Lanigan Students Bring Hamster Dance to School Assembly

by Joni Hubred-Golden

A hamster named Humphrey took center stage at Lanigan Elementary Thursday, as third graders performed songs they wrote paying tribute to the beloved book character. 

The performers and their schoolmates spent the month of March reading The World According to Humphrey, as part of the “One School, One Book” initiative. Music teacher Lori Cleland said she guided the young songwriters through the process of developing melodies and lyrics for “The Awesome Humphrey Song”, “Humphrey’s Adventures”, “Humphrey’s Diary”, “Humphrey is Friendly” and “Ohpah, Hamster Style!”.

“They did some song writing in second grade,” Cleland said. “Composing is a great way for them to express themselves.”

Rather than writing notes on a page, Cleland said, she would play chords and melodies on a keyboard and ask students what they liked. “Sometimes the lyrics came first, sometimes the lyrics and melody came together,” she said.

Cleland said the project has been in the works since shortly before Easter break. Each third grade class contributed a song, and she wrote some as well to fill out the program. But student works dominated the show.

“They feel more like it’s theirs. They own it,” Cleland said. “I’m proud of them.”