Further Information about Visits

Bob Buckle and Primary Schools

Many people ask how Bob started singing for children and the real answer is by accident! He started his professional career in 1965 singing at folk clubs, theatres and festivals all over the country. He recorded a number of albums, and worked on television and radio, running his own show for five years. Bob toured extensively in Britain and Europe playing major concert venues. It was about this time he set up his own 24 track recording studio. In 1973 while working television at Pebble Mill in Birmingham, Bob was approached by the BBC to work on a new radio programme aimed at children between 3 and 6 years old.

The work included providing the music for ‘Junior Brum Club’ for twelve months. It was while working on this programme that Bob began to get requests to play in schools with people saying, "We believe you work with children" to which came reply. "No, I work with microphones!" Bob had not, at that stage, seen many children except his own! After he left the programme he was still getting frequent requests to visit schools.

Bob’s first school venue was in Polperro, Cornwall in the summer of 1974, his first tour being in Macclesfield, Cheshire in the spring of 1975. From there it just grew! To date Bob has visited over 2000 schools throughout England and Wales which equates to 7,200 visits, 10,600 sessions and just under 2 million children!

Bob says, "When I was 14 years old we had a visit to our school in New Brighton from a string quartet from the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and it made quite an impact on me as it was the only outside visit we ever had! I was fascinated to be so close to professional musicians and experiencing live music in a first hand way. From that moment on I knew that I wanted to make music. If I have had that effect on just one child it will all have been worthwhile. If I have touched more than one it will be great. If however they have all had fun that will be fantastic".

Bob still thinks that bringing live folk music to children of primary age is one of the most rewarding ways of making a living. He visits fewer schools these days...38 years travelling and singing taking their toll. However, while he is still able to sing and travel, and schools still want his services (and he can drag himself off the golf course) he’ll go on singing for them. Long may it continue!

When Bob Buckle Visits Your School

When Bob works with children it is not just an entertainment but rather an educational experience from which the children may learn having been involved with him and his music. The sessions will also help staff in their delivery of the National Curriculum.

In performance Bob uses 5 string banjo, an instrument rarely seen in live performance. He is acknowledged as being one of the country’s leading exponents of the 5 string banjo. Bob will give information about the song and the instrument leading to question sessions at the end of his performance.

K.S.2 sessions last 50/55 minutes while K.S.1 sessions last 35/40 minutes. Bob also works with foundation stage and, and if requested, nursery children. These sessions for very young children last from 20 minutes to 30 minutes depending on circumstances. Times and performances may differ from school to school and arrangements can be changed for dedicated Infant or Juniors school.

Usually Bob works in the hall with the larger Infant and Junior groups requiring only a piano stool or low agility frame to sit on. Use of a CD player would be helpful. The children sit on the floor in rows of 12/15 and Bob prefers the staff to attend and participate for follow-up purposes after his visit.

Bob’s choice of material ranges from his own songs for K.S.1 to traditional songs from around the world for K.S.2. He doesn’t sing "at" the children but rather "with" them, encouraging them to participate. He will give background to the songs and teach choruses. Because of his depth of knowledge, and his love of the songs and the instrument, time spent with Bob is a rich and rewarding experience for both staff and children alike.

Bob Buckle is not a children’s entertainer, but rather an entertainer who makes time to work with children.

For fees and availability contact Bob at bob@bobbuckle.com.