Claudio inspires a classroom lesson

Ever since we got back from spring break and found our Neverender box set waiting patiently for us, the hubby and I have become completely immersed in everything Coheed and Cambria. But that's an entirely different post.

So yesterday when I got home from school, my other half told me that he found a video of Claudio doing another Prizefighter Inferno song and that it was good video quality. Hooray! The one song on the DVD just isn't enough. I want to hear that whole album too! But I can't be too greedy. Maybe someday...

The video is from the Neverender tour in London I believe and Claudio is singing "Who Watches the Watchmen". But that's not all! He gets the entire audience involved, clapping percussion parts and singing some of the electronic parts - first of all AMAZING - and then a light bulb goes off in my head. I can do this in my classroom. Brilliant, Claudio!

I've been struggling all school year long to find stuff to do with my 7th and 8th graders. Since I have no curriculum books for those two grades, I'm on my own. And sure I could design my own curriculum, but for some reason I have this strange idea that I want the kids to actually enjoy all of the lessons. Crazy, I know, and it really hasn't worked out that well so far. 7th grade has been better since I found out that the computer lab is open during their time and I have been busying them with computer work. But what to do with my 8th graders?

Well, the 8th grade boys LOVE Journey, especially "Don't Stop Believin". But I don't have the piano parts for it and I'm just too preoccupied to try to figure it all out on my own. I know the chord progressions...

Here's what I've decided I'm going to try tomorrow when I have both classes: I'll split the class into three sections - singing the lyrics, playing percussion on our hand drums, djembes, claves, etc. and then also a group singing the bass ostinato. This could either be really fun or an epic fail. And I'm not anything near as awesome as Claudio is, so we'll have to see. I know that the younger kids get excited when we attempt to sing rounds together, so I'm hoping that this will catch on with my oldest.

Here's the video I've been talking about. Take a look and you'll see what I'm about to attempt. Thanks, Claudio!