Winter Wonderland 2015 - Ms. Epstein and Ms.Lamoreaux's Class - "African Noel"

Three Minute Recorder - African Noel from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hey third grade magnet. Here's a video that talks about how to create an improv for "African Noel." Remember -- you all need to know how to play the response. As for the improvised call, I will be looking for 8 to 10 brave musicians who wish to "give their testimony."

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Ms. Epstein and Ms.Lamoreaux's Class - "Holly and the Ivy"

Three Minute Recorder - Holly and the Ivy from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hey Third Grade Magnet. Here's the recorder part for the song we learned this week. You want to at least be able to play the drone, but I will also need about a dozen people to play the melody -- so get busy!

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Ms. Weiss and Ms. Salazar's Class - "Jingle Bells"

Three Minute Recorder - Jingle Bells from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Hi Third Grade Home School. Most of you can already play "Jingle Bells," but I thought I would throw this up there any way. So get busy.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Ms. Weiss and Ms. Salazar's Class - "Ahri Rang"

Hello 3rd Grade Home School -- this famous folk tune from Korea, "Ahri-Rang," is not a holiday song exactly, but we have played it in the past as a way of celebrating the culture of many of our classmates here Wonderland. How many of you will play recorder on this song? That depends on how many of you learn it over the break. It is beautiful and challenging, and I plan to do something quite special with it for the show.

Three Minute Recorder - Ahri Rang from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Austin, Mr. Ellis and Ms. Ryan's classes - "Happy Christmas/War is Over" Part 3

Wonderland Avenue Music - "Happy Christmas/War is Over" (in F) - Part 3 from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Here is the final of the three videos. This part of the song uses 5 chords, but if you notice only one of them -- Eb6 -- is completely new to you.

Now you can play the whole song. Remember to keep the strumming patterns simple. And once you start to get comfortable, trying singing and playing.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Austin, Mr. Ellis and Ms. Ryan's classes - "Happy Christmas/War is Over" Part 2

Wonderland Avenue Music - "Happy Christmas/War is Over" (in F) - Part 2 from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

In the second of the three videos we are introduced to two new chords, Bb6 and Cm, and repeat the F. That's great thing about music. Once a chord or a technique is part of your vocabulary you can use it in other places.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Austin, Mr. Ellis and Ms. Ryan's classes - "Happy Christmas/War is Over" Part 1

Wonderland Avenue Music - "Happy Christmas/War Is Over" (in F) - Part 1 from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Here is the first of three videos teaching the chords for Happy Christmas/War is Over. It uses the three chords we have been focusing on in class.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Austin, Mr. Ellis and Ms. Ryan's classes - tuning your uke

Hi Fourth Graders -- Our other holiday song is John Lennon's "Happy Christmas/War is Over." I have broken the song into three parts for ukuleles to practice. Of course none of them will be useful if your uke is not in tune, so I have posted this first video to show you how to deal with that. There is also a uke tuner link embedded on this page. Look in the upper left hand corner and click the words "Uke Tuner."

Wonderland Avenue Music - Ukulele Tuning from Richard Lawton on Vimeo.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Austin, Mr. Ellis and Ms. Ryan's classes - "Pat-a-pan"

Greetings 4th Graders -- here is the first of two songs we will be doing for our holiday show, Winter Wonderland next month. The English verses should give you very little trouble, and as for the French, just give it a listen once or twice every day and you will be amazed how quickly you pick it up. Sorry I don't have a professional recording for you. The fact is, there is no version with cool drumming counterpoint -- except the one one that we do. :)

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Galvez and Ms. Brier's class - "Turn, Turn, Turn"

And here is our other song, "Turn, Turn, Turn." We will be performing it in the same key as it is performed in this version by the 60's Laurel Canyon band, the Byrds, so just sing along.

Did I mention in class that the words to this song are over 5000 years old?

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Galvez and Ms. Brier's class - "Huron Carol"

And here is the song in its entirety. Sorry I don't have a professional recording on this one. The fact is no elementary school kids are even attempting this song -- except you guys. So rock on, Wonderland!

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Galvez and Ms. Brier's class - pronunciation for "Huron Carol"

Greetings Students of Mr. Galvez's and Ms. Brier's class -- this the pronunciation track for Huron Carol, one of the most beautiful and challenging pieces we will be doing this year. Learning the Wendat verse is an exercise in concentration that will take patience and a little work every day. Listen to recording a few times and practice the words in Wendat and French.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Earl and Mr. Oasay's class - "Hitotsu Toya"

And here is the Japanese verse song at performance speed, so you can sing along. I did not include the English verses, but you are also responsible for memorizing those.

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Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Earl and Mr. Oasay's class - Pronunciation for "Hitotsu Toya"

Hello again 5th graders. Here is another pronunciation track for you -- this one in Japanese. It is a challenging language for non-native speakers, but, as always, the best way to to look for the patterns. It is actually just a few words.

Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Earl and Mr. Oasay's class - "T'zena, T'zena, T'zena"

Here is "T'zena, T'zena, T'zena" in Hebrew and English. We will be doing the English verse as a three part canon, so concentrate on singing very precisely

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Winter Wonderland 2015 - Mr. Earl and Mr. Oasay's class - Pronunciation for "T'zena, T'zena, T'zena"

Hello Fifth Grade Magnet -- We are beginning the practice material on the blog with what will likely be the last song of our Winter Wonderland show. Listen to this practice track and practice the pronunciation of the Hebrew verse to the song (we will not be doing the Arabic version). Remember, you will need to have it memorized by show time -- just under one month from now.