Here is the zine for How to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on your Harmonica. Also, this zine contains a very fun song about everyone’s favorite snack, a Juice Box! You can learn the Juice Box song here. And, here is a video that will show you how to fold your zine, once it’s printed. How to Fold a Zine with Jason
How to Play Twinkle on your Harmonica Zine Read More »
Every year I teach the Music Station at an incredible sports/art/music/community-building camp called Basketball in the Barrio, in Segundo Barrio, El Paso, Texas. We couldn’t hold the camp in 2020, so Coach Denisse Franco and I wrote a theme song which, hopefully, we’ll all be able to sing for camp in 2021. Give it a listen and we’ll sing it at camp next year!
Básquetbol en el Barrio – Theme Song for Basketball in the Barrio Camp Read More »
This fall I published my latest zine, The Sticker Method: Creating a Habit of Practice (available in the store). This is a method for taking a lot of the stress that can come with being a learner/do-er out of our lives. I’ve developed the method over my lifetime as both a teacher and a student I am a user of The Sticker Method and one of my favorite aspects of it is that the method can be used for anything. If you’ve heard my music, seen my drawings, watched my skateboard videos, or if we’ve talked about developing a habit of going to the gym, then you’ve seen The Sticker Method in action. What are you going to practice? I’d love to know.
The Sticker Method: Creating a Habit of Practice Read More »
We can’t have camp this year because of the pandemic. So, Coach Denisse Franco and I wrote a little song to share with the campers. Today, in Segundo Barrio, El Paso TX, some of the coaches will be distributing care packages with books, sports equipment and a zine with this song. It’s called Amigos de Basketball en el Barrio. Since 2016 I’ve been the music director at the best summer camp. It’s called Basketball in the Barrio and it is the most amazing sports, literacy, health and fitness, music, poetry, social justice, visual art camp you’ll ever experience. I wrote the tune and made the zine. Coach Denisse wrote the lyrics. I think you’ll agree that they are very fitting for this challenging time in our society. Here are the lyrics. Download a zine to help you learn the song here. A recording of me singing and playing the song is after the lyrics. Pronto jugaremos, sí. Yo te cuido y tú a mí. – Coach Denisse En Español Escribiendo, saltando, comiendo, Y canciones componiendo, Disfruto lo que aprendí, Todo lo que compartí. Aunque no esté en Armijo, Aún tengo a mis amigos, Basketball en el Barrio, Basketball en el Barrio. Hasta volvernos a ver, Cuídate y que estés bien, Pronto jugaremos, sí, Yo te cuido y tú a mí. Aunque no esté en Armijo, Aún tengo a mis amigos, Basketball en el Barrio, Basketball en el Barrio. In English Writing, jumping, eating – yum! Making songs is so much fun, I enjoy what I have learned, All the moments that we shared. Though I’m not in Armijo I still have my amigos Basketball in the Barrio Basketball in the Barrio Until we can meet again, Hope you’re well, take care my friend, Soon we’ll play, oh yes, indeed, I’ll care for you as you for me Though I’m not in Armijo I still have my amigos Basketball in the Barrio Basketball in the Barrio
Amigos de Basketball en el Barrio – New Song Read More »
Hi everyone, Today I’m teaching my first workshop as part of Winter Roots Festival in Marquette, MI. In honor of this big day I wrote a new song for you to learn on your harmonica! It’s called Juice Box and it’s all about everyone’s favorite drink . . . a juice box! Here is some recordings of me singing and playing the song. The first recording is just the harmonica part. The second is my harmonica, my guitar and my voice. You can download a FREE .pdf of the notation of this song. Print it double-sided an cut the paper along the dotted line to make your own zine! The zine also has the notation to another favorite song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Juice Box – A Harmonica Song for Youth Musicians – Notation Download a Audio Recording Read More »
Recently, it was a very snowy morning here in Marquette, MI. I was waiting for some of my students to have their lesson and I wrote this song. I made a video of me playing the song, and there is a .pdf of a zine that you can print out to help you learn it. Print it double-sided and then follow the instructions to make the zine! The zine contains the lyrics, standard music notation, and specialized notation for harmonica, guitar and ‘ukulele. I was wondering, what would happen if we changed the lyrics from “snowy day” to “cloudy day” or “sunny day”. What changes would you make in the rest of the lyrics so that the song is about your day? Download the Snowy Day Zine here. Be sure to print it double sided and then watch the short video below to learn how to fold your zine. Thanks to Ore Dock Brewing Company for letting me use their beautiful community space to make some music.
Snowy Day – A Song for Young Musicians – Video and Zine Read More »
Here is a copy of my newest zine, How to Play Auld Lang Syne on Your Harmonica! Auld Lang Syne is one of my very favorite songs. I actually wish that it was socially acceptable to play it all year long. If you’d like to play it with me, I sure would love that. Print it double-sided so you can make this little booklet. And, here’s a video I made this morning during a snowstorm here in my new home, Marquette, MI. That’s the ore dock that I recently wrote about on my instagram. [vimeo 382136048 w=640 h=360] I love Auld Lang Syne for many reasons, including it’s about spending time with friends, raising a glass to our good health, looking back on the year gone by, and it’s Scottish origin always makes me think of my grandpa, who was born in Scotland. If you learn to play it, please let me know! And, drop me a note if you have any questions. Auld Lang Syne is a great song to share with friend and family. I hope you enjoy playing it as much as I do. Happy new year!
Learn to Play Auld Lang Syne for the New Year! Read More »
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