"Sana Sananina" African Folk Song

This video is of the Kindergarten class singing Sana Sananina. Great song that I learned in South Africa. The kids are using rhythm instruments that I have been collecting for years from all over the world. Enjoy!

How to make a horn - BAM Folk Music Class

So today we worked on making a horn using our kazoos. Pretty easy but a great craft and will add to the pizazz when our band performs in couple of weeks. Hope you enjoy

How to make a drum - BAM folk music class

For the past couple of weeks we have been working on making drums for one of the songs we are going to sing at the April 2 performance at School. Today's video was made by the 1st and 2nd grade class. They are showing how they made their drums.

I got the material for the drum body from a local carpet store. The cylinder is used to roll carpets on. I just used a power saw to cut them in 12 inch lengths. I like these much better than oat meal cartons. They are very thick and can be made in different lengths. They are also great for decorating. We just used felt pens to make our designs. You could also use colored paper, cloth etc. to decorate the drum. We used weight balloons in lots of different colors for the tops of the drums. Just cut off the nipple of the balloon (or whatever you call it) and pull it over the top of the cylinder. We found it best to tape the balloons on the drum. Thought the balloons are surprisingly resilient they are also very easy to replace. Check out this cool video.

BAM folk music class - March 6, 2009

So we are getting ready for our Performance on April 2. We started working on some drums we are making and recorded a couple more songs. I am posting a little outtake of some solos on the song "We Shall Overcome". Enjoy! It should be noted that we filmed this on "Crazy Hair Day" so that is what is up with the crazy hair. The soloist are Nia and Indgo and the outstanding camera work is done by Sean.

BAM folk music class

CHECK OUT THE NEW KINDERGARTEN VIDEO. WE UPDATED IT TODAY!
I am teaching two after school classes at Berkeley Arts Magnet Elementary School in Berkeley. I have been teaching music at the school with all the kindergarten Classes for the last couple of years but this is my first time working with small groups and with older kids. We are having a great time learning lots of songs and now working on writing some songs. You can check out our first time recording posted on youtube. The kids are very excited to be "published" on the internet. We hope you enjoy...

SONG - i've got peace like a river

I have been playing this old negro spiritual for as long as I have been playing music with kids. It is an upbeat song with lots of great hand motions. I like the positive affirmation that we get to sing of having "peace like a river", "joy like a fountain", "and love like an ocean... in my heart".

I have changed the words from soul to heart when I sing this song with school kids. When using hand motions it makes more sense to say heart and touch your heart with both hands than to try and explain what a soul is to kids (like I know).

You can listen to me and my 7 year old granddaughter singing the song on this player. (My granddaughter has been singing "backup" in a kids country band which might account for the "twang" that she insist on adding to all my songs.)

I've Got Peace Like A River
I just play a simple G C D progression

Verse 1:
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my heart
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my heart

Verse 2:
I've got joy like a fountain
I've got joy like a fountain
I've got joy like a fountain in my heart (x2)

Verse 3:
I've got love like an ocean
I've got love like an ocean
I've got love like an ocean in my heart (x2)

After singing each verse we combined all the verses (peace like a river, joy like a fountain, love like an ocean in my heart). This requires the kids to follow directions and listen more closely. Often we end the song like this... I've got peace, joy, love, like a river, fountain, ocean... starting very slowly and finishing singing very fast. Makes for some grand silliness.

Here are the hand motions...
peace = make the 2 finger peace sign
river = dance fingers along in from of you like running river water
joy = use fingers to make a smile on your face
fountain = smash hands together and lift to the sky like splashing water
love = hug yourself
ocean = churn hands make a breaking wave motion
heart = bring both hands to your heart

A note about authorship.
Most everyone list this song as traditional negro spiritual but I have found a couple of references to the song being written by Mosie Lister. If Mr. Lister did write the song here is the copy write information.

©1970 Mosie Lister Songs (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
CCLI song #3247635

SONG - Little Bird, Little Bird

Little Bird is one of our favorite songs at Rockridge Little School preschool. I like using this song to make children more aware of the things in the world around them.

My wife and I got a book with pictures and information of birds in our area to share with our grandchildren. When we see birds in our yard or on outings we look them up in our book and find out more about them. We read about where the birds come from, what they eat, how they fit into the grand scheme of the world in which they live. This has been a delightful way to introduce our grandchildren to a world that is always enough... and more. Who needs the latest toys when you've got all this?

I have been taking my one year old grandson to wildcare in San Rafael, CA. Wildcare is a wild animal rehabilitation hospital. They also have a wonderful collection of birds they are not able to release for folks to visit. Max loves to watch the two little woodpeckers.

I include these new birds in singing this song. This is a great way to remember the names of our new feathered friends.

Little Bird Little Bird
Little bird little bird fly through my window
Little bird little bird fly through my window
Little bird little bird fly through my window
Find molasses candy

Through my window, my sugar lump
Fly through my window, my sugar lump
Find molasses candy

Bluebird Bluebird…
Hummingbird Hummingbird…
Woodpecker, Raven, Canada Goose, Sparrow
California Quail, Blue Heron, Wood Duck etc

You can listen to my granddaughter and I sing the song with this player.

________________________

This song is on my grandson's favorite CD
"You are my Little Bird" by Elizabeth Mitchell