2011 Holiday Guide: Part 1- Gifts of Music for year round listening

"Doll Carolers" photo by Paula Slade

Today we turn our attention to one of the most popular gift categories - “Music.”

Over the last 12 months, some very talented and creative musical artists released a wide variety of albums, which cover a multitude of musical genres and tastes, perfect for gift giving for children and teens.

The products, which appear below have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide the children in your life with many hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

Best pricing options, available at the time of this posting are provided below, but it is suggested that you cross-compare CD and MP3 pricing with your favorite online as well as stick and brick retailers when available.

From now, and until December 21, 2011, more offerings will be featured in this, and many other entertainment categories.

You may want to bookmark this page to enjoy the musical journey at your leisure, as there will be many choices provided, all with links for preview listening and ordering.

As always, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child’s entertainment.

Strange Dees, Indeed  The Deedle Deedle Dees

History comes alive in song from “America’s Ultimate Teaching Band,” The Deedle Deedle Dees and their newest release, Strange Dees, Indeed.

A totally creative and inventive mix of musical storytelling crammed with historical facts, folklore and even science as Dees tackle tunes about Marie Curie, Mayor LaGuardia, Sacagawea and more.

The Deedle Deedle Dees’ two previous albums, Freedom in a Box and American History + Rock and Roll = The Deedle Dee Dees have won national acclaim as does their live performances at schools, libraries, theaters, parks and family venues.

Sound samples for all 19 tracks of Strange Dees, Indeed are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $8.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which also includes 19 tracks, is available from CD Baby with best price at $10.00.

Little Nut Tree  Dan Zanes and Friends

Grammy-winners Dan Zanes and Friends have released something for everyone in an all-ages family favorite album, Little Nut Tree.

Five years and a follow-up to their award winning CD, Catch That Train, this newest release brings together an impressive collaboration of musical artists including Andrew Bird, Sharon Jones, The Sierra Leon Refugee All Stars and Joan Osborne.

Sound samples for all 16 tracks of Little Nut Tree are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $6.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which includes 16 tracks, is available from Amazon Marketplace with best price “new” starting at $6.94.

Making Silly Faces  Nick Deysher

Recently voted one of the Top Ten Kids Albums of the Year by Parent’s Magazine, Nick Deysher’s Making Silly Faces, captures childhood in 13 tuneful tracks reflecting the sounds of popular music from the 70’s, to the present day.

Deysher, an indie children’s music artist and pre-school teacher, who records under the moniker “In the Nick of Time” is no stranger to awards, having garnered a 2010 Parents’ Choice Gold for his CD, People, Places & Things.

In this newest release, Making Silly Faces, Dreysher embraces multiple music genres, from rock to sea shanty, disco and even a touch of reggae, Latin, folk and funky hip-hop, delivered in songs with positive messages about trying new things, having patience, and saying, "please".

Sound samples for all 13 tracks of Making Silly Faces are available through CD Baby and iTunes where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $9.99 for the entire download album.

The Audio CD format, which also includes all 13 tracks, is available from CD Baby for $12.99.

Sing Along!  Caspar Babypants

Caspar Babypants, also known by his grown-up fans as Chris Ballew, songwriter and singer for Seattle’s The Presidents of the United States of America rock band, released his fourth children’s album, Sing Along! and it is a pure delight for the under six crowd as well as parents and caregivers.

Inspiration for Sing Along! came from the call-and-response format found in African folk melodies and work songs from early American history, and Ballew offers his enticing lyrics that beg to be repeated in Sing Along’s mix of original music and updated traditional tunes.

Chris Ballew photo by Josie Ballew

Some well-known guest artists lace the album including Frances England, Weird Al Yankovic, Pete Droge and Stone Gossard to name a few.

Sound samples for all 20 tracks of Sing Along! are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $8.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which also includes all 20 tracks, is available from Amazon Marketplace with best price “new” starting at $7.59.

For your enjoyment, below are two music videos created from the tracks on this album, and they provide excellent examples as to the diversity in Sing Along!

If you found this article helpful, or are still searching for more gift ideas, you may want to read previous installments of The Gift Guide by connecting to the links below:

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday DVDs for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday Music for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Audio Books and celebrations of Christmas

Musical Notes: Music industry news and releases for children and teens

Playing Guitar’ photo by Petr Kratochvil

Welcome to “Musical Notes,” the first weekly column on this site dedicated solely to music. Like our Friday “Popcorn Report,” which features the latest information on movies, this column will be highlighting current news and announcements in the music industry, and introducing you to the best of everything in CDs, music videos, games, instruments and upcoming performances for children, teens and families. Be sure to check back each Thursday.

Music News

The soundtrack for the highly anticipated upcoming film, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES is set to release nationwide from Walt Disney Records on May 17, 2011. 

The ON STRANGER TIDES soundtrack features first-time collaboration with Oscar®-winning composer Hans Zimmer and the highly acclaimed guitar duo from Mexico, Rodrigo Y Gabriela. 

“We’d always felt it a creative necessity that the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 4’ score have an original sound all its own and to distinguish itself from the first three films.  With the inspiring addition of Rodrigo y Gabriela’s unique artistry under the direction of maestro Hans ‘Long John’ Zimmer, this iconic score franchise take its next step forward with an imaginative, fresh and individual new sound,” says Mitchell Leib, President of Music and Soundtracks for the Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Group and Disney Music Group.

Zimmer is one of the film industry’s most respected and sought-after composers whose credits span more than 100 film and television scores, and his works have also been honored with two Golden Globes® and three Grammy Awards®. 

Rodrigo y Gabriela, considered the premier guitar-playing duo in the world having sold over one million albums, their appearances have also sold out venues around the globe. In 2010, they were invited to share the stage with Beyonce for a state dinner at the White House. 

Walt Disney Pictures’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN; ON STRANGER TIDES,” with screenplay by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, suggested by the novel by Tim Powers opens in theaters May 20, 2011, in Disney Digital 3D™.

Musical Instruments

If there’s a child in your life who has taken a serious interest in learning the violin, one of the most trusted online resources for all-things musical for children, Music for Little People is currently having a sale of Anton Breton Violins. 

These are complete violin packages, which include not only a beautifully well-crafted instrument that produces a fine solid tone, but comes with wooden bow, strung with white horsehair, a Featherweight® case, and a FREE ($14.98 value) CD of the Parents’ Choice Honors/ Oppenheim Gold Award-winning recording, Celebration of Classical Music.

Violin sizes range from 1/16 to 4/4, and Music for Little People provides information on “How to Choose the Correct Size Violin,” along with tips on installing the bridge as well as care and upkeep of the instrument.

All violin packages normally sell for $120.00 but are currently on sale for $99.98 and include the bonus CD.

MUSIC CDs

Rattle On – The Rattles Band

Tony Caio, whose animated programming has garnered prestigious Cine Gold Eagle and National Education Association awards is the creator of The Rattles Band, a charming “animal collective rock band,” whose music echoes the sounds of The Beatles, a bit of Monkees, some Moxy Früvous and They Might Be Giants with a touch of British Invasion. Caio has brought together a music CD,  Rattle On  that kids as well as parents find entertaining.

Formed in Point Pleasant, New Jersey in 2008, The Rattles (comprised of four musicians, Gus (lead vocals), Kitty (drums), Sal (guitar) and Hal (bass) released their first studio album, Rattle On.

The website for these entertaining creatures encourages and demonstrates the important qualities of friendship and teamwork all based on solid musicality.

Rattle On is available to sound sample through Amazon.com where MP3 individual downloads for each of the nine tracks are $0.99, or $8.91 for the album. The full CD is priced at $10.43.

Frances England’s Mind of My Own

The San Francisco Chronicle dubbed her the “Queen of indi-folk children’s music,” and with her unique voice and gentle style, Frances England has released another fine recording on the children’s music scene, Mind of My Own. 

A recipient of the prestigious 2007 Oppenheim Platinum Music Award for her first CD, Fascinating Creatures, and a Parent’s Choice Gold for the 2008 release of Family Tree, England continues on her successful climb offering up easy listening for children and families.

Mind of My Own features a special guest appearance by Mates of State.

Below for your listening pleasure are sound samples of all 15 tracks of Mind of My Own.

The complete 37-minute CD is available direct from the artist’s website for $14.99, or MP3 download for the entire album for $8.99 or $0.99 per track through Amazon.com. To hear sound samples of England’s previous releases, visit the Frances England iTunes page where all three CDs are available in MP3 downloads at $0.99 per track.