Professor Majorchord's Music Lesson/Transcript

(Mr. Forbes, Mrs. Wilson and the kids were in the studio, surrounded with instruments, talking about today's show all about music with their music teacher, Professor Majorchord as guest.)

Mr. Forbes: So, what kids are you up to today?

Melanee: We decided to make a show all about music.

Megan: You know our music teacher, Professor Majorchord?

Mrs. Wilson: Is he that slightly unusual man with the funny hat and the funny coat that we seen in some of the videos?

Kevin: That's him.

Mr. Forbes: Oh, yeah. I remember him. What about him?

Melanee: You can help us make our show all about music.

Megan: He makes learning music so much fun.

Kevin: He'll teach us about instruments and different musical styles.

Mrs. Wilson: Excellent. And speaking of music, can we look at today's music videos?

Kevin: Sure thing.

(Cues the clips of the videos from A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm, A Day With the Animals and A Day at the Circus.)

Mark: Professor Majorchord is coming today. Isn't that great?

Janessa: Yeah, I hope he brings lots of instruments.

Mark: Do you take lessons from him?

Janessa: Oh, yes. I studied the tuba and the drums.

Mark: I want to start taking drum lessons, too. Is it fun?

Janessa: Oh, yes. I love it, but you better have a mom that likes them cause they're very noisy. (turns to the hosts on camera) It's showtime, stand by.

Megan: Everybody ready? Good.

Kevin: Hassan, let's roll that opening graphic in 3, 2, 1 and take it!

(Opening title starts)

Kevin: Janessa, cue the hosts in 5, 4,

Janessa: 3, 2! (points to the hosts, Christian and Alexandra)

Alexandra: Good morning and welcome to the Kidsongs TV Show,

Christian: The one and only show made by kids,

Alexandra: for kids,

Christian: And starring kids. Hi, I'm Christian Buenaventura.

Alexandra: And I'm Alexandra Palm.

(The Biggles appear on the desk, standing holding hands)

Biggles: And we're the Biggles!

Billy: I'm Billy.

Ruby: And I'm Ruby!

Alexandra: (to Ruby): Hey, guys. I was wondering, why are you called Biggles?

Ruby: Because we can be big or little!

Billy: Like this!

(The Biggles grow big into the camera and shrink back down.)

Christian: That must be fun!

Biggles: It is!

Christian: And here's a song to get us started.

Alexandra: It's called "On Top of Spaghetti".

Ruby: What's passghetti?

Alexandra: Spaghetti. It's a food. You'll see.

(The song clip On Top of Spaghetti began.)

(After the clip, Professor Majorchord was with Janet and Melanee, pushing a cart full of cases full of instruments inside)

Janet: Wow, Professor! What's in all these cases?

Professor: Magnificent horns and fabulous woodwinds, exotic percussion instruments and vibrant strings.

Melanee: Wow, you practically have an orchestra here.

Professor: Yes, young lady, we do. An orchestra is comprised with four sections, the strings, the woodwinds, the brass, and the percussion instruments.

Melanee: Can you teach us about these instruments on today's show?

Professor: You're darn tooting I can!

Kevin: Do you play any instruments, Megan?

Megan: I've just started the clarinet.

Kevin: How is it going?

Megan: Not that well yet. It takes a lot of practice to learn the right way to blow. The fingering is a bit tricky too.

Kevin: Are you going to stick with it?

Megan: Absolutely. There is a girl named Jane that Professor Majorchord has been giving lessons to for a really long time; she is so good.

(Ruby appears to talk to Megan.)

Ruby: Oh, that's great! When you listen to Jane, you can imagine how good you'll be in a year or two.

Megan (to Ruby): Right! And when I get discouraged, I think about her too. It's the thought of being good at it that keeps me going.

Kevin: Neat. (faces to the screen) Cue the host in 5, 4, 3, 2 and cue!

Christian: Today we're going to be talking a lot about music, and in this next song, you can really hear the flute.

(Billy appears with the hosts, this time holding the flute.)

Billy: I can play the flute.

Alexandra (to Billy): Really?

Billy: Yes!

(Billy is going to play a short lively melody on the flute.)

Billy: (playing flute)

Alexandra (to Billy): Wow! (to the viewers) The flute has a sound unlike any other instrument.

Christian: So kids, listen for it in "Here We Go Loopty Loo"!

(The song clip Here We Go Loopty Loo began, but edited to add the sound of the flute.)

(After the clip, Katie and Chris were meeting with Professor Majorchord who came with his instruments.)

Katie and Chris: (to Professor): Good morning, Professor.

Professor: (to kids): Good morning, young musicians. (bending to Katie) Have you been practicing your French horn, Katie?

Katie (to Professor): Oh, yes, Professor. I have been playing the scales really well now.

Chris (to Katie): What are scales?

Professor (to both, picking up the French horn): A series of tones, like this...

(Professor is going to blow onto the French horn.)

Professor: (playing the C major scale from Middle C to High C note on French horn)

Chris: Rad!

(Cuts to the studio cameras where Janessa cues the hosts.)

Janessa: Hosts, we're coming to you in 5, 4, 3, 2...

(Janessa points at the hosts.)

Christian: In a drum roll, this next song takes us to the circus.

Alexandra: And talk about drum rolls, they're just be big drums at the beginning of this track.

(Billy appears with the hosts.)

Billy: Yes, those are timpani. Listen, kiddos. They're the ones that go: (mimics timpani sounds) "bum, bum bum, bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum."

Alexandra: (to Billy): Those are the ones! (to the viewers) Listen, kids, you can't miss them.

(A song clip of The Circus is Coming to Town played, but edited to add timpani strokes.)

(After the clip, Billy talks to the hosts about how he loves drums.)

Billy (to hosts): I love timpani. In fact, I love all drums. Would you like me to play my snare drum for you?

Alexandra: (to Billy): I'm not sure, Billy.

Billy (to Alexandra): You'll love it!

(Billy is going to play the snare drum, to show his love of drums to the hosts.)

Billy: (playing the rhythm of "Boom Boom, Ain't it Great to be Crazy?" on snare drum)

Christian: (to Billy): Hey, I recognized that tune. Isn't it "Boom Boom, Ain't It Great to be Crazy?"?

Billy: (to hosts and viewers): Yes, it is!

(A song clip of Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy? was played.)

(In the studio with the cameras, Mark and Ruby were talking on why he wanted to play an instrument.)

Mark (to Ruby): Ruby, I think I like to learn an instrument, I'm afraid I won't be any good at it.

Ruby: (to Mark): Oh, Mark. It's never too late to start something you think you might enjoy. Some of the best musicians in the world are in their 90's. You have your whole life to enjoy music.

Mark: So you think I should ask Professor Majorchord if I could join a class?

Ruby: Oh, yes Mark.

Mark (to Ruby): What if I'm not any good?

Ruby (to Mark): Mark, I sure you'll be good. Give it a try.

Mark (to Ruby): OK, Ruby. I will.

(Cuts back to the studio booth.)

Hassan: "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window" is cued and standing by.

Megan: Good, we're coming to the hosts in 5,

Kevin (faces the screen): 4, 3, 2...

Christian: This next song, "How Much is That Doggie In the Window", has a very simple melody.

Alexandra: As most songs with a waltz-tempo do.

(Billy appears with the hosts again with a keyboard.)

Billy (to Alexandra): What's a waltz tempo?

Alexandra (to Billy): When it goes "one two three, one two three."

Billy: Oh, yeah. There's lots of songs like that.

Christian: (to Billy): Yes, Billy. They're are. (to the viewers) Our arrangement features the keyboard.

Billy: Hey, another instrument that I can play! See?

(Billy begins playing the keyboard as the song clip "Pet Medley" began playing.)

(The song clip Pet Medley plays.)

(After the clip, Professor Majorchord was in the studio, meeting up with Mark.)

Professor (to Mark): And who are you, young man?

Mark (to Professor): I'm Mark Humphrey.

Professor (to Mark): Are you a student of Music?

Mark (to Professor): Well, not exactly.

Professor (to Mark): Rhythm, Harmony, melody, conducting or composition?

Mark (to Professor): Well, I'm afraid not.

Professor (to Mark): Huh. Looks like we have to remedy this immediately. (points to the instruments when he looks at Mark) Which instrument would you like to try?

Mark (to Professor): Professor, I'm not sure if I'm musical.

Professor (to Mark): Nonsense, (turns to the table where the instruments are) there's an instrument for everybody. (picks up a triangle) Here, try this triangle.

(Mark plays the triangle so fast!)

Professor (to Mark): Splendiferous! Now, (puts the triangle back and picks up the cowbell) let's try this cowbell.

(Professor Majorchord hands Mark the cowbell to play with.)

(Cuts back to the studio.)

Christian: A lot of us kids study music with Professor Majorchord.

Alexandra: And the big part of our study is the playing of instruments. Professor Majorchord always says that "the playing side is more important than the study side.

Christian: Cause playing music is what is all about".

Alexandra: So have a look of what happened when Professor Majorchord invited our whole town to play along with the Kidsongs kids

Christian: In...

Both: "Come Join The Band".

(A song clip Come Join The Band was played.)

(Cuts back to the booth.)

Megan: (to Hassan and Kevin): Can Janet play an instrument?

Hassan: I don't think so.

Megan: You watch. Professor Majorchord will have her play an instrument by the end of the segment.

Kevin (faces to the screen): Hassan, roll the question time graphic.

Hassan: Rolling.

Kevin: In 3, 2, 1 and take it!

(The Question Time intro graphic is played, cuts to the studio.)

Alexandra: I am sure you kids were able to figure out who Professor Majorchord was in that video.

Christian: That cost of his are pretty hard to miss.

Alexandra: So are his lessons. (to the viewers) So without further ado, let's welcome Janet Veyts and Professor Majorchord on Question Time.

(Camera turns to Janet and Professor Majorchord.)

Janet (to hosts): Thank you, Christian. Thank you, Alexandra. (to Professor) Good morning, Professor.

Professor (to Janet): Good morning, Janet.

Janet (to Professor): Wow, what a wonderful selection of instruments.

Professor (to Janet): They are wonderful, aren't they?

Janet (to Professor): Professor, I understand that they are several different groups of instruments. Can you explain to us a little about them?

Professor (to Janet): Absolutely. (when the guest name appears at the bottom of the screen) Let's start with the percussion instruments. Now the rule is if you got it to play it, it's a percussion instrument.

Janet (to Professor): Can you give us an example?

Professor (to Janet): Sure. (turns down to the congas) Let's take these congas for example.

Professor: (plays a beat example on the congas)

Professor (to Janet): Here, you try, Janet.

Janet: (plays the same beat example like Professor Majorchord did)

Janet (to Professor): Wow, that's fine. Gee, Professor. You haven't been here for a minute, and I'm playing an instrument already.

(Cuts back to the booth.)

Megan (to Kevin): See? I told you!

Kevin (to the screen): Yep, that's our Professor.

(Cuts back to the studio.)

Professor (to Janet): Now, another percussion instrument (bends down and picks up the tambourine) is the tambourine. Part of what makes a tambourine so much fun are these little cymbals around the edges. (plays the tambourine by shaking it and puts it down) Now, cymbals are also percussion instruments. (turns to the cymbals and picks them up) And we know that because.. (plays the cymbals)

Janet (to Professor): You have to hit them to make music.

Professor (to Janet): Exactly. Like these. (crashes the cymbals again) Now, the difference is instead of hitting them with our hands, we crash them into each other. (crashes the cymbals again and puts the cymbals down) But they are percussion instruments all the same.

Janet (to Professor): Are there other percussion instruments?

Professor (to Janet): Oh, yes. There are the ones that you hit like a stick or a wood block. (plays the stick and the wood block) And there are also ones that you can shake, like the maracas. Go ahead Janet. Give them a try.

(Janet picks up the maracas.)

Janet (to Professor): (shakes maracas) Hey, these are fun!

Professor (to Janet): Yes. Percussion instruments are easy to learn and a lot of fun, especially for kids. Now, the strings instruments take a bit more training.

Janet (to Professor): What are string instruments?

Professor (to Janet): Any musical instrument that makes it sound by vibrating strings (picks up the guitar) like this guitar. (strumming strings on guitar) See the strings vibrate? With string instruments, the strings are stretched tight over a how box of one shape or another. (puts back the guitar and turns to the violin and picks it up) Now, the violin is like the guitar, only different and it's played different with a bow. (playing violin) Isn't it fascinating?

Janet (to Professor): Oh, yes, Professor. Can you explain to us about the woodwinds and the brass?

Professor (to Janet): Absolutely. Both of these types of instruments are played by blowing. (playing "Charge!" fanfare on trumpet) See? On the brass instruments, like your French horns, trombones and bugles, the musician blows into this little cup-shaped mouth piece. (puts back the trumpet and picks up the clarinet) But with the woodwinds, like the clarinet, you blow pass this little piece of reed, and the vibration makes the sound.