I was working in a family care room, where grown-ups and kids hang out during the day. I arrived with a bag of simple instruments and my guitar, prepared for uncertainty. The kids came and went, their attention wandering to superhero toys or Lincoln logs, and then coming back to the music. They wanted familiar …
I wrote this song as part of last year’s crop of kindergarten songs. Tom changed a crucial line to make it work, and in this video he has also made it zipper song with movement. He’s such a master. Today he and I are going into the studio to record some of these songs that …
Two years ago, in December of 2016, I went back to Tanzania to arrange and record a number of songs I had written about Tanzania and my experience there. I was fortunate to work with the members of the Great Cornerstone Band, whose vocals in particular were stellar. This song features those vocals in shining …
St Martin’s Day is celebrated in Europe on November 11. I’ve been fortunate to experience it three different times over the last four years. It’s kind of like our Halloween, but without the scary aspects and costumes. Kids carry lanterns made from everyday objects. They used colored paper and light them up with flashlights. In …
This year the Magic Penny Ceremony of the Children’s Music Network honored Kim and Reggie Harris. KIm and Reggie have been friends of mine for many years. I met them through my affiliation with the Kennedy Center teaching artist roster, and we’ve talked many times. I deeply admire their artistry; they are fantastic singers, activists, teachers, …
Here’s a video of the epic jam session that began the Tanzania project. When we first went to Tanzania in January 2015, I wrote two songs inspired by being there. La La Salama and Serengeti Plain. Both of those songs received some exposure through other people performing and recording them. When we returned in August …
Roy Acuff apparently once said, “I don’t sing songs, I sell them.” Whether he said it or not, it’s easy to judge him for commercialism and profit. Artists grapple with “selling out.” But I wondered about another way to look at it. As I watched Kim and Reggie Harris at the CMN Magic Penny Celebration, …
Barbara Tilsen and I drove to the Children’s Music Network conference last weekend. We talked almost the whole way – 7 hours and 7 hours back. We’ve been friends for many years, something like 35 and have sung, shared and organized together. Barb is a wonderful singer, songwriter, community activist and spirit. And when these …
I was walking along Willy Street last December and I saw the sign above in a door window. By the time I reached Schencks Corners I had written this chant in the rhythm of my walking. I did alter it from the original a little, but the inspiration is pretty direct. It’s an interesting exercise …
We had an incredible safari in Tanzania, and part of our experience was due to our fantastic guide Aimi (Ahimidiwe Ismaely Nasari). He taught me bits of Swahili, including many animal names (which resulted in a different song, coming soon.) I was fortunate to get to sing this song for Aimi, his wife, Lightness …