2nd Grade - "Snowflake Song"

Snowflake Song from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hello second graders -- here is a tutorial for the Northern California indian tune "Snowflake Song." The exact meaning of this song is unknown, so as we discussed in class we will be developing a B section involving dance, improvisation and this lovely poem by Robert Frost.

2nd Grade - "S'vivon"

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

4th Grade - "Pat-a-pan"

Greetings again 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. :)

4th Grade - "Arabian Coffee"

Good morning 4th graders -- below are two tutorial videos to help you learn the recorder part of Arabian Coffee. I recommend that you spend about six minutes a day practicing -- that's the same as looking at each of these video one time and playing along. You can always practice a bit more if you want. But doing it a little every day, instead of for a longer time once in while will make you a better player quickly. Happy Thanksgiving.

Three Minute Recorder - Arabian Coffee Part 1 from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Three Minute Recorder - Arabian Coffee Part 2 from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

3rd Grade - "African Noel"

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

Hello again 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."

3rd Grade - "Jingle Bells"

Three Minute Recorder - Jingle Bells from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hi Third Grade. Most of you can probably figure out "Jingle Bells" on your own, but I thought I would throw this up with the lyrics as well.

5th Grade - "T'zena, T'zena, T'zena"

Hi again Fifth graders -- our other holiday show song is "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena." It was written in 1941 by Issachar Miron and became a hit song for the Weavers, featuring Pete Seeger, 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.

5th Grade - "Turn, Turn, Turn"

Hi Fifth Graders -- here is a video with the lyrics to "Turn, Turn, Turn," written by Pete Seeger as performed by the Byrds. I don't know if I mentioned it in class but the words are over 5000 years old!

Kindergarten - "(Seven Days of) Kwanzaa"

Kwanzaa from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hello Ms. Lilly's and Ms. Rauch'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.

Kindergarden - "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 - "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!