| World Domination - one classroom at a time |
| Two years ago, I introduced my 5th grade class in inner-city Philadelphia to the music of Atlantic Canada. They heard and enjoyed the music of Great Big Sea, the Barra MacNeils, Natalie MacMaster and Jim Fidler, among others. Of all the artists they have heard, Jim Fidler's music has had the most impact on their lives. Mr. Fidler has taken time from his busy schedule to speak to the classes about life, songs, and songwriting in general. He has inspired some of them to write their own song parodies to his tunes, to get interested in Amateur Radio, to study maps of the world to find places he talks about, to work together to put on a show. We recently used a soon-to-be-released song of his in a Martin Luther King, Junior Assembly at school. It is called "Salama" and is sung in Arabic, French and English. We sang the English part and ten of the girls were inspired to choreograph a dance to this upbeat song about Peace. |
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| "There's all kinds of people who can talk the talk But when it comes down to it, they can't walk the walk There's too much fussin' and fightin' instead of unitin' As the wars goes on well it ain't too excitin'..." ("Salama" by Jim Fidler) |
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| A contingent of kids marched down the aisle then stood on either side of the stage while the dancers did their thing. They choreographed the movement of the signs with the music too. There were 12 different signs in 12 different languages, expressing "Peace" to all. Above you see the Vietnamese, German, Arabic and Swahili words for peace. |
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| Navajo, Italian, Turkish, Russian and Spanish words for peace were also represented. |
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| Back in the classroom, James, Kamara and John dance to "Welcome to Cairo Street" from the Friendly Fire CD. |
| "...To every daughter every son, every papa and mama We just want to reach out and wish you 'Salama' - Yeah!" ("Salama" by Jim Fidler) |
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