| When I look back at the musical influences of my childhood, my experiences revolved around the songs I learned at school, at church or at camp. Sure, the records being played on top-40 radio made an impact, but not until I was 12 or 13 years old. My how things have changed! Most parents probably would agree that commercial pop music comes at our children much too early these days. The good news is that there really is an alternative. Rest assured, there is plenty of engaging, meaningful and appropriate music available for you and your children to enjoy. I welcome this opportunity to spotlight some of this year's outstanding releases--recordings you will want to think about as you gather your gift ideas for the season of giving. I have organized my picks into the categories of "Quiet Times," "The Preschool and Kindergarten Set," "School Aged (6-8), "Older Kids (9 and up)" and "Television."
Quiet Times
Papa's Lullaby (Ellipsis Arts, 2001) is a soothing collection featuring fathers from around the world singing authentic lullabies. These tender performances showcase songs from 15 countries, including Brazil, Italy, Puerto Rico, Greece, France, Spain, Denmark and the United States. The music is "worldly." The traditional sounds of ethnic instrumentation provide soft and gentle musical backgrounds. Ellipsis Arts offers other fine lullaby-themed releases, too, including "Mama's Lullaby," "Celtic Lullaby," "Latin Lullaby," and my other favorite, "Guitar Lullaby." Sleepytime (Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, 2001) features an impressive roster of artists singing "soothing songs for baby and parents," as the sub-title of this collections suggests. This is the fourth release of "Martha Mixes," and it succeeds at creating a warm and restful backdrop, perfect for those evening times in the nursery. This compilation is wonderfully eclectic in its choice of artists, ranging from Alison Kraus (who starts off the CD with "Baby Mine" from Dumbo) and Lucinda Williams, to Keb' Mo' and Billy Bragg with Natalie Merchant. You'll gain a new appreciation for "Close To You," the Burt Bacharach song made famous by The Carpenters, when you hear the Barenaked Ladies' version. You'll also enjoy remakes of classic Beatles hits, such as "Blackbird" tastefully performed by Kenny Rankin, and "Goodnight" performed by Linda Ronstadt.
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Preschool and Kindergarten
Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense (Jim Gill Music, 2001) is the fourth release by this local Chicago favorite. Gill once again proves his point that play and music are inseparable in this fanciful collection of songs. Gill knows children need to move and play with music. His original songs are refreshingly clever and silly, and serve as perfect springboards into children's world of play. Favorites at our house include "The Dance Along Gong Song," "Jumping and Counting," "Toy Boat" (the absurd tongue twister with just two words), and "Jim Gill Is Going Nowhere," which will get kids walking, marching and running in place while Gill describes the woes he has encountered going nowhere. Ralph's World (Mini Fresh, 2001) is the first release by Chicago rocker-turned-children's artist Ralph Covert. This is a fun mix of original songs and traditional childhood favorites. The music is upbeat and supports the songs without overpowering the vocals. Covert's gift is revealed in the way he crafts his songs. They are very singable, even upon the first listening, and don't lose any of their appeal with repeated plays. You and your children will enjoy singing and playing along with other outstanding cuts including "Freddy Bear the Teddy Bear," "Choo Choo Train," "Seven Monkeys Up In A Tree" and the "Marching Medley." Adults will get a chuckle out of Covert's nod to KC and The Sunshine Band, "Take A Little Nap (The Disco Song)."
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School Aged (6 to 8)
Kevin Kammeraad's The Tomato Collection: The BIG Album (Cooperfly Books, 2000) is the audio companion to his magnificent debut book of original poems, musings and memories of childhood, The Tomato Collection (Cooperfly Books, 1999). Each of Kammeraad's 50-plus entries from the book is rendered into a musical form, and the tracks are delighfully different from each other. They run the spectrum from the bluesy "29 Cookies" to the funk-filled "Jacob's Poem" to the rockin' "Stronger Pushers." Gentle acoustic folk, country, jazz and even avant-garde atmospheric musical treatments all find there way into The Tomato Collection CD. The musical interpretations are so good, they take the original lyrics to another level. It is obvious that Kammeraad approaches his work artistically; his mixed-media artwork on the CD cover and in the book (sold separately) matches his varied musical approach. Kammeraad, like Jim Gill, is closely in touch with children. He spends many weeks a year touring elementary schools helping children to understand how they, too, can combine their creative energies of writing, art and music. Great Big World (True Blue Music, 2000) by Joe McDermott is a Parents' Choice Award winner, and for good reason. McDermott's strengths are his songwriting and his ability to relate to children. (Bring a father of three and former Montessori teacher certainly helps.) His songs and musical arrangements are childlike and fun, with messages and music that adults will enjoy, too. McDermott has the knack for taking simple concepts and presenting them in new and refreshing ways. For example, "Everything Grows" is a concept I've heard formulated in countless songs, but Joe presents it in a tender and heartfelt way that sheds new light on the old theme of nature's abundance. The same is true of "Clap Your Hands," which reminds children that before musical instruments were around, people mimicked the music of the earth. Trout Fishing In America's latest release, inFINity (Trout Music, 2001), will certainly be adored by this group's existing fans and, most likely, increase their number. This musical duo creates cutting edge children's music. Their trademark is humor-filled songs accompanied by expert musicianship, and their talent for crafting creative and intelligent songs for kids is getting more refined with every release. Like other outstanding artists, they take situations in children's lives and create songs that help listeners see those situations in a new light. Standouts include "My Best Day" (written with some school kids), "Are We There Yet?" (How many times have you heard that in the car?), and "You Can't Go" (the consequence of not doing the chores).
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Older Kids (9 and up)
As you know, once children hit this age, it can be difficult to find "children's music" that will interest them and keep their attention. Zak Morgan's debut record, Bloom (Zak Morgan, 2000), will grab the attention of these older kids with amusing and sophisticated story-songs. Morgan's unique and witty songs contain a good amount of clever wordplay. A glossary of terms in the CD booklet helps listeners understand the lyrics and reinforces the jokes. The songs cover the spectrum from thought provoking to silly to gross, but the language is always rich and colorful, and is likely to expand most kids' vocabulary. One of my favorite songs, "The Butterfly," tells the story of a boy who feels bad because he has been ridiculed by his peers. Then he has an encounter with a wise butterfly that helps give him strength to carry on.
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Television
If you have a preschooler at home, you are probably aware of the PBS hit show, "Dragon Tales." Dragon Tales: Dragon Tunes (Kid Rhino, 2001), the audio version of the show, the songs stand on their own without the need for the video. Your children will start singing and dancing along from the moment they hear the "Dragon Tales Theme." The CD includes danceable grooves ranging from world and Latin-flavored tracks to bouncy pop-flavored tunes. All the characters from the show are here (Emmy, Max, Cassie, Ord, Zak and Wheezie), singing and inviting the audience to dance and sing along to such favorites as "The Hello Song," "Shake Your Dragon Tale" and "The Wiggle Song." The songs are short, as are most of the 20 titles. My favorite song is "Try," which encourages children never to give up. Other great, activity-based songs for preschoolers are "Stretch," "Touch, "Zoo," "Clap," "Dance" and "Hum," all of which make their objectives clear in the titles. Just released this year, Reading Rainbow's Greatest Hits (Oasis Music, 1997) is another wonderful CD featuring songs from a variety of episodes of the popular "Reading Rainbow" television show. This compilation includes the wonderful voices of Phoebe Snow ("Ancient Places, Sacred Lands") and Bobby McFerrin ("Tugboat Captain's Song") and spotlights some great songs from the show including "A Family Is Where You Find Love" and "Living In America." All the songs on this CD are like themes for lesson plans. But first and foremost, they are strong songs with important messages for children. This has been a great year for children's music. I hope you continue to look to Chicago Parent as your resource when searching for quality children's music.
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SIDEBAR
The Classics
Quality children's music will be appropriate and meaningful years after its release. Here are a few "classics" that have retained their significance and remain good choices this year as you do your holiday shopping. Still one of my favorite recordings in the Infants and Toddlers category is the box-set version of The Mozart Effect: Music for Children (The Children¹s Group, 1997). This set of three compilation CDs features various artists interpreting a wide range of Mozart's music. The CDs are titled "Tune Up Your Mind," "Relax, Daydream & Draw," and "Mozart In Motion." There have been many releases of this nature, but this is the original and it stands above the rest because of the choice of music and the artists' fine musical interpretations. Canadian teacher and performer Kathy Reid-Naiman's Say Hello To The Morning (Merriweather Records, 1999) is a wonderful resource for teachers as well as parents. If you have a preschool or kindergarten teacher who loves music, think about this recording as a holiday gift. This gentle, intimate, acoustic-based recording is wealth of singalongs and playalongs, and features the multi-instrumentalist producer Ken Whiteley, who also produced Raffi's first few records. Rumor has it that Gunnar Madsen is coming out with a new children's record. If it is anything like his first release, Old Mr. Mackle Hackle, I'll be sure to tell you about it. My 6- to 8-year-old students can't get enough of Old Mr. Mackle Hackle (Gee Spot Records, 1999), a truly a unique, creative, zany and very musically hip CD that has just the right amount of educational focus snuck in there for good measure. One of the most beautiful and inspiring children's music CDs ever to be released is Ted Jacobs' the days gone by: songs of the american poets (Music For Little People, 2000). This monumental recording takes the poems of 19th century poets Emily Dickinson, Eugene Field, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Edgar Allen Poe and others and sets them to some extraordinary, original music. Jacobs' musical artistry is exemplary; this is a wonderful introduction for older children to these renowned poets. The quality of the songs and production on The First and Almost Real Not Live CD (or Tape) (Rounder Kids, 1998) from Arthur and Friends is as fresh today as it was when it first came out. It includes some classic songs from the PBS hit television show that Arthur fans will enjoy for years. Songs such as "Arthur vs. The Piano," "Lucky Pencil" and "Homework" wrestle with themes that are as eternal as childhood itself. Thank goodness.
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Please feel free to contact me with your suggestions, opinions or comments about children's music or this column. My e-mail address is fred@bestchildrensmusic.com. Happy Holidays!
Editor's note: Fred Koch's holiday recording, 'Tis the Season: Holiday Songs for the Child in All of Us (Melody House) has just been re-released featuring new cover art and a new version of "Oh Christmas Tree." To order, call 800/234-9228 or visit www.bestchildrensmusic.com. And if you're interested in purchasing some high-quality instrumental holiday music while supporting local young musicians, consider Home for the Holidays, produced by Koch and recorded by Midwest Young Artists performing groups. Order the CD, which features 16 jazz and classical selections, by calling 847/926-9898.
Fred Koch is an award-winning music educator and a nationally recognized children's musician. His new children's music website, www.BestChildrensMusic.com, provides recommendations and information about selecting quality children's music, as well as access to past Chicago Parent reviews. Koch lives in Lake Bluff with his wife and son.
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