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!)

February: The Very First SFK Club Newsletter

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the very first SFK CLUB newsletter! Each month, I’ll post a newsletter with news, contest information, a cool website or two, artist quote, and any other fun, random things that come up. I hope you’ll enjoy it and if you have fun, please be sure to tell your friends to join the club! If you would like to have the newsletter delivered to your email address each month, please visit the Songwriting for Kids Website and join the email list at the top of the page. There are lots of fun things to do while you're at the website, too!

Here’s what’s in this month’s newsletter:
February is Black History Month
Too Cold Outside? Register for Summer Camp!
I Wrote a Hit Song! Contest
Get Quoted on SFK.COM!
Artist Quote of the Month
Out in the Cold to Help Others

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

As I’m sure many of you know, each year during the month of February, we celebrate the history and contributions of African Americans in our culture. Here are a couple fun things you can do to learn & explore online:

1. Click here to take a journey on the Underground Railroad with National Geographic


2. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE jazz music. Many of the great jazz musicians of our time have been African Americans. Click here to learn about some of my favorites like Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker on PBS Kids. Be sure to play the “Join the Jazz Band” game. It is *really* fun!

3. On my blog, Please Come Flying, I am writing about African American writers and musicians every Monday and Wednesday this month. In fact, I started early, so there are already 2 Black History Month posts there now. Please come visit…I’d love to see you there!


TOO COLD OUTSIDE? REGISTER FOR SUMMER CAMP!

Registration for the Waynflete (Portland, Maine) 2-week summer camp is now open. The camp will run from July 9-July 20. Visit Waynflete's website for more information and to register. Don’t wait too long…there is only ONE session available at Waynflete this summer and it may fill up fast!

Registration for Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) 1-week summer camp is not yet open, but if you would like to secure your spot early, you can send me an email, and I will put you on the waiting list. When registration opens, preference will be given to those on the list on a first-come, first-serve basis (in order of when you signed up). The camp will be held July 23-27 from 8:30-12:30pm.

Click here for more information on Songwriting for Kids Summer Camps.


I WROTE A HIT SONG CONTEST!

If you are age 12 and under, you can enter the I Wrote a Hit Song! Contest. This month’s challenge? Write either a Color Song or Picture Song. For instructions visit the Activity Room. One lucky winner will have his or her song published on the SFK website in March!


GET QUOTED ON SFK.COM

If you are a kid and have ever attended a Songwriting for Kids workshop at your school or summer camp, or if you’re a parent or teacher who enjoyed sending your kid(s) to a SFK workshop, I’d love to quote you on SongwritingForKids.com. Simply send me an email and tell me what you (or your child) liked about the workshop. Please include your name, age, and where & when you attended Songwriting for Kids. If your quote gets picked, I’ll publish it on the website, AND send you a special prize in the mail! Visit Songwriting for Kids to see what some parents already had to say!


ARTIST QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong (jazz trumpeter and singer)


OUT IN THE COLD TO HELP OTHERS

It’s coooold outside (at least it is here in Maine)! Remember on these cold days that there are many people who don’t have enough money to heat their house, or to have good, healthy meals. In my community, Freeport Community Services is having a Food & Fuel Drive to raise money for people in need. February 2nd & 3rd, Sue Mack and Rev. John Ward-Diorio are going to STAND OUT IN THE COLD FOR 24 HOURS! to remind people driving by that there are a lot of people who need your help this time of year. Look for similar drives in your community & ask what you can do to help. Don’t worry…you won’t have to stand outside in the cold all night! But maybe you could bring canned goods, or drop $5.00 of your allowance in the Fuel for Heat donation bucket. For more information on this particular drive in Freeport, please visit the UCC website.


Well, that wraps up the February newsletter!
I’m so glad you’ve joined the SFK CLUB. We’re going to have a lot of fun together!

Always leave ‘em singing,
Josephine