For the past several months I have been working on a teacher's resource book about Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama.  I am hoping to obtain permission to use the copyrighted Music that will go along with the subject matter.  In the meantime, to research what works in the book and what doesn't, I have been presenting a rough draft of the project to the "experts," fourth and fifth grade students.  Thus far, I have shown a DVD of the work in progress to three different schools.  The response has been very positive.  The kids are interested and engaged and the teachers welcome a way to integrate Music into their Social Studies curriculum.  The comments, questions, and insights of the students is nothing short of amazing!  I am learning from them, too!

I would like to thank Woodview School in Grayslake, South Park School in Deerfield, and Wileman School in Delavan, Wisconsin for allowing me to work with their students.

If copyright permission is granted, I can then proceed to the publishing part.  If not, I guess I will write an original song to go along with the subject matter.

Either way...back to work!

My friend, Billy Shaffer, is appearing in "The Million Dollar Quartet" at the Apollo Theatre in Chicago.  It is a musical about a December day in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis had an impromptu "jam" at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.  I had the opportunity to see the show this week and it is fabulous!  I really want to take my two teenage sons to see it.  I know they will enjoy the music.  It's only about 90 minutes long with no intermission (which is great for me because I have never been able to sit still longer than a few minutes at a time).  :-)

The musicians are great, especially the guy who plays Jerry Lee Lewis!  I was exhausted just watching them!  The box office number is 773.935.6100 and the Apollo is located at 2540 N. Lincoln Ave.  Easy to get there and there is usually plenty of parking.

Here's their website:

http://www.apollochicago.com

You really should go!

Attention all Children's Musicians:

There will be a "Song Swap & Jam" at Nibbles Play Cafe in Wheeling today, January 24th from 2-4p.m.

Kathleen Weinberg is hoping to host this fun event every fourth Saturday of the month.  It is going to be a great time and also, a great opportunity to network and meet other musicians.  Hope to see you there!