Remember the old proverb, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The premise behind the saying is clear: Your attempt to improve something that is already sufficient may backfire." In the case of the new collaboration between Raffi and Lindsay Munroe, one could amend the maxim as, "If it ain't woke, don't fix it."
NURSERY RHYMES FOR KINDER TIMES updates a bunch of anachronistic Mother Goose chestnuts from decades – and centuries – ago and hardwires them for modern, spoonfed kids. Sure, you could call "Three Blind Mice" outdated...just look at the title. The same goes for "London Bridge Is Falling Down." But are children so coddled that they can't hear about "Humpty Dumpty," an egg, for omelet's sake, falling off a wall? Does Humpty really not get scrambled and put back together? The original intention of the ditty was teamwork (all the king's horses and all the king's men) and now it's "well, Humpty's friends came running to make sure he was okay."
I'm not on board with the small-brained thinkers in Florida pushing a "Don't Say Gay" agenda for preschoolers. But I'd think "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" is still kind of relevant in this environment. However, 20-year-plus preschool music teacher Pam Gittleman (a member of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative) wanted to reinvent these rhymes to nurture caring and compassion, and promote social and emotional intelligence. Those principles are the hallmark of Raffi's Child Honouring program. I've got another idea – how about creating NEW rhymes? It might be more difficult to market them, since you lose the selling "hook" of modern woke-ness. I guess now parents have a choice. I know what mine is.
Twinkle Twinkle Kindie star Is back hosting Kids Club For tykes near and far
Well, mostly for children who live near Santa Monica, California. After a two-year pandemic break, the monthly concert series returns, with Twinkle (Alitzah Navarro Dallas) kicking things off at 11 PM on Wednesday, May 4 at Santa Monica Place.
Featured guest artists include Kids Imagine Nation (June 1), Laura Doherty (July 6), Jason Mesches (August 3), Ruth and Emilia (September 7), Andy Z (October 3), Rory Gardiner (November 2), and Baila Baila (December 7). You can check the venue's website for additional information closer to each event.
The holidays are upon us and so it the annual onslaught of performers eager to generate "timeless, perennial content" for generations of listeners. Children's music icon Raffi has teamed with protogé Lindsay Munroe on a duet of the classic tune, “Silver Bells.” Originally performed solo on Raffi's Christmas album, Munroe was eager to add her vocals on a new recording with her mentor.
The due met backstage at a Raffi concert in Boston, where Munroe explained how – as a mother to three children with autism– she used music as a tool to teach and connect with her kids. Munroe also performs at libraries and pre-schools and runs "Sing-Along with Lindsay" on YouTube. That conversation led to Raffi producing her first CD as well as a followup earlier this year.
Find the song on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon. You can hear "Silver Bells" on this video below.
Speaking of iconic children's music performers, Laurie Berkner segued from Halloween directly into Hanukkah season. There's a bit of "hurry-up" this year, as the Jewish holiday starts on the Sunday night of Thanksgiving weekend (fun for my younger son, whose birthday falls on November 24).
The Laurie Berkner Band (Susie Lampert, Brady Rymer, and Bobby Golden) have recorded a new, high energy version of the chestnut "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel." For many of us, this would fall under the "equal time" doctrine, as Berkner recorded a whole Christmas holiday album a few years ago.
Let's not cast aspiration at this festive holiday of lights and celebrate a fast-moving rendition of the popular kids' favorite. Honestly, there are fewer well-known Hanukkah tunes and anytime a popular performer steps into the studio, it's a welcome addition to any playlist. Your kids can also look forward to another set of Laurie Berkner livestreamed holiday concerts on Saturday, December 18 at noon and 5 PM ET. Click here for concert info.
Mentoring is a tricky business. When it goes bad (think "All About Eve"), terrible things can happen. But we're talking about children's music, where collaboration is a hallmark of the camaraderie and good fellowship that sweeps through the genre. Since meeting Lindsay Munroe backstage at one of his concerts a few years ago, Raffi – the recording legend who needs only one name – has taken on the Herculean task of turning Munroe into a frontline figure on the kid's music scene.
Munroe's second CD under Raffi's tutelage, FROGS AND BIRDS, has just been released. A mother of three children with autism, Munroe wrote many of the songs as part of her Bridges Learning System (BLS), a curriculum that highlights the strengths of neurodiverse students. In conjunction with the SEA Bridge curriculum, BLS reinforces concepts around social communication, such as recognizing our similarities and celebrating our diversity. FROGS AND BIRDS is a big honking deal for another reason, in that Munroe is the first artist (other than Raffi) in decades to be distributed by his label, Troubadour Music.
Raffi has always possessed a strong connection with his audience of "Beluga Grads" and their progeny. His resurgence into the industry a few years ago was welcome, and his subsequent return to touring brought him and Munroe together. Her story, songs, sincerity, messaging, and YouTube videos enchanted the veteran and led to the creation of two CDs, with videos including performers such as Yo-Yo Ma. FROGS AND BIRDS, subtitled "Songs of kindness and caring" is filled with gentle, well-meaning tunes such as "If I Knew You Were Coming," “Where There Is Love” and "Take A Breath" (penned by Raffi), and "Faces Show Our Feelings.”
Espousing emotions and inclusion, FROGS AND BIRDS is nearly a timeless collection of children's music. Being cased in amber is not necessarily a good thing, as the world (and the genre) has evolved. Artists are receiving Grammy attention covering frontline issues like racism (Alphabet Rockers) and glass ceilings for women (Joanie Leeds), as well as creating mashups between classical compositions and musicians from around the world (Secret Agent 23 Skidoo).
FROGS AND BIRDS is a serviceable, upbeat CD of inclusive music. The sweet melodies and harmonies produced by Munroe and Raffi should find a receptive audience. As Raffi realizes, sometimes you don't have to reinvent the wheel to assemble pleasant children's music, especially in unpleasant times.
Whereas many children's recording artists feel political songs are anathema, legendary performer Raffi has taken the opposite position. In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, Raffi has decided to explore the concept of unwarranted police violence with his new song, "Black Lives Matter To Me." Simply uttering that very phrase will make him unwelcome in certain homes. Raffi has been around long enough (more than 40 years) to have cycled through several generations of audiences. With this song, he seeks to embrace an enlightened class of listeners.
Raffi founded the Child Honouring program many years ago, and diversity is one of the group's key principles. His admiration for Dr. Martin Luther King also played a part in his decision to branch into politically-charged material. Harmonies are provided by Raffi protégé Lindsay Munroe. Raffi is promising even more new music to further promote his views on diversity and inclusion.
The pride of Portland, Red Yarn, has launched “Red Yarn’s Backyard,” a new video series promoting at-home learning and fun. Episodes will post on his YouTube channel every other week, featuring songs, stories, and activity ideas from Red Yarn (Andy Furgeson), Miss Jessie, and the puppet critters from his live show.
Much like Raffi has embraced inclusion as a hot topic for toddlers, “Red Yarn’s Backyard” welcomes audiences to a warm, friendly space where all can sing, dance, and learn together. The first few episodes will touch on cooperation, body autonomy, and the multicultural roots of popular folk songs.
Red Yarn recently dropped his seventh album, BACKYARD BOP, and has been active in live-streaming performances to engage young fans and build his following on Facebook Live. His mix of authentic early American folk music and puppetry is a combination that gives Red Yarn a unique place in the current field of children's music performers.
