Acclaimed children's musician Roger Day performed for almost 8,000 local children during March as part of the arts council's Students Take pART in the ARTs! program.

Every child in grades K-2 in the Cabarrus and Kannapolis systems, Carolina International School and First Assembly School as well as Cannon School and Covenant Classical School first graders and more than 800 preschoolers attended a concert.  In all, Day gave 14 elementary concerts, two preschool concerts,  and two teacher workshops.  He also presented public performances at both the Concord and Kannapolis branch libraries, sponsored by their respective Friends of the Library groups, and entertained children in the Cabarrus Boys and Girls Club after school program.

Day, who writes all his own songs, encouraged children to use their imaginations to make the world a smaller, more joyous place.  He wove bits of science, such as how  many times a mosquito flaps its wings and what makes a marsh,  and stories about his song-writing process into the program.  He also incorporated some sign language and Spanish words into each concert.

Teachers could use Day's study guide to incorporate the program into the curriculum. He also conducted two teacher workshops, one for preschool and another for K-12.

More than 800 local preschoolers saw Day perform, thanks to a collaboration between the arts council and the local Association for the Education of  Young Children.

Day’s shows have earned him six straight National Association of Campus Activities Family and Children’s Entertainer of the Year nominations.  His CD, Ready to Fly, won the prestigious Parent’s Choice Award and the National Association of Parenting Publications Award.  He received the Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to Humanity in honor of his shows at homeless shelters and orphanages. 

Arts council school performances are sponsored by CTCommunications, First Charter and The Independent Tribune.