Connecting with kids via YouTube

by: Glen Everhart
Every day I am amazed at the opportunities I am presented with via the internet to make such positive connections with people all over the world…or in one little corner of it! Two weeks ago I was presented with such an opportunity and am looking forward to making it a regular addition to my Legacy Program shows.

In February 2011 I performed my Heebie Jeebies Family Music Show at Minnewaska Area Elementary School. I made an instant friendship with the muisc teacher there – I am a former elementary school music teacher myself – and we kept in touch via facebook. And is is my habit, I left behind a few of my “Young People of the World” CD’s so the kids could continue to listen to my music after I left.

So a year goes by and Claire – the music teacher – sent me an email telling me how much the kids still enjoyed my music and that she had given them an assignment…to use their imaginations and draw a picture of what they thought the “Four headed, Three legged, Two armed, One eyed monster” (the title of one the songs on the CD) looked like. I responded by asking “Why stop there? Why not assign different kids to draw a picture of each part of the story – to illustrate the whole song – and then send them to me?” So they did, and I scanned them into my computer and created a complete, illustrated version of my song story. I then posted it to Youtube, and she sent an email to all the parents with a link to the video. The kids then got to watch the video with their parents, and see their own drawing as part of a high quality, team created work of art. Everybody feels great when everybody contributes to such a fun, positive end result!

A student's drawing of the "4 headed, 3 legged, 2 armed, 1 eyed monster" from the title of one of Glen Everhart's original songs

They are now working on the illustrations for a 2nd song – “Camp Ishy-Fishy-Stinky-Socky Skeeter-Slappy-Toada-Hoppy-Burpa-Lotta-Woods-a-Tickle-ee” – and I’m going to make this service a FREE add on to anyone who hires my Legacy Program show!

Glen Everhart's CD "Young People of the World"