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Phil Rosenthal,
Folksongs & Bluegrass for Children
(Rounder, 2000)
Jump onboard for the rhyme and rhythm of "The Train Song" with folk vocalist Phil Rosenthal as his fingers ride the strings of a banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass on this musical journey for children. First stop drops off "In the Jungle." Here, the animals come out to play -- swinging monkeys, prowling cats, towering giraffes and more.
"Into the clearing comes a large gray creature.
The ground is shaking as he starts to run.
Round in a circle with his long trunk waving,
It's the elephant, joining the fun."
This original composition by Rosenthal provides some twangy bluegrass fun. The animal parade continues with "Six Little Ducks," a traditional folksong about a duck who "led the others with a quack, quack, quack." This song will delight kids who never heard it and inspire memories for adults who have. "Calico Pie," with lyrics by Edward Lear and Phil Rosenthal, is served at the next stop. This fun and easy-to-join-in song, sings of animals that never came back.
The train lets off at the station to allow Rosenthal and company (Naomi Sommers Rosenthal, Beth Sommers, Ann Vaughn and Synia McQuillan add harmony and vocals to many of the songs) to frolic in "The Paw Paw Patch," another traditional repetitive verse. The next mode of transportation is sea-bound in "Sailing in the Boat." Then it's off on horseback for "Hop High, Ladies," in hot pursuit of "The Mouse," scurrying through a field of hay, early morning in the month of May. Ducks return for one last jaunt, this time with their friends Geese, in "Ducks in the Millpond."
Arriving at the next destination, "Mama Don't Allow" music in her house. But Rosenthal plays his banjo, his trumpet, his drums, his guitar and his mandolin anyhow to this beloved sing-along favorite. Next door we meet "Aiken Drum," who is not an instrument, but a man who lives in the moon. What silly fun! Rosenthal adds some of his own lyrics to the ever-popular "I Had a Little Nut Tree." With the help of his banjo, Rosenthal recounts the journey of Noah's Ark in "Open Up the Window Noah."
The journey takes the road toward home with "Jig Along Home," by folksinger Woody Guthrie, and then back away from home with Rosenthal's "Riding in the Buggy." While I enjoyed reminiscing to "Jig," "Riding in the Buggy" was too far from home for me. Finally, "Teddy Bear's Picnic," winds up this lively traipse through the tall blue grass.
While I lean toward more traditional versions of folk tunes, I enjoyed myself well-enough on this ride through a country filled with ducks, dueling banjos, teddy bears, trains, monkeys, boats and other childhood delights. With easy to learn and fun to sing songs to blaze the path, I think kids will enjoy the surrounding sounds even more than I
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STOMP!
The cast of this show uses everyday objects in non-traditional ways.
Children's Music at Mabel's
This great site includes audio clips of folk and bluegrass songs for kids.
The Childrens' Music Web
Check out Pipsqueaks, a fun-filled music magazine with reviews and activities.
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You can listen to Rebecca's fun, kids-style music and sing along!
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The WWW Virtual Keyboard!
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Hot Diggity Dog Music
Turn On The Music, Turn On The Fun
Free Activity Charts
Each Hot Diggity Dog album comes with an accompanying activity chart that shows motions you and your child can do with each song. These charts are a fantastic teaching tool for parents and teachers alike.
In them, you'll find illustrations and step by step instructions on how to teach your child finger play, hand motions and body movements that accompany the songs.
The Hot Diggity Dog children's music series features our first artist Debbie Gulino. Read all about her professional and personal life here. Don't forget to see her photo album.
Creator of the Hot Diggity Dog children's music series, entertainer and pre-school music teacher Debbie Gulino brings fun and excitement to children and their families everywhere. Audiences sing, clap, and dance as Debbie plays folk, country, rock, jazz, blues and rap. Singing for children in preschool through the first grade, Debbie and her guitar named Gary perform at schools, libraries, festivals, bookstores, churches, temples, and you guessed it... just about anywhere!
Debbie plays the guitar and flute and sings in English, Spanish and French. Her two albums, Hot Diggity Dog #1 and Hot Diggity Dog #2 are full of catchy sing along songs; children listen to her music constantly and never get tired of it. Says Suzanne Dowden of Hohokus, NJ, "We can't get into the car without making sure Hot Diggity Dog is ready to roll on the tape player!"
Raised in Buffalo, NY and Ridgewood, NJ, Debbie currently makes her home in NY state with her husband Bill, son William, her dog Phoebe Snow and her cat Heidi. She enjoys all sorts of hobbies: being with her family in their country home, listening to Bill play soft music on the piano, reading books with William about famous people in history, flying stunt kites, riding bikes, caring for Phoebe and Heidi, hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, snow shoeing and stargazing. An avid student of the spiritual side of life, Debbie does yoga, practices meditation alone and with her family, and teaches meditation to inmates in prison. A true believer in the creative power of the Universal Energy (otherwise known as God) Debbie brings the joy and confidence of this Energy into everything she does. Her music is a gift to everyone... she is merely the instrument through which the Universe plays its melodies.
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CD plus 32-page songbook
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Taught By Sam Zucchini.
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Drum kit NOT required! Every kid wants to be a drummer, and this is the coolest way ever to get started!
Drumming For Kids
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Taught By Sam Zucchini.
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Drum kit NOT required! Every kid wants to be a drummer, and this is the coolest way ever to get started!
Fiddle For Kids, Videos One and Two
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two videos plus instrument and quartz tuner
Perfect start-up guiitar package for your child. Package includes two videos, an Oscar Schmidt 3/4-size guitar and a Quartz Tuner!
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer's Kids' Guitar Songbook
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CD plus 32-page songbook
This child-friendly, engaging instructional CD and book is specially designed to give your child a repertoire of great songs and new guitar techniques.
SmartStart Guitar
Taught By Jessica Baron Turner.
50-min. video
Here's a new approach to a first guitar lesson that is fun and easy even for the youngest child! (Recommended age 5 - 8)
SmartStart Guitar
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Combination Package: Video, Book and CD
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Two-video set, includes booklet with chords and song lyrics
These two videos are a great way to get your child into the joys of music. The whole family will be playing together in no time!
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Taught By Marcy Marxer.
Two-video set, includes booklet and progress chart. With Ginger the Dog (puppet).
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The Kids' Ukulele Special*
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Two videos plus instrument and pitch pipe
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Heigh Ho Banjo 
Bluegrass Salutes Favoirtie Disney Tunes with this instumental County/Bluegrass style CD. Featuring a 5-string banjo, dobro, fiddle and mandolin, all ages will enjoy Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah the bluegrass way!
The Summer Reading Dude uses the library's computer
to connect to the Computer Quiz web page. You can too
