Justin's Newsletter for Summer 2008
 

Summer is a time to get outside and reconnect with the land after being cooped up for the winter. I love working in the garden and helping to start new plants growing. Whether you are planting seeds in your garden, or in a paper cup, this season's sing-along is a must. This is also a great song to sing when starting any new project that you hope will grow strong and beautiful. It could sung be during potty time, learning to swing a bat, or practicing an instrument.

Dave Mallet originally wrote the "Garden Song" but it has bee sung by many people including John Denver, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul and Mary. The chorus is the easiest to remember: "Inch by Inch, Row by Row..." but the verses are also very rich. Enjoy!

Garden_Song.mp3
Garden Song lyrics
by David Mallett
 
CHORUS:
Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All you need is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground
 
Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
'Till the rain comes tumbling down
 
Pullin' weeds, pickin' stones
We are made of dreams and bones
Need a place to call my own
'Cause the time is close at hand
 
Grain for grain, sun and rain
Find my way in nature's chain
Tune my body and my brain
With the music of the land
 
CHORUS
 
Plant your rows straight and long
Temper them with a prayer and song
Mother Earth will make you strong
If you give her loving care
 
An old crow watches hungrily
From his perch in yonder tree
In my garden I'm as free
As that feathered thief up there.
 
CHORUS

Justin's Newsletter for Winter 2008
 
For those of you who are long time subscribers to my seasonal newsletter I took a brief hiatus in the fall to welcome the birth of our second child. For those of you who are new please enjoy the seasonal sing-along song with your family and I hope to see you at a program soon.

February has many opportunities for celebration: Black History Month, Valentines Day and Lincoln's birthday. This season's sing-along touches on all three. "There's A Little Wheel A Turnin' In My Heart" was supposedly Abraham Lincoln's favorite song. It is also a lovely lyric to sing to someone you love. W.E.B. DuBois wrote "The things evidently borrowed from the surrounding world undergo characteristic change when they enter the mouth of the slave...the wheels of Ezekiel are turned every way in the mystic dreaming of the slave, till he says: "There's a little wheel a-turnin' in-a-my heart." (The Souls of Black Folks: Ch. 14, 1903)

There is also a little musical challenge in this song. I've included a harmony part, or ostinado, that repeats over and over (wheel's a turn-in'). If you have two or more people singing then split the parts up between you. The first note of the harmony is the same as the first note of the song.

 

I only have one public performance scheduled over the next few months:

 

All That Jazz: February 2nd, Saturday, 2:00; Denver Central Library 14th & Broadway, Children's Library Pavilion

 

Winter Sing-Along

Click here for the MP3

 

Justin's Newsletter for Summer 2007

 
Summer is a great season for outdoor parties or simply having a bunch of friends over to play. Back before TV, radios, computer, video games and the like children had to mostly entertain themselves. Some of the games they played were called Play Parties. These games and dances ranged from simple to complex. These self-entertaining games are often the best cure for "I'm bored."

I've got nine different programs this summer to get everyone moving around. You might even learn a new game or two.

Creepy Crawlies: June 9th, Saturday, 10:30; Eugene Field Library, Denver, 810 S. University Blvd. at E. Ohio Ave.

Brothers and Sisters: June 12th, Tuesday, 10:00 & 2:00; Rialto Theatre 228 E. Fourth Street Loveland, Colorado (Tickets: $5 adult, $3 child)

Creepy Crawlies: June 13th, Wednesday, 3:00; Sheridan Library 3201 West Oxford Avenue, Sheridan, CO

Creepy Crawlies: June 14th, Thursday, 4:15; Smoky Hill Library 5430 S. Biscay Circle, Centennial, Colorado

A New World: June 28th, Thursday, 2:00; Denver Central Library 14th & Broadway, B2 Conference Room

Creepy Crawlies: July 10th, Tuesday, 2:00; Southglenn Library 7500 South University Boulevard, #101, Centennial, CO

Creepy Crawlies: July 16th, Tuesday, 10:30; Davies Library 303 Third Avenue, P.O. Box 288, Deer Trail, CO

Creepy Crawlies: July 16th, Tuesday, 1:30; Castlewood Library 6739 South Uinta Street, Centennial, CO

 
Summer Sing-Along
This season's sing-along is a play party called "Bluebird, Bluebird." A group of friends hold hands to make a circle and raise their hands in the air. This creates a "window" between each person. The person who is "IT" trys to weave in between the windows. If you have a lot of people try to make it around the circle before the verse is over. If you only have a few people see how many times "IT" can make it around. On the chorus "IT" chooses a new bluebird and the game begins again.

Click here for the MP3

 
Lyrics:
 
Verse:
Bluebird, bluebird through my window,
Bluebird, bluebird through my window,
Bluebird, bluebird through my window,
Oh, Johnny aren't you tired?
 
Chorus:
Choose a little friend and tap 'em on the shoulder,
Choose a little friend and tap 'em on the shoulder,
Choose a little friend and tap 'em on the shoulder,
Oh, Johnny aren't you tired?
 
Verse...etc.

Justin's Newsletter for Spring 2007
 
Spring has been celebrated by different societies for thousands of years as the opportunity for new life and new growth. In many European countries May Day was the ultimate spring party. It was a recognition of the first spring planting and a hope for fertile fields. People would stay up late into the night, dance around May poles and even dress in costumes.

There are several different music parties that I will be holding this spring. They won't be late at night, they won't have May Poles...I suppose you could wear a costume if you like. There will be dancing, instruments, stories and fun.

Animals All Around: Saturday, April 14th, 2:00; Denver Central Library (Children's Pavilion), 14th & Broadway
Creepy Crawlies: Saturday, May 5th, 10:30; Denver Decker Library, 1501 S. Logan
Animals All Around: Saturday, May 12th, 2:00; Denver Athmar Library, 1055 S. Tejon
A New World: Sunday, May 20th, 2:00; Denver Schlessman Library, 1st & Quebec
 
 
Spring Sing-Along
This season's sing-along is an old English May Day song called Hal-An-Toe. The title probably refers to dancing "heel-and-toe." The fun part of this song is the chorus and playing a drum or other instrument on beat 4: "Hal-an-toe (BOOM)..." There are several different verses but I only sang the one about Robin Hood.

Click here for the MP3

 
Lyrics:
 
Chorus:
 
Hal-an-toe,
Jolly rumbalo,
We were up,
Long before the day-o,
To welcome in the summer
To welcome in the May-o,
'Cause summer is a comin' and the winter's gone away-O!
 
Verse:
Robin Hood and Little John they went off to fair-o,
And we shall to the merry green to play with buck and hare-O!
 
Chorus:

Justin's Newsletter for Winter 2007
 
There are three concerts Justin will be performing during the next couple weeks.
January 15th was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and February is African-American history month.
This is a great time of year to reflect on the music and history of the United States through
Justin's program and CD called "All That Jazz."
 

 

Winter Sing-Along
One of our native genres of music in the USA is the spiritual. Some spirituals have religious connotations and most speak to the strength of the human spirit. "This Little Light" is one of the most uplifting and easy to sing spirituals.  The object is to share our inner Light, so every verse describes a different way or place that we can Shine. The refrain is always "...I'm gonna let it shine."

Click here for the MP3

 
Lyrics:
 
1. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine (3x)
 

2. All around the world, I'm gonna let it shine (3x)

 

3. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine (3x)

 
Other verses can find their way from daily activities:
 
  Singing with my friends...
  Put it under a towel - NO!...
  Cooking up our dinner...
 
Justin's Newsletter for Early Autumn 2006
 
There are two concerts Justin will be performing during the next month.
 
First, Justin will be presenting his "Creepy Crawlies" program at the Valdez-Perry Branch Library on Saturday, November 4th at 2:00 pm. Creepy Crawlies has songs, games and dances about insects, bugs and tiny slimy things.
 
Second, come see Justin perform at the Children's Museum of Denver on Saturday, November 18th at 11:30 am. The show will be "Apples and Bananas," a very appropriate theme for Thanksgiving the next week.
 
 
Autumn Sing-Along
 
 This season's sing-along is "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly." This is one of the songs that will be performed at the Children's Museum "Creepy Crawlies" show in October.
Click to hear the first three verses on the MP3 file.
 
Lyrics:
 
1. There was an old woman who swallowed a fly,
I don't know why she swalloed a fly, perhaps she'll die.
 
2. There was an old woman who swallowed a spider,
It wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her,
She swalled the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swalloed a fly, perhaps she'll die.
 
3.There was an old woman who swallowed a bird,
How absurd to swallow a bird,
She swalled the bird to catch the spider, It wiggled...
 
4. There was an old woman who swallowed a cat, imagine that she swallowed a cat...
 
5. There was an old woman who swallowed a dog, she was a hog to swallow a dog...
 
6. There was an old woman who swallowed a cow, I don't know how she swallowed a cow...
 
7. There was an old woman who swallowed a horse - she died of course.
 
New To The JustinMiera.com Website
 
First, there are now listening samples from the CDs "Brothers and Sisters," and "All That Jazz." Check 'em out and order a disk!
 
Second, there is a list of private music teachers in the Denver area for piano, strings, woodwinds, Orff and percussion. Click here for the PDF.
 


Summer 2006

 This newsletter is to let you know about Justin's many performances of his program

Animals All Around

(ages 3-9)
This is a musical story about an Arctic tern named Flit who is blown off her 12,000 mile migration journey. To find her way back she travels across the continents meeting other migratory and sedentary animals. She also learns about the unique nature of each new friend, their uncertain relationships with the environment and the importance of her missing family. Children love animals and they will easily identify with them through these geographic, scientific and social themes. Come sing, dance and even play instruments with Justin Miera.
 
Summer Sing-Along
Click for the MP3 file link:
Alouettemix.mp3
 
Alouette, gentile Alouette. Alouette je t'embrasse.
Je t'embrasse la tete, je t'embrasse la tete (head). Et la tete, et la tete, Alouette, Alouette Oh...
Et la nez... (nose)
Et la bec... (beak)
Et la cou... (neck)
Et la dos... (back)
Et la pattes... (feet)
- - - 
The context of this song is two birds introducing themselves to each other. One speaks French and is teaching the other bird different words.
Traditionally, the lyrics read "Je te plumeraie." (I will pluck your head, nose, beak, etc.)
Since this is a friendly song I replaced plumerai with embrasse: to hug or embrace. (with the help of Rocio Zeiler and Monique Lathrop)

Spring 2006
 
 This newsletter is to let you know about several new events in Justin's World.
Tattered Cover, The Children's Museum of Denver,
and The Bookies (4315 E Mississippi Ave, Denver, 80246 - (303) 759-1117).
 
 
Spring Sing-Along
 
Click for the MP3 file link:
Papaya.mp3
 
Shake The Papaya Down
(Traditional)
Momma says no play, This is a work day,
Up with the bright sun, Get all the work done,
If you will help me climb up the tall tree,
Shake the papaya down.
(Sing different verses by changing the word "shake" to "beat" and then "scrape."
Play shake, beat and scrape instruments on their corresponding verses.)


January 2006

January 16th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and February is African-American history month.

This is a great time of year to reflect on the music and history of the United States through one of our native genres, the spiritual. Some spirituals have religious connotations and most speak to the strength of the human spirit. For me, "Michael Row" speaks to how we can over come difficulties by working and singing together.

You are invited to one of my upcoming performances of All That Jazz over the next month... schedule.html

Here is our sing-along for this season 

Click for the MP3 file link: Michael.mix.mp3.mp3

Michael Row

Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah (2xs)
1. Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah (2xs)
2. River Jordan is chilly and cold..., Chills the body but not the soul...
3. Jordan's river is deep and wide..., Milk and honey on the other side...
4. Michael's boat is a music boat..., If you stop singing it can't float... 


November 2005

Click for the MP3 file link:

Over_The_River.2.mp3  

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS
Traditional
 
Over the river and through the woods, To Gradmother's house we go.
The horse know the way to carry the sleigh through the white and drifting snow.
Over the river and through the woods, Oh how the wind does blow,
It stings the toes and bites the nose as over the ground we go.
Over the river and through the woods, and straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extreemely slow, It is so hard to wait.
Over the river and through the woods, Now Grandfather's cap I spy,
Hurray for the fun is the pudding done, Hurray for the pumpkin pie.
 

Vistit http://www.justinmiera.com/products.html
for information on Justin's CDs Brothers and Sisters, and All That Jazz
and his book Music to Shake the Papaya Down
 

For More Information Call

1-800-218-6440

e-mail to

JustinMier@aol.com

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