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

‘Playing Guitar’ photo by Petr Kratochvil

Welcome to “Musical Notes,” this weekly column is dedicated solely to music. Like our Friday “Popcorn Report,” which features the latest information on movies, this post highlights current news and announcements in the music industry, and introduces 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.

LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS

On Friday, March 11, 2011 at 7:30 p.m., that energizing and fun duo from Okalahoma, the Sugar Free Allstars bring their grooving mix of music and beats to the McKinney Performing Arts Center (at the Historic Collin County Courthouse) 111 N. Tennessee, McKinney, TX 75069.

Families will enjoy everything from New Orleans funk and Memphis soul to rock and roll.

General Admission $11.50 adults; $9.50 seniors 55+/students 13+; and $6.50 for children under 12- Tickets are available online or by calling (214)-544-4630.

Below is a music video of the song “Cars and Trucks” from their latest album release, FUNKY FRESH AND SUGAR FREE.





In celebration of the new release, WHEELS ON THE BUS, Groove Kid Nation is hosting a charitable fund raising event and CD release party Sunday, March 13 at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m.) at Capoeira Besouro Studio, 2901 Ocean Park Ave. #103, Santa Monica, CA 90405, Telephone: 310.314.2617

WHEELS ON THE BUS features the incredibly fun and funky music for today’s generation performed by Rodney Lee on keyboards, Fred Clark on guitar, Katisse Buckingham on sax and flute, Andre Berry on Bass, Satnam Ramgotra on percussion, and Jeff Robinson on vocals.

One Hundred percent of the proceeds of this event will benefit The YWCA Family Cooperative Preschool at the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside.

Patrons will receive one FREE CD with the minimum suggested donation of $25 per family or $15 per single person. Additional CDs will be available for $15 each.

Take a look at the adorable video below that features the song “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” one of the tracks from WHEELS ON THE BUS.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Kinder Harp
One of the loveliest sounds for making gentle, almost ethereal music comes from a Kinder Harp, which is also known as a Kinder Lyre.

The beautiful sound this instrument produces is primarily because it is set in the five-note pentatonic scale: d' e' g' a' b' d' e'.

Young children studying at Waldorf Schools are introduced to the calming musical properties of this unique instrument at a very early age.

The video below from demonstrates the finely crafted Choroi Pentatonic Kinderharp, which retails online through Bellaluna Toys for $99.95.

MUSIC APPS

KIBOOMU
Some of the first songs that parents and caregivers share with the child in their lives are “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Old Mac Donald” and the “ABC” song, and now all three of these toddler top hits are available in apps for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad from the Montreal based company, KIBOOMU.

Co-founded by entrepreneurs Wendy Wiseman and Sherry Segal, KIBOOMU launched as a company in January 2010 and has established a strong following from their website.

These music apps have a variety of play modes in addition to being colorful, engaging and educational. All three apps are available for $0.99 each from iTunes.

The video below does fine job of explaining the multiple features for the “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” app.

CD

Beethoven's Wig 4: Dance Along Symphonies
Getting children and teens interested in listening to classical music is sometimes a daunting task, but not with the multi-award-winning CD series, Beethoven’s Wig.

In this fourth installment from Rounder Records, one again finds some of the world’s most beautiful instrumental music expertly performed, and as an added bonus (in a separate version) paired with delightful rib-tickling lyrics.

A five star entertainment winner for the entire family, the full CD comes with a booklet that includes not only the lyrics but trivia questions and activities.

All 24 tracks are available to sound sample and download at iTunes or Amazon.com for $0.99 per track.

Best pricing for the entire MP3 album is $9.49 through Amazon.com.

Best price for the actual CD with booklet is currently through Amazon Marketplace for $9.79.

ONLINE VIDEO

Something special for St. Paddy’s Day was delivered online by popular children’s recording artist/entertainer DidiPop (aka Deborah Poppink Hirshland).

Hirshland says, “My daughters asked me to explain St. Patrick's Day. I was a bit stumped, so I checked out a book from Delilah's elementary school library (which was really fun), read it and wrote this song for them. Please enjoy it here and share it with your friends:”

Below is the catchy song “Potatoes and Cabbage,” which is actually a full history of St. Patrick's Day in less than 1 1/2 minutes! Enjoy, and be sure to share with the child in your life.

Charles McCreery: Creating classical music for today's youth

Today we conclude a series of posts that covered resources for introducing children to classical music, and now it’s time to familiarize you with contemporary classical composer, Charles McCreery, whose free downloads of music compositions for piano, chamber group, orchestra and voice are an added bonus for introducing the genre, and are perfect for children who want to learn more through actual practice and performance.

A member of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, and an associate member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, McCreery’s ELEGY FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO was short listed for the Match Composition Prize.

His sheet music, which is published through St. Maur Music, reflects tonality and is also tuneful as well as accessible for children of all ages and abilities.

Never a fan of modernist, atonal music such as Schoenberg or Stockhausen, McCreery cites the musical influences in his life as being “Tallis, Byrd, Purcell, Schubert, Chopin, and Wagner,” He says, “I am inspired by the example of the great composers I admire. Hearing their music can make one want to emulate (not imitate) them.”

One need only to listen to McCreery’s compositions and you are drawn into a world that transports and has a gentle feel. This is intentional as McCreery says; “Music is not primarily about sound, it is about meaning.” He adds, “In my opinion, a great deal of modern ‘classical music’ is without meaning -the sound is often aversive too.”

Pianist John Lill, CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) and winner who shared first prize at the 1970 International Tchaikovsky Competition describes McCreery’s music as “heartening and uplifting,” and operatic mezzo-soprano/Celtic crossover artist, Kathleen Proctor-Moore has referred to his works as “truly beautiful.”

Gifted in multiple domains, in addition to his music compositions, McCreery holds a doctorate from Oxford University for research on hallucinatory experiences in normal people, and is the author of a number of books, including Lucid Dreaming, the Paradox of Consciousness During Sleep, co-authored with Celia Green.

To help children get started, many of McCreery’s compositions are available to download free of charge by following this link to Sibeliusmusic and clicking on the folder for the individual score group, which will then provide a drop down menu of various compositions. Simply click on the composition title and you’ll be taken to a separate page where you are provided with a Scorch toolbar that permits viewing and free downloading.

A popular download is McCreery’s THIRTEEN TOLKIEN SONGS for Children's Voices, Solo, Duet and Chorus. Dr Julia Gasper, LGSM (Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music) says, “For those who only know Tolkien via the recent blood-and-thunder films, this song-cycle by Charles McCreery will give a very different angle on the classic saga. Here we find a gentle and ethereal world, where rhythms lilt and words echo.”

To be added to a mailing list and be notified whenever St Maur Music publishes new sheet music or CDs by Charles McCreery, simply email stmaurmusic@yahoo.co.uk

More of Charles McCreery’s music can be heard on YouTube at St Maur Music’s YouTube page and below for your enjoyment, is piece no. 2, “Reverie,” which is part of a set of TEN SHORT EASY PIECES FOR PIANO.

Introducing a child to classical music: How to make friends with a symphony orchestra

With stringent budget cuts occurring in national as well as local economies, it is no wonder schools are suffering during this recession. Art and music curricula are being cut left and right. They generally are the first programs to be eliminated.

Whether you ascribe to research done on the importance of right brain development in the visual arts, or the “Mozart Effect,” which has been associated with music, it is imperative that children be provided a solid education in both artistic disciplines.

Music and art classes are essential in developing an understanding and an appreciation of not only who we are, but where we have come from as humans.

Education in both domains determines the entertainment choices that are carried throughout one's life.

Specifically regarding music, what can a parent do when music appreciation (the very core of musical education) isn't offered in a school setting?

Get free on-line help from the world famous San Francisco Symphony and their entertaining as well as educational web site - SFS Kids Fun With Music.

If you need to upgrade your media player in order to participate on the SFS site, not to worry, you will automatically be prompted and provided a free download that takes a moment to install.

Once you're good-to-go, you’ll find the site is colorful, well organized, and affords the opportunity for parents and children to explore the various instruments that make up an orchestra and hear actual instrument sound samples.

There is also a virtual music lab to learn everything about basic musical symbols and notation, along with such concepts as: tempo; rhythm; pitch; harmony; symbols, and instrumentation.

Once the ‘basics’ are in place, move up to the next level and play a tune or two on SFS’s "Performalator," or actually create your own musical masterpiece in "Composerizer."

In a separate section on the site is a click-on radio with six different music channels, which introduces some of the world's most famous concert pieces along with short stories about each of the compositions.

Depending on reading and technology skills, older children will easily surf this site without parental assistance.

As a child's musical interest and abilities strengthen, there's a "First Timer's Guide" with some helpful facts, which provide a good discussion platform before venturing out to an actual performance.

Many communities around the country have "Pops" concerts during the summer that are family-friendly and often free of charge; this would be another good step to introducing a young person to the appreciation and joy of classical music.

Major orchestras such as: Boston Symphony; New York Philharmonic; Baltimore Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony also offer children's concerts, which are geared towards specific age levels and are shorter in duration, plus they carry the added benefit of a lower ticket price.

After all, since the YouTube Symphony Orchestra made its debut at Carnegie Hall on April 15, 2009 the world of classical music has not been the same - it's taken a giant step in becoming very popular with younger generations.