How Deeply You're Connected to My Soul

This is a great song.  I am singing the melody and two harmony parts.  Listen and try to hear each of the parts.

How could anyone ever tell you that you're anything less than beautiful?
How could anyone ever tell you that you're less than whole?
How could anyone fail to notice that you're loving is a miracle?
How deeply you're connected to my soul

Come Follow Me in Bb major

Today's lesson gives you practice sight singing with the round "Come, Follow Me" in the key of Bb major.  This round was written by John Hilton (1599-1657).  It is great for practicing a diatonic major scale (drmfsltd) and also descending thirds in various places (s-m, f-r, m-d, r-t, d-l).

Lyrics:
Come, follow me
Whither shall I follow thee?
To the greenwood tree

Happy New Year!

I filmed this video when I was visiting my family in Emory, Virginia over the holidays.  You'll probably need to enlarge it to full screen or else the deer just look like small dots with an occasional white tail.

 

Merry Christmas 2011

The Night Before Christmas

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "The Night Before Christmas" by Carly Simon.  I heard it first on an Amy Grant Christmas recording from 1992.  My favorite part is the last verse.  Enjoy this live recording from the 2005 Saint Patrick's Elementary School Christmas Program in Charlotte, North Carolina.  The entire student body sings with student accompaniment on recorders and piano.

The Night Before Christmas by Carly Simon

Children carry through the streets a brightly painted star

Angels gather round the hearth strumming on guitars

And men of great renown and faith say prayers on boulevards

On the night before Christmas

You don't have to be an angel to sing harmony

You don't have to be a child to love the mystery

You don't have to be a wise man on bended knee

The heart of this Christmas is in you and me.

If your heart's been longing; you've been afraid to try

Sorrow's kept you company and the dance has passed you by

I'll lift you up and blaze with you across the moonlit sky

On the night before Christmas

Maoz Tzur at Charlotte Folk Society

Today is the first day of Hanukkah.  The root of the word "hanukkah" is "dedicate".  This Jewish festival of lights celebrates the rededication of the holy temple in Jerusalem after many years of oppression.  Though the story is part of the Jewish tradition, the message of hope is universal:

Yours the message cheering,
That the time is nearing,
Which will see all people free,
Tyrants disappearing

In honor of the first day of Hanukkah listen to Community Singers performing Maoz Tzur at the Charlotte Folk Society's holiday potluck dinner with Shlomo Snir singing the solo.

singing the circle of fifths

I finally have my singing voice back.  In today's lesson you'll hear the circle of fifths as I sing the scales for each of the keys.  The scales are represented on the chart vertically and the fifth progression goes horizontally.   Go back to my post from 11/21 if you need the introduction to the circle of fifths.