September 2007: Picture This!

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Here’s what’s in this month’s newsletter (click a chapter title to go straight to that chapter):
Josephine's New CD! American Songs Volume 2
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick Story Writing Contest
September Songwriting Challenge
September Poll: Say Cheese!



Josephine's New CD! American Songs Volume 2

I've been working hard all summer on a new CD, American Songs Volume 2. It's a collection of some of my favorite old traditional songs, including "Oh Susanna," "Gum Tree Canoe," and "This Land Is Your Land." I'm so excited that it's finished, and I hope you will like it! There are even three preview tracks that you can listen to for free:

• Oh Susanna
• Unclouded Day
• Oh Sister

There's also a chance to win a free CD on the Oh Susanna page at my blog, Please Come Flying. You can order American Songs Volume 2 right now on Amazon.com and soon, it will be available on iTunes and maybe even in some stores near you! I hope you'll enjoy the songs!


The Mysteries of Harris Burdick Story Writing Contest

I know some of you are quite familiar with the very cool book, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (you can click here to hear a couple songs that students have written using pictures from the book).

Well, I was excited to find that there is now a brand new Mysteries of Harris Burdick Story Writing Contest for grades 2-8. I know many of you are just bursting with Harris Burdick stories...I hope you'll write one down and enter the contest!

(You can also visit my blog, Please Come Flying, to read more about the book.)


September Songwriting Challenge: Picture This!

Inspiration = something that gives you an idea, feeling, or thought

Songwriters find inspiration all around them. We get ideas from past memories, from nature, from the people around us, even from daydreaming. And just like the Harris Burdick pictures have inspired stories, pictures are also a great place to look for inspiration for a song.

This month's songwriting challenge: Use one of the pictures below as inspiration for your song

Tips:

• Choose one picture to start with
  
• What does the picture make you think of?
  
• How does it make you feel?
• Is there a story you can tell about the picture?
  
• How many details can you notice? Do you think the water in the first picture is cold? Do you think the squirrel's fur is soft? How many colors can you see in the flower? If you want, make a list of every detail that you see and imagine.
  
• Don't forget to include some of those details in the song.

About the photographer: Michelle Zlimen (Micky) is a terrific photographer from Minnesota. She took the photo that is on the cover of my new CD, American Songs vol. 2 (you can see it here), and she took all three photos shown below. If you want to be inspired by more of Micky's photography, please visit her website. If you write a song about one of her photos, you can also send her a message. I bet she'd love to hear from you!

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

Photo #1: Dreams of Summer

Photo #2: The Cute Thief

Photo #3: A Peek at What Is to Come

September Poll: Say Cheese!

What is your favorite family picture? Post a comment here to tell us about it.

(I have a lot of favorites, but one of mine is a picture of my 2-year old niece, Cella, after she spread an entire jar of Vaseline all over her face & head! If I can find it in my box of photos, I'll post it here for you...it's great!)