Parade Time!

HMS 2013-2014 Band and Guard

West TN Solo and Ensemble Contest

On March 18, I took several of the band students to a solo and ensemble contest where they performed a variety of solos, duets, and trios for judges and were scored.  All together we were awarded 12 ribbons- 10 "excellent" ratings and two, top scoring, "superior" ratings.  It was a good day for the HMS Band!

"I can humiliate or heal... "

“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”

-Haim Ginott

"The True Meaning of Christmas" (Glickstein/Spraggins)

A month or so ago, one of my songwriting partners, Matt Glickstein, asked me to help provide lyrics to a melody he had conceived.  He was wanting to create a song for his students at the Lanai Academy of Performing Arts in Hawaii to perform.   We worked together and came up with a song called "The True Meaning of Christmas."  Matt had the kids recorded a demo recording, and they plan to perform the song several times during the Holiday season.  One of these performances will be at a special Christmas concert appearance by up-and-coming jazz artist Brenna Whitaker.  We are very proud of the kids and of the message behind the song.  Stay tuned for more updates...

"The True Meaning of Christmas"
(Glickstein/Spraggins)

Performed by students of the Lanai Academy of Performing Arts

Lanai, Hawaii

General Music Class Fun...

My General Music Classes recently finished a unit on "Rhythm" and "Pitch."  The culminating activity was to have them read and perform simple melodies from sheet music on pitched tubes ("Boom Whackers") and xylophones (bells).  The students seemed to have learned a great deal in a short amount of time and were able to play these simple melodies with minimal instruction- a good sign that they understand the concepts we've been working on.  It's always difficult to have this much activity in a classroom, but the organized chaos seemed to be well worth the effort! Next week, we start a unit on Music History!

My new job...

I've just started my new job as the Band Director and General Music teacher at Haywood Middle School in Brownsville, TN.  Stay tuned for updates!

"Ghosts" (Glickstein/Spraggins)

"Ghosts" was the first song that I wrote with composer Matt Glickstein.  We have since written many songs together long distance (Matt lives in Hawaii and I live in TN).  This song ("Ghosts") was written in the summer of 2011.  It was nominated as "Best of SongU.com" in 2011 and was named a semi-finalist in the adult contemporary category of the UK Songwriting Contest in 2012.  Jon Statham provided vocals and guitar on this demo.  Matt played piano. 

music and lyrics copyright 2011 Glickstein/Spraggins

Lyrics: http://themadmusingsofahopelessdaydreamer.blogspot.com/2011/06/ghosts.html

"Beneath the Ancient Olive Trees" (for piano)

This is a piece that was originally written to be part of an Easter song cycle that I was writing with lyricist Andy Brown. We never finished that project, so I'm converting some of the pieces to piano arrangements. The art in this video is by my good friend Rodney Leath of Leath studio in Memphis.

jrod@leathstudio.com
Facebook @ Leath Studio

Newspaper Article from "The Crockett Reporter"

"The Desert of God" (From "Elizabethtown: A Musical Western") Vocal Demo

This song comes from the first act and is performed by Charles, the town's priest and one of the show's central characters.  This demo was produced by Alex Newkirk.  The paintings in the video are by famed artist Georgia O'Keeffe. 

Although the most of this song could be notated in 3/4, I have used alternating 4/4- 2/4 in the score.  To me, that just seems to fit the feel better.  The bridge moves into 5/4 before it reprises the chorus.  It's an unusual composition for me.  I hope you enjoy!

music and lyrics copyright 2011 Spraggins and Brown

"Bethany" (Instrumental)

 

This is based on a melody that I wrote earlier this year.  It was going to be part of a song cycle for choir based on the Holy Week.  I never finished the song cycle (I hope to someday), but I liked this melody and turned it into something for solo piano. This demo also has a cello on the melody.

 

This piece is for my long-time friend Bethany Herr.   The art is by Picasso.

"The Jazzman's Lullaby" (Vocal Demo)

Matt Glickstein and I wrote this song during the summer of 2011. It was the second song that we worked on together, and it's one of my favorites. This demo was recorded by the talented Jon Statham (www.jonstatham.com). The video footage is by musician and artist Patrick Fulwood: http://www.youtube.com/user/crimsonking420?feature=watch

music and lyrics copyright 2011 Glickstein and Spraggins

Hymn 2013 (Shadows and Light)- for piano

This is a piano piece based on a melody that I wrote for an Easter song cycle that Andy Brown and I were preparing earlier this year. The piece is repeated twice in this video in order to fit the length of the footage. The first time through is with piano only. The repeat adds other orchestral instruments.

"Hell on Earth" (Vocal Demo) from "Elizabethtown: A Musical Western

This song is from act two of the musical. In it, Charles explains to Caroline why he, years before, left his badge behind to become a priest. Caroline pleads with Charles to leave Elizabethtown and the priesthood behind and run away with her. Alex Newkirk produced this demo. 

music and lyrics copyright 2013 Spraggins and Brown

ELIZABETHTOWN: A MUSICAL WESTERN
Greed. Corruption. Love. Murder. Searching for a new life in a dried-up mining town that never was, people come to Elizabethtown for a fresh start. Follow the heroine, Phoebe Woodward, as she comes to Elizabethtown, fleeing a past she can't outrun. Will she find the new life she's been yearning for, or will her past be too much for her to overcome?

VIDEO:
"Lot's Wife"
Director: Tova Beck-Friedman
Cinematographer: Tova Beck-Friedman
Editor: Tova Beck-Friedman
http://archive.org/details/LotsWife

"Why Fear the Forbidden?" from Elizabethtown: A Musical Western

This song is placed late in the second act of the musical.   Caroline, a woman on the run from her past, pleads with the town's young priest (the man she loves) to run away with her and start a new life.   Charles, the priest, conflicted about the choices he must make.  This demo was produced by Alex Newkirk.

Hear more at:  www.spragginsmusic.com

Nocturne 1 (Childhood)

Here is a piece that I wrote for piano. It was inspired by dreams of my childhood. The video is made up of old pictures that my mom found recently. They are mostly of me with my family. Wonderful memories.