Well, this is the last post for music month as its June already on Monday! I've had fun, found some great new music and gotten all inspired to be more crafty! Hope you've had fun too. I'm going to keep up the new blog format, to the best of my abilities anyway, so look out for book reviews, more crafty ideas and fun finds.
Last reminder to enter this weeks comp to win a copy of The Jimmies Make Your Own Someday, click here for the post with all the details and you can read our earlier interview with Ashley here.
Seeing as we started Music Month with a They Might Be Giants feature, I though I might do another. I totally love this band, Birdhouse in you soul is on repeat in my brain almost constantly. So the fact that they make totally cool kids music too is fantastic beyond imagining.
Last week my girls picked a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD from the video shop (is it still called that?) and I learnt the new Mickey Mouse song. I'm not a huge Disney fan, but even so I was a bit miffed that the old classic had been re-written. Then, I paid attention during the credits and found that They Might Be Giants had written it. Off to the net I go to discover they are behind many other Disney tunes such as Higglytown Heroes and they have also appeared on Blue's Clues among many.
My old friend You Tube lead me to Friday Night Podcasts. These are really cool. Every Friday night TMBG post a kids and family podcast, with a little bit of a funny chat between the two puppet John's and a clip or two from their kids albums. They go for about 5 minutes and there are 32 so far here is the first... I particularly like the One Dozen Monkey's song...
Plus they have their own You Tube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/TMBGKids with clips from Here come the ABC's and Here come the 123's. So now you can get a huge They Might Be Giants fix whenever you want!
Have a super fun weekend and enjoy what's left of May! See you in June xx
One of my personal pet hates, almost rating as highly as vacuuming the carpet, is tap dancing! I actually think its quite stunning to watch, but the sound makes my eye twitch in a way that only a relative outstaying their welcome can.
But, of course kids being kids, my two find the whole thing fascinating and the noisier the better apparently. So here is a simple, minimally noisy compared to the real thing, and much less expensive way to make tap shoes. What do you need?
1/2 inch wide elastic 2 metal washers 1 1/4 inch Cotton wool for your ears
How to do it...
Cut elastic to approx 8 inches (20cm) in length Thread through each washer tie around your child's shoe, arrange the washer so it lies flat
This seems like such an obvious idea, but that's why i love it so much! Now tune into your favourite radio station or CD and let the kids go nuts. If you can get it, I recommend ABC's radio station Dig on digital TV (channel 200 where I am) or ABC Jazz on 201. For some reason, they have the best toe tappin' tunes & no ads which the kids hate. Wait, I just found where you can listen to it live on the net... Click here.
Another obvious idea, why not turn your toe tappin' session into a dance party. This great website called Hip Young Parent is a US radio station that broadcasts an eclectic mix of fun kid friendly tunes, much like some of the music we've introduced you to here as well as some fav's from Sesame Street and songs like Happy Happy Joy Joy from Ren & Stimpy, remember that one? It's online 24/7, so anytime can be dance party time really!
PS - Don't forget to enter The Jimmies comp for this week. Last CD to WIN for Music Month!
My apologise to everyone following music month for the lack of posts last week. I had one of those awful tummy bugs last weekend and it's taken me a week to find my feet and get back on top of everything.
Thanks so much for everyone's entries into last weeks Frances England comp. Happy to announce that Kristy from Mitcham VIC was the luck winner and her copy of Fascinating Creatures is on its way!
This week, I'm putting up our second chance to win a copy of The Jimmies Make Your Own Someday. You can read my interview with the very cool cucumber Ashley from the Jimmies here...
To Win a copy of their album, tell me what is the 3rd hair doo Ashley's "Brother" has in the clip for Bedhead (eg... curls, punk, rockstar, pigtails?)? Here's the clip again...
Send your entries to vicki@monkeytailandwellington.com.au or via comments to this blog. Winner drawn from correct entries on Monday 1st June.
For a little more Frances England goodness have you downloaded your copy of LMNOP that was released today? When you visit the website, the lovely music you hear is a song Frances recorded exclusively for the talented crew at LMNOP
LMNOP have dedicated issue 7 to the alphabet and the written word. It is once again a feast for all the senses, even more so this time with the inclusion of Frances's wonderful song. And so many lovely goodies to be found from creative people and businesses around the world. I often peruse LMNOP when searching for new products and it seems we have similar tastes! I love it and will be spending a quite cyber afternoon tomorrow taking it all in while my girls have a nap!
I inspired myself into starting a Useful Box. I'm always jealous of the one on Playschool. I have noted that the one on Playschool often adapts dramatically to the crafty task at hand, I don't think I'm quite there yet. So far my useful box has a few old toilet rolls tubes and some plastic biscuit trays.
Today though, it will also contain the contents of my box of tissues after I pilfer the box for today's Box guitar crafty creation.
What do you need?
1 shoe box or empty tissue box 1 old kitchen paper towel roll or ruler (it's mostly for decoration :-) 4-6 Elastic Bands of varying widthsand lengths Scissors 2 Pencils Paint, stickers etc to decorate
How to do it
1. If your using a tissue box, you can skip the first step because you already have the hole right where you need it.If you are using a shoe box, cut a nice round hole, as smoothly as possible in the centre of the lid to create the hollow body of the guitar.
2. Stretch the elastic bands over the box so they run length wise over the hole. Try to run the bands so they increase in evenly in width to give better sound.
3. Cut another small hole in end of the box between the elastic bands to insert the ruler or paper towel roll.
4. Slide a pencil under the rubber bands at each end of the box to raise them above the hole slightly.
5. Paint and decorate and get ready for the performance.
6. To play, simply pluck or strum the bands to produce the different sounds.
Here is a great photo of a shoebox guitar I found at http://familycrafts.about.com, with some slight variation.
A little birdie tells me you should be on the lookout for the latest LMNOP mag due out this week for another something special from Frances.
Busy Mum of two gorgeous boys and musical mumentrepreneur took a few moments to let us get to know her better...
V: Who is Frances England? FE: I am the mother of young two boys who fell into the music world completely by accident.
V: Your first album, Fascinating Creatures, was recorded as a fund raiser for your Son’s pre-school, how did this come about? FE: Well, my kids go to a cooperative preschool here in San Francisco and every year we are required to raise a certain amount of money for the school. In lieu of selling chocolate bars or wrapping paper (which I’ve done before), I decided to record some songs I’d written. I wrote almost all of the songs on Fascinating Creatures in our bathroom while my oldest son, Liam, was taking his nightly baths and they all revolved around our everyday routines like making blueberry pancakes for breakfast, riding tricycles, reading picture books, digging in the dirt, etc. Liam liked the songs and I figured other kids would be able to relate to them as well. So I recorded the CD and started by burning copies on my computer and printing out the covers on my old Epson printer. Initially, I thought that only our family and preschool friends would be interested in it, but people started buying 10 copies at a time and sending them across the country, over to Europe, to relatives in Australia. As a result, Fascinating Creatures really took off in a way I hadn’t imagined it would and has lead to this really unexpected turn in my life, which is so much fun (and still a little surreal, at times).
V: What inspires you? Personally and musically? FE: My family, DIY crafters, artsy blogs, Sufjan Stevens, M. Ward, fabric stores, the website etsy, the radio show this american life, people who work at cooperatives, homegrown food, jhumpa lahiri, bon iver, spring time, chan marshall (cat power), handmade paper, visual journals, banjos.
V: Who are your top 3 favorite children’s music artists and why? FE: Only three – that’s tough! We love Lunch Money, Justin Roberts and Dog on Fleas….but there are so many more great ones too that are in constant rotation at our house. I think the three bands I mentioned are especially awesome because they all achieve that fine balance of making really heartfelt, engaging music for children that parents genuinely enjoy too.
V: The kids music genre is really taking off, were just starting to catch on here. Do you think we’ll be seeing a Kindie Rock or broader listing on the Billboard charts now that some of the “grown up” music artists are getting a piece of the pie too? FE: I’m no expert on the Billboard charts but I think there’s always plenty of room for more good music. The Kindie Rock scene is really exciting right now – there are so many great artists and bands making fantastic music that whole families can enjoy together. It’s also a very supportive community and I feel really humbled and honored to be a small part of it.
V: What’s next on your horizon? FE: We are playing at Lollapalooza this summer in Chicago, which is so crazy that I’m still trying to get my head around that….very exciting! I’m also working on another kid’s album, messing around with some songs for grown ups, and am talking to a couple of publishers about putting together something using my illustrations (I do all the artwork on the albums and website). So that’s all good. For the rest of the day though, I’m shuttling kids to and from school and swim classes and I have a PTA meeting this evening. That’s my real everyday life.
V: Any last words? FE: Australia ROCKS! I so hope to make it there one of these days….
OH, I so hope she makes it here one day too. You never know, we may see some Kindie Rockers at the next Splendor in the Grass perhaps !?
If your loving all of these pics of the beautiful Frances, you should pay a visit to her Australian photographers website Barb Uil of Jinky Art. The opening Ladybug Picnic page is just too much. Talk about stunning!! I think one of her photography workshops is high on my wish list... Birthday coming up... Ben are you reading this???
Here is a video of Frances's song Tricycle from Fascinating Creatures.
To win a Copy of Fascinating Creatures tell me what colour guitar does Frances play in this film clip for Tricycle? Send your entries to vicki@monkeytailandwellington.com.au or via comments to this blog.
Last weeks winner of the Renee & Jeremy CD was Rochelle from Turramurra . Congratulations Rochelle, your CD is on it's way today. Hope you love it!
I got a flash new camera yesterday (Yay for interest free, ah where would the recession be without it? :-). It's for the business of course, but so far I've only taken gorgeous shots of my girls! Once i figure out how to use it properly, I'll share some with you.
The long awaited Shinzi Katoh zakka range has arrived and is now in store. I am in love with this talented artist, designer and author and I'm sure you'll join me and the countless other cult followers when you set your peepers on these beauties. Babyology gave this range a bit of a write up this week, pop on over and have a read.
Babyology also did a lovely post of Kids music. Did I mention that already this week? Anyhoo, check it out again here...
Keep those entries for the It's a Big World comp rolling in. There's a CD up for grabs and you can find out the details here...
Monday will be something special when I share my interview with the very talented Frances England with you. I'll be giving away one of her CD's too!
Till Monday.... Have a super duper excellent weekend!!
Here we are again... Hump Day. The craziness has already begun in my house, even the cat is acting a bit nuts today.
At first glance this struck me as a great idea for kids to learn how different everyday items can become instruments. But it does provide the risk of broken glass, so not really one they can do unsupervised.
It is a fact that the old finger on the rim of a glass only works with lead crystal, but you probably don't want your 3yr old fingering the good stuff. And my husband can't actually get a note to sound from running his finger around a glass, I don't know if its an actual skill I have, or just a weird quirk of our household that we can't all do it?
This idea and photos are from Wee Life such a lovely blog
What to you need?
A large plastic bowl to hold all the glasses and catch any spilt water a variety of different size and type of glasses a few different metal spoons Some water
How to do it
Put glasses in bowl, fill each with a different level of water and tinkle away!
I know its not a particularly huge stretch of the imagination. But I wouldn't have thought of it unless I'd seen it and it kept Monkeytail & Wellie amused for a good 20 mins this morning!
Because I love You Tube so much, here is some Musical Glasses pieces I found this morning... It seems that glass musicians are popular street performers in Europe. Is this an untapped talent for Pitt St Mall?
Have a fun Hump Day! Pay us a visit tomorrow for a special new stock announcement! And don't forget to enter the Renee & Jeremy comp!!
It's a Big World by Renee and Jeremy was my first choice when i started to search for indie music for Monkeytail and Wellington. I've read reviews which call it "sweet and hypnotic" and I couldn't agree more. In a word, it makes me feel peaceful. It soothes me when I've had a hard day, lulls my children to sleep when they refuse to give in on their own and provides a fantastic repertoire of songs to sing to the girls when they are stick or need comforting. I think what I love best about It's a Big World is that it feels like its your own personal lullaby, performed just for you. You don't need to listen to it loudly, it plays in the background and makes you feel warm, relaxed and comfortable.
The album was recorded in the nursery come homemade studio in Renee's house while she was awaiting the birth of her first child and you can almost feel the environment through the music. So, I asked Renee and Jeremy answered a few questions so we could get to know them better...
V: Who are Renee and Jeremy? Introduce us...
R&J: Renee & Jeremy are parents and veteran singer-songwriters who make music that both parent and children adore.You may know Jeremy Toback from his work with Stone Gossard in the group Brad, or from his solo RCA records, and Renee Stahl's solo records have garnered her a dedicated following as well.
Renee & Jeremy's popular debut effort, "It's A Big World," is fast becoming a lullaby classic, and the soon-to-be-released, "Cmon," seems fit to break the family music genre wide open, with its serious beats, honey sweet hooks and shimmering harmonies.
V: I can't name a favourite song on your album It's a Big World, cause I love them all. Do you each have a favourite?
R: I think one of my favorite songs is "free" this song was written so quickly.. we were writing another song and Jeremy started to play the guitar and we wrote it in 5 minutes it was so natural and "free" I think about it almost every time we sing it.
J: I love Night Mantra ... funny enough it came about in similar fashion. I really love the recording, and Renee's counter melody which was improvised as we recorded the lead vocals live KILLS me.
Click play to hear samples
V: What music do your own children listen to at home?
R: We love Tom Freund's cd called 'hug trees" and Elizabeth Mitchell "you are my flower"
J: it's so funny though my children have heard a lot of R&J and Pete Seeger they're really into Gorillaz & Kings Of Leon at the moment :)
V: A little birdie told me a new Renee and Jeremy album is in the woods? R&J: YES indeed our new cd is ready and we are waiting to see how we are going to get the music into your hands (stores) and heard throughout the world. It's looking like a fall release is likely. It was alot of fun making this cd.. it was recorded in Jeremy's home in a week as "it's a big world" was recorded in Renee's in the same amount of time. While it has the same spirit as our first, we set out to make this one more up beat and groovy, something for the whole family to dance along to, play in the car, etc.
V: Name 5 things we don't know, but should, about Renee and Jeremy
R&J: Well... 1. we have official titles: Renee is the harmonist and Jeremy is the linguist 2. we both lost our pets while recording the new cd (Jeremy's dog Renee's cat ) 3. we are married but not to each other 4. Renee's favorite color is green 5. Jeremy's favorite color is blue
Here are two new songs I found from their new album "Cmon" for your listening pleasure.
To WIN a copy of It's a Big World, simply tell me where the new Renee & Jeremy album was recorded. Submit your entries via comments to this blog or email to Vicki@monkeytailandwellington.com.au. All correct entries will go into a draw to win the CD, announced next week. Entries close Midnight Sunday 17 May 2009.
A quick reminder that today is the last day to enter our comp to win The Jimmies CD. All you have to do it tell us in less than 25 words a creative way to get your kids to eat broccoli OR any funny names your kids have for their body parts. See this post from Monday for the details...
I had planned another book/cd review for today of Sunny, but I had a bit of a brain fade moment and didn't save my homework! (tut tut, not very professional am I) Then one of my lovely customers bought the last copy, so it kind of through it all out the window, haha. So instead I've been looking for some more lovely tunes to share with you for Mother's Day.
The Bob Marley song, Three Little Birds is one that everyone seems to do a cover of. It almost seems de rigueur for any up and coming children's artist of late. Not that that's a bad thing, its a beautiful song... but here's my favorite version by Elizabeth Mitchell from her aptly titled album Three Little Birds ;-)
This is Lisa Loeb & Elizabeth Mitchell singing Catch the Moon from their joint album Catch the Moon (its on my wish list for the shop, so keep your eyes peeled for it appearing in the near future)
And to continue the Bob Marley theme, here's Ziggy Marley with Family Time.
Tune in next week for our interview on Monday with Renee and Jeremy and the chance to win a copy of It's a Big World.
I hope you all have a super fantastic Mother's Day. Whether your a Mum or not, Sunday should rock anyway!
At my house, we have one day a week where we have no scheduled activities like swimming lessons, ballet or playgroup and it just happens to fall on the dreaded Hump Day Wednesday. I like having the chance to stay home and catch up on the housework I've neglected since the weekend, but it gives my girls cabin fever and sends them batty.
Now, I like to fancy myself a bit of a crafty chic. in reality though, I'm pretty good at colouring in and sticking sequins on old egg cartons and that's about the extent of it. I do have a Useful Box, but it's pretty weak by Playschools standards, but i like the idea of it anyway :-)
So I try to find some new and fun crafty stuff each week on the net for the girls to do. There are some fantastic resources out there and lots of other crafty mum's are happy to share their ideas.
So, in the spirit of music month, here is our first Hump Day Helper...
Make your own Kazoo!
Now this is great for 2 reasons.
You can make it quickly and easily from stuff you will definitely have in the house;
It will probably only last the day, so when your sick of Kazoo songs, you know you only have to hear it for so long!
What do you need?
Toilet paper tubes Grease proof paper Elastic Band or sticky tape Scissors Hole punch or something sharp to do same Textas, crayons or anything to decorate with
How to Make it
1. Punch a hole as far down the tube as you can get it to reach. 2. Cut a circle of grease proof paper about 2cm larger than the diameter of the tube 3. stretch the paper over the tube, keeping it as smooth and tight as possible 4. secure with an elastic band or sticky tape to hold the paper in place. Make sure the paper doesn't cover the hole you punched.
Test it out. Hum into the open end allowing a little air to escape your lips to make the paper vibrate. Now decorate as you like to make it ready for your Kazoo Music Fest.
One of my favourite new musical finds for Monkeytail and Wellington has been The Jimmies. I knew I was onto something special when the first email I received from them was signed "yours, in jimmies".
I find their songs so catchy and fun and easy to learn, which is important when your kids love to sing along too. The Jimmies strike me as being nothing but childish fun, which is right up Monkeytail and Wellington's alley, so I thought I'd ask Ashley Albert, lead singer in The Jimmies a few Jimmie'esk questions to find out what makes them tick.
V: Roll call - who are The Jimmies?
A: The Jimmies are, um, mostly just me. At one point, I had this utopian vision of having a cohesive rock-n- roll band- the kind that we could make a super-juicy "Behind The Music" about...but in the end, it's shaped up to be easier to have a great bunch of guys who play with me on a regular basis...My drummer Dan's been with me almost the whole time, but is also in the show “Stomp” and has a few other projects as well...At some point, I'd love it if we organically evolved into a core unit and certainly, if we end up on a TV show somewhere, that'll happen whether we like it or not. But I think I’ll always be the big boss…turns out, I’m VERY good at it.
V: Why are you called The Jimmies?
A: In certain parts of the Northeastern US, "jimmies" refers to the "sprinkles" you put on ice cream, cupcakes, broccoli...all the good stuff. And the jimmies only job (in both the dessert AND the musical arenas) is just to add a little extra fun to everything. I like that idea a lot.
V: I was corrected the other day for not knowing what a "wrunkle" is by my 3yr old. Is there any other Jimmies speak I should be up with to win me some cred?
A: Well, you should definitely know that "La Vaca con sombrero is just a cow with a hat".
Hmmmm…what else…we have a song called "Huptsha- Huptsha" which, in my family, means "hurry up". I really did grow up saying it and we use it on the road all of the time (probably because we’re always in a rush). We also made up the term "Bunco" after we ran into several instances where one person thought they were waiting on the other person and all the while, the other person was waiting on THEM. So now, when we're ready to go, we say "Bunco!" and that means "Hey, no rush, but I'm ready when you are".
And a “Googlie Mooglie” is a drink that my grandfather always makes when someone has a cold (that’s really his voice on the CD!) It has hot milk, butter, sugar and a raw egg in it- but I left the part about the raw egg out of the song, because I didn’t want kids asking their parents to make them one!
V: Why do you think this new kind if kids music, or Kindie Rock (I just love that term) is becoming so popular?
A: Parents are busy people and for a long time, I think the only way for them to easily find new music for kids was on TV…and independent kid’s artists were confined to their own hometowns; only a very select group of “in-the-know” parents dug them up… But within the past few years, I feel like the internet has really opened up the door and made a lot more choices accessible to a larger group of parents. That, plus, while the big box stores (like Wal-mart and Target here in the states) are actually shrinking their music shelves, intrepid specialty stores (like Monkeytail & Wellington!) work hard to bring kindie rock to the masses…
V: Being a part of The Jimmies looks like loads of fun. How do you come up with this stuff?
A: I happen to live a pretty ridiculous life to begin with…I just try to work in as many opportunities to snack and play the slide whistle as I can. I’m pretty sure, in my past life, I was a third grader.
V: What’s next for the Jimmies?
A: Well, I’m about to go into the studio to record our next album “Every Day’s A Holiday” (I’m hoping to make some sort of accompanying calendar with a different holiday for every day of the year-which, I have a feeling, is gonna be a project all its own). AND after 2 gruelingly-fun years of production, I’m happy to report that our DVD, “Trying Funny Stuff” is actually being sent off to the printers THIS week! It’s gonna have all 6 videos (one, which we haven’t released yet, for our XM/Sirius radio #1 hit “What’s That Sound?”), a 45 minute live rock-concert extravaganza, karaoke videos, a behind-the-scenes “film-101” documentary and a few other fancy- schmancy surprises. I’m sort of irrationally excited about the whole thing.
Thanks Ashley, I think your entitled to be irrationally excited about the DVD, I think I am a little too! I'll keep everyone posted on when it's available and hopefully when its in my hot little hands, stay tuned....
Here is a sample of Make Your Own Someday, The Jimmies first album. Press play to listen...
Here are a few more of The Jimmies music clips to enjoy... you can find some more here... and here
And Finally, the bit you've been waiting for..... to Win a copy of Make Your Own Someday, tell me in 25 words or less the different words your kids have come up with for body parts OR the most creative way you've come up with to get your kids to eat broccoli!
Submit your responses via comments to this blog post or email to vicki@monkeytailandwellington.com.au by Friday 8th May. Our panel of randomly selected judges (OK me ;-) will select the most creative and fun answer and announce the winner over the weekend.
They Might Be Giants (John Linnell and John Flansburgh + assorted musicians making regular reappearances) are one of the most well known “Kindie Rockers” making a name for themselves in this new genre of music.
In 2003 on the back of their hugely popular kids albums No! the two John’s wrote a few more cool kids songs which they thought would make a good book, and got together with a fantastic illustrator and friend, by the name of Marcel Dzama. The result is an awesome little book and catchy ditties called Bed, Bed, Bed.
The CD contains just four recording only available in the CD/Book set… Impossible, Happy Doesn’t Have to Have an Ending, Idlewild and Bed, Bed, Bed, Bed, Bed. They’ve “sequenced the stories to help parents and kids find their way to slumberland”.
Now, I don’t know that this book or the music actually makes my girls any sleepier, but it is a heck of a lot of fun! The illustrations are just beautiful and the fact that the stories are the lyrics to the song makes it a double treat if you’re trying to learn the words.
The tempo of songs starts with the upbeat Impossible playing on the theme that nothing is impossible. The standout song is Happy Doesn’t Have to Have an Ending, which sets the mood to start winding down for bed. Idlewild is the lullaby on the album, but the last song Bed, Bed, Bed is a bit of a miss as it seems to busy to end an album that is supposed to lull you to dream land. That said through, TMBG fans will love it and it’s a fun song, just maybe in the wrong order on the disc.
To me this seems like the perfect “gift” book. It’s a nice small size (18.5x18.5cm) and the pages are of the quality glossy variety. The illustrations are fantastic and a stylish quality is carried throughout the book. Probably best suited to ages 3-8yrs.
My final word… I love it cause it’s a little bit querky and it’s beautifully presented . A great way to introduce littlies to music outside the realms of primary colours and nursery rhymes, and it’s a great unique gift to give to someone special , but a must for any TMBG fans, young and old!
Listen to Bed, Bed, Bed (this version is actually from No!, but it was impossible to find the slower version from this CD anywhere on the net to link to!)
Last week my girls picked a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD from the video shop (is it still called that?) and I learnt the new Mickey Mouse song. I'm not a huge Disney fan, but even so I was a bit miffed that the old classic had been re-written. Then, I paid attention during the credits and found that They Might Be Giants had written it. Off to the net I go to discover they are behind many other Disney tunes such as Higglytown Heroes and they have also appeared on Blue's Clues among many.
