Chorus Director: Tina Vogtman
Solo rappers: Derrick Kyei-Baffour and Brianna Davis
Beatbox: Matt Bonilla

Choral Arrangement by: Leslie Bowen, Erinn Gales, Jasmine Gibson, Connor Strain, Tabitha Davis, Shana Cramption, Nicole Santillo, Jessica Vaughn, Janel Mayo, Morgan Reedy, Felicia Kattes, Ingrid Ventura, Monica Revelo, Allyn Acha, Rochelle Young, Brooklyn Zimmerman, Nicole Weedon, Cassandra Harris, Gwen Filkins, Aroosa Shah, and Mary Williams

This very special contest challenged all of our subscribing classrooms to record their own version of “Hold Me,” the hit song recorded by the former Menudo group in 1985. Contestants were given total creative freedom regarding style, tempo, key, and instrumentation.

Crestwood’s entry included an interesting mix of musical styles, segueing from classic choral harmonies in thirds and “doo bee doo’s” to 2 different rap sections.

THE WINNING ENTRY

It turns out that Music Alive! played an integral role in the creation of this winning entry. To create some raps for the school’s “Character Counts” week, Crestwood’s 8th grade Chorus used Music Alive!’s November article on how to create hip-hop beats (“The Making of a Hip-Hop Hit”), using Ron Riley’s recording of “Over My Head” from the MA! November CD. It was then that they discovered that Derrick, one of the rappers on this entry, wrote great poetry. At first, the students felt that the “Hold Me” song was too “cheesy.” But someone brought up the current Grease reality TV show and suggested that “Hold Me” might work if they divided the singing into guys’ and girls’ parts the way it was done for that musical’s song “Summer Nights.” The kids started playing with the rhythm, then added “doo be doo’s” and “oh baby, baby’s” to the backup parts. To keep the arrangement sounding current, Derrick and Brianna decided to create their own raps for the boys and the girls. The final touch was inspired by this year’s American Idol finalist, Blake, and his beatboxing. Matt shared that he could create a beat too—and the final arrangement was born. A truly collaborative effort!

THE PRIZES

Crestwood Middle School will receive a brand-new Baldwin piano, graciously provided by Menudo Entertainment LLC and the Gibson Baldwin Music Education Foundation.

AND…

The new Menudo group that is forming this year will pay a visit to Crestwood Middle School and perform a song just for the school audience!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!!