August 2007: What Nonsense!

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Here’s what’s in this month’s newsletter (click a chapter title to go straight to that chapter):
I Wrote a Hit Song! Contest Winner
August Songwriting Challenge
August Poll: Nonsense Schmonsense!

I Wrote a Hit Song! Contest Winner

Congratulations to Kaylin, age 9 from North Brunswick, New Jersey...Kaylin wrote a hit song!

It's called "Kids Rule" and you can view the lyrics at the I Wrote a Hit Song! webpage. I think you'll like it! Please stop by and leave a comment for Kaylin to let her know how much you enjoyed her song!


August Songwriting Challenge: What Nonsense!

There's nothing quite as fun and goofy as a good nonsense song. One of my most recent favorites is Hoodoo Voodoo. The words were written by Woody Guthrie, but he never finished writing the music before he died. So musicians Billy Bragg and Wilco got together a few years ago and wrote the music for him. You can listen to Hoodoo Voodoo on iTunes...what do you think?

Here are some of the lyrics:

Hoodoo voodoo,
Seven twenty, one two;
Haystacks, hostacks,
A B C.
High poker, low joker,
Ninety nine a Zero;
Sidewalk, streetcar,
Dance a goofy dance.

Blackbirdy, bluejay;
One two three four;
Trash back, jump back,
E F G.
Biggy hat, little hat,
Fattyman, skinnyman;
Grasshopper, greensnake,
Hold my hand.

Hoodoo voodoo
Chooka chooky choochoo;
True blue, how true;
Kissle me now.
Click here for the rest of the Hoodoo Voodoo lyrics.

August Songwriting Challenge:
Can you write a nonsense song?

There are 3 keys to writing a good nonsense song:

1. RHYME: Give your song some rhyming words (and remember, they don't have to be sensible). Rhymes will make it fun to sing and easy to remember even if the words don't make any "sense."
   
2. RHYTHM: Give the song a strong beat & make sure you can clap (or dance) along.
   
3. HAVE FUN!: Be your goofiest, silliest, most creative self.
   

August Poll: Nonsense Schmonsense!

July 2007: I Love a Parade!

Do you know a friend who would like Songwriting for Kids?
Click here to send them a link to this newsletter!

Here’s what’s in this month’s newsletter (click a chapter title to go straight to that chapter):
I Wrote a Hit Song! Contest Winner
July Songwriting Challenge
July Poll: Parade Perfection


I Wrote a Hit Song! Contest Winner

Congratulations to Sophie, age 6 from Bailey Island, Maine...Sophie wrote a hit song!

It's called "Some Kind" and you can view the very fun (and colorful) lyrics at the I Wrote a Hit Song! webpage. Please stop by and leave a comment for Sophie to let her know how much you enjoyed her song!


July Songwriting Challenge: Hit Parade!

One of my favorite things about July 4th (besides the fireworks!) is the parade. I love everything about a parade...the firetrucks, the marching bands, and I especially like when they throw candy!

So here's your songwriting challenge for July:
Can you write a song about a parade?

Here are some HINTS:

• Follow the parade with your song
• Each line can be the next thing in the parade

If a dog comes first, the first line is about the dog.

If a frog follows the dog, the second line is about the frog.

If a hog follows the frog, the third line is about the hog.


Here are some EXAMPLES:

76 trombones: This is a great song about a parade. It was written in 1957 by M. Willson for the musical "The Music Man". (Click here to watch a video of the song and dance from the musical.) Here are the first 2 verses:

Seventy six trombones led the big parade
With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand
They were followed by rows and rows of the finest virtuosos;
the cream of every famous band.

Seventy six trombones caught the morning sun
With a hundred and ten cornets right behind
There were more than a thousand reeds springing up like weeds,
There were horns of every shape and kind.

The Court of King Caractacus: I used to sing this song all the time in grade school. Click here to watch a video and hear all the lyrics of this song. See if you can keep up with the lyrics and follow everything in the parade!

July Poll: Parade Perfection