MOISD and WMO Songwriter Workshops

The MOISD together with the Wheatland Music Organization have sponsored songwriter's workshops in selected Young Authors Say YES! To Technology classrooms during the week of May 14th. This effort is funded in part through the Technology Literacy Challenge Grant, The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Wheatland Music Community Education Committee.


John McCutcheon worked with Brenda Donley's first grade class as they discovered the elements of a song.	Students brainstormed ideas and wrote their song: "First Grade Isn't So Bad"

On to Mrs. Krieger's fourth grade for more of the same.	A student worked as the "scribe" while the class wrote the song about working together.
Here is Mrs. Krieger's class song. Two heads are better than one, Four heads are better than two In every situation it's multiplication I work better with you. You can't have a baseball game If you only have one You can't play checkers or Monopoly How're you gonna have any fun? You can't have a birthday party If you only have one You can't hug or kiss or have a family How're you gonna have any fun? You can't shake hands or have any friends If you only have one You can't have a conversation or even an argument How're you gonna have any fun? Two heads are better than one, Four heads are better than two In every situation it's multiplication I work better with you.

The whole schools gathered in the gym for a concert.	Students got up to help sing the song that they wrote with John McCutcheon that morning.



The entire student body learned to sign the folk song that they just learned to sing in both English and Russian.

Mrs. Cornell's Fourth Grade class wrote and got up and helped John sing this song about the frog race that took place the very same day. They incorporated the Michigan frogs and toads that they study about each year and included the sounds that the frogs make. The Frog Race Here at Evart Elementary every spring We have a frog race, we have a frog race In the ponds and creeks we can hear them sing, In the frog race, in the frog race We have a little Spring Peeper and fat ol toad Lining them up on down the road Argh, mar a, peep, peep, peep Look out! A frog’s blowing down the street In a line and circle they are ready to go In a frog race, in a frog race Hear Mrs. Cornell say “Ready Set Blow!” In the frog race, in the frog race We got a gray tree frog and a bull frog too Line them up two by two Argh, mar a, peep, peep, peep Look out! A frog’s blowing down the street One little leopard frog all alone In the frog race, in the frog race Saw his chance and made a break for home In the frog race, in the frog race We got a wood frog, chorus frog and a green It’s the very best frog race you ever have seen Argh, mar a, peep, peep, peep Look out! A frog’s blowing down the street You know they start as a tadpole in our tank Before the frog race, before the frog race And end up singing on a river bank After the frog race, after the frog race It might seem silly and it might seem strange But it’s perfectly natural the way things change Argh, mar a, peep, peep, peep Look out! A frog’s blowing down the street
Mrs. Merten's third grade class found that they had dogs in common. They had fun writing this song about a puppy but took the approach of writing it from the dog's perspective. Brand New Kid There’s a brand new kid in the dog house It’s the very first one for me There’s a brand new kid in the dog house And I’m as happy as I can be I’ll train him how to throw me the Frisbee How to rub my belly down There’s a brand new kid in the dog house And I’m the happiest puppy in town There’s a brand new kid in the dog house And everything is new There’s a brand new kid in the dog house There’s so much that he can’t do I gotta teach him how to play hide and seek How to snuggle when we lie down There’s a brand new kid in the dog house And I’m the happiest puppy in town There’s a brand new kid in the dog house Time to walk him down the street There’s a brand new kid in the dog house We’ll get home and go to sleep Have to teach him how to fetch and how to wrestle And how to tickle me up and down There’s a brand new kid in the dog house And I’m the happiest puppy in town I think I’ll call him “Trouble” ‘Cause he does things that I don’t like Like squirting me with squirt guns Pulling my tail And riding me on his bike! There’s a brand new kid in the dog house And everybody ought to have one There’s a brand new kid in the dog house Sure they’re trouble, but they can be fun They’re not too smart and they’re hard to train But they’re fun to have around There’s a brand new kid in the dog house And I’m the happiest puppy in town

	John began each songwriting session by sharing examples of other songs he has written with students in other schools.
	Mrs. Vennix's fourth grade students warmed up by singing along.
	They decided to write a song about giving homework to other people for a change. Students began to brainstorm about the things they'd like to teach the adults in their lives.
Here is the song Mrs. Vennix's class wrote with John: Everybody’s Got Something to Learn Everybody’s got something to learn Maybe now this is your turn There’s amazing things too that kids can teach you Everybody’s got something to learn Even if you are a teacher You could learn a lot from me Give us a break when assignments you make Just think how much better it’d be Even if you are a dad You could learn a lot from me We could play a lot more if you’d help me with my chores Just think how much better it’d be Even if you are a big brother You could learn a lot from me You may be strong but we’ve gotta get along Just think how much better it’d be Even if you are a principal You could learn a lot from me Depending what you do is how I’ll treat you Just think how much better it’d be Even if you are the president You could learn a lot from me Just live by the rules that we have in our schools Just think how much better it’d be Everybody’s got something to learn Maybe now this is your turn There’s amazing things too that kids can teach you Everybody’s got something to learn
	Mrs. Grochowalski's 4th grade was next. They were full of ideas!
	Too proud of their newly written song to stay seated, this group of 4th graders stood and sang about their involvement with the Rails to Trails project.
Mrs. Grochowalski's 4th Graders together with John McCutcheon wrote: On the Trail of the Old White Pine From Comstock Park to Cadillac On the trail of the old White Pine That railroad track, we’re taking her back One step and one mile at a time. The trains used to come here to our town To ship out potatoes and beans Brought us stuff that we need Now it’s covered with weeds So we’re making a space that is green All up and down our two mile stretch With our bags and gloves and our boots We pick up litter and papers and trash Happiness is our pursuit From Reed City to Big Rapids On the trail of the old White Pine That railroad track, we’re taking her back One step and one mile at a time. For 92 miles I think of the ones Who ran and who rode on the trains Someday I know I’ll be one of those Who’s remembered again and again From Howard City to Stanwood On the trail of the old White Pine That railroad track, we’re taking her back One step and one mile at a time. From Comstock Park to Cadillac On the trail of the old White Pine That railroad track, we’re taking her back One step and one mile at a time.
	Mrs. G's class got up during the all-school concert and helped John sing their song.
	The rest of the kids couldn't help but join in...

The Reed City Multiage 1/2 classroom and the 3/4 classroom sent students to participate in the songwriters workshops. The group pictured here is mostly 2nd graders.
A good song doesn't have to be complicated. John shows the students a simple pattern or template that is easy to follow and allows everyone contribute a verse. If you keep the second and fourth line in a verse the same, you can add to the song forever!
The students had recently experienced a fishing outing together and wanted to write about it. They decided to "turn the world upside down" and think like a fish. Here is their song: Why Do You Want To Catch Me? There’s a whole lot of fish in the ocean There’s a whole lot of fish in the sea There’s a whole lot of fish in the creaks and the ponds So why do you want to catch me? Don’t use a worm, don’t use a shark There’s a whole lot of fish in the sea Gotta use a burger or a pepperoni pizza If you want to catch me Do you think I’m stupid? There’s a whole lot of fish in the sea Like I’m gonna put that hook in my mouth You’re never going to catch me I won’t take your worm on a hook There’s a whole lot of fish in the sea “Wait, what’s that! OH, you've got my tail!” I guess you finally caught me. Why do you want to catch me? I’m slimy on the outside…. Why do you want to catch me? I’m icky in the inside… Why do you want to catch me? I might be a piranha… Why do you want to catch me? I might be an electric eel……zzztttttttt! Why do you want to catch me? Hey, I've got gummy worms…. Why do you want to catch me? Maybe I'll put one on a hook and catch me a big one! Why do you want to catch me..........
The next group at Reed City was mostly 4th grade students. They seemed to have one main thing on their minds and that's just what they wrote their song about............. Summer Vacation Only 13 days and I’ll be free for Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more school lunch and work for me Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more lockers and no more desks No more detention and no more pests No more bullies and no more rules Just 13 more days at school before my Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more field trips far away on my Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more classroom movies in the middle of the day on my Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation I won’t see rodent until next September And all of that math that I won’t remember I’ll miss my buddies and my girl friend I won’t see them until the summer’s end Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more shoes and no more rules on my Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more homework, no more school Going to leave my knapsack on my shelf I decide all the books that I read myself Going to eat pizza every day Going be free for 70 days!! Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation (now guess who wrote this verse...) No more 40 minute lunches and screaming kids on my Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more explaining all the things I did Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation No more science fair projects or gum on my shoe I got 2 months for the things I want to do No more faculty meetings that go on for hours I’ve got quiet days to work on my flowers on my Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye It’s Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation

Mecosta Elementary, May 15, 2001	Evart Elementary, May 16, 2001
Stanwood Elementary, May 17, 2001	G.T. Norman Elementary, May 18, 2001
Chippewa Hills High School, Open to Public, May 19, 2001


In the afternoon we moved to Reed City High School for the concert. It was a beautiful day for the elementary students to walk over.

John got some volunteers to help him teach the group the Russian Folksong. Then the whole group joined in after they learned to sign the song.

	John demonstrated that you don't have to have a musical instrument in hand to make music. You can make music with whatever you have! Amazing sounds followed!

The Frog Race

Everybody’s Got Something to Learn

On the Trail of the Old White Pine