Project Noteworthy with Lima Symphony Orchestra

Music lifts us and connects us and is a lifelong partner in expressing our emotions.

Thanks to the Lima Symphony Orchestra and a project grant from the National Endowment for the Arts coordinated by LSO’s Renee Keller, I led a songwriting project with four 4th-5th grade classes in four different Ohio schools to explore and celebrate songwriting. A complete description of the project and all involved is here.

In online sessions, I took students through the process of writing a collaborative song with the support of their teachers. First, we explored how to use songwriting to express emotions, then we worked through my brainstorming technique to generate images and ideas. Next, we explored the same kind of writing process that poets use to structure lyrics. Finally, we created a melody. I sent recordings of the four songs we created to Renee Keller, education coordinator at the LSO.

Next, arranger Jonathan Wey listened to the songs and wrote fabulous arrangements for the orchestra. Through this project, students could see firsthand how an arranger’s job is to capture the emotional essence of each song and find ways to allow the different instruments to express those emotions.

Jonathan Wey’s scores were given to the orchestra and conductor. They learned, rehearsed, and recorded the instrumental tracks, which were then sent back to the students. Music coming full circle. Imagine the excitement of hearing these from the students’ point of view.

The project was celebrated by local media and students from Heritage ES got to share their song on the radio!

Yesterday, our young composers got the star treatment when the Lima Symphony and Modo Media came to our school to record them singing their song they composed with @maryamato . They are so excited to see the finished performance! pic.twitter.com/7PKEBcrhTB

— Heritage Music Dept. (@HeritageElMusic) May 1, 2021

Here’s just one song. More are coming!

The main goal of the project was to model a form of expressive writing—songwriting and give students tips and ideas for engaging in this creative and productive process on their own; however, the project also met a number of academic goals in language arts, music, and more, including the following:

• Using figurative language and poetic imagery
• Using meter (rhythm) and rhyme
• Learning tips for revision
• Exploring problem-solving and pattern recognition
• Strengthening cooperation skills
• Experiencing
• Applying dynamics and contrast to both music and lyrics
• Understanding the function and parts of a vocal song
• Appreciating the role of an arranger
• Learning how each instrument adds a voice to the whole of a work

Video “Deep in My Emotions” – Crystal Miller’s 4th Grade Heritage Elementary

Video “Everything is Right” – Nicole Rohrbaugh’s 4th Grade Independence Elementary

Video “Gray Day” – Joe MacBenn’s 5th Grade North Middle School

Video “Trying to Find the Light” – Kara Place’s 4th Grade Freedom Elementary:

Below are the lyrics of the songs.

Thanks to the students, the teachers Ms. Miller, Ms. Rohrbaugh, Ms. Place, and Mr. MacBeen, LSO’s Ms. Keller, the LSO, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Deep in My Emotions

Students in Mrs. Miller’s Class /HERITAGE

I’m shattered like a glass
Pieces of myself
Shattered, shattered like a glass

I know there’s hope
Like a window we can open
A window of hope
A window of hope

I’m burning like a fire
Spreading through my heart
burning, burning like a fire

I know there’s peace
Like water pouring over me.
Water of peace.
Water of peace.

I’m falling from the nest
through the cold air
Falling, falling from the nest.

I know there’s trust
like wings to lift me up
Wings of trust.
Wings of trust.

Trying to Find the Light

Students in Mrs. Place’s class /FREEDOM

VERSE 1
The hallway is dark
I’m always trying to find my way out
oooooh
The hallway is dark
I’m always trying to find my way out
Oooooh

CHORUS
I’m trying to find the light
I’m trying to find the light

VERSE 2
I’m looking for another place
I’m always racing, always running
oooooh
I’m looking for another place
I’m always racing, always running
oooooh

CHORUS
I’m trying to find the light
I’m trying to find the light

VERSE 3
Whispers surround me
In my head I hear them coming
oooooh
Footsteps are thumping
Always getting louder, louder
oooooh
Shadows bombard me
Watching me, they always follow
oooooh

I’m trying to find the light
I’m trying to find the light

Everything is Right

Students in Ms. Rohrbaugh’s Class /INDEPENDENCE
Verse
I’m flying through the sky
I’m climbing to the top
I’m riding and riding and riding
Everything is right

Verse

I’m swimming through the waves
Building castles in the sand
I’m diving and diving and diving.
Everything is right.

BRIDGE

I might get hurt
I may get sick
and make mistakes
all the time.

I might lose
I may get shy
But I am gonna
try to shine.

Verse

I’m walking to the moon
Singing in the sun
I’m shining and shining and shining.
Everything is right.
Everything is right. (SLOW)

Gray Day Turning Bright

Students in Mr. MacBeen’s Class

VERSE 1
Someone cuts you off
Someone takes what you want
It’s all gray today.
Gray today.

VERSE 2
Problems that you have to do
Come up with the answers to
It’s all gray today.
Gray today.

CHORUS
Tonight we need fireworks.
Lights and design shine bright.
red, blue, gold, and white
All throughout the night
We need fireworks tonight.

VERSE 3
People crowd around
You can’t get where you want
It’s all gray today.
Gray today.

VERSE 2
People yell at you
No one understands you
It’s all gray today.
Gray today.

CHORUS REPEATS TO END