On Thursday, September 25th 2025 I had a beautiful experience at an elementary school where I live in Florianópolis, Brazil 🇧🇷  

Here’s the backstory: In May 2025 I was invited to perform 5 original songs at an outdoor collaborative concert called Folk No Jardim. After my set, a Brazilian woman approached me and thanked me for my songs. She said she was an English teacher and wanted to teach my songs to her students.

English Teacher, Évila

I gave her (Évila) my contact, and a few weeks later she sent me a heartwarming video of her students singing my song I’ve Got Love. It’s a short, simple song with actions - ideal for kids learning English! These are the videos I received:

“I've Got Love” Lyrics:

I've got love, joy, peace and forgiveness

In my heart, deep down in my heart

And it makes me glad, it makes me glad, 

Oh yes, it makes the sadness go far, far away

It makes me glad, it makes me glad, 

Oh yes, it makes me happy every day

I've received many videos from kids around the world singing my songs. It's special every time.

But this was different - the students were from MY CITY!

Évila invited me to meet her students and sing my songs with them. That’s what I did last week.

THE SPECIAL DAY

When I arrived at the school, Évila showed me walls of artwork students made about me and my songs. Students had written messages to me. There were pictures of students researching about me and looking at my website. It was very touching!

Art about my song We're All The Same Inside

Photos of students researching me

Art about my song Beautiful Planet

I hadn’t even met the students yet, and I was getting emotional.
 

The bell rang, and the students (not just one class, but ALL of the students, probably 100 children) came into the auditorium. They looked excited. They waved at me and smiled.

First, several children welcomed me (in English) in front of the room, and gave me a bouquet of paper flowers. 

Then, Évila’s class sang I’ve Got Love, complete with actions. Watch it below:

Then it was my turn to sing. I sang 5 original songs and the children were very engaged, clapping along to the upbeat songs and listening attentively to the slower songs. It was amazing to hear them sing “I've Got Love” with me! (Definitely watch the video below!)

They clapped and cheered at the end of every song as if I was a celebrity.

Afterwards, the students presented me with lovely gifts, flowers and handwritten notes.

Each class took a photo with me, and after each photo, the children crowded around me and hugged me one by one. They said sweet things like “I love you” and “I love your songs” in English and in Portuguese. I think that was my favourite part!

After having coffee and cake with the teachers, I went into a classroom to give autographs! I even signed a couple of t-shirts. I felt like Taylor Swift.

After more hugs and goodbyes, I got into my Uber and headed home.
 

WORTH MORE THAN GOLD

I didn’t do this for the money… I didn’t make a cent. But what I received was far more valuable. Feeling love from children and loving them back. Knowing they heard and understood the messages from my songs:
 

“Anything is possible when you believe in you” (Big Life)

“I’ve got love, joy, peace and forgiveness in my heart” (I've Got Love)

“No matter how we look on the outside, we’re all the same on the inside” (We're All The Same Inside)

“Let’s take care of our beautiful planet” (Beautiful Planet)
 

“I’m so glad you’re here” (Hi Hey Hello)

(You can listen to all of my songs on Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to music online)

MUSIC IS MAGIC

One of my presents was a “Happiness Jar” filled with notes from the students. One of them surprised me - it said 

“We love learning English with your music. Music is magic and you are a magician!”

It made me smile because that’s what I’ve been saying this whole year: 

MUSIC. IS. MAGIC!

For me, sharing LOVE and experiencing CONNECTION is the most beautiful thing about music. 

Because of my songs, and everything that went into creating them, this is what happened:

Children felt loved and special.

That's all I wanted when I wrote my songs.

Not fame or fortune…

Just to make a difference.

Being able to share it with you makes it even better. Thank you for reading and for sharing my joy!

If you want to learn how to play my song I've Got Love on ukulele, you can watch this tutorial.

If you want to teach the song and the actions to kids (or adults), watch this video.