Being Heard

To amplify or not to amplify?

I think I should be able to handle the singalong room without a mic. It's not that big. About classroom size. But if I start to shout, my singing voice is gone. There's really not that long of a grace period. And if I lose the parents, I can't be heard, and I risk losing the kids. So how to keep those parents consistently engaged?

That is the question.

This past Saturday was great. We had about five kids, little ones. The group was small enough to play some circle games, and everyone was really into it. I taught them "Bluebird, Bluebird." The parents carried their kids through the "windows." Hadn't even thought about doing that, but everyone seemed to be really into it. We also did "Jump Jim Joe," which I totally taught by the seat of my pants - and it went so well!

The only rough patch I hit was when we were playing with the bells. I wanted to do an intro, talk about sleigh rides and bells and whatnot...but the parents seemed anxious to play and the kids were shaking the bells. And if there's one thing I've learned already, it's that if they're done with the talking part, so are you. Gotta keep it short and sweet...just like the audience. :)

Trains, Elephants and Monkeys

Wow, two whole weeks with no second post. Not a very good start. Oh well, never too late to reform, right?

Last week's singalong was one of my best yet. I had a great crowd. Active kids, and responsive grownups - which, I've found already, is essential to a successful family show. To get the right energy in the room, everyone has to be willing to sing. And they were! I hope it had something to do with me, but they were a great group. They even went along to try and sing "Pufferbellies" as a round. Didn't quite happen, but I was the only one leading, so I may have been overly ambitious. Maybe a few more runs through before splitting? Let the first group sing the whole song once through before sending the second in? Maybe if I have an equally cooperative group this week, I'll see what I can do.

I have to admit to being quite proud of myself for what I felt was the most fun part of the singalong. I've been wanting to introduce "One Elephant" for a while but had been shy about it. But last week I was reading posts on the Children's Music Network listserve, and someone had mentioned using stuffed animals. Eureka! I collected five stuffed elephants, brought them in, and introduced the song. I announced that the elephants were to go out and play on the spider web, and the parents and children were going to be the spider web! They loved it. I was indescribably happy...I do love sharing the old songs, and it feels quite good to have a creative idea that works. I think I may be the first one to have the families be the spiderweb rather than the elephants!

Maybe not, though. It wouldn't be the first time I've had a clever idea and found out later someone had already done it. I was convinced for years I was being original by having kids act out "5 Little Monkeys," instead of doing it as a fingerplay, only to find out it had been a game for decades before I came along. Oh well! It's still fun! That's one of the blessings of children's music...everything is new to them!

Coming this Saturday...the first "Jingle Bells" of the season!

Here she is, world!

Well, that's an ironic title if I ever saw one. See, the reason I created this blog was to chronicle my transition away from the professional acting world, and toward a career in children's music. So a line from "Gypsy" as my first title is kind of strange.

But a person never got anywhere by denying where they came from, and while folk inspired me, the theater raised me. Then the folkies got a hold of me again.

So here you will read about my battles with myself, as I attempt to break myself of the habit of going to every audition within a 50-mile radius. You'll also read about all the crazy things that happen as I sing about roosters, cows, bunny rabbits and wheels on buses.

Enjoy!!