Hello, everyone. Ms. Brigid here, from Merit School of Music in
Chicago, IL. Thank you for joining me.
“Educators
who care, share.” This catch phrase from edWeb perfectly encapsulates what we as teachers, parents, wonderers and humans do – share what delights and moves us, and what works. Sharing resources, specifically the work of those who contribute significantly to early childhood music repertoire - is the impetus for this and next month’s posts.
But
for those of you who appreciate great web resources, I’d like to take a brief detour and give a shout-out to edWeb, winner
of the 2012 Best Open Professional Development Edublog Awards.
A simple email signup opens up a world of to-the-point resources and webinars
that are archived and easily accessed through a resource
library – though if anyone out there in internet land can tell me how the
webinars can be paused, I would be
beholden! edWeb also hosts “professional
learning communities” dedicated to a wide variety of topics. Two I
belong to are arts and music in early learning (affiliated
with Music Together) and emerging
tech. Michelle Luhtala is a driving force
behind this community, and her presentations and insights on apps are
excellent. Don’t get overwhelmed. Frequent short visits may yield
better results than a marathon session! Verdad!
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| ©2014 Brigid Finucane - Monarda |
Where to start and who to choose?
The internet, YouTube, CD Baby, and Songs for Teaching have
brought to our fingertips and ears a cornucopia of offerings, but this
abundance of options, oddly enough, can make finding appropriate music for home
and classroom even more daunting.
In EC classrooms I visit, I’m struck by the sameness of
aural offerings. Near the CD player a few Dr.
Jean CDs lurk, and perhaps some Putamayo
recordings are piled. One of three clean up songs is playing as I arrive by Kathy Poekler (Put
away the toys and trucks! Put away the dolls! Now is the time to clean up!), Shari Sloane (Everybody clean up, clean up, clean up, everybody clean up, clean up now!) or
Barney (Clean up,
clean up, everybody, everywhere, Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share…) Don’t get me wrong. While these artists (with the
possible exception of the purple dinosaur – depending on your tastes) and the Putamayo label are excellent, and
deserve to be part of the EC landscape, they do not at all reflect the work of local or regional artists – and therein lies the rub.
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| ©2014 Brigid Finucane - Korean Mums |
My intention is address this issue by periodically
highlighting music from regions of the U.S. The Midwest will be my starting point,
because that’s where I’m from! I will choose only the artists whose work I draw
from consistently. Most, but not all, are members of the Children’s
Music Network (CMN), which initially brought them to my attention!
My inaugural post is dedicated to artists who:
1) Sing and/or write music specifically for the EC population
2) Have websites with resources, lyrics, and/or a presence on social network(s)
3) Present workshops – so you can experience them
personally!
4) Sing/write engaging and developmentally appropriate music that encourages active participation (movement, singing, signing, repetition, fingerplays, etc.)
5) Sing and/or write music that is replicable, open-ended, and encourages independent play, use and exploration
6) Sing and/or write music that works equally well as a stand alone experience, not dependent on a CD or recorded accompaniment
7) Don’t have a national marketing machine working on
their behalf, so are not usually represented in Big Box stores.
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| ©2014 Brigid Finucane - Queen of the Prarie |
Caveat B: Artists are listed in alphabetical order. An asterick (*) indicates songs that
are traditional, anonymous, or composed by another.
Caveat C: The way artists choose to describe themselves
is superior to whatever I could write, so their words are used whenever
possible. Photos of artists and CDs are excerpted from their
social media pages or websites. Photos of flowers are from my garden.
Caveat D: I’ve added a province in
Canada into the Midwest mix. Trust me on this. You’ll be happy!
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| Debbie Carroll |
Debbie Carroll
(ON) “sings,
plays a variety of instruments and hosts Riverview House Concerts. She
has 2 award-winning CDs of children’s music produced by Ken Whiteley – Up and Over the
Moon! and
Simply Beautiful – as well as a book with CD called The
Eensy Weensy Book of Little Fingerplays.
When she is not making music you can find Debbie knitting socks, playing
word games, watching birds, growing flowers, reading a book, feeding the
tropical fish, cuddling a cat, taking photographs, or walking along the
boardwalk at sunset.”
Especially appreciated:
Lots and lots of songs. Great variety of songs, lullabies, and chants – many
with movement opportunities. Beautiful arrangements! Bonus: On her website,
lyrics, fingerplay directions and
movement suggestion immediately following the track listings of each CD. Thank you!
Kiddo faves: It’s a Dancing Day, I’m Sittin’ in a Boat, I Shut
the Door, Love is Like Glue,
*At the Bottom of the Sea, *The Tree
Song.
To note: Debbie has
reanimated her Debbie
Carroll – Children’s Music Facebook Group. It’s easy to join – just add
you name to the “Invite by email” box!
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| Cool Canadian Cats |
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| Fran McKinney |
Fran McKinney
(WI) “has taught Early
Childhood students with learning challenges for over 30 years. She is the
Music Specialist and Consultant at the Central Wisconsin Children’s
Museum. Fran has learned the positive effects of linking music and
movement to literacy, math, language and social learning to engage all
learners. In the process, she has written songs and created books to
enhance early learning. She provides workshops to share this approach
with other teachers throughout the Midwest.” Fran
has one CD, We’re Friends All Year Long, and
five partner books.
Especially Appreciated: Lilting,
singable melodies. Themes reflect the life of the young child through family,
friendship, food, seasons, shapes and special places (visiting the zoo, farm,
and pumpkin patch). Five companion books are available. Lovely orchestration,
AND sons Josh and Noah (is a farmer) contributed musically to the CD!
Kiddo Faves:
Pumpkin Patch, Triangle Lullaby, Let’s Make Snowmen, At the Zoo, Noah is a Farmer.
Pumpkin Patch, Triangle Lullaby, Let’s Make Snowmen, At the Zoo, Noah is a Farmer.
To Note: Fran’s music & literacy workshops are
engaging, entertaining and edifying, informed by decades of classroom teaching.
Seek them out!
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| Miss Carole Stephens |
Especially Appreciated: Songs are perfectly geared for EC
classroom use. Humor runs
throughout. Tracks include not only the song, but Ms. C’s spoken directions on what to do next – so it’s like
she’s with you in the classroom! Though her music is oriented primarily towards
the Pre-K crowd, her Turkey Hop magically
materialized at a Thanksgiving family gathering and I’ve used her snowball
fight as an icebreaker with high school theatre students!
I draw primarily from Ms. C’s two seasonal CDs for my classroom teaching: H.U.M. – All Year Long* and Season Sings!
Kiddo Faves: H.U.M (“highly useable music”): I Can Make a Snowman, When It’s Autumn, *Please Pass the Peas, Turkey Hop, Snowflake ,Snowflake. Season Sings!: Snowman Trio, *Jump in the Puddles.
To Note: Carole’s generous website includes a Song of the Month section that contains lyrics, background, and attached mp3s for each featured song. Wow! Catch her at a concert or workshop – she travels nationally - and watch out for flying snowballs!
I draw primarily from Ms. C’s two seasonal CDs for my classroom teaching: H.U.M. – All Year Long* and Season Sings!
Kiddo Faves: H.U.M (“highly useable music”): I Can Make a Snowman, When It’s Autumn, *Please Pass the Peas, Turkey Hop, Snowflake ,Snowflake. Season Sings!: Snowman Trio, *Jump in the Puddles.
To Note: Carole’s generous website includes a Song of the Month section that contains lyrics, background, and attached mp3s for each featured song. Wow! Catch her at a concert or workshop – she travels nationally - and watch out for flying snowballs!
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| Macaroni Soup - Carole and Clarence |
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| Kathy Reid-Naiman |
Especially Appreciated: Exquisite choice of traditional and composed material, Chrystalline orchestration makes each CDs a pleasure to listen to, share and carry on. The cover art is lovely as well. Here’s a closer look at Say Hello to the Morning – which will give you a better sense of the scope of her work.
Kiddo Faves: With twelve (12!) CDs and a new fingerplay DVD to her
name, and collaboration on more
recordings with talented daughter, Hannah, the choices are dizzying. I admit to close familiarity of only eight CDs. Be assured that whichever CD you select, to, you can’t go wrong! I’m proud of my award winning library in Skokie, which owns seven
of her CDs!
To Note: Kathy is the owner of Merriweather Records Ltd., an exemplary early childhood + label in
Canada. Represented artists
are great finds. She presents on both sides of the border – so keep an eye out,
and go!
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| Telling the story! |
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| ©2013 Dan Rest - Susan Salidor |
Especially Appreciated: I’m a Susan Salidor groupie. There. I've said
it. Back in the day, my daughter (then a toddler, now a rising college junior) and I followed
her about from venue to venue! Eventually CMN brought us together, and the rest is history. At the heart of her music is a social consciousness conjoined with finely drawn lyrics that delights in the stages of childhood while celebrating humanity. Like the featured artists above, her work
is as lovely to listen to as to dance and sing along with. Teachers will
especially appreciate her three Come and Make A Circle
CDs, but each and every one of her eight CDs is a treasure.
Kiddo Faves: Peace in
My Fingers, I Love My Sister, First You Take A Seed, You’re A Poet, Hello. Faves to listen to: When I Only Have a Minute, I’m Sorry, Every Little Bit of You.
To Note: “Susan and husband Jay have created dozens of YouTube videos to her songs, but they are most delighted by the hundreds of original videos recorded by fans of Susan’s music that can be found on the internet.” Susan also presents “itty bitty ditties” on her Facebook page. *Check out Around & Around from February 17, 2014.
I hope you enjoy making the acquaintance of these five magical artists.
Inclusion of their music will make any classroom a richer and happier place – and gift you and your kiddos with smiles as wide as the heartland. Enjoy!
Join me on August 18 for Part II highlighting additional singers, sites, and CD recommendations emanating from the Midwest & Canada. Until then, happy singing!
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| ©2014 Brigid Finucane |
I am
continually inspired by the Children’s Music
Network (CMN) community. an international group of socially
conscious musicians, educators, librarians, families, songwriters and good
people, who “celebrate the positive power of music in the lives of children by
sharing songs, exchanging ideas, and creating community.” Please visit CMN, and
find a gathering in your region.
©2014 Brigid Finucane * 847-213-0713
* gardengoddess1@comcast.net
http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com
http://brigidfinucane.blogspot.com
@booksinger1
Blog History: December 2013 –
Present
