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Houston Cinema Arts Festival and MacGregor Elementary

(posted by Paul Reisler) We had an amazing week--Donald Sosin and I wrote ten songs with kids at MacGregor Elementary in Houston--4 of them for the 1924 silent film version of Peter Pan and performed them all at the fabulous Miller Outdoor Theatre with the kids, some of the the music teachers from on drums, electric guitar and cello. Then Donnie, Joanna Seaton, the drummer, Ron Cole and I went down into the pit and provided the score for the film under the leadership of Donnie. I was so entranced by the film that i felt like a 2nd grader.

Our next residencies are in Charlottesville Nov 30-Dec 4 at Jackson-Via and Nov 7-11 at Murray Elementary. Free concerts are usually at 1:30 and 7:00. Check with the school for details.
Here's a video from Houston:

And the lyrics:
I forgot I hated school, I’m having so much fun
Failure’s so much stress, when I don’t do my best
So I’ve got a little recipe for success
I put in a little bit of hard work
And a whole lot of love
And when I mix it all together
With inspiration from above
I’ve got music
I’ve got music
I’ve got music

Carrots help our eyesight
Green beans help us grow
Milk makes our spines strong strong strong
School teaches us what we need to know
But our teachers are the ones
Who help us get along
Makes us feel special
And fill our hearts with song

Chorus:

Friendship keeps us happy
Sunshine makes us smile
Exercise makes us strong strong strong
But a little education takes us many miles
But our teachers are the ones
Who help us get along
Makes us feel special
And fill our hearts with song

Chorus:

Sometimes it makes us happy
Sometimes it makes us sad
Sometimes it makes us cry
Sometimes it makes us laugh
Without music there’d be no rhythm
Life wouldn’t even rhyme
Dancing would be completely useless
And we couldn’t even stay in time

Chorus:
© Kid Pan Alley Music (ASCAP)

Venable Elementary video

(posted by Paul Reisler)
Terri Allard and I are at Venable Elementary this week. Concerts at 1:45 and 6pm on Friday, October 30th. Free. Here's a video of a wonderful song we wrote with the kids, That's What I'm Gonna Do.

Sweet Honey in the Rock

(posted by Paul Reisler)
Just on my way back from Nashville. Had a wonderful time teaching this weekend with my dear friend Beth Nielsen Chapman along with Darrell Scott, and Mary gauthier. It was at the Dyer Observatory and we got to look through the telescope and see all the moons of Jupiter. I was thinking of our Kid Pan Alley song I Used to Know the Names of All the Stars.  It will start playing. If you want to hear the whole thing go to the music page and look under Charlottesville CD.

Every once in a while, a concert comes around that I feel will be one of those that you talk about many years later, like Woodstock (I was there, my picture was in Life Magazine so I'm one of the few who can prove it). This coming weekend, my favorite group of all time, Sweet Honey in the Rock, will be performing 2 concerts at Lorin Maazel's Castleton, VA Theatre. It is the most beautiful concert hall I've ever been in and only seats 140, so you'll get to see them really up close (the night before they are playing to a sold out house of 1800). Don't miss it. Concerts Saturday night at 7 and Sunday at 4:00. Be sure to get your tickets in advance. 

An American treasure Sweet Honey in the Rock is the Grammy Award winning all-female a cappella vocal ensemble strongly committed to creating music out of the rich textures of African American legacy and traditions. Sweet Honey “is the gold standard ….Their voices are all fabulous, and they unite to create a sound so pure, smooth and homogenous that it does not seem humanly possible.” (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram).

Thelonious Monk Institute concert

(posted by Paul Reisler)
My friend Ysaye Barnwell and I went to the most remarkable concert last night at the Kennedy Center--a gala for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Here's just a partial list of the performers: Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, George Duke, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, Billie Dee Williams, Bobby McFerrin, Earl Klugh, Joe Levano, and John Scofield. It was great meeting a bunch of them at the party afterwards.

The Monk Institute works in public schools, teaching the jazz tradition and inspiring young players through workshops, lessons, and competitions. They inspire me, in my work with Kid Pan Alley and in my own music. My good friend Shelby Fischer used to be their executive director and turned me on to their great work.

The last songwriting workshop of the season with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Paul Reisler

(Posted by Paul Reisler)
To All My Songwriting Friends

Just a reminder about the upcoming songcamp I'm doing with Beth Nielsen Chapman in Nashville October 16-18th. Beth is my all-time favorite songwriter with more hits than you could count including This Kiss and Sand and Water. I've taught with Beth many, many times and she is a totally inspiring teacher.  This is the last songwriting workshop of the season, so you'll need to wait until next summer if you miss this one,.

It includes two days and evenings of incredible hands-on classes in songwriting, creativity and performance at the historic Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory in Brentwood, TN. This adventure includes tips, tools, guitar pulls, bonfires, storytelling and spontaneous drive-by-hit-songwriters. We will tour the magnificent fall skies each night. Workshop fee includes an organic gourmet lunch on Saturday and Sunday.  For more information

Hear a great new song: Back When I was Young

(Paul Reisler) Here's a song from the Kid Pan Alley intergenerational residency at Brownsville Elementary in Crozet, VA. Had a wonderful concert this afternoon with about 400 people in attendance. We have another free one tonight at 7. This song was inspired by the stories the senior citizens told to the children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1t8NW--7vo