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