Stay tuned for the world premiere of “Five Sea Lions” by Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam starting Tuesday, March 18.
The endearing visuals, animated by Glen Biltz , reinforce the learning inherent in the lyrics:
“Five Sea Lions rolling on the pier
They look like seals but you can see their ears
One rolled off and then swam to shore
And four sea lions were left on board”
Here’s Jason announcing the premiere with some real sea lions in the background!
After spending 5 days exploring Sapelo Ilsand, a barrier island of Savannah, GA, Day began the production of his DVD Roger Day’s Marsh Mud Madness which was filmed live at the Savannah Music Festival and on location at the University of Gerogia Marine Institute. As a compliment to the DVD, Day subsequently released a CD, which contains the live recordings from the DVD plus studio versions of two songs.
Regardless of which type of media you choose for your listening experience you won’t be disappointed. Roger Day does an excellent job of transforming your speakers into an ecological romp as he introduces kids to the critters, creatures and plant life of the Savannah marshland. Prior to launching into the anthemic, “I Love To Study Mud,” Day proclaims that he is here to talk about “slimy, gooey, mushy mud!” He then instructs listeners to put on a sun hat and big boots and get ready to stomp in the mud. And let me tell you, with a little creativity and a sprinkle of imagination, stomping in invisible mud makes for some good, clean fun. I particularly love how Day compares marsh mud to chocolate soup, in this upbeat title track, as he sings “you see marsh mud it’s like chocolate soup/ that you can smell from miles around…”
The beauty of Marsh Mud Madness is that it is engaging. Each song is associated with easy to learn movement(s), helping listeners visualize what they are learning about and essentially making you feel as though you are also a part of the show. In many ways, Day’s enthusiasm and passion for exploration is akin to that of the Kratt brothers from the show, Wild Kratts, and Ms. Frizzle, the unique protagonist in the popular series The Magic School Bus. Similar to these shows, Marsh Mud Madness is full of scientific facts conveyed in an adventurous way.
What sweetens the experience even more is that Day is a talented musician with tons of charisma who has a natural ability to captivate an audience. By following along with Day, whether watching at home or listening in the car, you will learn how to groove like the Fiddler Crab, move like a periwinkle snail, learn how to creep about like the Ghost Crab and mimic the flushing of an estuary. You’ll even come across jumping dolphins! There is so much to love about Marsh Mud Madness, and it has been priceless to hear Em regurgitating facts to friends and family members about how the Ghost Crab is the cousin of the Fiddler Crab and how Alligators were almost extinct.
I am so glad there are two versions of this album because each one is equally gratifying and it’s not very often that I watch live performances on DVD. I would definitely recommend purchasing both together because the DVD is filled with enrichment (for excellent examples, check out the videos below) and makes for a perfect indoor activity. Plus, once you watch the songs performed through the DVD, you will find yourself singing them repeatedly and wishing you could crank them up in your car. You can sample and purchase tracks from Marsh Mud Madness via the Bandcamp widget below. The CD and DVD are also available for purchase through CDBaby.
Bonus: After the successful releases of the Marsh Mud Madness DVD and CD, Day became a Skype in the classroom teacher. Day started teaching through Skype as a way to help kids who were stranded in an Alabama school during a bad winter storm. Shortly after Day offered to “visit” the kids (by posting a message on his Facebook page), he was contacted by teachers and immediately connected to the students via Skype. The students loved singing and playing along with Day, which served as a comforting distraction from the anxiety of being stuck without their families. Skype caught wind of what Day was doing and prominently featured him in a blog post . Day continues to use Skype as a means to provide instruction to kids around the country. Included in his 30-minute lesson, Day teaches the kids two songs, one of which is called “Mosquito Burrito,” a playful song from his DVD, Marsh Mud Madness. For those interested in exploring more of Day’s material I would absolutely recommend Marsh Mud Madness. Teachers can access grade specific study guides here.
“Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe. But what do dreams know of boundaries?” — Amelia Earhart
Having a daughter who is bright, strong-willed (read: confident), and fearless has taught me so much. She is small but curious and constantly seeks answers to greater things. One of the many questions that frequently perplexes her is why there are more boys doing things than girls. Some of those things include plumbing, construction, being president, space exploration, even ninjas. And, don’t even get her started on why boys don’t take the girl’s name when they get married or why every classic princess story ends with the princess marrying the prince (or, as she would say, “yeah yeah then they get married, blah blah blah”). I wish I could say that I had a part in provoking this charge in her, other than a result of a crazy combo of genetics, but I don’t. She is a thinker and a seeker and I love that about her. At 5-years-old anything is possible whether you are a boy and especially if you are a girl! As I listen to her questions, sometimes in awe, I try to answer as best I can to the tune of empowering her to follow her passions and to be the one that makes a change.
So this all ties into the fact that it’s Women of Aviation Worldwide week! First, I must say that I am a fan of the site A Mighty Girl. In summary, “The site was founded on the belief that all children should have the opportunity to read books, play with toys, listen to music, and watch movies that offer positive messages about girls and honor their diverse capabilities.” They posted the Amelia Earhart quote, featured at the beginning of this post, on their Facebook page which subsequently inspired my thoughts above.
Secondly, there’s always room to celebrate with a song! “8000 Feet” by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band was inspired by Amelia Earhart. I present it to you in honor of The First Lady of Flight and all the other mighty girls who are seeking out their dreams, whether it is actually flying 8000 feet in the sky or ambitiously seeking out greater things on the ground. It’s awesome!
“8000 Feet” can be heard on LDFJB’s most recent release, Lishy Lou and Lucky Too. You can preview the entire album here which I absolutely suggest. It’s brimming with vibrancy, life and as much wonder about the world as my little mighty mouse has. Lishy Lou and Lucky Too is also available via iTunes.
It’s Fat Tuesday! In honor of this colorful and somewhat mysterious time of year, it seems fitting to post “The Little Big Easy” by Rainbow Beast and the Rock Band Land Rockers.
While people on earth are celebrating, this heroic tale tells of how a fortune cookie prophesy caused one man (Douglas) to save a race of creatures allergic to electric light by constructing an underground city for them. As it turns out, his legacy lives on thanks to Fluffy Joe, who was also a kind soul. You can sample and purchase the song through the Bandcamp widget below.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a sweet song from Walter Martin of the indie rock band, The Walkmen. “Sing to Me,” is a track from Martin’s upcoming debut album, We’re All Young Together, which is set to release on May 13 (via Family Jukebox). The album features guest appearances by Karen O and Nick Zinner of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Matt Berninger of the National, Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Kat Edmonson, The Walkmen’s Hamilton Leithauser and Matt Barrick, and more.
I love this song. It’s almost unfair how much I love this song. I have always been a fan of The Walkmen and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs so the pairing of Martin and Karen O on this track is a real treat. Martin’s deep baritone perfectly complements the ethereal beauty of Karen O’s. The words are romantic and whimsical in a fabulous way. This one will make your heart smile for sure! Really, the hardest part of listening to this song is deciding when to stop replaying it. I particularly love the lyrics: “I’d like to breach the castle walls of you & sing a concert in a hall of you” which feel so profound hidden among the other terms of endearment and graceful yodeling.
According to a press release, Martin began writing the songs on his new record when the Walkmen were finishing Heaven, which was also when his wife was pregnant with their first child. He calls We’re All Young Together “a family record”:
I began to imagine a record I really wanted to hear: something new and original that captured the essence of early rock ‘n’ roll – innocent but mischievous, romantic but funny, and unabashedly sweet. It wasn’t that I wanted to write songs to suit my new situation as a parent, it was more that parenthood made relevant writing the kind of songs I’ve always loved most.
Below is a lyric illustration for “Sing to Me” by illustrator Marcellus Hall, who designed the album’s artwork.
Artist: Rainbow Beast & the Rock Band Land Rockers
Album Title: Tales From The Monstrosity Scrolls
Description: A magical exploration that celebrates the intricacies of a child’s imagination delivered with musical mastery.
While I am tidying up my review of this album, along with some other goodies from Rainbow Beast, there is absolutely no reason to delay the presentation of this awe-inducing piece of work. Tales From The Monstrosity Scrolls is filled with powerful rock songs made up of original stories written by kids between the ages of 4-8 years old. The kids, referred to as The Rock Band Land Rockers, are members of a collaborative creativity program in San Francisco that is run by Rainbow Beast members Brian Gorman and Marcus Stoesz. The songs may seem dark, certainly darker than standard children’s music today, but I would encourage you to listen to them in their entirety because of the deeply profound messages they contain. Sure, there are superheroes, dragons and fluffy clouds, but they are presented in an atypical way that turns sticky sweet sing-alongs on their head. And, if you’ve spent any time around an imaginative 1st grader, you know the whacky paths their creativity can lead them! By providing a safe, supportive environment Gorman and Stoesz have found a way to honor the intellect and potential of these young kids by allowing them to seek out their polka-dot skeleton and ice girl fantasies within the relative safety of a rock-n-roll education.
When the announcement of Pete Seeger’s passing was made, I was in the midst of preparing a review about Ella Jenkins‘ latest release with Smithsonian Folkways. As I read the obituaries of and tributes to Seeger, I thought more about the profound effects each of these artists have had on audiences of all ages. In light of my reflections, it occurred to me how many parallels there are between these two legends. To start, each has earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for their musical contributions. Along with this honor, they each have had a rich recording history with Smithsonian Folkways, releasing a legacy that will forever set an example for others within the music and educational fields. Not to mention the multigenerational and cultural impact their music has had on children and families throughout the world. Most importantly, what ties them together the most is that they have lived their lives with purpose and that purpose has been fueled by a sense of pride and joy, coupled with the belief that music is meant to be shared.
On her 34th release with Smithsonian Folkways, Ella’s joyful spirit is captured once again. The songs on 123s and ABCs are simple and highly interactive, presented mostly in Ella’s signature call-and-response style and provide layers of benefits for young listeners. The album contains 16 wonderfully curated tracks aimed at teaching letters, counting and basic math (addition and subtraction). The secondary benefits seek to build language skills, strengthen memory, and develop rhythm through a variety of musical games. And, remaining loyal to Ella’s multicultural appreciation, 123s and ABCs presents songs in four languages – English, Spanish, Swahili, and Yiddish.
The album opens with “Easy as ABC,” an alphabet game that encourages listeners to associate a word with a letter and then use that word in a sentence. As Ella sings, “C is for caring/ And I care a lot about you,” it’s hard not to feel comforted by her sincerity. It is this line that captures Ella’s authenticity and loving heart.
“Eight Clay Pigeons” and “And One and Two…” are fun counting songs that encourage movement while “ABCs” is a sweet little chant that underscores the positive effects music has on learning: “123, 123 were the very first numbers that were taught to me…/ ABC, ABC were the very first letters that were taught to me/ XYZ, XYZ were the very last letters that were taught to me.”
123s and ABCs is another fine example of how wonderful it feels to sing along together. Ella is a teacher, a leader and a friend who has devoted her life to sharing that which has enlightened, educated and enriched so many children’s (and grown-ups’) lives. The following quote perfectly describes Ella’s grace and thoughtful approach to music making. (source: NPR):
“I think most people like music and most children like music, and there’s a variety of music. But whatever you happen upon with something that you really feel that you really like, I’d say listen to it and listen to it often. And if you want to kind of emulate it, if you want to try to repeat or imitate, do it in a way that when you’re sharing it, someone else is going to think it’s beautiful, too. So there are a lot of wonderful composers around the world, and sometimes we get a lot of them right here in Chicago. But anyway, when you get these and you start to sing or you can dance like the people that you have heard or watched, then put your best performance forward, and I think the children will do the same.”
123s and ABCs is highly recommended for all ages and can be purchased through Amazon
Bonus: Smithsonian Folkways is also offering a free download of the track “Easy as ABC.” Read more on Ella Jenkins on her Smithsonian Folkways Artist Spotlight page.
Following the awesome rendition of Manu Chao’s “Bongo Bong,” Jeff Krebs, aka Papa Crow, has a new single from his upcoming mini-album, Monkeylele: songs about monkeys performed on the ukulele.
“You’re Bound To Look Like A Monkey” is based on a song that Krebs’ grandpa used to sing for kids back when he was a kid. It’s a fun track that is clever and….cute. The lyrics refer to monkeys in an unexpected way that serve as a good reminder not to take life too seriously (especially if we are bound to look like a monkey). “You’re “Bound To Look Like A Monkey” is a sprightly, knee knocking little tune. Another promising glimpse into what is proving to be a great album so far.
Christmas is right around the corner! Hopefully things are starting to slow down a bit for many of you as Christmas shopping is nearing completion. Although this is still a hectic period for me, listening to holiday music seems to bring me back to what this time of year truly means. So, I have another little list of songs that captures the joy, peace and even humor of the season. Enjoy!
Renee & jeremy – “Sunny Christmas”
This song was featured in my Songs for the Season Part 1 holiday list last year but I didn’t have a video to post, until now. “Sunny Christmas” is the title track from a 6 song EP that Renee & Jeremy released last year. The EP is done in Renee & Jeremy’s soft, peaceful style. I believe I referred to their music as “comfort food for your soul.” In the video for “Sunny Christmas,” R&J reached out to fans to put together a beautiful montage that captures the harmony, love and togetherness of the holiday season. Sunny Christmas can be sampled and purchased through Renee & Jeremy’s site, CDBaby, iTunes and Amazon.
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Zak Morgan – “Snow Day”
Zak Morgan’s music is good, and that’s putting it mildly. Zak Morgan’s videos are reallllyyyyyy gooood! In many ways, it’s as if the two share a symbiotic relationship; The videos bring to life the spirit and wit of the songs. After last year’s awesome Halloween video for “The Case of the Dry Markers,” which featured Bootsy (“Bootzilla”) Collins, Morgan comes back with “Snow Day,” featuring a life-sized chicken, although that is just one of the many highlights of this video. “Snow Day” can be found on Morgan’s 2012 release Barber of the Beasts which is available through the Zak Morgan store, Amazon and iTunes.
Pointed Man Band – “All That Krampus Wants (is High-Fives! for the Holidays)”
From the Portland, Oregon band, a song about Krampus who has been misunderstood. Ready for redemption, all he wants is a high-five, fist bump or five fingered endorsement to set him on a good path for the holidays. That’s fair, right? Although this song is a little more indie than kindie, it (and Pointed Man Band) gets points for taking a clever approach to holiday music. It was released last year, but their full-length debut, Swordfish Tango, made it out this year. Both are definitely worth a listen. You can purchase this single and Swordfish Tango through the Bandcamp widget below.
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Poochamungas – “Santa’s Eating Pancakes”
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and Santa knows it. As he prepares to drive his sled, he’s eatin’ up some pancakes. Featuring vocals from the band Strain Busy Sky, Poochamungas celebrates Christmas in a charitable way as the proceeds from the sale of this track will go to the Ignite the Spirit Fund. Ignite the Spirit Fund aims to provide assistance, support and food for families of the Chicago Fire Department. You can purchase “Santa’s Eating Pancakes” from Amazon, CDBaby and iTunes.
Stacey Peasley – “Under the Tree” and “Frosty the Snowman”
Stacey Peasley is a Boston-based musician who has over 15 years of professional singing experience. A teacher for ten years, Peasley channels her love of children and music into an engaging experience filled with catchy songs. Just in time for the holidays, Peasley has 2 singles for fans to enjoy. “Under the Tree,” is a bouncy, country tune that supports sibling love as one child writes to Santa telling him not to “forget about my brother/ even though he can be naughty/ he deserves some presents under the tree.” “Frosty the Snowman,” doesn’t stray too far from the original, but Peasley’s soaring vocals add depth along with a warm and cozy feeling. You can purchase these tracks from Amazon, CDBaby and iTunes.
Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke – “(Sing a Song of) Christmas Cheer”
This one is an oldie but goodie! From their 2011 release Sing Songs of Christmas Cheer, comes a video filled with Wilde’s quirky (but highly appealing) illustrations. Get ready to Fa La La all the way to the new year with this catchy song done in KWMC’s beloved alt-country style. It’s like the “Twelve Days of Christmas” but without the counting and a little more spunk. You can purchase this album through Amazon, CDBaby and iTunes.
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Treetop Sisters – “Nicki and the Crew”
The Treetop Sisters are a trio of girls ages 11 and under. In their video for “Nicki and the Crew,” they merrily sing about St. Nick (humorously referred to as “Nicki”) and his crew on the night before Christmas. It’s a party up in the North Pole! Backed by some jazzy, be-bop flair, the Treetop Sisters will have your family dancing ’round the Christmas tree for sure. You can purchase this song through Amazon, CDBaby and iTunes.
Get your little rockstars ready to move and groove! The-Not-Its! are expanding their horizons! Seattle’s kindie rockers have developed a Pre-K music and movement class called Rockaboo. Starting January 9, 2014, this 10 week series will be lead by lead singer Sarah Shannon and held in the heart of Seattle at The Wallingford Boys and Girls club.
Rockaboo was developed by Sarah and guitar player Tom Baisden. Each of these artists bring a ton of experience to the table. Sarah is a Seattle mom trained in classical music from The University of Maryland who can boast serious indie cred as lead singer of 90’s Sup Pop group, Velocity Girl, while Tom is a a special education teacher at an arts immersion elementary school.
The mission of Rockaboo is to enrich children’s lives and connect families through music and movement. The science is indisputable, music boosts brain development. In this class (with a maximum of 12 children plus their caregivers), children will learn about dynamics (loud/soft), pitch (high/low), and tempo (fast/slow). Most importantly, in Rockaboo, families will revel together in the joy of music!
You can find more information, and sign up at www.rockaboomusic.com.
Kids Can Groove 