Hello, I'm a musician, songwriter, and educator, and every day I sing and play music with students and their parents, in group classes and privately at my home studio. Together we play and sing songs and learn more about our instruments, rhythms and melodies.Play is an essential part of learning and personal growth. When we play, improvise, sing, and act silly together, we create a strong foundation for a rich, creative life. I am influenced by the teachings of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, Jacques Dalcroze, Rudolf Steiner, Jean Piaget as well as the Reggio Emilia approach that is based on"the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment.”On this CD there are songs about Peach & Spoon, about Camel, Monkey, Snake and Fish, Birdie, Bear, jumping, dancing and sleeping, and so many more characters who jump and waltz, flap and slither around. I've made up most of these songs, but some I've taken from the folk tradition such as Birdie Birdie and Paloma Blanca, a disco hit from the 1970s. Inspired by my students' natural musicality and playful improvisational spirits, I've finally recorded these songs for them with the help of many musical friends.With your support I was able to finish the recordings, pay the musicians and artists, print the CDs and send them to you! Supporting this kind of project not only supports me, but it supports many other artists who have literally spent their entire lives in rehearsal rooms and recording studios and who have dedicated their careers to becoming the best they could be at their craft. And all the while participating in community life and enriching the lives of those around them. What would we all do without inspiration? If you aren't already an inspiration to those around you (and I suspect you already are), then this is your chance to participate in inspiration on the ground level!Just another kids music CD you say? Parents of all stripes have let me know that they can't wait to have some new music around the house to listen to, something the whole family can enjoy.And this isn't my fisrt recording project. In 2009, I produced a CD for the LA based project called B is for Baroness, working with Steve Postell (David Crosby, Jennifer Warnes, John Oates, Robben Ford) and Giulio Carmassi (Pat Metheny Unity Group) as producers and engineers. Since then I've participated in several projects including Brooklyn based Kotorino and LA based Peach & Knife, as well as the folk ensemble Nevenka.The musicians and engineers I'm working with for Peach & Spoon are some of the best as well: Bass player and engineer Ted Russell Kamp toured with Shooter Jennings and Wilson Phillips, and continues to tour throughout the South as well as in Europe. Percussionist Jim Doyle is known as a founding member of “The Hot Club of Los Angeles,” and has worked with The Lonesome Playboys, LA Love Band, Mark Adams and many others. Multi instrumentalist, recording artist and piano virtuoso, Giulio Carmassi, toured extensively with jazz great Pat Metheny, and has many of his own original recordings, including thousands of views on Youtube.But beyond naming names, the most important part of this project is that it is downright fun stuff! Your purchase will support the creative efforts of several talented musicians getting together in LA to create music for all children tall and small... the kids! we're doing it for the kids!