The library is pleased to offer a new video series designed to educate and entertain called “Becoming a Magician”. This successful, self-guided course is free. It teaches students ages 8-80 enough magic to do a 30-minute performance and includes, along with teaching the magic tricks, acting and storytelling skills so the performance is fun and entertaining. Props needed for the course are ones most people already have at home or can be purchased at the local dollar store.
The course was tested in ten Vermont communities and was well received by both libraries and students. “The course is wonderfully designed and not only teaches the magic in a marvelous way, but the performance and storytelling skills make the tricks come alive” states a librarian from Vermont. “There are so many things a librarian can do with this course.” A mother of two who accessed the course through their local library said “My son and daughter performed a magic show for their grandfather whom they had not seen in person for months because of the pandemic.
They have missed each other terribly. He kept shouting, ‘I can’t believe it, this is wonderful, how are you doing this?’ He was astonished. What you taught them has already brightened one person’s life.”
Teachers, Tom Verner and Janet Fredericks are founders of Magicians Without Borders (www.magicianswithoutborders.com) and have traveled to over 45 countries bringing love, laughter, magic and hope to hundreds of thousands of refugee and orphan children in many of the most war-torn parts of the world.
