EBMT Favorites http://windrag.org/podcast Playalong, Free Dance and between class favorites from East Bay Music Together teachers Feeder 2.0.2(1133) http://reinventedsoftware.com/feeder/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en windrag@windrag.org windrag@windrag.org Mon, 11 May 2009 22:12:08 -0700 Mon, 11 May 2009 22:12:08 -0700 Interim: Kang Ding Love Song http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/1969/12/31/interim-kang-ding-love-song/
  • Song: Kang Ding Love Song
  • Artist: Erik Griswold
  • Album: More Than My Old Piano
  • Year: 2002
  • Genre: World
  • Tempo: Duple
  • Meter: Rubato
  • Time: 3:56
  • Key: d minor pentatonic
    • ]]>     windrag@windrag.org Mon, 11 May 2009 22:09:43 -0700 Interim http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/p?=335 Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Pulsewidth http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/1969/12/31/playalong-pulsewidth/
  • Song: Pulsewidth
  • Artist: Aphex Twin
  • Album: Selected Ambient Works 85-92
  • Year: 1993
  • Genre: Electronica/Dance
  • Tempo: 120 BPM
  • Meter: Duple
  • Time: 3:48
  • Key: C mixolydian
    • ]]>     windrag@windrag.org Mon, 11 May 2009 22:09:35 -0700 Playalong http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/p?=334 Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: Co Ty Zeny http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/1969/12/31/free-dance-co-ty-zeny/
  • Song: Co Ty Zeny
  • Artist: Ceskomoravska Hudebni Spolecnost
  • Album: Unblocked: The Music of Eastern Europe
  • Year: 1997
  • Genre: World (Slovakia)
  • Tempo: 68 BPM
  • Meter: Triple (with changing phrase lengths)
  • Time: 3:38
  • Key: d minor
    • ]]>     windrag@windrag.org Mon, 11 May 2009 22:09:26 -0700 Free Dance http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/p?=333 Ryk Groetchen     Interim: The Green Grass Grows All Around
  • Song: The Green Grass Grows All Around
  • Artist: Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
  • Album: Volume 6
  • Year: 1939
  • Genre: Jazz/R&B
  • Tempo: 120 BPM
  • Meter: Duple
  • Time: 2:53
  • Key: G Major
    • ]]>     windrag@windrag.org Tue, 05 May 2009 00:01:35 -0700 Interim interim-the-green-grass-grows-all-around Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Night Train http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/05/04/playalong-night-train/
  • Song: Night Train
  • Artist: James Brown
  • Album: 20 All Time Greatest Hits!
  • Year: 1962
  • Genre: R&B/Soul
  • Tempo: 132 BPM
  • Meter: Duple
  • Time: 3:32
  • Key: Ab Major
    • ]]>     windrag@windrag.org Mon, 04 May 2009 23:20:29 -0700 Playalong http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/p?=329 Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: Aa-Shuu Dekei-oo http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/05/04/free-dance-aa-shuu-dekei-oo/
  • Song: Aa-Shuu Dekei-oo
  • Artist: Huun-Huur-Tu
  • Album: The Orphan's Lament
  • Year: 1994
  • Genre: World (Tuva)
  • Tempo: 120 BPM
  • Meter: Duple
  • Time: 2:52
  • Key: D major
    • ]]>     windrag@windrag.org Mon, 04 May 2009 22:22:19 -0700 Free Dance http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/p?=327 Ryk Groetchen     Interim: Chan Chan http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/26/interim-chan-chan/ This is also nice as a free dance or a playalong as well.

    ]]>     windrag@windrag.org Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:10:24 -0700 Interim http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/p?=317 Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Nambu Chaya Bushi http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/26/playalong-nambu-chaya-bushi/ Song: Nambu Chaya Bushi
    Artist: Unknown Japanese Musicians
    Album: Japanese Dance Music
    Year: 1994
    Genre: World (Japan)
    Tempo: 90 Andante
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 3:08
    Key: c minor pentatonic

    ]]>     Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:04:59 -0700 playalong-nambu-chaya-bushi Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: Cor di Rosa http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/26/free-dance-cor-di-rosa/ Song: Cor di Rosa
    Artist: Mendes Brothers
    Album: Satélite Zamby
    Year: 1999
    Genre: World (Cabo Verde)
    Tempo: 96 Andante
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 4:02
    Key: c minor

    ]]>     Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:03:34 -0700 free-dance-cor-di-rosa Ryk Groetchen     Interim: Uncle Dave http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/06/interim-uncle-dave/ This would be a good singalong to teach older kids. It has a neat variation theme, and is sung on the recording by schoolkids. Bet you didn't know the Roches had a kids album. The rest of the album is a far cry from the usual kids fare, with the Roches signature mid-air harmonies and kooky-but-homespun subject matter.

    Song: Uncle Dave
    Artist: The Roches
    Album: Will You Be My Friend?
    Year: 1994
    Genre: Pop
    Tempo: 80 Adagio
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 2:56
    Key: C Major

    ]]>     Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:22:42 -0700 interim-uncle-dave Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Um Tom http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/06/playalong-um-tom/ Percussion, mallet instruments, polyrhythms, Caetano Veloso's irresistable voice. This is a shortish playalong, but it's nice if you let the recording fade out and keep your families playing along.

    Song: Um Tom
    Artist: Caetano Veloso
    Album: Livro
    Year: 1998
    Genre: World (Brazil)
    Tempo: 88 Andante
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 2:30
    Key: C Major

    ]]>     Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:04:31 -0700 playalong-um-tom Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: Wild Horse http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/06/free-dance-wild-horse/ Let's have an old-time square dance! Maybe tell folks how the dance goes before hand, or maybe just holler out a direction once in a while. Make sure to do a big "Whoop!" into the middle on the B section.

    Song: Wild Horse
    Artist: The Stairwell Sisters
    Album: Feet All Over The Floor
    Year: 2005
    Genre: Folk (Old-Time, Bluegrass)
    Tempo: 124 Allegro
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 3:04
    Key: G Major

    ]]>     Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:41:23 -0700 free-dance-wild-horse Ryk Groetchen     Interim: Don’t Wipe Your Face On Your Shirt http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/02/interim-dont-wipe-your-face-on-your-shirt/ “Look out! He’s gonna sing!…”

    Song: Don’t Wipe Your Face On Your Shirt
    Artist: Cornell Hurd Band
    Album: The Bottle Let Me Down
    Year: 2002
    Genre: Country (Western Swing)
    Tempo: 108 (Andante)
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 2:34
    Key: G major

    ]]>     Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:48:01 -0700 interim-dont-wipe-your-face-on-your-shirt Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Hava Naguila http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/02/playalong-hava-naguila/ This exciting brass band version of the popular wedding dance features some good stop time and accelerando sections, ending with a big cheer. Hurray!

    Song: Hava Naguila
    Artist: Boban Marković Orkestar
    Album: Live in Belgrade
    Year: 2002
    Genre: World (Serbian Brass Band)
    Tempo: variable
    Meter: duple
    Time: 3:33
    Key: F klezmer scale

    ]]>     Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:46:37 -0700 playalong-hava-naguila Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: The Funky Yak http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/04/02/free-dance-the-funky-yak/ This has silly lyrics but a good groove. Don’t forget to “jump back.” This CD was brought to my attention by a parent, and it is a favorite in our family. File under “Listenable Children’s Music.”

    Song: The Funky Yak
    Artist: George Carver/Papa Mali
    Album: Down At The Zoo
    Year: 2001
    Genre: Blues/R&B
    Tempo: 104 (Andante)
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 3:38
    Key: D Blues

    ]]>     Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:44:57 -0700 free-dance-the-funky-yak Ryk Groetchen     Interim: Baby Mine http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/15/interim-baby-mine/ You can't really go wrong with Bonnie Raitt's voice, and this classic love song to one's child is a nice background for families just entering or just leaving the classroom. This whole album is a treasure, featuring Tom Waits, The Replacements, Buster Poindexter, and others updating some tunes from Disney's golden era.

    Song: Baby Mine
    Artist: Bonnie Raitt & Was (Not Was)
    Album: Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films
    Year: 1988
    Genre: Pop
    Tempo: 64 BPM
    Meter: Triple (Waltz)
    Time: 3:14

    ]]>     Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:21:42 -0700 interim-baby-mine Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Invincible Eagle March http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/16/playalong-invincible-eagle-march/ Everybody loves a parade, and once in a while it's nice to have a marching playalong in class. Kids too young to march can sit on the side and wave as the parade goes by. A mom this week exclaimed "We have to do that again!"

    Song: Invincible Eagle March
    Artist: John Phillip Sousa
    Album: Great American Marches I
    Year: 1901
    Genre: March (Late Romantic)
    Tempo: 124 BPM
    Meter: Triple (compound)
    Time: 3:24

    ]]>     Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:57:07 -0700 playalong-invincible-eagle-march Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/16/free-dance-shake-shake-shake-shake-your-booty/ It's rare to find a parent who won't move along with this music, even if it's just to do some ironic disco parodies. Go with it. You know you like it! And real horns to boot.

    Song: (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty
    Artist: KC & The Sunshine Band
    Album: Part 3…and more
    Year: 1976
    Genre: Disco
    Tempo: 112 BPM
    Meter: Duple
    Time: 3:07

    ]]>     Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:38:28 -0700 free-dance-shake-shake-shake-shake-your-booty Ryk Groetchen     Interim: Why, Oh Why http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/09/interim-why-oh-why/ Woody Guthrie is one of America's treasured songwriters, and his children's songs are a breath of fresh air, especially when listened to along-side much of what's being marketed to kids nowadays. This is the kooky guitar-playing uncle everyone should spend a summer or two with. Why, Oh Why might help you answer a few of the difficult questions that are bound to come your way when you work around children.

    Song: Why, Oh Why
    Artist: Woody Guthrie
    Album: Songs To Grow On For Mother And Child
    Genre: Folk
    Year: 1956
    Time: 3:30

    ]]>     Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:47:01 -0700 interim-why-oh-why Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Ase http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/09/playalong-ase/ Sparkling Afro-pop, with accompaniment by Stevie Wonder on harmonica. Layers of drums, percussion guitars. Easy to follow a macrobeat, microbeat, or to make up a pattern to play along. I often have families continue to play after the music has faded out. The original is over 9:00 long, but I fade it out at around 4:00.

    Song: Ase
    Artist: King Sunny Ade & His African Beats
    Album: Aura
    Genre: World (Afrobeat)
    Year: 1984
    Time: 3:54
    Tempo: 109 BPM (andante)
    Key: a minor

    ]]>     Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:28:06 -0700 playalong-ase Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: Tango Lunaire http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/09/free-dance-tango-lunaire/ A fun tango to move your families across the room. Put a scarf on your head and pretend you have a rose clenched between your teeth!

    Song: Tango Lunaire
    Artist: Lalo Schifrin
    Album: Tango (Original Soundtrack)
    Genre: Tango
    Year: 1999
    Time: 2:37
    Tempo: 115 BPM (moderato)
    Key: G Major

    ]]>     Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:06:00 -0700 free-dance-tango-lunaire Ryk Groetchen     Interim: Libertango http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/02/interim-libertango/ I highly recommend these remarkable interpretations of the music of Astor Piazzolla, created with many of Piazzolla's original collaborators. It's always nice to bring music from around the world to families, but apart from that, I like playing music like this between classes for it's polyrhythms, for a quality of 'waking up' the listeners ears, and for the emotional character of the music.

    Song: Libertango
    Artist: Gary Burton
    Album: Libertango
    Genre: Tango Nuevo
    Year: 2000
    Time: 4:37

    ]]>     Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:41:19 -0800 interim-libertango Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Miss Modular http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/02/playalong-miss-modular/ Dreamy, catchy pop with female vocals sung in French with lots of vocables thrown in. The tempo is moderate, and slow enough that one can play lots of microbeats, if so inclined. There's a nice 'breakdown' section around 2:35 where the instruments drop out, vocal harmonies prevail, and then a few moments of silence before the beat resumes. Duple meter, key of B Major.

    Song: Miss Modular
    Artist: Stereolab
    Album: Dots and Loops
    Year: 1997
    Genre: Rock
    Time: 4:29

    ]]>     Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:20:48 -0800 playalong-miss-modular Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: I'll Fly Away http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/03/02/free-dance-ill-fly-away/ It’s nice to hear folks sing while they’re dancing, and enough families will recognize this tune from O Brother, Where Art Thou? that plenty of folks are at least singing the choruses by the end. Lots of flying babies on this one as well. Medium tempo, duple meter and in the key of D Major.

    Song: I'll Fly Away
    Artist: Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
    Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Soundtrack to the motion picture)
    Year: 2000
    Time: 3:57

    ]]>     Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:58:50 -0800 free-dance-ill-fly-away Ryk Groetchen     Interim: Smells Like Teen Spirit http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/23/interim-smells-like-teen-spirit/ Yes, this is the ubiquitous Nirvana song, done by a piano trio. It's great when folks recognize the song, and I like to give families different versions of songs they might know, as I think it helps to ease the tendency to think that a song must always be performed or presented in one specific way.

    Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit
    Artist: The Bad Plus
    Album: these Are The Vistas
    Genre: Jazz
    Year: 2003

    ]]>     Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:03:56 -0800 interim-smells-like-teen-spirit Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: La Marmotteuse http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/23/playalong-la-marmotteuse/ This was recommended by my center director. French-Canadian fiddle with some percussion, voices singing vocables, a rousing tempo with a slow section, which has the benefit of keeping folks awake and paying attention.

    Song: La Marmotteuse
    Artist: Barachois
    Album: World Playground 2
    Genre: World (Accadian)
    Time: 3:19

    ]]>     Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:39:42 -0800 playalong-la-marmotteuse Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: Black Is The Color (Of My True Love's Hair) http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/23/free-dance-black-is-the-color-of-my-true-loves-hair/?preview=true&preview_id=107&preview_nonce=5b0d664456 A remix of the classic Nina Simone version of the folk song. As a movement starter in class, this track works on many levels: a familiar folk song, Nina Simone's voice, drum tracks and deep bass from modern club music. The track is longish, but there's a fadeout to near silence at around 3:55, and it's easy enough to stop the music player at that point. The tune is in A minor

    Song: Black Is The Color (Of My True Love's Hair)
    Artist: Nina Simone & Jaffa
    Album: Verve Remixed 2
    Genre: Electronica & Dance
    Year: 2003
    Time: 4:57 (with silence at 3:55)

    ]]>     Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:52:05 -0800 free-dance-black-is-the-color-of-my-true-loves Ryk Groetchen     For iPod Users: 5 sec. Silent Track http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/19/for-ipod-users-5-sec-silent-track/ Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:33:52 -0800 for-ipod-users-5-sec-silent-track Ryk Groetchen For iPod Users: 30 min. Silent Track http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/19/for-ipod-users-30-min-silent-track/ Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:24:53 -0800 for-ipod-users-30-min-silent-track Ryk Groetchen Interim: Queremos Bailar http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/17/interim-queremos-bailar/ A fun, moderately-paced song in Spanish by family favorites Dan Zanes and Friends. Features a variety of voices, male and female. Helps create an inviting, relaxed mood between classes.

    Song: Queremos Bailar
    Artist: Dan Zanes & Barbara Brousal
    Album: House Party
    Year: 2003
    Genre: Children's Music (Folk/Americana)
    Time: 2:49

    ]]>     Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:29:39 -0800 interim-queremos-bailar Ryk Groetchen     Playalong: Living In the Past http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/17/playalong-living-in-the-past/ A playalong in 5/4 time. This will be familiar to many parents as a staple of classic rock radio, with a jazz-rock feel featuring flute and vocals. For the Bells collection, I have families keep playing after the tune fades out, and then go into the Snowflakes chant. This helps tie together a sometimes difficult MT chant with a familiar tune. It's in the key of C major, so if your lullaby is in C, you've got your note.

    Song: Living In The Past
    Artist: Jethro Tull
    Album: Stand Up
    Year: 1969
    Genre: Classic Rock
    Time: 3:24

    ]]>     Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:58:01 -0800 playalong-living-in-the-past Ryk Groetchen     Free Dance: Beija Eu http://www.windrag.org/mttblog/2009/02/17/free-dance-beija-eu/ A nice, flowing triple-meter free dance, Brazilian pop, sung in Portuguese. I've gotten lots of queries about this one. A personal favorite. It's in the key of D major, so if you're doing a focus song right after the free dance, you're right in key. For the Bells collection, I've gone right into "Who's That" after this, and I don't have to go find my note on an instrument.

    Song: Beija Eu
    Artist: Marisa Monte
    Album: Mais
    Year: 1990
    Genre: World (Brazilian pop)
    Time: 3:14

    ]]>     Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:30:32 -0800 free-dance-beija-eu Ryk Groetchen