Beth Blenz-Clucas blogs about music for kids that grownups will love too
Children hear recorded music almost constantly, whether it be from their iPods or from advertising jingles and jangly kid TV and video game soundtracks.
It is magical, then, to watch a child discover real people playing real musical instruments. More and more, as schools cut funding for the arts, it becomes the parent’s job to be sure kids get to experience this.
Some artists are exceptional in the way that they tailor their performances to captivate young people. Oran Etkin, a master clarinetist with world renown for his 2009 jazz-African music fusion release Kelenia, has spent a lot of time thinking about and practicing ways to foster a love of music. He’s developed a program he calls Timbalooloo, designed to excite the innate musicality of children. Last fall, Oran released his first children’s CD Wake Up, Clarinet, which won several national awards and wide critical acclaim. The songs were developed from his Timbalooloo music classes, endorsed by smart NYC parents like Naomi Watts and Edie Falco.
