Well, krystyjo, I didn't know you had such a good voice! I'm sure your
kids are good singers, with an excellent model like you.

Your e-mail to me asked if I had heard this before somewhere, to make
sure you weren't infringing on any copyrights. I know I've heard the
chord progression in the chorus before (tonic, then whole-step below
the tonic), but the melody seems new. I've heard that chord
progression in many different songs, but I can't think of the names of
any of them right now.

Yes, it does sound like something from Music K-8 Magazine. And
that's a compliment, because they have some great stuff in there. Our
township is having an elementary music festival at one of our high
schools this spring, and we are using three Music K-8 songs for our
4th grade recorder players.

I have also done concerts of folk songs with my elementary kids, and
they work very well. Lots of ways to tie it into the broader curriculum
at school. Plus the songs are all public domain, so you can post them
wherever you like with no worries. (And it gives me an excuse to play
with my computer toys to create accompaniment tracks, which I don't
mind doing at all!) This spring we're doing "Songs Of The Railroad."

Great work here, Kristyjo. The vocal ranges are well thought out, and
the soprano/alto harmonies sound like they will be very effective
coming from kids' voices.

Best,

John






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Thanks for taking a listen. I'm relieved that you didn't say ' Oh, yeah, that's a
well known pop song' or something like that.
While I had bigger plans for this piece, we'll be singing it in unison, with me on
piano and a fourth grade guitarist doing his bit on the chords. (The sixth grade
trumpet player & the flautist I was hoping to get don't play quite well enough to
accompany in the key of D).
I alternate between an American folk music concert & a 'world music' concert for
my 3rd & 4th grade Spring concert. That way, I know all of the kids get a chance
to sing both types of music in those years.
I'll check out that email thing. Your comments were appreciated.

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Now I know where I've heard that chord progression before.

It's "____, I Was Born A Ramblin' Man" by the Allman Brothers, around 1977.
Same chord changes at the beginning of the chorus. Melody is similar, but
not enough to be an infringement, I don't think.



---
My jazz piano CD on the<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=79324809&s=143441"> iTunes Music Store</a>.

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Also, I replied to your e-mail, but it bounced back. The message was,
"Permanent Failure: Other address status"

Whatever that means.

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I love this kristyjo! How your lyrics, and your singing of them, match the
tempo so well is a delight to listen to. Can't wait to hear the kids sing it!

Well done!

God bless,

Rick


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I appreciate the comments and the encouragement, Rick. I hope the students get
something out of singing this piece.

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Minor quibble, but a couple of the more complex words seem awkward.
Like "adversity" when sung seems forced.

A simplification of lyrics and this would seem like one of those timeless
patriotic songs I had to sing 30 years ago.

Or make it way more complex and it would be a strange indictment of
today. I think you could increase the impact by making it more relevant to
today's climate, but with the kid's singing. Of course you still want to
keep you job, right?


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Thanks for your comments. Interesting about the 'big word' thing, because one
of my kids said 'I could tell you wrote this song, because you're always trying to
teach us what big words mean.' It's my thing.
The challenge in writing a song for a really specific purpose like this is to keep it
general enough to make it an introductory piece, yet it focuses the listeners on
what's coming up in the program. (Who am I kidding - the audience is REALLY
interested in if they can get a good video shot of little Johnny, and if that kid
who fainted last year is going to make it through the whole concert this year.)
I really appreciate that you came on over to the childrens' room and took the
time to listen : )

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where I will listen to any genre you'd care to compose in. There are
simply a good number of aspects of your music that I truly enjoy.
cheers and thankyou

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That's a really nice thing to say. I'm glad my music 'connects' with you. This is
one of the genres that I write in because I know the music will be appreciated by
both the performers and the audience. Thanks for listening and commenting.

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This song and its purpose bring me back to the school concerts I
participated in while growing up. Those memories are among my most
precious - I loved being in those concerts, and that participation is likely
responsible to some degree for me choosing a career in music.

I hope you understand the impact that your instruction and your concerts
have on your students. You are helping make memories that will stay with
them forever. A music teacher, like a nurse, is, in my eyes, just *this*
much below an angel. Keep doing what you do, Kristine.

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Thanks for the encouragement! We gave our concert tonight, and it was very
successful. Almost all of the students came with families in tow, and everybody
had a good time. My husband made a DV recording of the concert, and I'm
going to make DVDs for the kids who want them (I do this for every concert.)
Kids learn so much from performing for an audience, and they enjoy it, too.
There is also a special kind of pride and self confidence that they develop by
doing these concerts. It's great that you remember your own school concerts
with such fondness, and I hope my students will, too.

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This song, though in a subgenre generally filled with tired cliched music that all tends to sound the same, manages to be quite nice and original thanks to the thoughtfulness of its composer.

More importantly, I've always believed since I was a child in elementary school that the true mark of a good educator is the ability to create their own creative material rather than solely relying on "teacher resource" catalogues and the district-issued textbooks. You are clearly an asset to your school and community, and your students are very lucky to have someone like you!

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Thanks for listening. It is sometimes tough to find music that is valid for the
kids, yet has material that challenges them. I don't know how I'd get through a
school year without writing at least a couple of pieces of music. Some of it is
just 'throw away' stuff that gets us through a situation, other pieces, like this, I
am quite proud of, and bring back to use from time to time. I'm glad you
commented. I agree, music composition SHOULD be part of every music
teacher's bag of tricks, but for many of my fellow teachers, it's a difficult task.
I'm glad I have MacJams to come to so I can bounce ideas off of other
composers.

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This one made me grow evil horns and run around the house in my underoos and my powdered milk cape. Thanks but i stubbed my toe on the playschool turntable! Are you a school teacher or a cemetary receptionist. I heard a kid singing this in Toy R Us yesterday! Your catchin on! Nice tune!

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Wow! I didn't know they made Underoos in adult sizes! Do you have the
Superman ones, or the Scoobydoo ones?

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This one is a real gem! I think is a great children's program song. I have enjoyed my 3 children's programs from elementary through high school. Innumerable programs with beautiful songs like this one are imprinted in my mind, with the childrens sweet voices and enthusiasm still reverberating through the years like it was yesterday. You are lucky to be part of such programs. Thank you!

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