Monthly Archives: October 2013

Check this out: The Pop Ups have an app! Play along with Miss Elephant’s Gerald!

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The Pop Ups have an app! Just in time for Halloween, their song, “Miss Elephant’s Gerald” has been turned into a Mibblet! Keep reading for how you can enter to win a free download. From the creators of Mibblio (an interactive kids’ music app), Mibblets are illustrated songs that sit within Mibblio’s interactive musical framework. Each Mibblet features a host of instruments (keyboard, “strum pad,” percussion) that encourages kids to channel their inner maestro and jam along with the band. “Miss Elephant’s Gerald” is the perfect song to play along with because it starts off with a steady beat and works its way into an explosion of sound, teaching kids about timing and rhythm while also fostering a deeper understanding of musical composition. When Em and I played along, we found that the ukulele and vibrasnap added some nice accompaniment. Albeit, the vibrasnap does get addictive, but it works really well with the song; Both are irresistably catchy and kooky!

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When we were done jamming, we were able to enjoy “Miss Elephant’s Gerald” a cappella (users can choose to turn off the music by deselecting instruments), allowing us to use the Mibblet as an audio book. By reading along, I gained a deeper appreciation for just how brilliantly creative and hilarious this song is!

Brooklyn artist, Liz Starin, does an excellent job of bringing the tale to life through whimsical illustrations. Now, I realize we are in the digital age, but I would love to see this song, along with Starin’s drawings, translated into print.

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Targeting ages 3-8, the “Miss Elephant’s Gerald” app is a is a kid-friendly Halloween treat that is perfectly safe for consumption!

ENTER TO WIN A FREE DOWNLOAD: Thanks to The Pop Ups, 3 lucky Kids Can Groove readers will get a chance to download the “Miss Elephant’s Gerald” app for FREE!

HERE’S HOW TO ENTER:
– Leave a comment on this post sharing if you are familiar with Mibblets, and if so, which other ones you enjoy.
– Like the Kids Can Groove Facebook page.

The giveaway is open through midnight November 1, 2013. Winners will be announced on Monday November 3, 2013.

Note: Mibblits are currently only available for the iPad.

The code will expire on Thu Nov 21 09:41:24 PST 2013 and are redeemable only on the iTunes Store for United States. Requires an iTunes account, subject to prior acceptance of license and usage terms. To open an account you must be above the age of 13 and in United States. Compatible software and hardware, and internet access (fees may apply) required. Not for resale. Full terms apply; see http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/ww/

Additional notes courtesy of Mibblio:

Mibblets allow you to:

• DISCOVER new instrument combinations by muting and soloing individual audio tracks
• UNDERSTAND the key to developing music by building the layers of a song

INSTRUMENTS INCLUDE:

Strum pad: Acoustic guitar, banjo, ukulele, electric guitar, harp
Keyboard: Piano, guitar, violin, vibraphone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, accordion
Percussion: Tambourine, snare, maracas, rimshot, high hat, triangle, bongos, claps, cowbells, vibraslap

WHAT IS MIBBLIO?

Mibblio is a creative studio that makes interactive music apps designed for kids. Our inaugural and acclaimed app, Mibblio®, combines stories and music to form beautiful MIBBLETS — illustrated songs with loads of musical features that enable kids to read along, sing along, and jam along.

View This: “Where Do Monsters Go When It’s Not Halloween” – Ratboy Jr.

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51x98urmivL._SL500_AA280_Halloween is just around the corner! In perfect timing, Ratboy Jr. just released a video for their song “Where Do Monsters Go When It’s Not Halloween?” To help them illustrate possible fallbacks and day jobs for a variety of monsters, Ratboy Jr. gets some artistic assistance from the 1st graders at the Woodstock Day School. Through drawings, each scenario is matched up to the words of the song, i.e. mummies cleaning windows in New York City and zombies driving zambonis, for example. Even Frankenstein grabs the mic on this one.

“Where Do Monsters Go When It’s Not Halloween” is from Ratboy Jr’s 2013 release, Champions of the Universe. It’s an awesome album brimming with creativity that taps into the depths of kids’ imaginations. When we first heard this song Emily, who enjoys donning a Hulk mask and shouting “HULK SMASH!,” sat straight up, eyes wide, and genuinely asked “YEAH! Where do monsters go when it’s not Halloween?” This priceless sense of wonder and curiosity is why Ratboy Jr. makes listening to music fun. When you think about it, it’s a great question, right?

Howlin’ good tunes (and videos!) – Kindie Rocktober 2013 Playlist

Posted in Playlists, Video by

Halloween is almost here! Whether you are in the process of making your own costume or carving the baddest jack-o-lantern on the block, a Halloween soundtrack is a must! Below is a spooktacular playlist featuring a brilliant mix of artists! And don’t miss two great videos from The Pop Ups and Trout Fishing in America to go along with it.

 

Listen to this: “Picking Pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch” – Story Laurie

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artworks-000059168220-shgxkj-t500x500It’s almost Halloween and pumpkin patches are in full swing around here. The farms are full of excitement as kids triumphantly claim their bright orange bounty. This year, thanks to Laurie McIntosh (aka Story Laurie), there is a song that will enliven your experience even more.

“Picking Pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch” is a sing-along written by 1st graders during a recent workshop Laurie conducted. It’s a catchy song that encourages participation through call and response. We had a chance to test it out today as we made our annual trek out to a local patch. As we strolled around, searching for “the great pumpkin,” we enjoyed humming along, as well as taking turns being the caller and the responder. It made for some fun family bonding.

“Picking Pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch” is available for download through the SoundCloud widget below. Download it today and bring it along as you head on down to the pumpkin patch. Happy pumpkin picking!

Bonus: Parents, teachers, homeschoolers: Laurie also posted a link to New York Agriculture in The Classroom’s “Great Pumpkins” 1st Grade lesson plan which contains some great ideas related to pumpkins and pumpkin patches.

Todd and Cookie’s Epic 3 Song Starter Pack + Episode 1 – Catapult of Destiny Cartoon

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews, Video by

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Get on board, step inside, soarin’ on a magic ride.
Roarin’ towards the other side where only rainbows hide.
On the Great Space Coaster (Oh-oh oh)

The lines above are part of the theme song from one of my favorite childhood TV shows, The Great Space Coaster. Each episode took place on an inhabited asteroid (Coasterville) and followed the story of 3 musicians who were brought there by a space coaster. Along the way, they met new friends in the form of zany puppet characters. I think I might be part of a small population who remembers this show, but it was a classic. It was adventurous and totally off-the-wall funny for its time!

This brings me to the latest pairing of kindie rockstars whose debut project brings me the same kind of joy. Todd McHatton and Mista Cookie Jar (CJ Pizarro), or simply put, Todd and Cookie, recently debuted their first mini album, Todd and Cookie’s Epic 3 Song Starter Pack, along with a world premiere of their cartoon, The Great Adventures of Todd and Cookie. Episode 1, called “World of Rock,” illustrates how the two rockstars are catapulted to destiny when a mysterious creature asks, “Anybody wanna rock?” You’ll have to watch to see how this story unfolds. It’s a truly visionary experience that promises to take you on a magical, mystical adventure unlike anything the kindie world has ever seen!

The pairing of Todd and Cookie  is not something people might have predicted or expected, but together they complement each other very well. In fact, the parallels between the two, is what I am most impressed by. Their sound is overflowing with authenticity, creativity and a unique sense of humor. They regularly stretch the boundaries of their imaginations, creating compelling experiences for their audience. And they also incorporate family as an essential part in each of their respective careers.

McHatton is a puppeteer and an artist whose cartoon drawings can be seen on his album covers and throughout his videos. He is well-known for his wildly popular single “I Think I’m A Bunny,” featuring daughter Hazel and lovable purple puppet, Marvy Monstone.

Pizarro is a master rhymer and lyricist with a whole vocabulary of his own. Typically, as Mista Cookie Jar, he performs with The Chocolate Chips which feature the supporting vocals of his step-daughter, Ava Flava. MCJ, known for his retro fashion and diverse musical style, has produced many popular singles including “Inner Rock Child” and “Lover Not A Fighter.”

Each track on Todd and Cookie’s Epic 3 Song Starter Pack delivers a concoction of sounds that blend the softness of Todd’s dreamy, psychedelic sound with Cookie’s groovy, hip hop sensibilities. My favorite tune, “All These Magical Things,” has a nice melodic flow while “HotchToozZee” is a hodgepodge of fun. The album ends with “Your My Bestest Bro” which is an ode to Todd and Cookie’s relationship and could easily be the theme song for The Great Adventures of Todd and Cookie.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride! The duo will be releasing web comics & cartoons every 3 months chronicling Todd and Cookie as they explore the catapult of destiny! You can receive updates by following their site as well as their YouTube channel.

Listen to and purchase the tunes from Todd and Cookie’s Epic 3 Song Starter Pack through the Bandcamp widget below. Recommended for ages 4 -8.