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Fred Koch is an early childhood music specialist, composer/producer for Red Rover Records, workshop clinician and performing artist for children. Fred was a finalist for the 2006 Golden Apple Awards (Chicago, IL) and also the recipient of the 1988 Kohl International Prize for Exemplary Teaching from the Kohl Educational Foundation (Wilmette, IL). Fred has been honored three times with the prestigious Parents' Choice Award for his children's music recordings and has served as creative consultant / co-writer for Greg & Steve's recordings "Shake, Rattle & Rock" (2006), "Fun and Games" (2002), "Kids In Action" (1999), "Big Fun (1997) and "Kids In Motion" (1989). He produced Mr. Al's award-winning album, "Rock The Baby" and has written the children's music review column for Chicago Parent Magazine since 1997. Fred lives in Lake Bluff, Illinois with his wife Teddi and their young son, Matthew. A Historical / Narrative Bio Award winning educator and children's recording artist, Fred Koch (pronounced "Cook") started his music career as a teenager in the late 60's performing throughout the midwest. His rock band opened for such headline acts as The Turtles, Muddy Waters, Sly Stone and Eric Clapton. A composer, lyricist as well as a performer, Fred Koch has also co-written songs with the late and legendary folksinger Bob Gibson, including the theme song for Bob's Emmy nominated NBC children's television show "Flying Whales and Peacock Tales." A graduate of National College of Education, Evanston, Illinois, with a double degree in Music and Education, Fred is a rare breed--a male music educator working in an elementary school setting. And his primary instrument and teaching tool is the guitar! Fred began playing guitar after receiving it as a gift from his Dad who bartered some auto repair work for the used instrument. Fred's gift for guitar was soon shared with fellow aspiring musicians as he taught guitar professionally from junior high school through college. He is also an arranger, a free lance producer for other major children's artists and an accomplished performer on the autoharp. Fred, along with his wife Teddi, perform throughout the US to packed audiences of teachers, parents and kids, bringing educational messages to the pre-MTV generation. They also present workshops and keynote presentations to teachers on how to bring music into their curriculum. Besides his blossoming recording career, Fred saves four days a week during the school year to serve as music specialist in the Lake Forest, Illinois, elementary school district. Teddi is director and head teacher of her own program "The Music and Movement Center at Gorton" which brings the joy of music to very young children and their parents, too. A Parents' Choice (the only not-for-profit guide to children's media) multi-award winning recording artist, Fred has also been honored as a recipient of the Kohl International Prize for Exemplary Teaching for his commitment to his work in the schools. Fred and Teddi reside in suburban Chicago with their young son, Matthew. Fred Koch - Resume EDUCATION National College of Education; Evanston, IL Lesley University; Cambridge, MA PRESENT EMPLOYMENT School District #67 - Lake Forest, IL Chicago Parent Magazine - Oak Park, IL BestChildrensMusic.com - Lake Bluff, IL Red Rover Records - Lake Bluff, IL RECENT FREELANCE EMPLOYMENT Parents' Choice - Timonium, MD Midwest Young Artists - Fort Sheridan, IL PROFESSIONAL HONORS 2007: Semi-finalist in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition for the song "Money In Your Pocket" (Children's Music Category) commissioned by Money Savvy Generation, Lake Bluff, IL 2006: Finalist for the Golden Apple Teaching Award from the Golden Apple Foundation (www.goldenapple.org), Chicago, IL 2006: Recipient of the Innovative Teaching Award from Lake Forest School District 67 for the innovative use of technology in the music curriculum 1999: Recipient of the Children’s Music Web “Classic Recording For Young Children” Award for “Did You Feed My Cow? - Fred Koch Presents The Songs of Ella Jenkins" 1996: Recipient of the Friend of LDA Award from the Learning Disabilities Association; Honored for success in meeting the needs of learning disabled students 1995: Recipient of a Parents’ Choice Honors Award for the audio recording, “Tis The Season: Holiday Songs For The Child In All Of Us” 1994: Grant recipient from the National Endowment for Children’s Educational Television; “Grandpa’s Fix-It Shop” - PBS script research and development 1993: Recipient of a Parents’ Choice CLASSIC Award for the audio recording, "Did You Feed My Cow? - Fred Koch Presents The Songs of Ella Jenkins" 1990: Recipient of a Parents’ Choice GOLD Award for the audio recording, "Did You Feed My Cow? - Fred Koch Presents The Songs of Ella Jenkins" 1988: Recipient of the Kohl International Prize for Exemplary
Teaching; RECORDING / CREATIVE PROJECTS 2006: Money Savvy Generation, Inc. - Lake Bluff, IL; Co-songwriter, co-producer for three new songs: "Financial Literacy Curriculum" 2006: Greg & Steve / Youngheart Records - Los Angeles, CA; Creative consultant: "Shake, Rattle & Rock" 2005: Money Harper Productions - Stillwater, OK; Co-producer for two songs: "Claws, Paws, Scales and Tails" 2004: Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Nutrition Network, Los Angeles, CA; Consultant, performing artist: “Shake It Up! With Fruits and Vegetables” 2003: Chicago Parent Magazine - Oak Park, IL; Producer, performing artist: “Singin’ in the City – Children’s Music, Chicago Style” 2003: Rounder Records - Cambridge, MA; Songwriter, performing artist: Forever and Ever on “Hear & Gone in 60 Seconds!“ 2002: Money Savvy Generation, Inc. - Lake Bluff, IL; Songwriter, producer: “Money Savvy Pig – Theme Song” 2002: Greg & Steve / Youngheart Records - Los Angeles, CA; Co-writer, creative consultant: “Fun and Games” 2001: Barnes & Noble / Decca Records – New York, NY; Educational consultant: Seussical: The Musical 2000-1: Parents Magazine - New York, NY; Freelance writer: Children’s
music reviews 1999: Greg & Steve / Youngheart Records - Los Angeles, CA; Co-writer, creative consultant: “Kids In Action” 1997: Greg & Steve / Youngheart Records - Los Angeles, CA; Co-arranger, creative consultant: “Big Fun” 1995: Melody House Records / “Mr. Al” Rasso - Oklahoma City,
OK; Producer, co-arranger and musician: “Rock The Baby” 1991: Bob Gibson’s Emmy nominated children’s television show - Chicago, IL; Songwriter and associate producer: “Flying Whales & Peacock Tales” 1989: Youngheart Records - Los Angeles, CA; Co-writer and associate producer: “Kids In Motion” 1987: Bob Gibson Enterprises, Inc. - Chicago, IL; Associate producer: “Songs For Safe and Secure Kids” 1986: Miss Jackie Music Company - Overland Park, KS; Producer, arranger and musician: "Sniggles, Squirrels & Chicken Pox - Vol. 1" 1984-5: Old Town School Of Folk Music - Chicago, IL; Instructor: Autoharp 1982-9: Oscar Schmidt International - Buffalo Grove, IL; Educational consultant, music arranger and editor 1980-6: Urban Gateways - Chicago, IL; Performer: “Artists-In-The-Schools” Program 1976-9: Jack Cecchini Classic & Modern Guitar Studios - Chicago, IL; Instructor: Beginning Classical Guitar PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS NAEYC: National Association for the Education of Young Children |
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"Connecting With Music: This music based workshop invites active participation through songs, rhymes, fingerplays, puppets and movement ideas. Designed with the "non-musician" in mind, Fred shares his music activities, ideas, strategies, humor and encouragement in an effort to help each participant understand their own musical potential. During the workshop Fred plays guitar, sings and models his classroom tested activities. Music activities include the use of traditional children's songs, storybooks which reinforce the music literacy connections, as well as songs from Fred's four recordings for children including "Did You Feed My Cow? Fred Koch Presents The Songs Of Ella Jenkins" (1993 Parents' Choice CLASSIC Award Winner & 1990 Parents' Choice GOLD Award Winner). The goal of the workshop is to demonstrate music activities which teachers and caregivers will incorporate into their curriculum immediately and to provide a foundation for development of their own musical skills. Detailed handouts are available. For more details on Fred's "Connecting With Music" workshop or to find out about other available topics, please contact: BestChildrensMusic.com WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS - A PARTIAL LISTING Fred Koch "Connecting With Music: Easy, Fun and Meaningful Music Activities"
"A Creative Process Model for the Musically Shy: "Music Educator In-Service Training" "Autoharp For Early Childhood Teachers" Teddi & Fred Koch "Red Rover, Red Rover: Music and Movement Activities For Young Children"
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