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If this is your first time visiting our site, be sure to read
Read through the following FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) to learn more about BestChildrensMusic.com.
1. A Framework for BestChildrensMusic.com
• What's with the name BestChildrensMusic.com?
• How do you decide which music titles to recommend--what are your guidelines and "standards of excellence?"
2. Fred Koch's Background
• Hey Fred, what makes you think you're qualified to make recommendations?
• Who is Fred Koch?
3. How to Submit Music
• I have a favorite recording which is not on your list! How can I make a recommendation to you?
• Can I send you my music for possible recommendation at BestChildrensMusic.com?
What's with the name "Best Childrens Music.com"?
Having the courage, or audacity, to name our site BestChildrensMusic.com
provides us with a personal challenge to live up to the name. BestChildrensMusic.com
is an expansion of the distribution division at our children's music label,
Red Rover Records. Since the domain name www.redrover.com was already
registered, we decided to clearly state exactly the service we provide.
So, BestChildrensMusic.com emerged.
How do you decide which music titles to recommend--what
are your guidelines and "standards of excellence?"
Fred Koch's thoughts . . .
"As we all know, music is very subjective. What one person enjoys
may not make an impression at all on the next person. With that said,
I must tell you that I do trust my immediate, emotional reaction when
listening to music."
"When I listen I'm asking myself . . .
Do these songs invite participation with children or is the performer
singing "to" children?
Is great musicianship and production a priority?
Are the vocals upfront and easy to understand?
Are there too many instrumental sections where kids might lose interest?
Does the artist/project seem to have a grasp of where the children are
developmentally, as evidenced by the songwriting?
Is there an apparent age focus or is it just a bunch of childish songs?
I also try to imagine using the music with my students. Do I feel they
would relate to any of these songs, listening activities or movement experiences?
And finally, I ask myself if I could stand to listen to this recording
more than a couple of times. So in the end, I'm just like most music enthusiasts...
if there's some music that I think you and your children would really
enjoy, I want to tell you about it."
BestChildrensMusic.com's standards of excellence resonate with...
• High-quality studio production: Great care to detail in the making
of the recording;
• Engaging and interactive music: Whether the focus is listening,
singing or movement;
• High entertainment factor: Music children and adults will listen
to again and again;
• Educational considerations: Inherent in the best children's music
is learning experiences.
Hey Fred, what makes you think you're qualified
to make recommendations?
Good question. Part of me says, "Oh gosh.... I don't know" but
the honest voice says "Hmmmm, I don't know of too many people who
could do a better job."
Who is Fred Koch?
First and foremost, Fred Koch (pronounced "Cook") is an award-winning
music educator who continuously seeks out great material to share with
his young students. Because he creates his lesson plans from his resources,
he is always searching for new and outstanding children's recordings.
Fred also writes the monthly children's music review column for Chicago Parent magazine. This requires him to listen to quite a few CDs each month in order to find three to five titles worth reviewing. And, of all the titles reviewed for Chicago Parent, only a few are listed as "Our Picks" here at BestChildrensMusic.com.
In addition, Fred is an award-winning performing artist/producer (multiple Parents' Choice awards) who, like many musicians, started an independent record company (Red Rover Records) as a creative outlet for his musical ideas. Here's where he listens to children's music with a critical ear for production choices and artistic qualities.
Finally, as a Dad, he is always on the lookout for age-appropriate, high-quality audio for his young son. Fred says, "Matthew's honest and innocent response to music is a joy to behold! Most any occasion is an opportunity for a song and a dance erupts whenever the music moves him."
So, all in all, wherever Fred goes--school, home, performances, workshops, or to the computer to write his reviews, he is immersed in the wonderfully playful and creative world of children's music. What a lucky guy.
I have a favorite recording that is not on your list! How can I make a recommendation to you? We certainly do not claim to know about all of the great music that is being produced for children. So if you have a favorite artist and/or recording which you think we should know about, please submit our "I Wanna Make A Recommendation!" form.
Can I send you my music for possible recommendation
at BestChildrensMusic.com?
Of course! If you are an artist, record label or marketing/promotions
person, we would love to hear from you.
Important NEW INFORMATION for Submitting Music to BestChildrensMusic.com
READ ALL FIVE POINTS
1. How do I submit?
2. What kind of CD can I send?
3. Will you let me know when you receive my packet?
4. When will you contact me?
5. What else do I need to know?
If you are intent on sending your music:
- Be sure to spend some time listening to OUR PICKS. You should be able to self-assess your music in relation to these recordings.
- Fill out the "I Wanna Send You Some Great Music!" form. This helps us track your submission.
- Please send us only one CD title. If you have more than one recording in your catalog, pick one recording that you feel is most representative of your work. We may ask for other titles for possible preview at another time.
- Ship your music and important background information to:
BestChildrensMusic.com
PO Box 124 (or 911 Woodland Road)
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 USA
2. What kind of CD can I send?
Because we only review CDs that are "ready for market:"
- Please do not send single-song CDs for review consideration.
- Do not send a pre-release demo CD until you have established a release date.
3. Will you let me know when you receive my packet?
We apologize, but we are not able to:
- Reply to you when we receive your packet, or to let you know it arrived, or
- Tell you exactly when we will be able to listen to your music, or
- Respond to you about the status of your submission.
We do promise to contact you:
- If a review is scheduled to be published in Chicago Parent magazine, or
- If we are interested in featuring your music at BestChildrensMusic.com.
5. What else do I need to know?
Please understand that:
- We receive a huge amount of submissions.
- It is difficult, and often impossible, to listen to all the music we receive.
- Even if we do not write a review, or feature your music for children in OUR PICKS, we sincerely thank you for your commitment to working with children through music.
BestChildrensMusic.com
PO Box 124
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 USA
888.546.8712
tellus@bestchildrensmusic.com
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