Sound Wellness Initiative – Songs

Songwriter Monte Selby Creating Songs With Children, Families and Seniors

Songwriter and recording artist Monte Selby has written over 200 published songs.  His songs are heard on network television, radio, stage productions, YouTube, and included on the 2012 Grammy Award winning Best Children’s Album.  Music Row magazine describes his songs as “a delightful variety” – “funky” – “astonishing” – “Wow”!  Selby’s performances include over one thousand venues across North America, Europe and Asia, where he shares the stories and music from writing with over 40,000 students and adults.  A former award-winning teacher, principal and professor, Selby uses his background in education to write books, offer inspiring presentations at conferences, and provide professional development to educators.

Did you ever wonder what kids or parents or grandparents would want to say if they could write with a professional songwriter?  People experiencing success or trauma or love or new insight often have a story to tell!  Songwriter Monte Selby tries to capture those stories, and here are examples of songs he’s written from people in schools, residential treatment facilities, senior citizen events, and correctional institutions.

Songs

Try to get Better
This is about the power of music/songwriting to help people heal.  This small group of high school girls (in a treatment center), decided the most important thing is to realize that you have to choose to get better because YOU want to get better for YOU.

You be You
Written with kids in Iowa.

Good for the Earth
Written with kids in Montana – a one room school with only a few kids in k-6th grade.

Animal Habitat Song
This one is just in case you know a 2nd grader.

Name in the Paper
This is a song from the “senior citizen” project.