Start 2021 by sharing conversations about music, from orchestral film scores to “kindie” premieres, with students and families.
Music is a universal language, with the power to lift our spirits and bring us closer. Start the new year by sharing new children’s music with your students and families. The incredible emerging talent in this field goes far beyond KidzBop’s latest album.
Podcasts offer musicians new ways to share their talents and engage young people. This playlist includes personified instruments, wisdom from a composer of successful film scores, an age-old story close to a Korean-American pop star, and independent children’s music that will make your collections sing. Feel the rhythm of a new year!
Playlist Kidcasts: Music Play
Noodle bread, “Video playback date”
From 5 to 9 years: full interactive music for young children, Noodle bread is organized by Dan Saks, author and music educator. Each episode begins with the Noodle Loaf choir, created from children’s listeners who send voice recordings. The first songs give a cheerful atmosphere for the fun that follows. This episode includes a robot dance song to which children can add their own sound effects and a full song. Dan’s soft, reassuring voice will entice young and old to sing and dance.
Classical Kids Storytime, “KinderLute”
7-12 years: American Public Media, in concert with Classical Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), produces well-thought-out content for elementary school students about classical music. In this episode, listeners are introduced to the orchestra through the sound and storytelling. They know four string instruments (violin, viola, cello and bass) and know their sound, their parts and their size. It then presents a comic, warm-hearted story in which the instruments have names and personalities, and teaches young musicians why it is important to care for the instruments.. A great introduction to orchestral instruments.
Note: Symphonies across the country are finding inventive ways to share classical music education with their young listeners. The Cincinnati Orchestra’s Classics for Kids podcast, New York Philharmonic for Kids, Oregon Symphony Storytimes, is just one example. Be sure to explore your local symphony orchestra for resources and collaboration opportunities.
The Music Box: Global Explorations, “Drum of Ghana”
7-12 yearsThe music box the podcast, produced by Louisville Public Media and PRX, which is in its fourth season, explores music creation around the world. Miss Faith, a teacher and hostess, takes listeners on musical journeys around the world. This episode includes West African music that explores how drums are a part of everyday life there. Charles Amewudah, a Ghanaian drummer, talks about the ways in which drumming brings people together with joy. Describe the appearance of the drums and how to play them to get different touches and sounds. This program includes strong episodes for elementary and high school students about world music and culture. The lessons are aligned with national art standards and the website includes videos and lessons.
The children’s music podcast “Interview with Harry Gregson-Williams: Award-winning composer”
9-14 years: Harry Gregson-Williams, composer for film and television scores, including those of Disneynature Penguinif the Shrek films, shares his creative process, comparing and contrasting the development of these two delicious scores. In explaining how he was inspired by the prolific Hans Zimmer’s ability to create different musical worlds, Gregson-Williams also describes his early childhood and musical education and how they both placed him on the path of composition. Perfect for movie and music fans, especially Disney fans.
Bandtastic, “Mission 1: Seabird of the Earth”
9-14 years: The Bandtastic supergroup formed by recruiting musical prodigies from galactic kingdoms in the universe, including Sebastian, a 12-year-old boy from Earth who can play virtually any instrument, including a pigeon. You get the idea … this is the most absurd, fun and absurd science fiction musical audio musical show for kids. The musical has five chapters, with an additional episode that includes samples of songs. Each episode is based on the next, so listeners should start with “Mission 1” to get the content of the story. Written by comedians / musicians Drennon Davis and Mike Phirman; the latter released a fun children’s music album in 2018, Songs to Sing to Children.
Song Exploder- Eric Nam, “Love Die Young”
Ages 13 Up – Song Exploder by PRX follows the creation of a concrete song with an immense amount of creative narratives. The program interviews the different creators, providing the background story to both the band and the song. Related this year Song Exploder Netflix series include icons such as Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda and REM In this episode, Cinderella vocalist Eric Nam shares his Cinderella-like story of entering the K-Pop scene in Korea. give a platform and the ability to hone your craft as an artist. He describes the trials and tribulations of moving from one international music scene to the next, sharing how his life journey has been shaped by being an immigrant and Korean-American. A modern story of an inspiring, humble and talented artist.
Two must-see podcasts include new standalone music for kids, also known as kindie music:
Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl (SMBC) “December 5, 2021”
All ages
This radio / podcast program, launched in 2017 by Dave Loftin of Chattanooga, TN, offers two hours of music each week. Loftin has a passion for sharing this music with families, creating playlists that highlight the diverse and exciting talent in this field. This recent episode includes talent from Kymberly Stewart to Lucky Diaz, Mixed Cookie Jar and Gustafer Yellowgold. The program is played in WAWL and in the form of a podcast.
Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, “15-11-2021”
All ages
Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child is presented as “independent music for independent children.” This program has long roots in sharing children’s music, from 2005 on Valley Free radio, and evolving through various radio stations and formats to what it is today: a one-hour program on KUTX, available in syndication and via PRX in podcast form It is similar to SMCB in that it features the best and latest kindie music. Highlight the music that comes at the moment, whether it’s new Hanukkah songs for kids or Grammy nominees. The effort is familiar: Bill Child’s children, Ella and Liam, organize all listening, promote children’s concerts and have their own record label that produces compilations to benefit charities around the world. His most recent album, Let All the Children Boogie: A Tribute to David Bowie, benefits the It Gets Better project.
Play!
Anne Bensfield, the remote learning coordinator at Oak Park Public Library, listens and participates in ways to support her community. Buttons and figs podcast creator Pamela Rogers inspires the creative expression of elementary school children by reading, writing, and playing with words.