| OH, SAY! |
A recent Harris Poll found that two out of three Americans do not know the words to our
National Anthem, which is due largely in part to budget cuts to music programs. Kids learn
songs of American history and heritage in school, and without these essential music
programs, they may never learn the words or significance of "The Star-Spangled Banner.“
The American National Anthem was written by Francis Scott Key during a time when he
was going through the similar circumstances that the American soldiers and its people are
going through all over the world now.
President Herbert Hoover designated “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem
in 1931. And 75 years later, many of the words and phrases have become awkward to the
modern tongue and do not make perfect sense even to adults who have been singing the
anthem for decades. More than 60% of American adults, in fact, cannot correctly recite the
anthem's entire first verse. And of those who have a firm handle on the song, 58% had at
least five years of musical training in school.
The Star-Spangled Banner is a song that is deeply rooted in our American heritage. It is
one of the few ways we can voice our pride in our country together. And Oh, Say! is here to
help do just that.
Oh, Say! is a program in which kids are retaught the words and significance of the
American National Anthem. The goal of this program is to get “The Star-Spangled Banner”
back into schools and help it become more imprinted in kids' minds at a younger age.
Students will gain an understanding of the elements that make up the verses of “The Star-
Spangled Banner; and also gain an understanding of how the song can contribute to unity for
citizens of the nation.
Using archival documents, images, group activities, audience involvement, videos and
music students will associate Key's words with historic events and recognize the sentiment
those words inspired.
National Anthem, which is due largely in part to budget cuts to music programs. Kids learn
songs of American history and heritage in school, and without these essential music
programs, they may never learn the words or significance of "The Star-Spangled Banner.“
The American National Anthem was written by Francis Scott Key during a time when he
was going through the similar circumstances that the American soldiers and its people are
going through all over the world now.
President Herbert Hoover designated “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem
in 1931. And 75 years later, many of the words and phrases have become awkward to the
modern tongue and do not make perfect sense even to adults who have been singing the
anthem for decades. More than 60% of American adults, in fact, cannot correctly recite the
anthem's entire first verse. And of those who have a firm handle on the song, 58% had at
least five years of musical training in school.
The Star-Spangled Banner is a song that is deeply rooted in our American heritage. It is
one of the few ways we can voice our pride in our country together. And Oh, Say! is here to
help do just that.
Oh, Say! is a program in which kids are retaught the words and significance of the
American National Anthem. The goal of this program is to get “The Star-Spangled Banner”
back into schools and help it become more imprinted in kids' minds at a younger age.
Students will gain an understanding of the elements that make up the verses of “The Star-
Spangled Banner; and also gain an understanding of how the song can contribute to unity for
citizens of the nation.
Using archival documents, images, group activities, audience involvement, videos and
music students will associate Key's words with historic events and recognize the sentiment
those words inspired.