What’s in a Song?

Many of Jurassic Joe Shows are hosted by libraries, and this can add an extra dimension to the performance in that there are so many texts on dinosaurs readily available at the venue, and an immediate link can be made between the show’s positive emotional connection to the topic and the resources that can give learning greater depth. The song “I-think-he-saurus” is designed to create a Call and Response quiz experience for the audience with a connection being required between specific characteristics and the name of a dinosaur. The selection of dinosaurs is taken from the more popular ones so the opportunity is there for the dinosaur enthusiasts to find each dinosaur in the available texts, and get access to more illustrations and detailed information, further extending the learning. For example, discovering that the word “Triceratops” means three-horned-head is an excellent introduction to language structure, supporting an understanding of common word derivatives and also multilingual associations. The song has a “London Bridge” repetitiveness giving ample opportunity for establishing a visualization of the dinosaur, with a very non-distracting tonic / dominant 2-chord harmonic progression, and an incrementally developed texture of instrumentation for variety. All the makings of a good children’s song, and with this one, maybe it’s the first step to a second, third or fourth language.

Ciao.