Pine Tree Kids in the Photo News!

More ink:

http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2011/04/22/photo_news/news/2.txt

Enjoy, and remember to spread it around!

Links While You Wait

As we wait (patiently or not) for the CD to make its way through the manufacturing process down in Pennsauken, New Jersey, here are a few links that may help the time pass more quickly...

This is a better link to the Record Newswatch piece, because it will take you directly to the point at which the story about the Pine Tree Kids begins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV66RtBznrs#t=3m14s

And this link takes you to a brief snippet of the song's final mix:

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_8254795

Tomorrow (4/22), there may be a story in the Photo News about our song. Stay tuned, and please, share this blog (and these links) with the world!

Our Song in the News

The world is starting to take notice of our song! A few weeks ago, radio personality Frank Fornario interviewed some of my students on his show on WTBQ. I had a pleasant chat about the song in the studio with Frank again today. The Photo News is planning to do a feature on "We Can All Join Hands" in the near future. And the Times Herald Record's Tracy Baxter visited our classroom last week to create this video report (the good stuff starts at the 3:10 mark):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV66RtBznrs


Enjoy, and stay tuned for more updates, coming soon!

The Amazingly Generous Mr. Myers

My friend, Burt Myers -- an award-winning art director who lives and works in the Rochester area -- has very generously offered to do all the design work for our CD at no charge whatsoever!

CD design usually costs several hundred dollars (if not more), so what Burt has done is more than simply a nice gesture; it will significantly increase the amount of money we can send to aid organizations working in Haiti.

Thank you, Burt! You're not only a great designer, poet and songwriter. You're a great human being, too!

Follow this link to see some of Burt's work on other projects:

http://burtmyers.com/wordpress/

Ruth Buzzi Loves Us!

As my students and I prepare to record our song tomorrow, we've received a wonderful message of support from "Laugh-In" star Ruth Buzzi! I'm so honored that "Gladys" likes our song!

Wanna hear the original, "unvarnished" version? Here it is:

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_7156337

On the Radio!

Today, two of my fifth-grade students and I were phone-in guests on a local radio station, and I am proud to report that the kids did a terrific job! The host asked some great questions, and the youngsters answered them like seasoned professionals. Bravo!

For anyone who has not yet heard the rough, original version of the song, check it out now. As soon as we record the new one, this older incarnation will be taken down:

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_7156337

Enjoy -- please "follow" this blog -- leave comments -- and stay in touch!

Kids Can Make a Difference

Kids can make a difference, and my fifth-grade students are doing just that. Together, we wrote a song, called "We Can All Join Hands," intended to raise awareness about the ongoing devastation in Haiti. Soon, we will release a fundraising CD, which will be for sale at school events, via local merchants and on the internet.

Visit this blog frequently to find out more about our project. In the meantime, enjoy the lyrics, and remember that every word was written by fifth-graders who care!

WE CAN ALL JOIN HANDS

Down in Haiti they still need a helping hand

The earthquake left such devastation in that land

Millions have no home, living in the open air

Pain and cholera and hunger everywhere

What can we do to help the folks down there?

Let’s work together to show them that we care

We can all join hands

We can take a stand

We can help the land…of Haiti!

Here’s our simple plan:

Let’s do all we can

To help the land…of Haiti!

(SPOKEN) A year after the shattering earthquake, things have not improved much for the people of Haiti. Food, clean water, health and safety – things we all take for granted – are in short supply. We have a chance to do something good for people who are suffering, and to set a positive example for the rest of the world. Please do all you can to help the people of Haiti!

What can we do to help the folks down there?

Let’s work together to show them that we care

We can all join hands

We can take a stand

We can help the land…of Haiti!

Here’s our simple plan:

Let’s do all we can

To help the land…of Haiti!