UPTOWNflavor

“Can you tell me how to get…how to get to Sesame Street.” I grew up singing the chorus to the opening of “Sesame Street” right along with the cute little children who were able to spend their days counting and learning letters with the furry little monsters known as Muppets. Little known fact, I had the opportunity to intern with the Jim Henson Company one summer. The experience was amazing! So I can only imagine how wonderful the children of the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) felt when they had the opportunity to make music with a couple of Muppets back in May.

Thirty children from HSA were hand-picked to be a part of an entire episode titled, “Murray had a Little Lamb.”

The first scene, a lesson in Drumming, was led by Faculty Member Rudy Byrd. Sesame Street Muppet monster Murray received a solo lesson from Byrd then participated in a group drumming session with eight children (ages 4-7) led by Percussion Faculty Member Donald Eaton.

In addition to interviewing Music Department Director Menon Dwarka, Murray worked alongside students ages 8 to 10 to demonstrate and explain piano and woodwind instruments. Murray also interviewed various instructors including Violin Instructor David Burnett (pictured above), Marcus Persiani, J.D. Parran and Yuki Tei.

Photos and story courtesy HSA