June 2007: The More We Get Together

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Here’s what’s in this month’s newsletter (click a chapter title to go straight to that chapter):
Collaborators' Corner
June Songwriting Challenge
June Poll: Let's Get Together!



COLLABORATORS' CORNER

One of my favorite movies of all time is the original version of The Parent Trap. If you have ever seen it, you know the song Let's Get Together. Before Sharon and Susan sing "Let's Get Together," they talk about working together musically...

"You give a little, and I'll give a little. We'll compromise!"

When you write a song by yourself, you can do anything you want. You can write about anything you want, in any way you want.

When you work with someone else to write a song, it's called collaboration. The songwriters are called collaborators. Collaboration is sometimes hard because you don't always get to do things exactly your own way. But your friend will have some great ideas too, and together you can come up with something you never would have imagined on your own.

And besides, writing with a friend is really fun!

In fact, the songwriters who wrote the song Let's Get Together were two brothers, Richard and Robert Sherman. Together, they have written so many great songs, including all the songs from Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book (two of my other all-time favorites). The Sherman Brothers are still writing songs today. They have been writing hit songs together for 56 YEARS!

Here is a clip of "Let's Get Together" from the movie The Parent Trap:


JUNE SONGWRITING CHALLENGE

Try this:

Get together with a friend (or two or three) and see if you can write a song together.

Don't know what to write about?
Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Write about your favorite thing you like to do with your friend(s)
  
• Write about an adventure you and your friend(s) wish you could have together
• Write about the things you have in common and why you are friends

Don't forget!:

• Always listen to your friend's ideas
• Always share your own ideas
• Always be kind when you are working together
• Always celebrate your work!

And of course, you can always enter your song in the I Wrote a Hit Song! contest when it's finished!


JUNE POLL: LET'S GET TOGETHER!