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  1. Song Writing
  2. School Assembly Fees

Joel Reese The Singing Cowboy: SCHOOL PROGRAMS

 

 Joel is a professional ASCAP songwriter with songs published by George Strait and     Garth Brook's companies.  Joel has co-written hundreds of songs with school students for school arts programs and recordings.

 

Writing Lyrics and Poems in the Classroom

      Student material written about the assembly theme especially enhances the program,                giving students a sense of pride and ownership.

 Song Writing Feature:
 Students may submit original song lyrics or poems. Joel will put several selections to music and perform them during the school visit. One recent lyric from Daniel and Ruth Began, "The Spelling Bee" was included on Joel's latest C.D. 
Lyrics may be written to public domain melodies such as: "On Top of Old Smokey" or
" Old Mac Donald."  
 Joel may also make brief classroom visits for creative writing sessions, student questions, and added emphasis on the chosen theme.

 Value and Connections:
 Joel's “Song Writing” aspect of each themed assembly provides the opportunity to explore creative writing and music skills by working with a professional music artist and songwriter. This program gives students the opportunity to participate in the creative process, develop language and learn the importance of meter and rhyme.  Cognitive Thinking, Reading, Writing and Student Self-Esteem will be bolstered as well.
1) Each class may brainstorm and write one song as a group project or  2) Teachers may have each of their students write their own songs for Joel to put music to and perform.  

                            

This may take as little as one class session. Lyrics may be submitted through E-mail, mail, or upon Joel's arrival at the school.
 

A music CD of student songs and  poems will be recorded in Joel's studio and delivered to schools paying the full day residency and assembly fee.

           
Student Reference:
I remember that guy that believed that I could write a song. And I did it! His name is Joel.
He is the best guy in the cool world. Tara - Colon, MI
  
Teacher's References:
The assembly was great, but something even more special happened in the classroom session. Joel asked the students to write poems or songs that morning, and in the afternoon he put their words to music.
I have one student that struggles with English skills and he sang her poem. The look on her face was worth a million dollars. Ms. Gilliam - Robert E. Lee Elementary - Tullahoma, TN.

Today we are replaying the CD and following along with the poems as I made copies for each. 
Some of them may write another poem for you to put on the CD. You did a
great job on these songs you've recorded.  They are so proud of them.
They hoped you could come again next Fall, but I told them we didn't do
the grants until November.  Ms.Coats - Teen Learning Center - Cleveland, TN.

Dear Cowboy-
Thanks so much for sending the song the kids and you created!!  It was great and the children asked me to play it at least 100 times.  Thanks so much for the great experience, it is one they will remember for a long time!!!!
God Bless,
Mrs. Coats

Assembly Fees:  Approximately $1- $2 per student, discounts offered for   multiple school bookings. Joel donates partial fee to Title 1 schools and
others where grants and PTA funds are unavailable. 

Contact: info@joelreese.com  615-302-0792 cell 615-828-5017

  All students are creative and delight in the opportunity of creating music and poetry.
Even preschoolers come up with great ideas for lyrics. Song writing can be used as an exercise in teamwork, acceptance, descriptive language arts, creativity, and the development of self-esteem.   This experience should contribute to the child’s association of pleasure with writing, reading and the featured theme and current curriculum.  Students often express their feelings during lyric writing. Troubled students may go from a destructive force to a creative force during the writing process! 

How to begin:

 A fun and easy way to begin is by using a popular song everyone knows and adapting your own words/lyrics.
Brainstorm a group song on the chalkboard. Children delight in giving their teacher titles, animals to write about, or story line ideas. One of my favorite songs came from a kindergartner in Denton, Texas about a pony named Floppsy.  

And/or you might play a popular song to get them excited about writing, then post the lyrics on an overhead projector, briefly discussing title,  descriptive lyrics, rhythm and rhyming patterns.

For the older students:    

Discuss the song title and the way the body of the lyrics support and develop the title and subject matter.
Encourage descriptive writing.  
Rather than saying: The pony wants to learn to play the guitar and be a star. 
You might say: Charley Hat the horse saw an old beat up guitar laying in the garbage can... An idea flashed through his mind...He'd be a rocking horse one-of-a-kind...He'd form a band with miss Fitros's 4th grade class...Read a book and practice really fast...So he can play on American Idol. (lyrics from a song written with 4th graders in a 45 min. classroom brainstorm session.)

Show students how a verse is typically arranged differently than the chorus, which is usually the ‘hook’ or familiar, catchy, sing-able section of the song.
Student Song
               JUKEBOX  a
    Listen to songs co-written with students!

 #1. The Spelling Bee
 by Ruth and Daniel Beagan and Joel Reese (c) 2005
From a Sevierville Middle School "Literacy Assembly"
 #3. Lightning
 by Jordan Caylor, 3rd grader and Joel Reese (c) 2006
From Michigan Avenue Elementary "Literacy Assembly"
 #4. Heartbroken
 by Kema Malone and Joel Reese (c) 2006
From TLC HighSchool program "Song Write and Recite"
#5. Little Seeds
 by Haley Preston, 3rd grader and Joel Reese (c) 2006
From Michigan Avenue Elementary "Song Write and Recite"
 #2. Comanche
 by 4th and 5th grade classes and Joel Reese (c) 2006
From Zion Academy Elementary "Literacy Assembly"

          I'm Responsible© Joel Reese 2006 

(lyrics you may print and use for demonsration)

          (Joel Reese The Singing Cowboy)                                                                        (From the C.D. “Rise and Shine Round-Up!”)

I’m responsible…I eat the food on my plate
I’m responsible…I close the backyard gate
I’m responsible…I’m never late
It’s cool to be responsible

I’m responsible…I do all my chores
I’m responsible…I always lock the doors
I’m responsible…I keep my toys off the floor
It’s cool to be responsible

I’ve been given the gift of life – So I’m gonna choose to do what’s right
There’s so much important work to do…You can depend on me – To see
it through

I’m responsible…I keep my room really neat
I’m responsible…I think before I speak
I’m responsible…I don’t sneak a peek
It’s cool to be responsible

I’m responsible…If I make someone cry
I’m responsible…I apologize
I’m responsible…I never lie
It’s cool to be responsible

I’ve been given the gift of life – So I’m gonna choose to do what’s right
There’s so much important work to do…You can depend on me – To see
it through
(last time) You can depend on me – To do what I’m supposed to do
Yes, you can depend on me - To stick with what I say I’ll do
I choose to be responsible and you can too!