Oh Mama, Can You Hear Me?
Oh Mama, Can You Hear Me? is an emotionally stirring ballad that brings Mei Li’s journey of love, loss, and self-discovery to life as she turns to her late mother for solace. At the heart of this song is the universal bond between mother and child, a connection that transcends life and death. Mei Li’s […]
These Are the Last Days of Roosevelt Junior High
Set against the backdrop of challenges familiar to any institution that finds itself in financial straits, In America’s final song serves as a monument to the memories, lessons, and relationships that are forged between people in all places of work and study who experience the shock and confusion that inevitably ensues when they hear the […]
Tax the Rich
Tax the Rich brings us to the heart of a raw, energetic dialogue where ordinary working-class teachers, frustrated by economic inequalities, rally for social reform. They unify their voices to call attention to corporate greed and wealth disparity. Their biting lyrics recount a wide range of grievances, including underfunded public programs, inaccessible healthcare, and crumbling […]
Tick Tock Tick Tock
No, not that Tik Tok, this version was written about 25 years ago and is more of the Grandfather’s Clock version of the old phrase. This Tick Tock is a dynamic, reflective, musical piece that transports listeners from wherever they might be to a classroom setting, where students are taking their final big test. Introspectively, […]
Mei Li Love Song/Oh Mama, Can You Hear Me?
Mei Li Love Song/Oh Mama, Can You Hear Me? are two emotional ballads segued into one to present Mei Li’s journey of love, loss, and self-discovery. At the heart of these songs is the universal bond between mother and child, a connection that transcends life and death. For Mei Li, the longing to communicate with […]
It’s Their Big Test
(Or Is It Mine?)
In the scholarly world of Mr. Johnson’s classroom, the anticipation of the final test brings an excess of emotions. As the school bell rings and students leave anxiously, Mr. Johnson is facing his own test anxiety. “It’s their big test or is it mine?” he wonders to himself leading up to a full-scale 1920’s Busby […]
Daydreams
A tense atmosphere greets the students following their Monday morning return to their classroom, which had been the scene of a violent episode carried out by the Thug Boys the Friday afternoon before. To calm his students’ still rattled nerves, Mr. Johnson assigns his class a quiet and reflective writing exercise and asks them to […]
Shiny Toyota Tercel
Shiny Toyota Tercel is a reminder of the dreams and sacrifices immigrants undertake for their families and themselves in search of a brighter future. Through its simple melody and storied lyrics, the listener gains a greater sense of understanding and appreciation of the diversity of cultures that help shape the fabric of American society while […]
American Pronunciation Song
The American Pronunciation Song introduces a creative, musical approach to teaching. Music. It is presented through the character of Mr. Johnson, an enthusiastic young teacher eager to help his students adopt American pronunciation speaking habits. The song highlights the differences between traditional British English and American English, the latter preferred by students in America as […]
They Don’t Look Like Indians To Me
They Don’t Look Like Indians To Me offers a bold, satirical response to exclusionary attitudes faced by immigrant communities and non-native English speakers in America. Through lively and witty lyrics, the teachers of Roosevelt Junior High School, led by Ms. Simon, challenge the contradictions and hypocrisy of those who claim “America for the Americans” while […]
