Together MCJ and Twinkle bring celebrity style and commercial production value to the screen with a little help from all-star producers Matthew Gerrard (Kelly Clarkson, Big Time Rush, High School Musical and Hannah Montana), Peter Amato (Miley Cyrus, LeAnn Rimes, Ricky Martin) and James Dallas, who has had had his songs placed on the George Lopez Show, Bring it On, The Bratz, and co-writes/produces with Twinkle for the “Bilingual Pop Music Show for KiDS, Twinkle Time!”
If we were teleported inside a disco snow globe, it wouldn’t be as much of a rush as what’s happening in this video. Kidz Rock is like a whirling, swirling, EDM, pop, hip-hop, confetti explosion! Or, as lyrics say “This here’s a kidpaloooza where the music don’t stop.” Next stop: Disney channel!
You can also following along in Spanish! {ed: updated after original post was published}
“Kidz Rock” is the first single from Twinkle Time’s 3rd album due late summer/early fall, 2015.
My routine of unwinding for the day usually involves looking at social media. It’s a habit, and I get sucked right into it. The problem is that when I finally pull myself away from the screen, I still feel unsettled. I feel anxious and have a hard time falling to sleep. It’s a vicious cycle, and I see that it affects my daughter in the same way. If she is on the iPad for a certain amount she comes out of it agitated and off-kilter. The rush has ended yet our brains are still seeking input. To help with transitions, we’ve been winding down with softer music in the evenings, and a reading or drawing activity.
Charity Kahn, the lead vocalist for the Bay Area group Charity and the JAMband, has been working to introduce mindfulness as a reliable resource to help others find relaxation and peace. Below Charity talks about her own practice as well as her recent project, “Sit Breathe Love: Guided Meditations for Children and their Grown-Ups” which offers guided practices to families, children, and schools.
I have had a meditation practice for about eight years that has dramatically transformed and improved my life. About four years ago, I decided it was time to bring some of these principles and practices into my work with children and families. People of all ages are looking for relief from stress and way to calm down their bodies and minds, which mindfulness practice directly addresses. And children are incredibly receptive to the related concepts of kindness, gratitude, generosity andpeace. No surprise there!
Our most recent project in this vein is “Sit Breathe Love: Guided Meditations for Children and their Grown-Ups”. We’ve so far released three guided practices for families or classrooms under this umbrella to enjoy together: “Ball of Light Meditation”, “Mindfulness Experiment”, and “Meditation on Non-Harming”. Our plan is to release one per month.
But it all started with the music. I had always integrated mindfulness themes like peace and love into my songwriting, but I took this intention more seriously as my practice deepened. Our most recent album, “Family Values”, is built around sixteen mindfulness-related concepts: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, patience, understanding, generosity, community, intention, non-harming, gratitude, respect, mindfulness, waking up, truth, and peace.
For example, there’s the “Lovingkindness” song — a sweet little singalong based on an ancient practice — that starts by sending goodwill to oneself (“may I be happy, healthy, safe and at peace”) and then extends these wishes for goodwill outward to others, and eventually to everyone, in all directions. Listen to the song. View the dance video (filmed by Peace Is The Way Films).
There’s also the “Lemonade” song, a favorite at our concerts. This one is a rock epic that follows the adventures of a community of fairies living in a land called Lemonade. They are visited by an angry dragon who threatens to smite them and their land. Instead of resorting to fight, flight, or freeze, they end up using non-violence, compassion and generosity to solve the problem by making the dragon a special batch of their magical lemonade and bravely welcoming him into their community. Listen to the song.
And then there’s the funky little “Grateful”, which explores some of the life experiences for which we have gratitude: the sun, the rain, our home, our school, our friends, and our family. This song includes musical performances by my kids (on trumpet and trombone) and my partner’s kids (on voice and piano)…it’s a family affair! You can listen to the whole “Family Values” album here.
Since all of our music has accompanying choreography, there are dances that go along with these songs,and we sing and dance these themes with children all over the place — at our “Charity and the JAMband” family concerts, at my solo shows at libraries and schools around the Bay Area, at my JAMcamps for school-aged children, and in my early childhood music and movement classes,JAMboodas.
I also practice mindfulness-inspired exercises with the children in my camps and classes, and with the families at my concerts. One of my favorites is Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Mindful Movements” — basically some simple yoga-like opening stretches that are done while staying connected with the breath. I’ve also written his Pebble Meditation practice into a song which has accompanying dance moves. I also share lovingkindness meditation, body scans, mindfulness of breathing, mindfulness of the body, mindfulness of emotions, mindful listening, mindful eating, mindful speech, and many other related practices as part of my programs.
In parallel, I teach weekly Mindfulness Meditation classes for adults, and offer periodic workshops exploring Mindfulness practice and its intersection with various topics like relationships, stress, parenting, and joy. Some of these workshops are for adults only, some are for parents, some are for families.
I have trained with Mindful Schools and combine their curriculum with my own to create a broad foundation of exposure for the children. I’ve also done retreats at Spirit Rock and the Insight Retreat Center, as well as training with Against the Stream, Insight SF, and IMC in Redwood City. For more information or if you’re interested in attending a concert, class, camp or other program, visit www.jamjamjam.com, or contact me at415.425.0372 or charity@jamjamjam.com.
This weekend our family celebrated both Pesach (Passover) and Easter. As we transitioned from finding Easter eggs to finding the afikoman (matzah), I was reflecting back on my own childhood. I didn’t grow up in a religious household, but I was raised Jewish, and and we celebrated major holidays. Now that I am a parent, and still observe Jewish holidays with my relatives, I feel as though I want to give my daughter a little background about what it all means.
As I was reading about the story of Passover, I was also looking for some videos to help visually explain some of the details. While I was searching around, I found Shalom Sesame, a co-production of the American version. Shalom Sesame was created in an effort to introduce Israeli life and Jewish culture to American audiences. The episodes feature Hebrew and English words, which is nice for bilingual families. Monolingual families (like ours) can also benefit from these episodes since English translations of Jewish literature use the Hebrew form of certain words. For example, the afikoman is a piece of matzah that is broken in half and set aside to be eaten as dessert after the Passover seder (dinner).
Children will get to see certain American muppets in some of the episodes of Shalom Sesame, and meet new ones. Moishe Oofnik, for example, is Oscar the Grouch’s cousin. Naturally, Moishe also lives in a garbage can (in Israel).
I am so glad I found something relatable to share with Em as we were preparing for our own celebration. Below are videos we enjoyed the most, but I would encourage any family interested in learning about other cultures to explore Shalom Sesame.
Happy Easter weekend everybody! Today, I am reposting my favorite Easter song of all time, which is featured on The Hipwaders‘ most recent release, Year-Round Sounds.
*”Here Comes Peter Cottontail”
In this holiday single The Hipwaders deliver a swingin’ rendition of Gene Autry’s classic, “Peter Cottontail.” “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” is the perfect companion for your Easter related activities. This bouncy “tail” will make you want to kick off your shoes and do a little (sock) hopping of your own. Always upbeat, the Hipwaders deliver straight rockin’ grooves while introducing us to one of the coolest bunnies in town as he hip hip hoppa hippa hip hip hop’s down the bunny trail. Get your Easter baskets ready, kids!
You can listen to the song via the SoundCloud widget below.
*The original post, which featured “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” and “Gaia She Knows,” can be found here.
Los Angeles-based musician Ashli Christoval, aka Jazzy Ash, brings us the first release from her forthcoming album, Bon Voyage. “Heebie Jeebies” was originally performed by Louis Armstrong, one of Ash’s idols.
Infused with her swinging New Orleans style, Ash revitalizes the ~90 year old song while honoring it’s original arrangement with the same big, brassy sounds. It’s delightful and I imagine Louis would be proud!
The video was filmed in The French Quarter of New Orleans. The black and white film sets the perfect scene for a rendition of such a classic song. Great stuff, and I am excited to hear more of what’s to come!
“The more we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” – Rachel Carson
Women’s History Month drew to a close earlier this week and now we look forward to spring holidays, and Earth Day. Today’s post celebrates a female hero, and her fight to maintain a healthier, greener planet for all living things.
Rachel Carson was a marine biologist who valiantly fought for conservation by calling out the hazardous effects of synthetic pesticides. Her book, Silent Spring, forced the banning of DDT, and made a revolutionary dent in the legislation governing the use of chemicals and other pesticides. Carson’s work and tireless efforts also inspired a grassroots movement which ultimate led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Jonathan Sprout, a Grammy nominated musician who has devoted 21 years or his career focusing on heroes from a variety of trades and professions, (science, politics, sports, medicine, entertainment, education) wrote a song in honor of Rachel Carson called “Interconnected.”
Every day when I pick Em up from school she asks me how my day was and what I did all day. As a mom working at home, my day consists of working on the computer combined with household duties. I explain this to her but as a 6-year-old, she comprehends it as me staying home and making sure I have the right snacks for her.
Until my daughter was born, I worked in an office. I left the corporate world to run my own business and have been doing that before she was born and every since. It’s a strange situation to be in because choosing to stay at home has its own set of responsibilities, as does the addition of working from home. The balance can be tricky but the explanation to my daughter feels trickier sometimes.
In 1984, Cathy Fink released a song called “What Does Your Mama Do?” from their album Grandma Slid Down the Mountain. According to Fink, the song was successful in terms of engaging kids to talk about what they knew about their moms did:
“In the 1980’s this song really had a positive impact on giving kids a wide view of women at work, both in the home or outside of the home. We would include verses where kids told us what their own moms did and got some fun responses:
She bags potato chips
She’s a lady wrestler
She’s an opera singer“
I love hearing what my daughter comes up with as part of how she understands her world and the roles people play in it. When music can invoke thought and serve as a guide to raise awareness and encourage conversations, I am reminded of how powerful it is.
As part of rounding out Women’s History Month, it is my pleasure to feature “What Does Your Mama Do?” for families.
Share this with your children and share their responses in the comments. I’d love to know all about it!
Learn more about Cathy Fink’s work, including her new album, Dancing in the Kitchen: Songs for ALL famililes, which features Marcy Marxer, at their official site. The album celebrates the diversity of families in today’s society and encourages togetherness and love.
“What Does Your Mama Do?” is available for purchase at Amazon, and you can buy the corresponding album, Grandma Slid Down the Mountain, through Cathy and Marcy’s store.
When it comes to weather right now, I’d say we are a nation divided. The calendar says it’s spring though many are still experiencing the effects of winter. At the same time, other parts of the world are experiencing winter at just the right time.
During her visit to Iceland, Elena Moon Park, was inspired by the beauty of a freshly powdered landscape. Seeing the art in nature is something that inspires her as an artist and informs her craft as a musician. Below Park shares inspiring thoughts about her relationship with the natural world and the beauty of its elements, particularly during winter.
The photos featured below are by Elena Moon Park. You can view additional photos of her Icelandic adventure here.
At one time or another, I imagine that we all see ourselves as minuscule beings rambling through a boundless world of natural landscapes. Perhaps this is becoming less common in recent generations, as we continue to surround ourselves with buildings and technology. Once in awhile, I am reminded of the sweeping power of the natural world, and I am invariably captivated by the thought. I feel a deep reverence towards nature — this unyielding, powerful, unforgiving, breathtaking and beautiful force – and I embrace
these moments of reflection as crucial and wholly inspiring reminders.
Many of the tunes I discovered in the process of recording Rabbit Days and Dumplings reflect wonderment at brilliant natural forces. The Korean traditional song “Poong-Nyun Ga” celebrates the fall harvest season, the Japanese sea shanty Soran Bushi depicts life on the rough oceans, the Korean ballad “Doraji” describes a white root that grows on the mountainside.
Reverence towards nature is heightened for me in wintertime. Where I live and in many parts of the country, people are fed up with the snow, ice and freezing temperatures. It has obstructed work and lives and travel, and I understand the frustration. But when I step out of the madness of the city and stand in silence in a snowy landscape, I feel invigorated and deeply calm. A canvas of white snow and ice covers the earth. A stillness and silence take over. In winter, the majesty of these natural landscapes astonishes me.
I’m fascinated winter’s intricate, complex formations; ice on ponds, streams, trees, and icicles dripping from rooftop gutters. Cracks crawl slowly across icy surfaces, somehow appearing random and orderly at once. Fresh, untouched snow sits on top of bare trees, outlining the coordinated tangle of tree limbs. Mountains, frozen lakes and snowy plains blend into the horizon of white winter skies. Landscapes are still, except for the wind that stirs the powdered snow. I breathe fresh, cold air. I feel energy. Beauty. Solitude.
Throughout the month, Emily and I have been reading about women in history. Earlier this year, she was fascinated with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work to end segregation, and was especially excited to recount how Rosa Parks made history by refusing to let anyone bully her. In Emily’s words, “that is really cool!” I love when we share enlightened moments like this and am prompted to continue to find similar stories to share with her. Shortly after the excitement around Rosa Parks’ story, Em learned about Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War and slavery. While reading about this period of time, we came across the brave tale of Harriet Ann Jacobs, an African-American woman and writer who sought to gain freedom and prevailed.
Jacobs’ autobiographical novel, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, chroniclesher struggles as a slave, and how she gained autonomy through willpower. Though the specifics of her story, as described in her book, talk about the complex relationship between male slave owners and female slaves, Jacobs’ story also touches upon perseverance while also providing an opportunity to discuss race and gender issues.
Shamsi Ruhe, the bold, beautiful voice also featured on “Stand With Me” from Dean Jones’ album When The World Was New, brings this tale to life in a song by Lloyd H. Miller of The Deedle Deedle Dees. Today I am proud to premiere a song and video for “Trapped in the Attic” from Miller’s forthcoming album Sing-A-Long History Volume 1: Glory! Glory! Halleluah! which contains a collection of original and traditional songs about the Civil War Era. “Trapped in the Attic” highlights the fact that Jacobs spent 7 years in the cramped corners of an attic before she escaped and was ultimately set free.
Miller has done extensive research to make history accessible to kids through his music. Sing-A-Long History Volume 1 is follow up to S.S. Tales, Miller’s first solo release which highlights men and women who have made a historical impact on the world. This release will be the first album in Miller’s sing-along series. Stay tuned for additional coverage here on Kids Can Groove around the time of the album’s release in April.
Teachers and families can following along with the words in the lyric video below.
Continue learning about female heroes through a previously published Kids Can Groove post on Amelia Earhart, and listen to the song “8000 feet” by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band here.
these moments of reflection as crucial and wholly inspiring reminders.
Kids Can Groove 
