Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in cleveland, OH

Dance Party!

by Naomi

March 02, 2009

For as long as I can remember, I've been a lover of music.  I try to instill the same love in my children and one of our favorites ways to introduce music is with a daily dance party in our kitchen!

We spend so much of our day singing, whistling, twirling or tapping our toes, that it seemed obvious to start a habit of dancing together right before dinner.

Some of my tips for starting a daily dance party?

1.  Let the kids in on the action.  Ask them to each choose ONE of their favorite songs to add to the playlist.

2.  Introduce NEW music to them.  Your library is a wonderful source of new (and free!) music.  Do a search for folk music, zydeco, blues, even classical!

3.  Don't put limitations on what your kiddos can do DURING the daily dance party.  Maybe they'll just sit and listen.  Maybe they'll get so wound up, you fear they'll never stop.  Maybe just their toes will tap or maybe their little heads will bob out of rhythm.  Let them dictate what they do in response to the music.

4.  Add some props.  Pots/pans and a spoon (while they'll make you cringe, are loads of fun), whistles, rice kernels in a plastic egg, a stick drug across a grater, let your creativity soar and create musical instruments together!

We have our daily dance party scheduled for 5:00 every day.  The kids look forward to it and I'm proud to say, so do I !  

 Wiggle, shake it, move it and best of all - enjoy music WITH your children!

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Dan Zanes - a Benefit and a Giveaway

by Naomi

February 27, 2009

Most mamas and papas have heard of Dan Zanes and if you haven't yet become a fan ... what are you waiting for?


Being Savvy Cleveland is hosting a Dan Zanes music CD giveaway, in anticipation for their upcoming show HERE in CLEVELAND!

We are a highly musical family ... sure, I sing off-key in the shower and my children often ask me to quiet down if we're out in public ... but we ALL love music.

Our music library is eclectic and funky ... I try my hardest to fill my children's musical repertoire with options that I too can listen to with glee.

One of those additions to our CD pile is definitely Dan Zanes.  His music is exciting, inspiring, uplifting, LISTEN-ABLE (is that a word?) and often makes it to our daily 5:00 dance party in our kitchen.

Dan Zanes is one of my favorites for many reasons ... one of which is his passion for not only providing great music for our listening pleasure, but also his desire to educate and provide awareness for various issues.  His latest album, The Welcome Table: Songs of Inspiration, Mystery and Good Times is a collection of old/new recordings of gospel tunes.  Prior to The Welcome Table, was Nueva York!, a fabulous compilation of "pro-immigration" songs from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the Spanish-speaking Americas.  

Imagine our great excitement when we heard about Dan Zanes coming to perform HERE!!

The National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio is bringing Dan Zanes and Friends to YOU Cleveland ... during an evening to benefit families dealing with autism in the Northeast Ohio area.

Friday, March 27, 2009 @ 6:30pm
Independence Middle School (6111 Archwood, Independence)

    * 5:30 - Doors Open
    * 5:30-6:30 - Raffle
    * 6:30 - Dan Zanes and Friends
 
Tickets: $32 Adults, $16 children under 12

I have five copies of the Dan Zanes cd, Nueva York! to GIVE AWAY to YOU!.

Simply (1)  leave a comment below and (2) shoot an email to tracinghandprints@gmail.com (so that I can get ahold of the winners!).  Winners will be chosen on March 6th and contacted directly.

See you at the show on March 27th?  It's fantastic and amazing music, AND supports a very worthy cause.

 

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Laurie Berkner! Ticket Giveaway!

by Naomi

February 27, 2009

Cleveland is a hopping place these days when it comes to kids music!

We have a Dan Zanes CD giveaway going on in correlation with the upcoming show on March 27th and guess what? 

I've just recently heard about the Laurie Berkner Band coming to Cleveland on March 7th!

You may know Laurie Berkner because of songs like Victor Vito and Buzz, Buzz, but wait until you hear some of the tunes from the new cd!

 

“The queen of kids’ music is back . . .it’s a fun ride.” – People Magazine

“Super-talented . . . Awesome new album . . . She’s one of our faves – and, oh yeah, our kids love her too.” – Parents Magazine

“A big return . . . The current kid-music renaissance owes much to Laurie Berkner.”

– Cookie Magazine

It's been six years since her last CD release, and with those accolades, how can you NOT take your kiddos to the Laurie Berkner Band Concert a week from tomorrow?

Rocketship Run’ portrays a musical journey on a rocket ship in search of treasure. Laurie Berkner collaborates with bandmates Susie Lampert (keyboards) and Adam Bernstein (bass) on 20 new songs and arrangements ranging from a Brazilian samba to an Irish jig to a folk song set against a gospel/country background.  The CD takes off with the title track and lands with Laurie’s lovely solo rendition of the standard “Fly Me to the Moon.”  Dialogue among Laurie, Susie, and Adam threads together all the songs, like chapters in a book. 

 

Saturday, March 7^th at The Allen Theatre (Playhouse Square)

1501 Euclid Ave. #200,Cleveland, OH 44115

Doors open at 10, show at 11.

Want to win tickets to the show? 

Simply email beingsavvycleveland@savvysource.com with ROCKETSHIP as the subject line (hurry, this contest closes Sunday, March 1st at midnight).  Winners will be contacted directly first thing on Monday morning!

Grand prize winner receives a 4-pack of tickets and a copy of the Rocketship Run CD.  Two runner-up winners will also receive a 4-pack of tickets!

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Chamber Music Masterpieces

by Naomi

January 30, 2009

City Music Cleveland is presenting SIX chamber music concerts, FREE to all! The fun of a CityMusic event takes on the intimacy of a one-to-a-part chamber music when world renowned guest artists join musicians from the CityMusic Orchestra. They will be playing two gorgeous masterpieces : Schubert's String Quintet and Mendelssohn's Octet. * * * Wednesday - February 18 @ 7:30 Fairmount  Read more...

Get movin' even though you're stuck inside!

by Naomi

January 24, 2009

We really like music in this house and you can find at least one of us - at any given moment - bopping around to some tunes. We always seem to struggle between whether to let mama listen to HER music, or whether to let the silliness reign supreme with goofy kids' music. We've reached a compromise and we alternate our music selections in the house. At 5:00 (or nearly 5:00) everyday, we have a  Read more...

Let the songs be heard

by Naomi

December 13, 2008

We love music in our house and there is no time better for bringing out new music than the holidays! I am one of those parents though that encourages our kiddos to listen to "adult" music. Music with lyrics that don't include the words boop, peanut butter or "jiggly wiggly biggly higgly" (you get my drift?) Here are our favorite (for this year anyway) soundtracks to set the mood and the spirit:  Read more...

Rock'n the Museum! Places to run your kids ragged!!

by Naomi

November 13, 2008

Sunday, November 23rd 2-5 pm Museum of Contemporary Art 8501 Carnegie Avenue Rock-n-Tot is the answer to " what to do on the weekend ?" !! Come join us for an afternoon of great mu sic (clean lyrics!), art and culture! Enjoy MOCA and its fabulous art exhibits, cultural themes and amazing family time! You'll find maracas, bubbles, hula hoops and scarves are a-plenty. Discover  Read more...

Apollo's Fire. music ... off of the beaten path.

by Naomi

November 10, 2008

Apollo's Fire is one of Cleveland's "hidden secrets." Founded in 1992 and taking its name from the classical god of music and the sun, Apollo's Fire is dedicated to the performance of 17th- and 18th-century music on the period instruments for which it was written. Apollo's Fire consists of a select pool of dynamic and creative early-music artists from throughout North America and Europe.  Read more...