What's cookin?


I read today about a new study that was recently published in the Archive of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. It indicated that nearly 1 in 5 American four-year-olds are obese. I find this quite troublesome when you consider the life-time of health problems that will plague these preschoolers if they are not helped. The study sited alarming rates of obesity among young Native Americans, as well as higher rates among Hispanic and African American children. Parents may find it difficult to find healthy food choices that fit in with our face-paced schedules and children's tastes. It's important to read and understand the labels on the foods you are using for snacks and ready-made meals. If you are concerned about your child's weight, here are a couple of websites that can be helpful in determining if your child might be overweight: Shapeup.org and CDC.gov What are some of the healthy food choices that are working really well for your family?

Steamboat ... the next Peter Frampton?

You be the judge...

StinkFest 2009: Update

Wow! StinkFest 2009 is already off to a rousing success: initial registration is completely filled, and a waiting list has been started. Everybody's eager to hear who won the final music showcase spot through SonicBids, so in the meantime, here's the complete performance lineup as well as the panel discussion themes:

Panel Discussions:
12:00pm-12:45pm - Promotion
12:50pm-1:35pm - Booking
2:30pm-3:15pm - Distribution
3:20pm-4:00pm - TV, Books & Beyond

Industry-Only Showcase:
5:00pm-11:00pm
Jambo
Sonicbids contest winner
Brady Rymer
The Jimmies
School of Rock
AudraRox
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Lunch Money
Ralph’s World

For full details, visit the StinkFest 2009 website.

Now enrolling


Come join the band too for some summer fun! Our summer music camps are sure to keep your family jammin' through the summer. Click here to view the summer schedule.


Songs of the South

Several great new kids' albums have come from the southern states over the past few weeks, and I've posted short reviews of each over at About.com.


The Baby Grands are a trio based in Atlanta whose self-titled children's debut is as witty as They Might Be Giants or Barenaked Ladies, and as laid-back as Jack Johnson or The Dave Matthews Band. Their CD, by the way, has received more user reviews by far than any other on the Kidsmusic.About.com site!


Daddy A Go Go, another Atlanta-based artist, has been rockin' the kids' music scene for 10 years. His first retrospective, Come On, Get Happy! The Best of Daddy A Go Go, Vol. 1, compiles some of the best tunes from his six albums for kids.



Trout Fishing In America, Arkansas' favorite kids' band, have been at it for 30 years, but have never released a true "best of" album. My Name is Chicken Joe, illustrated by Stephane Jorisch, is a picture book version of the Trout's tune of the same name. The book comes with an 11-song CD of the duo's greatest hits, a solid collection of songs for fans and new listeners alike.

***Michael Charles Smith***

Now, this is not your typical kiddie album! Michael Charles Smith is a marimba master based in Portland, OR, and he's created an instrumental concept album designed to be the soundtrack to an imaginary picture book. Melodies for Wooden Children is a series of 20 original marimba-only tunes that, along with Micalah Wilson's album art, "tell" the story of Noni, Babo, and Ani's adventures in a land of make-believe.

Song titles like "Noni and the Tickle Bugs," "Dark Water Mapping," "Nyht the Fire Fairy Queen," and "Re-inventing the Spirits of Good and Evil" are meant to spark the imaginations of children, as well as introduce them to the sounds and nuances of the marimba. Plunk this one down on the turntable and have your little ones draw their own musically-inspired pictures.

Kindermusik Maestro



I am so excited to announce that we, at Delightful Sounds, have been chosen as a Kindermusik Maestro for the sixth straight year. Developing children through music is our passion! Thank you so much to our families and friends, both in and out of the classroom, that helped to make this honor possible.

StinkFest 2009

Hey, kids' musicians! Interested in getting inside info about the industry and trading thoughts with label owners, PR people, and booking agents? Welcome to StinkFest! Bill Childs, Tor Hyams, and Stephanie Mayers have put together what may be the world's first family music conference that fully explores the diversity of today's children's music market.

StinkFest will include panel discussions on promotion, booking, distribution, and diversification, followed by a music showcase headlined by Ralph's World. The conference will be held Saturday, May 2, 2009 in Brooklyn, NY, so if you're interested in attending or would like to win a performance spot in the music showcase, check out the official StinkFest website for full details.