You Can't Trash This!

Thank you all for voting in our recycling song competition!! It was a close race! The winning song was "You Can't Trash This!" by 4th graders in Mrs. Holland's and Mrs. Powell's classes. And now here for your viewing pleasure is the video they got to make! Many thanks to our videographer, Brian Collins!

Recycle Time!

Fourth and fifth graders at Will Rogers Elementary wrote these songs with help from Monty Harper during a recent residency, made possible by the Oklahoma Arts Council. The songs were inspired by the City of Stillwater's new curbside recycling program!

Please listen and vote for your favorite below! The class who wrote the winning song will get to make their song into a video and will win a pizza party from the City of Stillwater! The poll closes Wednesday May 8 at 10:00 PM.




Please note: Due to an early glitch in our settings, the song "Recycle the Party" is displaying 70 invalid votes. The glitch is fixed but the votes cannot be removed. We will therefore need to subtract 70 votes from "Recycle the Party" when we determine the winning song.

Sangre Ridge Residency - Songs of Ember

I worked with the Sangre Ridge fourth grade this December

To help them write songs based on The City of Ember.

I wrote and recorded four songs with four classes.

On December 18 we performed for the masses...

Each class presented their song for the whole school that morning.

Even though the songs were still brand new, the kids did a great job singing!
I followed along with the guitar the best I could!

That evening we gathered to perform for parents.
Fourth graders welcomed fellow students with cheers as they came in through the door.

Then they all gathered in one of the classrooms. Everyone was excited and nervous!

We had a huge turn-out, with parents seated all the way to the back of the room!

Each class had their turn on stage.

We used the projector so everybody could follow along with the words.

You can listen to and download the kids' songs on BandCamp:

The PTA was also kind enough to purchase CDs of the songs for all the kids! The talented folks at DiscMakers took different pieces of artwork the kids made to illustrate their songs and combined them to design a really cool cover / CD label.

Many thanks to the Oklahoma Arts Council for their support, which made this project possible!

This week I begin a new residency at Will Rogers!

Skyline Residency Songs Now Available!

I just completed a songwriting residency at Skyline Elementary here in Stillwater. The fifth graders used their graduation theme for inspiration, so the songs are about transitioning to sixth grade with an outer space flavor. Have a listen! Enjoy!!

 

Songwriting Continues With Richmond 4th Graders!

I've been writing songs all month (one 40 minute session per day) with the 4th graders at Richmond Elementary. We are down to our last week together, and the three songs are finished - one for each class: "Technical Hamburger," "The Battle of the Green-eyed Potato," and "The Ancient Chinese Pickle." 

It may sound like frivolous fun, but students practiced many different skills in the process of writing, including brainstorming, organizing ideas, teamwork, language skills, music skills, and critical thinking.

AND visual art! Chris Ramsay from the OSU art department and his students Kris and Leslie visited each class twice to help incorporate visual art into the writing process. Our first art project helped the kids visualize and focus their song ideas. 

The second art project is happening now. The kids are creating pieces to go along with their songs at the final performance and online (see the photos below)! Chris, Kris and Leslie put an incredible amount of work into this and it's brought a whole new dimension to the residency. Thanks you guys!

Each class will perform their song with me at the final concert this Thursday March 8 at 6:00 PM at Richmond Elementary here in Stillwater. The public is invited.

Soon after that I will post the final songs and artwork for you to enjoy. Stay tuned!

Thanks to Marie Wilson for taking these photos:

Chris Ramsay, head of OSU Art Department, on the floor making pickle minions with the kids!

I sing "The Ancient Chinese Pickle," trying out last minute changes, as 4th graders create their pickle minions.

Finished minions posted to the dry erase board.

Another class created living food figures for their song "The Battle of the Green-Eyed Potato."

Songwriting Begins With Richmond 4th Graders

This week I began working with 4th graders during their music time at Richmond Elementary! I'll help each of the three classes complete their own song over the next six weeks. This year I'm working with the art department at OSU to integrate visual arts into my process. The students will be doing an art project to help inspire their songwriting! 

Yesterday the whole fourth grade had music together so we could talk about what to expect.

I met with my first class today and we broke into small groups to brainstorm.

The kids were fantastic - they were very excited and got right down to work on lots of great ideas!

This residency is funded in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council. I'll post more as we progress!!

A Song Is Born - the Making of "Super Scientist"

This week I've been working with 4th and 5th graders at Richmond here in Stillwater, getting started on a songwriting residency. During our first session I gave them an overview of my writing process, using the song "Super Scientist" as an example. Below is the Prezi I've been using (with some improvements).

Check it out! Have fun!

A Song Is Born on Prezi