Second Grade - "(Seven Days of) Kwanzaa"

Kwanzaa from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hello again, Ms. Unger and Ms. Apanay's classes. Our other song is about Kwanzaa, a celebration of the African heritage of African-Americans, that runs from December 26 through January 1.

Second Grade - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Put a Little Love In Your Heart from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hi Second graders from Ms. Unger's and Ms. Apanay's class. The best way to memorize this song is to focus on the patterns in the lyrics. Which parts repeat? And which lines rhyme with each other?

Second Grade - "Al Quebrar La Piñata"

Al Quebrar la Piñata from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hi Secondgraders in Ms. Wong's and Ms. Phillip's class. This song about a Christmas piñata has parts that are in duple meter and parts that are in triple. Can you tell which is which?

First Grade - "Mambo, Santa, Mambo!"

Mambo, Santa, Mambo! from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

First Grade - "North Winds Blow"

North Winds Blow 2017 from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hello First Grade -- For "North Winds Blow," remember that we are going to play this song using body percussion, as well as singing. Interestingly, all three of the new "B sections" have the same body percussion part.

Kindergarten - "Must Be Santa"

Must Be Santa 2017 from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hi Kinders. Here is our other song, "Must Be Santa." Can you remember all the gestures that go along with this song?

5th Grade - "Hitotsu Toya"

Hi 5th graders. Here is the Japanese verse of "Hitotsu Toya" at performance speed, so you can sing along. I did not include the English verses, but you are also responsible for memorizing those.

And here is the pronunciation track for you in Japanese. It is a challenging language for non-native speakers, but, as always, the best way to to look for the patterns. It is actually just a few words.

Fourth Grade - "Pat-a-Pan"

Greetings 4th Graders -- here is the second of two songs we will be doing for our holiday show next month. The English verses should give you very little trouble, and as for the French, just give it a listen once or twice every day and you will be amazed how quickly you pick it up. Sorry I don't have a professional recording for you. The fact is, there is no version with cool drumming counterpoint -- except the one one that we do. :)

Third Grade - "Good King Wenceslas"

Here is the second of our two songs -- Good King Wenceslas. Use the video to learn the piece, but also use the sheet music provided here and in class.

Three Minute Recorder - "Good King Wenceslas 2017" from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Third Grade - Recorder Tutorial for D, E & F#

Good morning Third Graders. This little video will help you practice some of the notes we will need to play our holiday show material.

Three Minute Recorder - D, E & F# from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Roadrunner String Band - "This Land Is Your Land"

Roscomare Road Music - "This Land Is Your Land" from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hi String Band Members -- here is a tutorial that should help you learn this classic Woody Guthrie song.

Roadrunner String Band - Canon #5

Roscomare Road Music - "Canon Exercise #5 - for Ukes from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Third Grade - "African Noel"

Three Minute Recorder - African Noel from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hey third grade. Here's a video that talks about how to create an improv for "African Noel." Remember -- you all need to know how to play the response. As for the improv, I will be looking for 8 to 10 brave musicians who wish to "give their testimony."

Fifth Grade - "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena"

Hi fifth graders -- our first holiday show song is "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena." It was written in 1941 by Issachar Miron and became a hit song for the Weavers shortly after WWII.

Many of you already do an excellent job with the Hebrew pronunciations in the first verse, but if you need some help I am also including a pronunciation track.

How to tune your Ukulele

It occurs to me that some of you who are taking the ukulele home for the Thanksgiving break and some of you others players might appreciate a little guidance as to how to keep the instruments in tune -- so here you go!

Wonderland Avenue Music - Ukulele Tuning from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Fourth Grade - "Zemer Atik"

Hello again 4th graders -- here's our other song "Zemir Atik." As I told you in class, the melody is very old. The words which were probably added more recently mean: "We will return again to an ancient melody and the song will linger on. When we raise our glasses together our eyes and hearts will be bright. How good are our tents because there's dancing there. How good are our tents, still we return to an ancient melody." Once again I am supplying you with a vocal music track and the words. Hopefully you will find a moment this week in your tents between the dancing the the glass raising to give it a listen. Happy Thanksgiving!

Second Grade - "S'vivon"

Hello second grade -- here is our first of two holiday songs, "S'vivon." Click on the play button on the black bar below to listen the recording and click the lyric page to make it bigger. Apologies for my froggie voice!

Kindergarten - "Oh Hanukkah"

Oh Hanukkah from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hello students, teachers and families. Here is a practice video for "Oh Hanukkah," one of the two songs we will be singing at the Roscomare Road Winter Holiday show on December 15. As we discussed in class, I would like you to focus on the fact that some of the notes are low, some medium and some high and really concentrate on singing them correctly.

TK - "Ise Oluwa"

Hello again. In addition to video I will also be posting audio clips for the kids to practice to. Just click on the play button to hear the track, in this case "Ise Oluwa," a song from Nigeria. The words mean "nothing that the creator has made can every truly be destroyed."

The second track is to help the kids pronounce the words. We will also be working on this in class.

TK Holiday Show Practice Material - "Little Snowflake"

Greetings Friends - I will be posting practice material for the students to use at home and for teachers to use in the classroom for our Holiday show which will on December 14. More information about the show will be coming, but meanwhile, here is cute video with one of the two songs the TK's will be singing in the show. Hope you like it!