Skip to content
Curious as a Cathy
Menu
  • Home
  • About the author
    • The Tale of Ole Green Eyes
    • A Poet I am Not
    • Blog Achievements
  • A to Z Challenge
  • Daily Blog Hops
  • 2025 4M Themes
Menu

From ABC to Thomas Alva Thomas: mewsic that teaches

Posted on March 3, 2019
Awww Mondays hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus


It’s another new month on the 4M dance floor and we have a new honorary co-host,  Patrick from Adventures at Weseland.   This week’s theme is ‘How 🎶Mewsic🎶 Educates Us‘.  *scratch head* I’m not going to lie to you folks, this challenged my little brain. Maybe I need to go back to school.  Okay, maybe not. I’ll figure this out as I go.  🙂

Mewsic increases the listener’s ability to focus.  That’s probably why we remember song lyrics better than we do science and math lessons.  Teachers lecturing is a snoozer but mewsic is euphoric to the ear but how do you bring the two together.

Lyrical mewsic is a distraction while doing studies but if classical or instrumental mewsic isn’t your thing, then it’s essential to outline in advance the subject you’re learning to establish the best song choice patterns ie George Washington. You might want to dig up interesting tidbits on Washington then build a playlist on your discoveries.

Growing up, my teachers told me that the English language is the most difficult language to learn.  It is confusing even for this American girl.

In my search, I found 10 Cool Pop Songs That Make Learning English Incredibly Easy from which I pulled one of my favorite songs from my childhood, “ABC” by the Jackson 5. The author of the article mentions the fun catchy lyrics is a great way to get the English phrases stuck in one’s head helping someone to learn English better. “Albert Einstein Pi Day Birthday Song” is a bit dry mewsically but its chockful of facts about the man in which I learned that the man was more than a beautiful mind, he was a violinist, too.  I learned that “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” gives a good lesson the English language past tenses and examples of idioms and figurative expressions. Even the name of the song is an idiom, you know gathering info through word of mouth as in gossip or rumors. Marvin’s song as well The Bangles “Manic Monday’ also came from the 10 Cool Pop Songs article. This ditty is a good example for teaching beginners basic daily routines words as the song clearly outlines but the structure is a bit more advanced offering past tense and past progressive forms of words ending in ‘ing’.  I’m not an English major so don’t look at me. The author gave this example I was kissing Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream.  Does that clarify things? It does, great! Now, explain it to me. 🙂 lol English (the rules) always lost me in school.  Finally, the last song, “Thomas Alva Edison“, the father of inventions is a sung in German. So, if you if you’re like me and don’t speak or understand the German language here are the song lyrics.

Exactly a hundred years ago
The first sound came
In your small hut
From the carbon microphone
 
And a year later you robbed
Humanity of its sleep
With your speaking machine
With the first phonograph
 
Thomas Alva Edison
Your carbon microphone
Gifted music to many
Starting from its first sound
 
Ah… ah…
 
Thomas Alva Edison
We thank you for that
Because if you hadn’t meditated
We wouldn’t stand here
 
In eighteen ninety-nine
For the first time
Out of wires and current, in the dark night
A shiny sunbeam came
 
In a small chamber
You found the crux of the matter
The first glowing lamp ever
Is still modern today
 
Thomas Alva Edison
In the dark night you
Built the first lamp
And brought us light
 
Ah… ah…
 
Thomas Alva Edison
We thank you for that
Because if you hadn’t meditated
We wouldn’t stand here
 
Yes, Thomas Alva Edison
We thank you for that
Because if you hadn’t meditated
We wouldn’t stand here
 
That ditty is kinda catchy. Why didn’t anyone cover it in English?  
 
Also, while snooping around the net I stumbled on these interesting links of interest: 15 Songs About Science, Music is Math: ten songs about mathematics, and Best Study Music.


 

Please join  Marie (4M Brain Child) and my fellow 4M Co-hosts Stacy,  Alana, Colette, & Patrick (honorary co-host in #1 spot) below.

🎶  This is a mewsic linky party, all other posts are subjected for removal or labeled – NO MUSIC! 🎶


1. Adventures in Weseland, Honorary Co-host
2. Xmas Dolly, 4M Brain Child
3. Stacy Uncorked, Co-Host #1
4. Jamercian Spice, Co-Host #2
5. Ramblin with AM, Co-Host #3
6. Curious as a Cathy, Co-Host #4
7. Adventures in Weseland: Music Monday
8. Mewsic and More
9. Music Monday
10. The ReInVintaged Life - Music Monday for 2. 4. 19
11. Catch My Words
12. Jingle Jangle Jungle
13. Music and Education
14. CREATE WITH JOY - LINK UP
15. Learn Geography with Music!
16. Drillers Place
17. Scriptor
18. Stunning Keisha
19. Music that Educates And Other School-related songs
20. NO MEWSIC passport camper giveaway
21. Mikes Ramblings
22. Lone Star Cats
23. Kinley Westie
24. Aww Monday Music Spark

This linky list is now closed.

What is a blog hop?
Get the code here...
Linky Tools  |  Linky Blog

[tweetthis]Hit the #MondaysMusicMovesMe dance floor with me! @xmasdolly [/tweetthis]

How did you do with this theme? Where you left to wonder about things like Einstein might as figured out things methodically or where like Edison’s lightbulb instantly clicking on in your head?

Before I leave, let me remind you I need your vote in my last Friday’s BoTB. If you haven’t done it yet, then invite you to do so now, here.  Alrighty, that’s a wrap for today.  I can’t wait to see what tunes are playing on your turntable. I’m boogieing that way now!  Thanks for visiting and have a sparkletastic day.

X💋X💋, Cathy


  

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Discover more from Curious as a Cathy

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

35 thoughts on “From ABC to Thomas Alva Thomas: mewsic that teaches”

  1. Stacy Uncorked says:
    March 10, 2019 at 6:27 pm

    I always love to see what you come up with for the more unique themes, Cathy! As always, you didn’t disappoint! 🙂 Love your choices – hope you’re having a great weekend! 🙂

    Loading...
  2. angelswhisper2011 says:
    March 5, 2019 at 4:09 am

    OMC Cathy, I think I…no, Granny misunderstood the whole theme. We interpurreted it from a whole different view, but got us some great music to dance with you 😉 Great songs to move our paws together today, The Jacksons are so COOL! and that quote of Einstein is just purrfect! Thanks for the moves♪♪♫♫♪ Pawkisses for a wonderful day🐾😽💞

    Loading...
  3. Kathe W. says:
    March 4, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    darling little one on the piano!

    Loading...
  4. Mary B says:
    March 4, 2019 at 6:37 pm

    This theme has certainly been educational! First, I learned that my memory is failing me. LOL I had mulled over using different songs, but when it came time to actually put the words into a post – those songs didn’t make the cut. ha! Thankfully, others used the songs that I had thought of. I sure hope Michele heals quickly from her surgery. Are there contingency plans in place for May in the event she isn’t able to come back by then?

    Now that I’ve committed two blogs to the A2Z, I need to get busy and schedule some posts. Having the list of themes in advance really helps in times such as this. Have a great week!

    Loading...
    1. Mary B says:
      March 4, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      ps… was going to mention that #20 on the list – Passport Camper Giveaway is not a music post. Just an FYI.

      Loading...
      1. Cathy Kennedy says:
        March 5, 2019 at 4:51 am

        Mary,

        Thanks. I was away yesterday afternoon for an appointment so that one slipped in while I was gone, so thanks for the heads up!

        Loading...
    2. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 5, 2019 at 4:49 am

      Mary,

      I didn’t need this theme to tell me my memory isn’t good. lol Have you heard from Michele? I was thinking of her just yesterday. I will try to shoot her an email later. We do not have any plans set up in case she can’t do it in May. I’m glad you brought that up. I will mention this to Marie so we can devise something should this happen. You amaze me with doing the A2Z challenge on two blogs. I barely can do this one blog. I knew you were a better organizer of your time than I am. 🙂

      Loading...
  5. messymimi's meanderings says:
    March 4, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    The Einstein song is funny, and i was glad during the Edison song to realize i still understand just a little bit of German (i caught a few words here and there).

    Hope you have a great week!

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 5, 2019 at 4:44 am

      Mimi,

      That’s cool that you know German! Did you take it in school or do you have German roots?

      Loading...
      1. messymimi's meanderings says:
        March 5, 2019 at 5:00 am

        Sweetie speaks it pretty well, he took it in school, and i did, too. He’s a lot better than i am, i just picked out some of the words, he would probably have understood a lot more without reading the translation. When he was working at a museum once, some tourists from Germany came and he gave them the tour in German.

        Loading...
  6. Debbie D. says:
    March 4, 2019 at 12:38 pm

    Hi Cathy; This is a tough theme, but you really got into it. Well done! 😀 Einstein’s quote is so true. Everyone has expertise in something. It was fun to hear that German song! The English translation was pretty accurate.

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 4, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      Debbie,

      Thanks! I was hoping someone might tell me how close the German song translated in English since I had no clue. Have a boogietastic day!

      Loading...
  7. catscue says:
    March 4, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    What a fun post today – thanks! I LOVE that Spark!

    Loading...
  8. John Holton says:
    March 4, 2019 at 11:58 am

    Mary and I have a friend whose father taught at Princeton with Albert Einstein, and she remembers going out for ice cream with him and her dad. He was quite a character. Nice set!

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 4, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      John,

      Seriously, Mary met Albert Einstein? That’s just way cool! Ask her if I can rub shoulders with her. I’m sure Einstein’s smartness rubbed off onto her, right? Oh, wait…you said her father also taught at Princeton. I guess she gets her intellect from her dad. My question still stands. 🙂 That’s major cool to know. Thanks for the share!

      Loading...
      1. John Holton says:
        March 4, 2019 at 2:29 pm

        No, our friend. Mary’s father never finished high school.

        Loading...
        1. Cathy Kennedy says:
          March 5, 2019 at 4:42 am

          👌

          Loading...
  9. Cathy Keisha says:
    March 4, 2019 at 10:54 am

    OMC! The theme was switched! I hae the theme as Body Parts on my desktop and that’s what I did. I guess I get a D.

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 4, 2019 at 11:55 am

      Cathy,

      I’m sorry for the switch. When the change came down the pike, I made an announcement and hoped that it would reach everyone but sometimes these things fall through the cracks. Unfortunately, our original honorary co-host had medical issues to contend with and wasn’t able to do it but she plans to be ready in May for the job. Don’t worry about the mess up. Feel free to use today’s theme for next week’s ‘your choice song picks’ if you want. 🙂

      Loading...
  10. csuhpat1 says:
    March 4, 2019 at 10:32 am

    You did wonderful. I stole the Einstein deal and put it on Facebook. Nice job.

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 4, 2019 at 11:57 am

      Patrick,

      Very cool indeed, feel free to share the Einstein song! I thought it was really cool!

      Loading...
  11. My GBGV Life says:
    March 4, 2019 at 7:24 am

    That tiny kitten on the keys is so adorable!

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 4, 2019 at 8:53 am

      I thought so, too! Thanks for joining me this morning! 😉

      Loading...
  12. MNL says:
    March 4, 2019 at 4:33 am

    Love this blog post. It’s a smart idea about building a playlist around something you want to learn.

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 4, 2019 at 8:54 am

      Mary,

      Patrick came up with a great theme for his first week as co-host. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Loading...
  13. songbird1329 says:
    March 3, 2019 at 10:16 pm

    Great choice, I love the Jackson 5

    Loading...
    1. Cathy Kennedy says:
      March 4, 2019 at 8:54 am

      Who doesn’t like the Jackson 5? They were so hip in the day!

      Loading...
  14. sandy says:
    March 3, 2019 at 1:45 pm

    i enjoyed the post and the song lyrics in german – very very cool. I know I don’t join in but I enjoy it all and also the comments people leave.

    Loading...
  15. DrillerAA says:
    March 3, 2019 at 12:43 pm

    Somewhere along the line, I completely got the wrong theme for this week. Oh well, the damage is done and it’s too late to change now. I’ve “Your Choice” weeks. Have a blessed week. I’m going to go work on my future mewsic themes.

    Loading...
  16. 15andmeowing says:
    March 3, 2019 at 11:48 am

    Great choice of ABC 🙂 I will be posting mine tomorrow. Have a great day. Thanks for hosting. XO

    Loading...
  17. -Eugenia says:
    March 3, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Great mewsic, Cathy! Love the Jackson Five song and Einstein has some great quotes! Have a great week ahead!!

    Loading...
  18. Sandee says:
    March 3, 2019 at 9:55 am

    How fun. I loved the Jackson 5.

    I already linked you to Awww Mondays. Thank you for joining in on the fun.

    I love the Einstein quote. Spot on.

    Have a purrfect Awww Monday, my friend. Love and hugs. ♥

    Loading...
  19. Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden) says:
    March 3, 2019 at 9:00 am

    I enjoyed the German song on Albert Einstein and it immediately made me (somehow) think of Falco and his “Rock Me Amadeus” which taught – well, maybe a little bit – about Mozart. Albert Einstein Pi Birthday song certainly is interesting. (Wouldn’t musicians who made their mark in other ways be a good blog topic? I think I may do that one day, especially after I found the You Tube video of Richard Nixon playing an original composition on the piano.) And then there was Schoolhouse Rock, which is not from my generation but some of their songs are good earworm material.

    Loading...
  20. Brian Frum says:
    March 3, 2019 at 8:59 am

    Such great tunes, they don’t make them like they used to!

    Loading...
  21. Thomas Anderson says:
    March 3, 2019 at 6:06 am

    Hi, Cathy!

    Happy 4M Monday on Sunday, dear friend!

    As you recall, I recently posted on Shady Train a video of the Jackson 5 being introduced by Don Cornelius and performing “I Want You Back.” It was equally thrilling to see Dick Clark introduce the band of brothers on Bandstand and have them do their follow-up single and another big hit “ABC.” I often wonder if Cornelius and Clark realized that the little boy fronting the band would grow up to become The King of Pop – one of the greatest showmen in music history. I doubt many people sing the complex lyrics to “Albert Einstein Pi Day Birthday Song” in the shower. You would need to be an Einstein to remember them all. 🙂 The song is loaded with facts and I enjoyed it. The use of idioms in “Grapevine” and tenses in “Manic Monday” are difficult to grasp but they make for great listening. They are two of my favorite songs by two of my favorite artists.

    I would like to add three more songs to the list of mewsic that “teaches. First, here are the lyrics to “Do-Re-Mi,” the Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune from The Sound of Music.

    “Do-Re-Mi” – Rodgers and Hammerstein

    Doe, a deer, a female deer
    Ray, a drop of golden sun
    Me, a name I call myself
    Far, a long, long way to run
    Sew, a needle pulling thread
    La, a note to follow Sew
    Tea, a drink with jam and bread
    That will bring us back to Do (oh-oh-oh)

    Another favorite that could be interpreted as a teaching song is “Lip Sync” by Len Barry, which teaches tongue-twisters.

    “Lip Sync (To The Tongue Twisters)” – Len Barry

    Peter Piper picked a
    Peck of pickled peppers
    She sells seashells
    Down by the shoreshore
    Betty Botter bought
    A bit of bitter butter
    Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t
    Very fuzzy, was he
    Can a, can a, can a
    Can a candy
    Sister Susie sewing
    Shirts for seven soldiers

    Finally here is “The Name Game,” the Shirley Ellis song that teaches word play with names:

    “The Name Game” – Shirley Ellis

    Shirley, Shirley
    Bo-ber-ley, bo-na-na fanna
    Fo-fer-ley. fee fi mo-mer-ley, Shirley!
    Lincoln! Lincoln, Lincoln. bo-bin-coln
    Bo-na-na fanna, fo-fin-coln
    Fee fi mo-min-coln, Lincoln!

    Arnold! Arnold, Arnold bo-bar-nold
    Bo-na-na, fanna fo-far-nold
    Fee fi m-mar-mold. Arnold!

    Marsha, Marsha, bo-bar-sha
    Bo-na-na fanna, fo-far-sha
    Fee fi mo-ar-sha, Marsha!
    Little trick with Nick!
    Nick, Nick, bo-bick, bo-na-na
    Fanna fo fick, fee fi mo-mick. Nick!

    I love that quote by Albert Einstein. We all have different kinds of gifts to share with the world. When you think of it that way, everybody is a genius.

    Have a wonderful week, dear friend Cathy!

    Loading...

Comments are closed.

Bible verse of the day

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Click the 4M banner for weekly music prompts

4M Guidelines: Below are the 4M co-hostess. The rules are simple. Every other week, a suggested (not mandatory) theme is given to build your song picks. We're looking for embedded music to enjoy, one song or several. On the off weeks, we dance to whatever music moves you (your choice)! It's just that easy. Have fun and welcome to the party!

Curious as a Cathy
Ramblin' with AM
StacyUncorked
XmasDolly

Post Activity At A Glance

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

BOTB

BOTB By Debbie D
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Mike's Ramblings
STMC presents BOTB
Landmark Sounds
Stine Writing
The Sound of One Hand Typing
Tossing It Out
Trivial Music Sillness

Battles held bi-monthly on the 1st and 15th. Newcomers are welcome!

Looking for something?

My travel photo are being moved, please join me there!

Due to storage limitations on my current host site, I am moving old posts and plan to share new travel pictures to this new blog. Eventually, I hope to bring everything back together. It just may take awhile to get everything back the way I want.
  MONDAYS - WEDNESDAYS

Comedy Plus for Awww Mondays, Happy Tuesdays, & Wordless Wednesdays  

THURSDAYS
Rain Frances Creations for Thursday Art Date
Brian’s Home for Thankful Thursdays
Moonwashed Musings for Weekly Poetry Prompt
The Sound of One Hand Typing for Writer’s Workshop

FRIDAYS
DV Artist for Friday Face Off
15andMeowing & Four-Legged Furballs for Friendly Fill-ins
MessyMimi for Feline Fridays
 

100% American Girl

I'm a proud member of these freedom of speech platforms


Gab

MeWe

Ethical Author Code

I'm an Ethical Author

Blog Stats

  • 275,988 hits

Community

  • qurbanali awan
  • John Holton
  • Debbie D.
  • CAAC
  • Debbie
  • Sandee
  • Arlee Bird
  • blissfule744c4eeeb
  • 15andmeowing
  • 🇪🇺 Bee H.
©2025 Curious as a Cathy | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme
Menu
  • Home
  • About the author
    • The Tale of Ole Green Eyes
    • A Poet I am Not
    • Blog Achievements
  • A to Z Challenge
  • Daily Blog Hops
  • 2025 4M Themes
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d