First, a poet visits the students in class and helps them write their poems. The students choose their favorites, and Jack Straw’s songwriters write songs inspired by the poems.

The songwriters visit the students in the classroom to teach them the songs. As the culmination of the project, the students record their work with Jack Straw’s teaching artists and engineers. Depending on the project, some classes will visit the studios at Jack Straw and record their poems with Jack Straw vocal coaches before recording their song as a group. Other classes will record their songs in the classroom with Jack Straw’s songwriters and engineers.

Some of our Poetry and Song projects
A student reads from a sheet of paper while Vincent Rendoni looks on.

All That We Are: Lowell Elementary Poetry and Song 2024 READ MORE >

A group of children in a recording studio, with a pair of microphones on a stand above them.

Adams Elementary Poetry and Song 2024 READ MORE >

Vicky Edmonds and a student in a classroom, looking at at something on the desk in front of them.

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2024 READ MORE >

Amy Denio plays guitar while a classroom of children raises their arms.

McGilvra Elementary: Poetry and Song 2024 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2023 READ MORE >

Tito Ramsey seated, holding a guitar. Children standing at music stands facing him. Microphones overhead and in front of Tito.

Beans & Jeans, Springs & Sings: Lowell Elementary Poetry and Song 2023 READ MORE >

Drawings from Concord 2nd graders: a kat and a dinosaur, a dog with hearts, a baseball and bat, and a green dragon

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2022 READ MORE >

Tomo Nakayama playing guitar in front of several students in a classroom.

Muchas Gracias, Poems! Lowell Elementary Poetry & Song 2022 READ MORE >

A grid of rectangles in an online meeting show Joel Maddox, Concord teacher Ms. Adams, Levi Fuller, and Concord students at work.

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2021 READ MORE >

Four online meeting frames showing Tai Shan, holding a guitar, working with students at Lowell.

Lowell Elementary Poetry & Song 2021 READ MORE >

West Seattle Elementary: Poetry and Song 2019-20 READ MORE >

Lowell Poetry & Song 2018

Lowell Elementary: Poetry and Song 2018 READ MORE >

Lowell Elementary: Poetry, Sound, and Song 2017 READ MORE >

Lowell Elementary: Poetry and Song 2016 READ MORE >

Lowell Elementary: Poetry and Song 2015 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2020 READ MORE >

Lowell Elementary: Poetry and Song 2019 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2019 READ MORE >

Olympic View Elementary: Poetry and Song 2018-19 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2018 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry And Song 2017 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2016 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2015 READ MORE >

Concord International Elementary: Poetry and Song 2014 READ MORE >

Youth Program Projects
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Youth Poetry Anthologies image/svg+xml

Check out Jack Straw’s books of poetry produced through our youth programs.
Learn more!

Youth Programs

Jack Straw provides several different types of in-school and out of school programs for youth. Find out more about the types of programs we offer.

Programs for the Blind/Visually Impaired

Since 1995, Jack Straw has provided access and training in audio production for blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages.

Get Involved!

Interested in working with Jack Straw as a resident artist, volunteer, teaching artist, or staff member?

More Information.

Browse the Archives

Here you’ll find past podcasts from our Soundpages, Artist of the Week and Writers Programs.

Go To Archives

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