Years ago now, I was asked to write a few song songs to accompany a project for students learning English as a Second Language. One of the tools the proprietor used is Reader's Theater renditions of famous tales, in English, of course. The company out of Taiwan hired talented artists as illustrators and English professors to re-write the stories and scripts using very simple phrases and vocabulary. These books are absolutely beautifully done.
Back then, I was shown 25 stories and was asked to provide engaging songs for them. Not feeling very secure in the assignment, I told him that I would choose five stories and write 2 songs for each of them. That way, he could see if they would add to the experience or be too much. He agreed, and I set out to write some simple songs at a First Grader's level and vocabulary. (He did not specify that i had to keep the music simple.)
The stories I chose were "The Musicians of Bremen," "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse," "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," "Dick Whittington's Cat," and "Chicken Licken."
Well, I liked the songs and wanted to write my own shows using them. Permission was granted, so I proceeded to create some 10-15 minute mini-musicals for in-class presentations and some full scale 30-45 minute shows for larger casts. on the main stage.
Back then, I was shown 25 stories and was asked to provide engaging songs for them. Not feeling very secure in the assignment, I told him that I would choose five stories and write 2 songs for each of them. That way, he could see if they would add to the experience or be too much. He agreed, and I set out to write some simple songs at a First Grader's level and vocabulary. (He did not specify that i had to keep the music simple.)
The stories I chose were "The Musicians of Bremen," "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse," "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," "Dick Whittington's Cat," and "Chicken Licken."
Well, I liked the songs and wanted to write my own shows using them. Permission was granted, so I proceeded to create some 10-15 minute mini-musicals for in-class presentations and some full scale 30-45 minute shows for larger casts. on the main stage.
School Chorus production incorporating "The Musicians of Bremen"
Since then (2012), I have had no feedback that these songs have been used or even if they were useful in Asia, but they have been well enjoyed in musicals here in America.
Just today, I learned that two of my mini-musicals were bought by someone in China. So, that begs the question, "Will these little shows be performed in English?" My heart wants to think that somewhere in China a school group is learning English as a second language and the teacher wants to do a more full-scale show than just an in-class Reader's Theater. I hope this is the case and I wish them well as they perform "The Tale of the Musicians of Bremen" and "The Tale of the City Mouse and the Country Mouse."
Just today, I learned that two of my mini-musicals were bought by someone in China. So, that begs the question, "Will these little shows be performed in English?" My heart wants to think that somewhere in China a school group is learning English as a second language and the teacher wants to do a more full-scale show than just an in-class Reader's Theater. I hope this is the case and I wish them well as they perform "The Tale of the Musicians of Bremen" and "The Tale of the City Mouse and the Country Mouse."
Summer Camp cast forming a circle to dance "A Country Mouse."
The "Brementown Musicians" has a bit of German flair accompanying the obnoxious sounds of the animals. "A Country Mouse" is done with some good old American Hoedown flavor.
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