Clearview Elementary was host to a concert by Dennis Warner last week, the third time the school has welcomed the Clearwater musician and entertainer. 

 

The concert was part of the Beads on One String project, which began as a pilot program in 2004 after St. Cloud State University Director of Education Pat Heine and teacher Jill Hallberg worked with Warner to develop a bully prevention program for elementary schools based around Beads on One String, a song written by Warner.

 

The program has since spread across the United States and other countries. 

 

During the concert, Warner explained to the students how the song came to be written, telling them he pictured a necklace made up of all different kinds of beads, but all held together by one string. The song, with the theme of “we’re more alike than we are different,” also became a book illustrated by Becker resident Alison Love Unzelman.

 

Throughout the concert Warner encouraged students to sing along with him, teaching them the words to the songs, and asked for volunteers to join him up front.

 

Along with his music, Warner shared lessons with the students through stories of his life, and emphasized bully prevention, telling them, “It’s your right to be here going to school at Clearview.

 

If someone is making you uncomfortable or hurting you, tell your teacher. Or, if you see someone else getting hurt tell for them.”

 

To prepare for the concert, students in art teacher Kathy Gerdts-Senger’s classes created handmade beads. Each grade made a different type of bead, using noodles, paper strips, wallpaper, felt, fabric, cellophane and other materials.

 

Student Alaina K. decorated “Beads on One String” letters with beads to hang on the gymnasium wall, and three years’ worth of student-created beads strung together were draped along the walls.

 

Students could purchase Warner’s book and CDs at 20% off, and have him autograph them. A portion of the purchases were donated to Clearview.

 

Warner has produced 10 CDs, and his book, Beads on One String, is in its sixth printing. He performs in over 100 cities each year, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Kerrville Folk Festival, Nashville’s Bluebird Café and on national public radio. He has also collaborated with many area musicians, including Bobby Vee, George Maurer and Prudence Johnson.