Maine Sound + Story is committed, with our community partners, to sharing our passion for oral histories and storytelling.
We offer a variety of workshops and consulting services, please be in touch if you would like to discuss bringing Maine Sound + Story staff to your school, organization, or would prefer a private lesson. When applicable, you’ll find scheduled workshop offerings listed here.
Introduction to Oral History Methodology
This introductory course is meant to teach potential oral history practitioners the basics of how to conduct a life-course oral history. Identifying participants, conducting pre-interview research, informing interviewees of their rights, release forms, and interview etiquette will be discussed. The goal at the end of the workshop is for participants to be able to independently conduct their own oral history in their local communities. Samples of the necessary forms will be provided. Additionally, the legal and ethical issues involved in doing oral history will be discussed.
Oral History in the Classroom
This workshop is for educators who wish to integrate oral history primary sources into their curriculum. Participants will learn about useful resources, sample lesson plans, and other activities to bring history to life in the classroom.
Podcasting & Radio Storytelling
Turning oral histories into radio stories or a podcast series means your content can reach broader and more diverse audiences. Interviews are more flexible and versatile if shared in this way. This workshop is an introduction to the basic tools and techniques for creating a podcast. The first part of the workshop covers the technical aspects – basic equipment to get started, and professional sound recording tricks and techniques. Then we will cover interviewing for live to tape interviews and for creating radio stories. We will also discuss writing for radio and scripting the podcast, in addition to voicing narration, and editing and sound production. Finally, we will talk about podcast ideas, names, promotion and sponsorship.
To hear work by Maine Sound + Story partners, listen to the Island Institute’s podcast, “From the Sea Up” produced by Galen Koch.
