Natural Wonders in The City of Ember

I’m very interested in the good and bad ways science is depicted in children’s media. This is important stuff for parents and educators to be aware of if we hope to draw more kids into exploring the STEM subjects! With that in mind I plan to write occasional reviews, with a focus on attitudes toward science. 

This month I’m helping fourth graders at Sangre Ridge here in Stillwater write songs based on the sci-fi book City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. Since I’ve read, outlined, and thoroughly discussed the book with the kids, I thought I’d take the opportunity to post my first book review. Don’t worry, I won’t include any spoilers.

Science Limericks

As Thanksgiving weekend draws to a close, I’m thankful for family and friends, for the fact I can make a career out of songwriting, for improv lessons, for a new residency starting Monday at Sangre Ridge, and for readers of this blog - particularly the reader who isn’t a web-crawling robot. You know who you are. Thank you!

Running short on time this week, I dug into my archives to see what I might have to share. Here are four limericks I wrote about science. Kids if you don’t get the chemistry one, your parents will explain. Someday.

Theater Games to Play With Your Kids

Last week I extolled the virtues of improv, and I promised that this week I would post a few theater games you can use to get started. These games are good for middle grades and older kids. Some can be played with as few as two players; most work better with a group of five to twelve or more. I also used them with librarians in my summer 2009 creativity workshops, and we had a blast...

Improv to the Rescue!

I just got back from my second of six beginning classes with OKC Improv! How cool is that! I’ve been wanting to do this for years and finally went for it.

Parents, teachers - if you see an opportunity to enroll your kids in improv or theater games, you should definitely encourage them to do it! Beyond developing creativity and confidence, improv is incredible at building teamwork and empathy skills. Allow me to explain…

Crane Wars: Invent Your Own Games!

As kids at my grandparents’ house, when the weather kept us inside, my sister and I often faced mind-crushing boredom. They did have one box of ancient toys in the closet. There was a wooden chicken on wheels that clucked when you pulled it, a red metal cash register, a wooden telephone, and various dolls, animals, balls, and blocks.

We played listlessly with those toys way past the age when they really held any appeal. One day out of desperation my sister and I dragged the toys to the top of the narrow staircase that led to the guest bedroom. Several hours later, our parents had to beg us to put them away and get ready for bed as we excitedly explained what we’d been up to.

Surviving Musical Instrument Practice - Part 2 of 2

So your kid is learning a musical instrument! Last week I offered some general techniques to improve success, including how to cultivate a positive attitude, set up and structure a practice session, and deliver helpful praise. This week I’ll focus on specific things you can do while sitting in on a practice session...

Surviving Musical Instrument Practice - Part 1 of 2

Is your kid new to band or orchestra? Are they practicing at home? Are you coaching them?

My daughter started trumpet this year and has already worked her way up to first chair! We started the year with a lot of frustration, but now she is excited about her progress and generally enjoys practicing. I’ve been coaching her at home, and it occurred to me that I have plenty of good advice to share.

If your kid is learning an instrument - brass, woodwind, string, guitar, piano, percussion, whatever -  and you want to help him get the most out of practice time at home, then read on. Whether you were a “bandy” yourself or are one of those people who feel totally inept at music, it doesn’t matter. There are plenty of ways you can be an effective coach...

Do Kids Really Need Their Own Genre of Music?

“Children’s Music Ain’t Got the Same Soul!”

“Children’s Music Will Destroy Your Good Taste Forever!”

“Why Does Children’s Music Make Me Want to Destroy the Earth?”

These are real headlines from online articles written by real parents who - believe it or not - are annoyed with children’s music! And in these articles, the writers seem to want to justify depriving their children of it. This attitude is not uncommon. I run into it often. A lot of parents feel they can do without children’s music.

How does this affect me as a professional children’s musician? It threatens my financial well-being and calls into question my entire life’s purpose, throwing me into a deep morose fueled by existential angst! 

Strawberry Tugboat

Okay, so I’m starting a new blog. One where I can write about stuff I care about. That means kids, creativity, science, education, parenting, music. Hopefully, you care about that stuff too. Hopefully, I’ll write and share brilliant articles that help. 

You may be wondering about the title...