Be the life of the party: scan a piano roll,
  write lyrics, make into Karaoke!

Here is an example of a creative way to get more young people
interested in mechanical music.  One of my job functions is to repair
the 32-inch reflector telescope at Vassar College, where I work as
Science Support Technician.  I attend various science department
functions such as the bi-annual dome party for astronomy students
and faculty.  One of the activities at this party is the reading of
poetry the students are encouraged to write.

Six months ago, I made a Karaoke file of "It's Dark On Observatory
Hill" taken from a scan I made of Ampico roll 71363.  I memorized the
lyrics and learned to sing it passably well.  It was a big success and
several students expressed a keen interest in my hobby of collecting
and scanning music rolls.

For the spring semester dome party, I decided to write my own
astronomy-related song lyrics and set them to the tune of "It's A Most
Unusual Day".  I used a roll scan of Aeolian 1806.  My version pokes
fun at some of the things that can go wrong with the telescope.  There
were many camera phones recording this time and I have uploaded it to
YouTube at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH24u05wl_A 

The Karaoke file is attached for any interested MMD readers.

Larry Doe
New York

 [ Aeolian 1806 Vassar College 2014 dome party Karaoke lyrics by Larry Doe
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/06/04/140604_225741_Aeolian1806.mid 

 [ Play the music and view the lyrics with vanBasco's Karaoke player:
 [   "It's a most unusual night,
 [    That old telescope just isn't right,
 [    ... Who put ink on the eyepiece again!"
 [ -- Robbie