Link to YouTube Post

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday - very quickly, a few people have asked me for the YouTube link to our recording of Don't Stop Believin'. The site link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvQgYVYNOY0. You can access it by clicking here.

Enjoy the break!

-Mr. C

It's Finally Here!

I'm so excited to be able to share with you the recording of Don't Stop Believin' by Journey, performed by our first and second graders, as well as members of the after-school chorus. One of our parents is still working to make the resolution a bit clearer, but I just couldn't wait to share it with you! Please feel free to comment, and share with friends and family! Enjoy!
-Mr.C

UPDATE: Don't Stop Believing

Hi Everyone ! Just an update - the recording is ALMOST ready to post! One of our very talented parents is finalizing it, so it should be ready to go up soon. Once it's up, you'll be able to access it as a YouTube file through my blog.

"Don't Stop Believing" Recording

Reminder!!

First and Second Grade Students

Friday, December 4, 09

8:00am in the auditorium (prompt)

Students will be dismissed to their classrooms at 8:40am.

Video release forms went home via backpack mail this week and should be handed in as your child enters the auditorium on Friday morning. Additional release forms will be available at the door if need be!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

-Mr. C

UPDATE: Winter's Carol

For all of Second Graders who have asked me about a recording of "Winter's Carol" by Tori Amos, you can now listen to it by clicking here! (The lyrics to the song can also be found in the original post) -Mr. C

UPDATE: WINTER CONCERT DATES

Just an update:  The Second Grade Winter Concert will take place on Tuesday, December 22, 09 @ 9:00 am in the auditorium. Please see below for all dates:

Entire First Grade
Thursday, December 17, 09
9:15am in the Auditorium

Kindergarten: Pederson & Lippo
Friday, December 18, 09
9:00am in the Auditorium

Kindergarten: Bouteillon & Ramsey
Friday, December 18, 09
10:00am in the Auditorium

Kindergarten: Richmond/Morano & DiMassa
Monday, December 21, 09
9:00am in the Auditorium

Entire Second Grade
Tuesday, December 22, 09
9:00am in the Auditorium

Lower Grade Winter Concert Dates!

Dear Families and Friends,

I'm so excited to announce the following holiday concert dates for grades K, 1, & 2.

Entire First Grade
Thursday, December 17, 09
9:15am in the Auditorium

Kindergarten: Pederson & Lippo
Friday, December 18, 09
9:00am in the Auditorium

Kindergarten: Bouteillon & Ramsey
Friday, December 18, 09
10:00am in the Auditorium

Kindergarten: Richmond/Morano & DiMassa
Monday, December 21, 09
9:00am in the Auditorium

PLEASE NOTE: We are finalizing the Second Grade Concert date. I'll post is as soon as possible!
Hope to see you there!

-Mr. C

P.S. 58 After School Chorus Concert!

Mark your calendars! The P.S. 58 After School Chorus is excited to perform it's first concert with the After School Orchestra on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 @ 4:30pm in the Auditorium! We will be performing choral arrangements of pieces by Lady Gaga, Journey, Tori Amos, Greg Laswell, and more !! Hope to see you there. -Mr. C

"A Winter's Carol" by Tori Amos

Second Grade students have started rehearsing this BEAUTIFUL new song by Tori Amos. To listen to it, click here! Remember, we are not singing the middle section of the song, so you won't find the lyrics below.

A winter's carol
First song of the robin
A winter's carol
I go through the land
And I can hear it
Ringing out
Ringing out
From pine to oak
Bringing out with the December snow
Ringing out
A gift of old
Wrapped in ribbons of gold
For the whole world
For the whole world

Through a midwinter clearing
a forest greets the snowy evening
Year after year, the holly king
passes the torch as it was intended
through a midwinter clearing
a final kiss and a new beginning
kiss on queen wearing his wreath
soon with the sun she will reascend
through a midwinter clearing
the forest greets a snowy evening
with wands of yew, the holly king
passes the torch as it was intended
passes the torch as it was intended

A winter's carol
the song of the robin
the sun is reborn
from the starry heavens
A winter's carol
echoes the sound of wonder
and I can hear it
ringing out
Ringing out,
From pine to oak
Bringing out, with the December snow
Ringing out
A gift of old
Wrapped in ribbons of gold
For the whole world
For the whole world
For the whole world

Ringing out,
winter's carol
Ringing out,
winter's carol
Ringing out,
winter's

Un éléphant se balançait

"Un éléphant" was introduced to French Dual-Language Kindergarten students in the beginning on the year. Not only is fun to sing, it helps us remember our numbers in French as well! To listen to an mp3 recording of this song (the lyrics are a bit different, but hopefully the melody will help) click here.


Un éléphant se balançait
Sur une toile, toile, toile
Toile d’araignée
Il a trouvé ce jeu
Tellement amusant
Que bientôt
Que bientôt

Deux éléphants se balançaient
Sur une toile, toile, toile,
Toile d’araignée
Ils ont trouvé ce jeu
Tellement amusant
Que bientôt
Que bientôt

(and continue counting!)
(et continuez de compter!)

Une Souris Verte

French dual-language kindergarten students sang the song "Une Souris Verte" (A Green Mouse). Below you'll find the lyrics to the song. To view a line by line translation in English, as well as listen to an mp3 recording of this song, click here

Une souris verte

Une souris verte
Qui courait dans l'herbe.
Je l'attrape par la queue,
Je la montre à ces messieurs.
Ces messieurs me disent :
Trempez-la dans l'huile,
Trempez-la dans l'eau,
Ça fera un escargot
Tout chaud.
Je la mets dans un tiroir,
Elle me dit : Il fait trop noir.
Je la mets dans mon chapeau,
Elle me dit : Il fait trop chaud.

Seussical the Musical!

In October, Kindergartners and First graders read two of the most famous stories of all time: "Green Eggs and Ham" & "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss. We learned two VERY fun songs (about these two stories) from the Broadway Musical, as well as some choreography! Some families have asked me about the original cast album, which can be found on iTunes as well as on Amazon.com.

Winter by Tori Amos

Second graders have been working on an incredibly beautiful song by one of my favorite musicians of all time, Winter by Tori Amos. Here's a LIVE performance of this BEAUTIFUL song.



Listen closely, - what do you hear? Think about what it sounds like when we sing this song in class, and what Tori Amos sounds like. How are we singing it like her? What things does she do differently in this video?

Here are the lyrics. I hope you enjoy ! - Mr. C

"Winter"

Snow can wait
I forgot my mittens
Wipe my nose
Get my new boots on
I get a little warm in my heart
When I think of winter
I put my hand in my father's glove
I run off
Where the drifts get deeper
Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice
"Your must learn to stand up for yourself
Cause I can't always be around"
He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear

Boys get discovered as winter melts
Flowers competing for the sun
Years go by and I'm here still waiting

Withering where some snowman was
Mirror mirror where's the crystal palace
But I only can see myself
Skating around the truth who I am
But I know dad the ice is getting thin

When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear

Hair is grey
And the fires are burning
So many dreams
On the shelf
You say I wanted you to be proud of me
I always wanted that myself

He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses have gone ahead
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change
My dear

Les Poèmes de Michelle by Teri Moïse

Discovered by one of our 2nd grade French students after listening to Je Serai Là, here are the lyrics to Les Poèmes de Michelle, one more song by Haitian-American artist Teri Moïse. Hopefully you've had the opportunity read a little bit about the singer in our last post.

To continue to learn about this artist, click here. Pour en savoir plus sur cette artiste en français, cliquez ici.

Check out the video


I can't wait to hear what you think! -Mr. C

Les Poèmes de Michelle
Michelle veut croire
En l'innocence que sa vie ne permet pas
Si jeune trop mûre
Elle connaît déjà la faim les nuits dures

Elle s'écrit une vie
Pour pouvoir tout changer, changer

{Refrain :}
Dans les poèmes de Michelle
Les enfants ont des ailes
Pour voler
C'est quand la nuit tombe
Qu'ils deviennent colombes
Pour rêver, rêver

S'enfuir de tout
Le crayon sera sa clef
Les feuilles son issue
Un vers une rime les mots s'unissent pour
Protéger la victime

Il lui faut ces mots
Pour pouvoir tout changer, changer

{Refrain}

Avec ces mots si beaux
Elle voudrait tout changer, changer

{Refrain}

Je Serai là by Teri Moïse

Here are the lyrics to the song we've been working on in the 2nd Grade French classes, (one of my all-time favorites), "Je serai là" by Haitian-American chanteuse Teri Moïse. For information about the artist, click here. Check out the music video of this song performed by the artist herself!



You'll notice that we've changed just a few of the words in the refrain, which repeats a few times. Enjoy!
- Mr. C

Oublie tes erreurs et tes peurs
Je les efface
Et chaque faux pas que tu feras
Je tomberai à ta place
Mon seul plaisir sera de t'offrir une vie idéale
Sans peine et sans mal

{Refrain:}
J'ai découvert qui je suis
Tout a changé le jour où nous sommes devenus amis
Et si jamais le monde t'es trop cruel
Je serai là toujours pour toi

Que tous tes amours soient sûrs
Tes amis sincères
Pour toi un domaine
Où la haine est la seule étrangère

Je ferai un monde où tout ira bien
Tu seras jamais seul tu manqueras de rien

{Refrain}

Je voudrais pouvoir tout savoir
Pour te donner une vision plus claire
De ce mystère que l'on appelle la vie

Mon seul désir sera de t'offrir une vie idéale
Sans peine et sans mal

Dans la jungle

Le lion s'endort ce soir

Dans la jungle terrible jungle
Le lion s'endort ce soir
Et les hommes tranquilles s'endorment
Le lion s'endort ce soir

Wimboe wimboe wimboe

Tout est sage dans le Village
Le lion s'endort ce soir
Plus de rage plus de carnage
Le lion s'endort ce soir

wimboe wimboe wimboe

L'indomptable le redoutable
Le lion s'endort ce soir
Viens ma belle viens ma gazelle
Le lion s'endort ce soir

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

Don't Stop Believin'
Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time

Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people (x3)

Welcome!

Welcome to the new PS 58 lower grade music BLOG, your resource for song lyrics, links to recordings you can listen to at home, recordings of ourselves making music together, updates on what's happening in class, in the program, around town and much more! I hope you will find this blog helpful!

-Mr. C.