Alden Phelps

Alden Phelps is a Wolf Trap-trained Early Childhood teaching artist with Arts for Learning Maryland. He is an artist, songwriter, and musician with over 20 years of experience performing for audiences of all kinds across the region. Alden’s zany songs, zippy guitar-ifications, and sing-along choruses delight folks of all ages, and his arts-integrated interactive workshops inspire a love of language and the joy of playing with words.

Artist Statement

We laugh with an open mouth, and we laugh with an open heart. In that moment we hear the distant sound of someone laughing at our crazy culture. And just maybe for a moment we are free to reimagine things. Silly songs can do that.

In addition to being on our K-12 teaching artist roster, Alden Phelps is also a Maryland Wolf Trap Early Childhood teaching artist. Learn more about our Early Childhood programs.

View videos of Alden Phelps in action!

Credentials

Maryland Wolf Trap Baby Artsplay! Trained
Maryland Wolf Trap Teaching Artist
MSAC Teaching Artist Roster
Teaching Artist Institute Graduate

Testimonials

"For the 9th year, Alden has come in and done an amazing job teaching our students how to write song parodies in such an incredibly engaging and fun way! The teachers and students love working with Alden." - Wyngate Elementary

"We were so impressed with Alden, his knowledge, his warmth with the kids, his teaching style, and also the products/final parodies the students produced. Thank you!" -Rachel Cohen, lower school principal at Melvin Berman

"We could not have asked for better family engagement. Alden arrived early and had everything in place well before our families arrived. We discussed what we wanted to see in the interaction, and he did not disappoint! Our children ranged from 15 months to 4 years. Alden engaged every child and parent. Participation expectations were set and met! He was so engaging and welcoming. Our friends, old and young, were comfortable with his style. He had 2-year-olds reading patterns, finding the beat, engaging all their senses! It was beautiful to watch and fun to join in! We will invite Arts for Learning and especially Alden back!" - Director Tayler Grimail, Bates Middle School

"Oh my goodness!! THESE ARE INCREDIBLE! I can't thank you enough for being a part of this project...your sessions were ALL the rave. So supportive and helpful! I can't wait to work with you again in the future!" (professional development with teachers)

"Mr. Phelps just know that the feedback I received from the parents was outstanding!! They LOVED you. You exceeded my goals to have you engage children and adults with a variety of modalities while teaching them to interact and use these techniques on their own. I hope your will be available to serve our HH families again!" -Baby Artsplay at Harford Heights May 2022

"Westbrook loves Alden Phelps! It was so great to have him back in the classroom. It's a residency that the teachers and the students really enjoy engaging in together. We look forward to working with Alden again in the future."- Westbrook EMS

"The assemblies were spectacular. Every single student was engaged and had a blast writing the next line of his song "I have a pet Rhino" -Principal

"Alden did an excellent job of encouraging audience participation and capturing student interest. Everyone should experience one of his performances at least once."- Jessica, Teacher, Maree G. Farring Elementary Middle

"From start to finish, the performance was just outstanding. The students just loved him. After the performance, I had a few teachers tell me how much they enjoyed the assembly. My personal favorite part of the performance was when Alden had the signs on stage for the words to the song for the students to sing along with him. I am not sure that my son knew that Alden was getting him to read, or else he would not have enjoyed the assembly so much. My son, who is 7, told me later that day that "I am going to miss that guy, he was awesome!"-Sandy, PTA, Dowell Elementary School