More Professional Notes |
Because I frequently play the harp somewhat percussively, one fellow could not believe I wasn't playing a tape of piano music along with my live harp music. I don't think he was ever convinced otherwise.
I'm a singer of songs, but it is still my responsibility to entertain - as many senses as possible. I do that from the moment I arrive by, for example, wearing clothes that will entertain, if not amuse. For the flower lovers in my audiences, my skirts most frequently have a flower design. And to disguise my sound equipment, I place a vase of silk flowers on the table next to me. Proof that my plan works came when I overheard one nursing home resident say to another "Look! She took her flowers right out of her skirt!"
- Skye
| More Personal Notes |
- N.L., Middleboro, MA
"Thank you, again, for a wonderfully entertaining program. It must be a great feeling to know that you are able to use your musical skills to entertain and also to know that your music is tapping into the memories of your audiences. I was much aware of the 'toe tapping' by people who looked like 'basket cases.' Wow! Music is a powerful tool when used properly...and use it you do!""
- W.D., Foxboro, MA
"You have great professionalism and great rapport with residents."
- L.D., Fairhaven, MA
"What an incredible voice you have!!"
- C.A., Brockton, MA
"A song is a two-hour movie told in two minutes."
- Singer/Pianist Ray Charles
| More Notes from Others |
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| "From One Home To Another" |
| Skye |
Traveling Sound
"just traveling along singing a song"