Children and Classical Music Musings

Many of us are brought up to disdain classical music as though it is stuffy, incomprehensible, dull, or elitist. But, this is only because we are not exposed to it from the very beginning. Maybe, to some, it is, an acquired taste, but, like anything else, the more you listen to it, the more comfortable you become, and the more comfortable you become, the more you will want to incorporate it into your  life.

I tend to talk a lot about classical music and it's importance for children. Sure it's complex, but, so are kids. Yes, there are no lyrics, but, that is what is so great. This allows the imagination to figure out the story and connect it's own dots. I am not a scientist, but, I believe with all my heart that classical music aids imaginative thinking and artistic development in profound ways. I know it did for me, so, when our daughter was tiny it was a natural thing for us to listen (and still do) to KING FM, which is one of the great classical music stations in the world. She would sit in her car seat and conduct. She loved opera. She loved Vivaldi. She still does. (You can listen to KING FM while you are online. Take it for a test drive, it's amazing!) Whether or not my daughter's incredible focus and artistic bent is because of this exposure I will never know, but, I'm guessing it has made a positive and long lasting influence. If you have any doubts, Just watch this!  Pretty amazing, huh? Now, clearly Jonathan is a gifted little thing, but, still just try putting classical music on with a small child and see what happens. I guarantee he/she will not be sitting still.

There is something so transcendent about playing your favorite classical music DVD and losing yourself in  your creative activities; writing, sewing, painting, cleaning your room. With classical music playing I always feel like I am able to go to a deeper, more focused and satisfying place with my projects. I mean, even bill paying becomes less tedious when spent with Yo-Yo Ma, Mozart, Tchaikovsky,  Vivaldi, or Bach. The same is true with children. Try putting on your favorite classical music CD when the kids are doing their chores. It will be much less of a battle and I bet it will get done faster. It works for me.

Classical music also has a tremendous calming effect on kids. It's great to study, read, write, or think to. I believe the brain really loves it.

Here is a list of my current favorite classical music CDs:
1. Vladimir Horowitz The Complete Masterworks Recordings 1962-1973, Vol. III
2. Vladimir Horowitz The Complete Masterworks Recordings 1962-1973, Vol. III, continued
3. The Compleat Four Seasons Narrated by Patrick Stewart - Perfect for this time of year and Patrick Stewart has one of the best narrator voices ever!

4. Midori, violin/ Robert McDonald, piano Encore! This CD is intoxicating and addictive. 
5. Yo-Yo Ma plays Ennio Morricone (this is really film scores played by Yoyo, but passes as classical, come on it's Yo-Yo!!!) I also love it because the score to Cinema Paradiso, which is my no.1 fave film of all time is on this recording. Bliss!

When I was a kid I was obsessed with. . .
6. Nancy Carlos' Switched On Bach (first released in 1968 and recently remastered). I am going to go out on a limb here - You will LOVE this!!! This is funkified Bach to the enth degree and I dare you and your child to sit still while listening to it. It's simply hilarious and still sounds current. Anecdote: When this first came out I was playing the organ every Sunday for one and many times two Masses every week. I tended to get bored playing the same 'ol, same 'ol, so, during Communion I would jazz up my Bach by "Switching it On" with some of the more techno stops on my organ, speeding it up; people loved it. There is no reason music in church needs to be dull as dishwater, right? It should be a celebration of epic proportions!

Specially for children:
7. Serfei Prokofiev's Sneaky Pete and the Wolf Written and Narrated by Peter Schickele with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 

For the most part I think kids like listening to the same classical music recordings as adults. Sometimes the recordings specifically for children feel a little condescending and silly. There is absolutely no reason to water down  perfection. Kids are smart and sophisticated. Share exactly what you love and they will respond. 


Here is a treat; if you've never heard of Benjamin Zander take 20 minutes, go to TED, sit down and be prepared to have your classical music paradigm toppled. He is a consummate musician, conductor, communicator, passionate artist with energy, talent, and humor galore. He takes us on a thoughtful and emotional ride with a classical music passage that he plays on the piano. Listen to his talk with your children and see what they think.


To be continued. . . 

Teenagers are Great!

I love teenagers! I've collaborated with teenagers on several important projects. I think, many times, teens are highly underestimated, but, once they feel trusted, they never cease to amaze me with their openness, willingness, and original creative energy. When I work with teens my life is enhanced beyond description. Sometimes we forget how amazing they are. In my opinion the only reason teenagers get all tough acting is because they don't feel heard. They don't feel honored.

Trying to catch up on a few movies I've never had the time to watch I rented Freedom Writers. This is an important film that will inspire dialogue with your kids on many levels; tolerance, education, prejudice, violence, etc. It is filled with such love and compassion, so grab that kleenex box, because  I bet you and your kids will shed a tear or two just like we did. Personally I lost count at 5 times during my viewing.

Hilary Swank's performance is spot on, never mind the first time actors playing the kids! They are all fabulous. The energy jumps off the screen.  As Erin Gruwell, Swank is vulnerable, determined, and relentless in her desire to give time and a chance to a group of students who are rough gang members and considered to be categorically unteachable. She successfully battles an education system that simply doesn't work (hmmmm, sound familiar. . .Waiting for Superman?) and reaches these kids through literature they can relate to. She then gives them each a simple, yet, profound gift and the opportunity to put their pain into something they've never had; their own personal and private journals. As they write about their remarkable stories they learn to trust, and find out they are not alone in the world of horrific experiences. Ms. Gruwell teaches them about the Holocaust and in turn they learn about themselves and what they are truly capable of.

Eventually the real life Erin Gruwell, with the help and permission of her students (above), went onto publish their astonishing stories in a book entitled The Freedom Writers. Check out Erin Gruwell's website to witness what is possible when we take the time to honor, respect and teach each of our children.

To be continued. . .

It's Never Too Late

I'm going to go slightly off topic today, but, I believe my musings will circle back to my main purpose and that is; to encourage the creative process no matter what the age.

My husband has been the most supportive person of my endeavors from the moment I met him. He has literally been my No.1 fan following me to L.A. for my career, attending ever single performance I've ever been in (that has been no small feat) and helping me produce my children's DVDs. So, in the past few months when he was trying to decide what direction to take his career we had an interesting conversation that led him to recommit himself to his writing. He is now pursuing screenwriting full time through the UCLA screenwriting program and is getting kudos and support from all directions.

My husband is the type of person that is always there for people if they need help, no matter what it is. For his 50th Birthday I decided that friends and family should come together and help him create something to affirm his new career choice. That "something" is a brand new "Man Cave Screenwriting Hut". Let me tell you, that when a person is committing to something they absolutely love to do, the universe doesn't say "No". The universe comes together with a resounding "YES!" to give support. Our friends and family, in the pouring rain, helped to erect the walls and attach the roof of the MCSH in less than 6 hours. What is being created in our back yard is a glorious place for my other half to escape, reflect, create, and be true to his talent and creative spirit. I also believe that this magical event will serve to encourage our friends to create a space in their own lives to do the same.

We have already committed to assist in building another studio for one of our friends. These kind of activities save people money, solidify friendships, make memories, and it's just plain fun. Don't wait to give yourself a place to be creative. Plan it and ask for help.

We first decided to do the MCSH a little over a month ago. This was our process in a nutshell:

1. We looked online for backyard studios we liked and sketched one to scale using bits and pieces from ones that resonated with us. Here is one that we particularly liked and used as a jumping off point:

2. We looked for materials on Craigslist, i.e. windows, door, lumber, OSB, roofing, roofing felt, etc.
3. We also found a gorgeous desk that was originally $550.00 for $125.00 on Craigslist and a black leather office chair to go with it.
4. We already had a preexisting 10' x 12' concrete pad with electricity so that saved a bunch.
5. We sent out invitations for an Old Fashioned "Mat Man Cave Screenwriting Hut" Barn Raising. 
6. In the month before the party (while we were working and going to school) we built the foundation, subfloor, and my husband also assembled all 4 walls and painted all the siding so that on the day of the party we literally had the walls and roof joists up in a couple hours. (Trust me, I wish I would have thought of doing this in the summer! It was pouring rain, but, we were thrilled there was no wind!)
7. Because of the weather and time of year we were lucky that my in-laws had a 20' x 20' circus tent that we put up. This was a life saver! It kept our materials and us dry on the big day. And it was crazy festive with big yellow and white stripes.
8. The day after the party we finished the roof and put up the tyvek and part of the siding. 
9. Now we just have to finish the siding, install  windows and the door and start on the interior finish work.
10. We have left over bamboo flooring from the house that is the exact amount we need for the floor.
11. The walls are going to be bare, but, sealed OSB with stainless steel rivets in the corners and wainscot on the ceiling. We are going for a modern, semi-industrial look.
12. We will hang a few movie posters that are on our top 10 list and Mat will be off and running, writing the next great screenplay.

I will post pix of our finished and fabulous MCSH at a later date.

FYI - Check the building permit codes in your county. Most structures under 144 sq. ft. don't require a permit. Ours is 120 sq. ft. so we are good. Plus, this is the 3rd structure in 33 years that has been on this concrete pad. There had been a hot tub with gazebo and a storage shed before.

Another idea is to turn one of those utility sheds into a backyard office for writing, art, quilting, sewing, etc. There are some amazing prefab office sheds that you can buy and have assembled. The cost for one of these is $5k up to about $60k. We purchased and built this amazing studio for between $2500 and $3k. Quite a big difference. It also helped that Mat had a ton of construction and roofing experience.

It really is never too late to commit to your own creative desires or process, and even if you feel like you didn't get that freedom as a child, go ahead, do it now. I promise, it will be the best thing you ever did for yourself.

To be continued. . .

Amelia Bloomer; women's rights, history, and FASHION!?

You Forgot Your Skirt Amelia Bloomer
Written by Shana Corey & Illustrated by Chesley McLaren

This spunky picture book is very sneaky. It takes on an important part of American Women's History with charm galore. The Ludwig Bemelmans (of Madeline fame) inspired illustrations are full of whimsey. Even the font was designed by illustrator McLaren and gives the fact filled text a feeling of fanciful fun (And she is incredibly prolific! You must check out her fashion illustrations. They are utterly charming.)

Amelia Bloomer, born in 1818, was one of the key women's movement voices of the 19th century when women's clothing was at it's oppressive height. Corsets that displaced women's internal organs, topped with 20-40 lbs. of fabric, lace, wool, and flannel were considered "proper". No wonder their waists were tiny! Of course fainting was part of the bargain. Oh, and they couldn't move their arms very well either. Doesn't that sound like fun? Anyway, when Amelia's friend returned from Europe where all of the women were wearing pantaloon type undergarments under shorter dresses she sewed some of these pantaloons up and began wearing them around town. She created quite an improper fashion stir riding around on her bicycle. Thus, these pantaloons were dubbed "Bloomers" after her.
Amelia Bloomer wasn't just a fashion feminist; Hear Ye! Hear Ye! In 1849 she also founded and became the editor of The Lily, the first newspaper devoted entirely to women's issues. BRAVO! Not bad for a girl who only had a two year education. Check out this website for more info on one of our country's most remarkable women.

This picture book is so clever and fun that it could become your little girl's favorite book. It certainly is one of mine.

P.S.- You Forgot Your Skirt Amelia Bloomer is appropriate for 5-8 year olds and even older if a child is looking for user friendly research material for a history report.

To be continued. . .

Amen!

The great thing about children's books is that, even though they live on a shelf, they don't have a shelf life. An author I am crazy about and who will never go out of style is Newberry Award winning author Betsy Byars.

Writing about this author is like dessert to me. I absolutely can't put into words how much I love her work. Betsy was born in 1928 so she's over 80 years old and she has been published in every genre since 1962. That 48 years and 60 wonderful picture books, mysteries, and young adult novels. Not a bad track record.

The Betsy Byars book on the top of my "Love It!" list is:

Keeper of the Doves
Published 2002 by Viking Press

The year is 1891 and Amen is the unexpected, not particularly wanted fifth girl in the McBee clan. From the git-go she is a sensitive, voracious reader and an incredible wordsmith. When Amen is eight her grandmother comes to visit and brings the latest Kodak camera which infuses excitement into the air of the McBee family. There is the reclusive neighbor and dove trainer, Mr. Tominski, who Amen's sisters, "the Bellas" swear is dangerous, but Papa says is harmless. Amen, with the help of the camera, will have to find out for herself. Keeper of the Doves is a most touching story about "nothing is ever what it seems". This book reads aloud beautifully and, in fact, is worth multiple reads. I dare anyone to not shed a tear or two during the last few pages of this glorious book.

FYI - Betsy Byars reads her manuscripts aloud as she writes to make sure all of the dialogue rings true, so her books are easy to read aloud to children no matter what their ages. I have read her books to the 6-9 crowd and 10-12 year olds.

Check these out. . .

The Herculeah Jones Mystery Series
Betsy Byars, Published by Puffin
There are 7 books in the Herculeah Jones series. I've read three of them and they are too much fun! Every single chapter in these books is a cliff hanger. Thirteen year old Herculeah Jones is the only child of a divorced Private Investigator Mom and Police Detective Dad, so, of course, she has access to tricks of the trade, never mind her expertise in eavesdropping. Fearless Herculeah, along with her reluctant, hysterical, best friend, Meat (how great is that for a name?), get themselves into major pickles as they go about solving crimes that the grownups don't even know exist of just can't seem to figure out. For my time, and this is big, these are way more fun than the Nancy Drew series. For those who love mysteries, Herculeah Jones is the ticket!

Herculeah Jones Tantalizing Titles:

The Dark Stairs
Tarot Beware
Dead Letter
Death's Door
Disappearing Acts
King of Murder
The Black Tower

To be continued. . .

The Sound of Music

When our daughter was little one of the songs I sang to her every single night while putting her to bed was "My Favorite Things." Oscar Hammerstein's brilliantly written lyrics have the ability to get a parent and child to focus on feeling gratitude for the simplest of life's pleasures while calming down at the same time. The mere phrase "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" kind of chokes me up right now just thinking about them and even though my girl is 13 she still asks me to sing it to her. I always sentimentally indulge.

For the first time in 45 years, Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and the entire Von Trapp Family cast from The Sound of Music was reunited on Oprah this past week. I found this to be such a celebration for more than a few reasons;

1. The Sound of Music is maybe one of the most perfectly filmed musicals of all time. It is definitely in my top 10 list and holds up with each and every viewing
2. Julie Andrews was beyond divine and the chemistry within the cast was flawless.
3. And perhaps the most important; I thought I was Julie Andrews "mini me" when I was 10. Everyone told me I looked like her and never mind that I was called "Julie" until I was 18. I must have played the sound track on the hi-fi a trillion times re-enacting "I Have Confidence" (suitcase and all) and "I Am Sixteen" with perfect choreography, wearing a flouncy skirt and hopping from chair to sofa, in our living room a billion times. (Yes, I have just outed myself as being a child when the film was released, proud Baby Boomer that I am!)

The Sound of Music, the story and the film, survives because it joins two very important ideas; 1) music, the universal language, connects people on the cellular level and 2) music is stronger than war. The Von Trapp Family singers found strength and resilience in their music and found collected strength in each other to stand up to adversity. Without the music they probably wouldn't have escaped Austria during the initial stages of the WWII. It was the music that broke open Captain Von Trapp's heart so he could see what was really important to his family. The music became their message. The music saved them. The music gave them a new life.

I'm not saying anything particularity new here, but, I do think we need to revisit or introduce our children to certain classic stories and films on a regular basis. They are life affirming and there isn't anything better that singing along with your favorite musical with your favorite family members.

So, "When the dog bites, when the bee stings", go to your DVD player, pop in The Sound of Music and sit there with your child while they sing "Do, Re, Mi" (learning the scale - kind of like hiding the vegetables) and "The Lonely Goatherd" (seeing the magic of puppetry) with you and revel in the power of the music.

To be continued. . .

God Bless the Child

Jazz. The Great Depression. The Deep South. The Great Migration.

These don’t sound like the usual subject matter for a children’s picture book, but, wait; think, Billie Holiday and the timeless recording of her own lyrics (along with Arthur Herzog Jr.) “God Bless the Child”.

God Bless the Child

Written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog & Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

A picture book tells a story with pictures in tandem with words. Like a film, the words guide the story, but the visual is what makes those very perfect words take flight.

To me, God Bless the Child’s illustrations are very reminiscent of the 1990 August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “The Piano Lesson” that starred Charles S. Dutton. Dutton turned in one of those riveting, soulfully authentic performances that stay with audience members for decades. I can’t help but think that seeing Billie Holiday perform “God Bless the Child” as a similar experience.

Illustrator Jerry Pinkney has captured the dusty, hopeful feeling and muted colors of the Great Depression with historic perfection. He works in an interesting way; costuming friends and relatives, creating a theatrical scene, photographing them, and then turning that photograph into an illustration. Mr. Pinkney has been illustrating since 1964 with over 100 books to his credit. How's that for prolific?! He is a 4 time recipient of the Caldecott Honor Medal, 4 time Coretta Scott King Award winner, 2 time Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner, along with countless other awards.  I encourage you to visit Jerry's website and read his extensive bio and be wowed by his treasured illustrations. You will need a separate library just to accommodate these works.


“God Bless the Child” comes with the original soundtrack recording of Billie Holiday that runs on a loop so a child can take their time look at the illustrations while listening to one of the great recording artists of all time. Now, that is what reading and art is all about!


To be continued. . .

Boogers and Doctors and Brachydactilia, OH MY!

A couple blogs ago I mentioned that I used to make up rhymes for our daughter that helped make various daily activities more fun. Activities like, oh, you know, having to get up out of bed, going to the doctor to get our eyes, ears, and nose checked or, maybe something like. . . GET A SHOT!!!! Anyway, here are a couple of my silly songs.

For getting up:

It’s time to get up and go to school

Get all dressed up and eat some gruel

Get in the car and drive, drive, drive

See Mr. Clark (fill in teacher’s name) and give a high-five!

It’s time to get up and go to school…

Sometimes I made up additional verses that fit something like hideous weather or Valentines Day and then hit Repeat until I got total & complete co-operation or I lost my mind. Of course, sometimes these events happened at the same time.

For going to see our pediatrician Dr. Julia the little ditty went like this:

We’re going to see Dr. Julia.

She checks for brachydactilia. (bra-kee-dak-til-ee-a)

She is a very nice lady!

And says I’m not a-fraidy.

FYI: Brachydactilia; n. an abnormal shortness of fingers and toes… (Funny sounding unless you have this rare medical condition.) We made up our own definition for brachydactilia.We decided it was the condition of really hard boogers. The bonus of using impossibly huge and complex words with a 2-5 year old is the spontaneous hilarity that ensues when pushing their verbal skills to the brink. I just love hearing what will come out of their little mouths! Plus, I think laughter on the way to the Dr. is always a prudent move. On the other hand; if your child is not feeling co-operative you can always use the real meaning of brachydactilia as leverage or a threat. “Hey! Sweetie! If you don’t get your fingers out of your nose you will develop serious brachydactilia!”

Speaking of boogers, this leads me to one of my all time fave little kid books.

Yummy Yucky

Written & illustrated by Leslie Patricelli

“Burgers are yummy.”                     

“Boogers are yucky.”

“Spaghetti is yummy.”                      

“Worms are yucky.”

You get the idea. It’s a giggly treat of a board book. Leslie Patricelli has brilliantly managed to distill this “yummy, yucky” concept down to the barest of bare minimums. Where was this book 10 years ago when I needed it? Check out her adorable website replete with games and other amusements. 

On a personal note; my phrase for something yucky was “icky poo poo ka ka la la.” What makes this work are the stop plosives of the “p” and the hard guttural “k” sounds stirred in with repetition and part of the musical scale; “la la”. These elements added with various scary faces and screaming will also get the point of “yummy vs. yucky” across to your pre-K child in nano second.

When Charlie McButton Lost Power

Written by Suzanne Collins

 Illustrated by Mike Lester

OK, this is the funniest rhyming (and you know how much I adore a good rhymed yarn!) picture book since Dr. Seuss’ Fox in Sox or Gertrude McFuzz! (Both of which I’ve read no less than 100 times each…love them! I’m headed down the same path with Charlie McB.) Charlie McButton has an addiction; computer games (sound familiar?). He NEEDS anything electronic. Until, one day, there is a power surge and there is power no more. What will he do??? He can hardly breathe. His mother says:

“You’ll have to find something without plugs to play.

Read a book! Clean your room! Sing a Song! Model clay!”

That’s it! He’s done. His life is over. He pitches a fit. Has a time out.  Hurts is sister’s feelings. Then feels bad, makes up with her in the bathroom and rediscovers how fun it is to play, to make believe, and just hang out.

Suzanne Collins’ has nailed the phenomenon of today’s youth and their electronic filled obsessions while telling a great story in rhyme. This is no easy task. Some of her rhymes are so incredibly clever I couldn’t help but to dissect them. The rhythm and rhyming is perfect and often internal which makes for super fun read aloud time! This is simply a must read for the whole family.

To be continued…

High Tech and High Art for All

There is an exciting development going on in Tacoma. Some very smart people have gotten together and purchased a 100 year old performance space call Valhalla Hall. These people have raised money to renovate this rather large relic and eye sore of a performance space into "Allen Place", a state of the art technology and performing arts center for the under served children in the Hilltop neighborhood, which sits just at the top of downtown Tacoma.

This is one of the solutions to the extremely distressing issues that are brought up in the documentary film "Waiting for Superman"; giving underprivileged children a place where they can potentially fill in the gaps that their schools are unable to provide, either because of budget issues, or not having enough teachers who are specialists.

I am considered a specialist. I don't have a teaching certificate and yet I am an expert in my field. Having a place like the one mentioned above allows a child to learn from experts that they would rarely, if ever, come in contact with at school. This is a great opportunity for young students that will not only enhance their education, but, give them renewed hope in their own voice, talent, and life. And every child deserves to feel the power of their own creative voice.

I believe that every major and minor metropolitan area should have a center like Allen Place so as to keep a level playing field for the ones who have and the ones who have not. This kind of center also employs artists; actors, directors, singers, choreographers, composers, and musicians as teaching artists. Artists have a great desire to share their knowledge with children as way of enriching neighborhoods, schools, and the community at large.

Allen Place will not only expose and engage children in technology and the performing arts, but, should prove to be an incredible shot in the arm for the neighborhood. It will entice new business owners to open shops and restaurants and it will inspire others to continue to beautify the area. It's a win-win for everyone and I can't wait to see the finished product!

Check out the vision. . .

I will keep you posted on the progress.

Sing (or Rap) for Your Supper

Last night we took our daughter to see "Waiting for Superman", the documentary by filmmaker Davis Guggenheim that brilliantly illustrates the sad state of our public school system. If you haven't seen it I would like to suggest that you take your kids pronto. It is at the same time depressing, enlightening, and inspiring. I personally feel an urgent need to be part of the solution.

At one point in the film we see a teacher who, in her desire to connect important math concepts to her students, makes up or composes a rap number/song as a teaching device. This technique not only connects every single one of her students to the material; they love it! The students then continue to repeat the math rap on the playground. Can you say light bulb? And hear bells going off: ding, ding, ding?

I must confess the success of this idea doesn't surprise me for a few reasons:

1). Music is mathematical, and math is musical (Remember "Inch Worm" from Hans Christian Anderson? 2 + 2 is 4, 4 + 4 is 8, 8 + 8 is 16, 16 and 16 is 32.)

2.) Kids love music and singing and, hello, you don't need a great voice to rap, just a brain and a fast talking kid! It's just another version of jump rope rhymes!

And 

3.) When our daughter was little I sang everything to her. I made up songs for getting up in the morning. I made up songs about going to school. I made up songs about going to the doctor. I made up songs about food. When I did these silly songs she loved it! She would ask me to sing them over and over again. She would ask me to help her rhyme. I was just fun game. I still make up rhymes and rhythms to help her when she is studying for a test.

The beautiful thing about singing information of any kind is that is makes the learning part feel effortless and fun and, seriously, who doesn’t want to have fun when they are learning.

So, the next time your child is having a little difficulty with retaining information try turning that information into lyrics. You will learn what they are learning and have a little educational bonding moment. Yes, this takes time and patience especially when you are exhausted, but, the benefits of staying present and being creative with our children's education is beyond measure.

It's going to take some time to undo the damage of our public school system and I believe it will change for the better. In the meantime, we are the Supermen and Superwomen in our children's lives. They are waiting for us!

Leonard Bernstein Follow-up

Check This Out!

This is a mini-follow up on my last post. 25 out of 53 of Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts are available on DVD! Go to Amazon and read some of the reviews. They are fascinating and insightful. Here is a partial list of the topics Leonard Bernstein covered with a sold out Carnegie Hall full of kids for 15 years:

1. What Does Music Mean? 
2. What is American Music? 
3. What is Orchestration? 
4. What Makes Music Symphonic? 
5. What is Classical Music? 
6. Humor in Music 
7. What is a Concerto? 
8. Who is Gustav Mahler? 
9. Folk Music in the Concert Hall 
10. What is Impressionism? 
11. Happy Birthday, Igor Stravinsky 
12. What is a Melody? 
13. The Latin American Spirit 
14. Jazz in the Concert Hall 
15. What is Sonata Form? 
16. A Tribute to Sibelius 
17. Musical Atoms: A Study in Intervals 
18. The Sound of an Orchestra 
19. A Birthday Tribute to Shostakovich 
20. What is a Mode? 
21. A Toast to Vienna in 3/4 Time 
22. Quiz-Concert: How Musical Are You? 
23. Berlioz Takes a Trip 
24. Two Ballet Birds 
25. Fidelio: A Celebration of Life 

This is a must have for you and your child's arts library.

Draw What You Hear

I had the great privilege of seeing the 20^th Season Opening Night Concert of Northwest Sinfonietta this past Saturday night. On the menu for Act I was an emotional Brahms Concerto in A minor for Violin and Cello, Op. 102, "Double Concerto" (1887). The remarkable soloists were violinist Marie Rossano and cellist Julian Schwarz. Act II served up an invigorating experience of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55, "Eroica" (1802-03). Conducting was the NW Sinfonietta's founder, the charismatic and talented Christophe Chagnard.

As I sat in the beautiful, vintage Rialto Theatre in the heart of Tacoma's Theatre District, I thought back to my childhood when listening to classical music was, not just a daily event, but a daily, all day event. My mother played piano constantly and when she wasn't playing piano she had a huge collection of classical records that rotated in rep on the hifi.  The point is; all I knew was classical music for the better part of my formative years.

On Saturday mornings my mother would put us in front of the black and white television to watch Leonard Bernstein's "Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic". This program ran on and off between 1958 and 1973; quite a remarkable run, but, not surprising since Leonard Bernstein was nothing short of a music genius and national treasure. The Young People's Concert was an amazing combination of music and education sometimes mixed with art. As Bernstein conducted these programs, explaining potentially dry music terminology to a Carnegie Hall fill with children from ages 3-15, he would light up with excitement and get every child in the audience completely involved and entranced with where he was going. For instance, I remember him speaking about what "development" of a piece of music meant or how symphonic music differed from jazz or pop. At one point he did this by involving the entire audience of children by having them sing the popular French rhyme "Frere Jacques" in a variety of ways. It became a clear demonstration that brought a complex idea to life.

On another program I recall Bernstein had an artist draw on a gigantic canvas while he conducted Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf". How brilliant is that? My mom took this idea and ran with it. She used to put me on the floor with large craft paper, spin one of her favorites like Vivaldi's Four Seasons and would say, "Now, draw what you hear!, tell me a story."

I have been so inspired by Leonard Bernstein in my life that I recently wrote a rhyming manuscript that I turned into a TV pitch. It has morphed into a children's play and is titled "Pica & Moba; Draw What You Hear!" It's a work in progress that is trying to find its voice. At some point this work will be produced or published or maybe even both!

You see, all of these art forms are related – music, rhythm, rhyming, word play, drawing, painting, acting, singing, dance – they all share this; expression of the human spirit in it's purest form. And many times one art form influences another. A song can lead to writing a rhyming story that can lead to an idea for a dance which can lead to a painting. . . and on and on and on. That's what we want to teach our children to tap into; bringing ideas to life without editing to see where that expression lands. And it doesn't matter how they get there, as long as they get there. It is our job to be their guide and give them the freedom to experiment with their own voice.

Listening to that incredible music on Saturday night I thought, "I wonder if a version of The Young People's Concert is possible today". Leonard Bernstein influenced an entire generation of children and their love of music. Maybe there is someone out there as captivating as Leonard Bernstein. 

Hmmmm, maybe I should give Northwest Sinfonietta's Conductor Christophe Chagnard a call?

Counting and Clapping Rhyme Books - Part IV

One, two, buckle my shoe,

Three, four, knock at the door,

Five, six, pick up the sticks

Seven, eight, lay them straight

Nine, ten, a big fat hen. . .

This is the very first rhyme I choreographed for my first DVD. I jazzed it up a bit, but, it's essentially the same. We set it to tap and I love it. I thought what is more perfect than the rhythm of tap to compliment the rhythm of counting. I mean, counting is where music begins. 

Counting. It's so basic, and after "Mama" and "Dada" and " 'mo pease" it's one of the first things we teach our babies. It's so fun. And dear. And very useful.

There are so many ways to teach counting. You wanna know some of them? Here are a few ways to make the journey of going from 1 to calculus a little easier.

1. Counting-Out Rhymes; A Dictionary

            Edited by Roger D. Abrahams & Lois Rankin

2. Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo and Other Counting-Out Rhymes

            Collected by Carl Withers

            Illustrated by Elizabeth Ripley

3. The Counting-Out Rhymes of Children: Their Antiquity, Origin, and Wide Distribution

            "A Study in Folklore"

            By Henry Carrington Bolton, New York, 1883

            D. Appleton & Co.

After we get the counting thing down, we have to learn to clap right? And that leads to all kinds of chaos. Just try keeping up with some of the clapping games that kids do these days! I've tried it and I kind of like it. A lot! 

4. Hand Clap!

By Sara Bernstein, 1994

(Miss Sara was 12 when she wrote it! Which is perfect; can you imagine an adult writing a hand clapping book? Yikes. Comedy would surely ensue.)

Lastly, here a few miscellaneous books that a worthy of a look-see:

5. Cakes and Custard; Children's Rhymes

Chosen by Brian Alderson

Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, 1975

6. Alphabet Dreams

            Adapted and Illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown (This is beautiful!)

7. Doctor Knickerbocker and Other Rhymes

            Selected by David Booth

            Illustrated by Maryann Kovalski, 1993

This concludes the list of books I borrowed from Tom Dalzell, but, it certainly doesn't conclude my search for incredible children's books. That will never end.

To be continued. . .

A Taste of International Folklore and Rhythms; Rhyme List - Part III

When I was growing up in my little, sheltered, white bread world of Fargo, ND I thought there were just, oh, maybe 10 rhymes in the whole world. Everyone knew them and they were all English. How's that for bland?!

In today's world it is extremely important that we expose our children to the sounds and rhythms of other countries. I don't see this simply as a "politically correct" thing to do, but, more of an obligation to our children's educational enrichment. As I have said before, hearing sounds, rhythms, and stories from other cultures can only expand a child's perspective, phonemic awareness, and help to train their little ears to appreciate and understand literature on a global level.

Fast forward to 21^st century--our daughter is Chinese, so when I was in pre-production for my first children's DVD I wanted to include a Chinese rhyme or a piece of poetry. I found a lovely piece called, "The King of China's Daughter" that was beautifully translated and lent itself perfectly to ballet. It goes like this:

The king of China's daughter
So beautiful to see 
With her face like yellow water, left
Her nutmeg tree.
Her little rope for skipping
She kissed and gave it me
Made of painted notes of singing-birds
Among the fields of tea.
I skipped across the nutmeg grove
I skipped across the sea;
But neither sun or moon, my dear,
Has yet. . . caught. . . me.


What incredible images! Along with an ethereally opaque and gorgeous pink lantern that I found in a shop on Orcas Island in the San Juan's, I used bamboo chimes and a meditation ring to capture the essence of China. 


For the second DVD I was very brazen and included 3 Chinese rhymes (or very short poems) rhymes to the collection. This was a little trickier because I really wanted to pay further homage to the language and the sounds of China, but, alas, I am not Chinese. How was I going to accomplish this when I am doing the voice over work and I don't speak the language? Well, I have a pretty good ear, so, I simply got a little coaching from a couple of Chinese women in the International district in Seattle to make sure my pronunciations were correct. (No accent, just correct pronunciation, she said timidly). The second collection also has 6 French rhymes that were so much fun to bring to life! I am now looking to expand the international appeal of another DVD or CD to include African American rhymes, Australian rhymes, Mexican rhymes, and more Asian rhymes.

There are amazing international rhyme books in the universe. Some are available in book stores, some have to be special ordered, and some are antique or vintage, but they do exist and it is well worth the time to add several to your children's library.

Here is a short list of books that begin to celebrate the sounds and rhythms from other cultures:

1. Apples on a Stick; The Folklore of Black Children

            Collected & Edited by Barbara Michels & Bettye White

2. Step It Down; Games, Plays, Songs & Stories From the Afro-American Heritage

            By Bessie Jones & Bess Lomax Hawes

3. Cinderella Dressed in Yella; The First Attempt At a Definitive Study of Australian

            Children's Play Rhymes

            Edited, with an interpretive essay, by Ian Turner, 1969

4. Sally Go Round the Sun; 300 Songs, Rhymes and Games of Canadian Children

            By Edith Fowke 1969

5. Games and Songs of American Children

            Collected and Compared by William Wells Newell, 1962

6. Zickary Zan; Childhood Folklore

            Compiled by Jack and Olivia Solomon

            Illustrated by Mark Brewton, 1980

7. Miss Mary Mac All Dressed in Black; Tongue Twisters, Jump Rope Rhymes, and Other

            Children's Lore From New England

            By Scott E. Hastings, Jr.

I would love to hear about any other children's poetry, rhyme, or stories that you find particularity enchanting.

Happy Hunting!

To be continued. . .

Jump Rope Rhymes, Clapping Rhymes: Part II

As promised I have a great list of rhyming books for you, courtesy of author Tom Dalzell, to keep in your "to be collected" collection. There are a total of 27 books and 3 categories. I have divided them into; Jump Rope Rhymes, Counting Rhymes, and Rhymes from other countries/miscellaneous.

Before I get to the fabulous list, I have to say; it sure seems like everything vintage is new again. People are buying mid-century modern houses (I have one myself), implementing updated elements of mid-century décor, doing more gardening, canning, sewing, DIY projects, recycling or re-purposing old furniture, the list goes on. I've been wondering why that is. Perhaps we are looking to the past in order to simplify our lives, get back to what is really important, or find the answers to how to turn our upside down world right side up. I know that when I do things my mom did or taught me to do when I was growing up, say, like, canning (please, I am not an expert on this one!) or sewing (kind of good at this), I feel more connected to my creative spirit and my home life. Doing these activities allow me to slow way down and to feel gratitude for what I do have knowing that what I have is more than plenty. When I do these things I don't feel the urge to mindlessly consume and that feels good too.

And when it comes to kids, the same holds true;  when we take the time to introduce our children to the games and activities we did when we were kids we honor our past and our future. This, in turn, allows them to slow down and enjoy the same kind of play that we enjoyed. Rhymes and rhyming games are a big part of this process. After all, rhymes of all sorts require the verbal passing of the torch from generation to generation.

Jumping rope isn't just a vintage activity. It is actually an ancient activity. That's right; jump rope dates back to 1600 B.C. in Ancient Egypt. I have a picture in my mind of Egyptians jump roping on their pyramid building breaks. Could it be that humans actually have an urge to jump rope? Could that be because jumping rope is totally fun? And addicting? Most of us did it as kids. And we did it together. We jumped rope every day at recess. We jumped rope at home after school. We practiced our Double Dutch skills so that we could impress our peers at school. When I was in high school, we even had a jump roping squad, called, The Deacon Dollies that were amazing! How's that for an inventive, artistic, and athletic activity for kids to showcase at basketball games?


When kids jump rope and do rhymes at the same time they are engaging their bodies, focusing their minds, and verbal skills all at once! And as I like to say, this would be "layered learning". Bring it on!

So here's the Jump Rope Rhyme list:

1. Jewels. . .Children's Play Rhymes

Selected by Shelley Harwayne/Illustrated by Teresa Farr

2. The Kingfisher Playtime Treasure

A Collection of Playground Rhymes, Games and Action Songs Selected by Pie Corbett/Illustrated 

By Moira & Colin Maclean

3. Children's Counting-Out Rhymes, Fingerplays, 

Jump-Rope and Bounce-ball Chants and Other Rhythms

By Gloria T. Delamar

4. Jump-Rope-Rhymes

Collected and Illustrated by Barbara McGee, 1968

5. Children's Games in Street and Playground

 By Iona & Peter Opie, 1969

6. I Saw Essau. . .The Schoolchild's Pocket Book

Edited by Iona & Peter Opie/Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

            This collection is an absolute must have!

7. Did You Feed My Cow? Street Games, Chants, and Rhymes

Compiled by Margaret Taylor Burroughs, 1969

8. Jump the Rope Jingles

By emma Vietor Worstell/Illustrated by Sheila Greenwald, 1961

9. Miss Mary Mac All Dressed in Black;

Tongue Twisters, Jump Rope Rhymes, and Other Children's Lore from New England

 By Scott E. Hastings, Jr.

10. Halloweena Hecatee & Other Rhymes to Skip to

By Cynthia Mitchell/Illustrated by Eileen Browne, 1979

11. Skipping to Babylon. . .A collection of Skipping Rhymes

Compiled and Illustrated by Carole Tate, 1985

Most of these titles are available through Amazon or ordered through your local indie bookstore.

To be continued. . .