“Mr. Michael” Levine is the co-founder of The Learning Groove (TLG) music & movement company. He also is the music producer of the original four New York Times bestselling Pete The Cat books by Eric Litwin and James Dean, as well as the Groovy Joe and Nut Family book series by Eric Litwin. He regularly performs these stories & TLG songs at concerts, workshops & keynotes throughout the nation.

As a singer-songwriter, he has won many awards and has opened for such acts as Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows, Live, Joe Walsh, and many more. As a performer for children, he plays guitar and uses the latest hip-hop technology to demonstrate how interactivity can make reading & music awesome for kids.

Languages Spoken: English, a little Spanish, a little Hebrew

Arts Disciplines: Music, Storytelling

Core Content Curriculum Areas: Music, English/Language Arts

Specialized Content Areas: Literacy

Grade Levels: Pre-K, K-2, 3-5

Special Populations:ELL (English Language Learners)

Pre-Service Learning and Professional Development: Professional Development for K-12 Teachers, Professional development for preschool & pre-K teachers

Geographic Availability: Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, Middle Georgia, South Georgia, I travel to perform as well

Program Types:
School-based Assembly Program, School-based Residency Program

Community-based Assembly Program, Community-based Residency Program

Online Content for School Use, Online Content for Community Use, Online Content for Summer Program Use, Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Schools, Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Communities, Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Summer Programs

Program Fees:

• Performances:
  • $500 for one local 45-minute performance.
  • $600 for 2 back to back performances.
  • Travel rates vary.
• Workshops:
  • Varies depending on time needed and location.
• Residency:
  • Varies depending on time needed and location.
• Access to Online Content:
  • Free
• Hybrid Online and In Person:
  • Varies depending on time needed and location.

Artistic Profile:

“Mr. Michael” Levine is the co-founder of The Learning Groove music and movement company.  He also is the music producer of the first four New York Times bestselling “Pete The Cat” books by Eric Litwin and James Dean. He regularly performs “Pete The Cat” stories and Learning Groove songs at concerts, workshops, and keynotes throughout the nation.

As a singer-songwriter, he has won many awards and has opened for such acts as Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows, Live, Joe Walsh, and many more. As a performer for children, he plays guitar and uses the latest technology to demonstrate how interactivity can make reading and music inspiring for kids.

Teaching Experience:

23 years teaching music in preschools and parent & child classes; 25 years performing in schools, camps and events for kids & families, including several years as a performer for Young Audiences at Woodruff Arts Center. 10-15 years leading workshops & keynotes for preschool and early elementary teachers on interactive songs & stories.

Sample Programs:

Children, teachers & parents sing, dance, shake, laugh, wiggle & learn together as Mr. Michael gets silly with his guitar! Mr. Michael is the music producer of the first four NY Times bestselling Pete The Cat books, and the co-founder of The Learning Groove with author Eric Litwin. On stage he shares his music & storytelling inspiration with children as they sing interactive songs & Pete the Cat stories together. Plus every song has lyrics, activities, coloring pages & more online at www.TLGmusic.com — students, families & teachers can use these support materials for creative learning before & after the concert!
Study Guide for School Performances >

• Music InterACTION (grades pre-K to 2nd): Children, teachers & parents sing, dance, shake, laugh, wiggle & learn together as Mr. Michael gets silly with his guitar! Mr. Michael is the music producer of the first four NY Times bestselling Pete The Cat books, and the co-founder of The Learning Groove with author Eric Litwin.  On stage he inspires children as they sing interactive songs & Pete the Cat stories together.  For further educational support, every song has lyrics, videos, activities, coloring pages & more online at www.thelearninggroove.com – students, families & teachers can use these support materials for creative learning before and after the concert.
• Music InterACTION (grades 3 to 5): Interactive music is a powerful teaching tool. It stimulates language development, teaches us about various cultures, and builds self-awareness. Michael Levine’s inspirational music and storytelling program help connect the dots for a fun learning experience. With guitar, looping technology, drums, and voice, Michael engages students in call and response, creative movement, songwriting, and singing songs from many cultures. These interactive techniques can be used by teachers in the classroom to stimulate children’s engagement in the learning process.
• Interactive Literacy & Music As An Educational Tool (Teacher Professional Development Workshop): In this fun and pragmatic workshop, Mr. Michael uses the “Pete the Cat” and “The Learning Groove” songs to demonstrate how interactive techniques such as repetition, prediction, call and response, rhyme, and movement inspire and stimulate students’ learning skills. He will also show how interactive music serves as a springboard for reading, writing, and other language activities throughout your curriculum. 

Sample Lesson Plans/Study Guides:

• Professional Development Workshop Outline
• Musical InterACTION Outline PreK-3
• Musical InterACTION Outline 3-5

Program Videos:

Michael Levine – Interactive Music & Literacy

• Listing ID: 6031