Almost There!

We're down to the wire now, and of course, running into some technical difficulties! So stay tuned, and I'll let you know when the website and Indiegogo campaign are live. We're soooo close!

Countdown 1 Day!

Burning the Midnight Oil

Today was one of those days that makes you think of the old quote "Life is what happens while you're making other plans!"  And so I'm behind as my self-imposed deadline closes in. But today my two-year granddaughter kept taking my finger and telling me to get "up, up" to dance with her as the music played. So we danced and danced and danced as her brother slept. And after all, isn't  that what this whole project is about? I may be behind, but today was a good day!

Now back to the midnight oil!

Countdown 2 Days!

The Final Stretch!

As I enter the last two days before the official launch of  The Sing With Our Kids Project and Website, I turn my attention to building my Indiegogo fundraiser campaign. If you're not familiar with this fairly new way of harnessing the power of the Internet, it's really quite amazing. It's also a project in itself (I've been working on it off and on for the last six months). I have such a vision for this project and all it can provide for our children, our families, and our communities; of what we can do together, and I'm confident it will be a success. But now it's time to make my case to you, to my community, and to the many friends and colleagues I have around the world. When the campaign goes live this Saturday, we'll have only 30 days to raise enough money to build the website that will provide the tools for us to sing, connect, and learn together. And as I said, putting together the online campaign is a big project in itself. assembling informative and compelling text, deciding on perks (donor thank you gifts), putting up the video, and much more. It's been such an interesting experience, and something I never could have imagined doing. And yikes! I only have two days-  So I better get back to work!

Countdown 3 Days!

Today’s preview of the Sing With Our Kids website:

One of the things in the Community Toolbox will be the official "Sing With Our Kids Campfire Sing-along Kit." This will include about 15 traditional songs in (in large print) with guitar chords you can print out and put in binders, fun ideas for how to have a "campfire" indoors or out, and in the middle of winter, and even the requisite s'mores recipe! Of course you'll also be able to download the songs and make a CD. So if you want, you can put it on and sing along! - Just one more way I hope the technology of the website will result in warm fuzzy memories of live singing with your friends and family, and maybe even as your little ones fall asleep surrounded by community singing...

Countdown 4 Days!

Today’s preview of the Sing With Our Kids website and Live Project!

Okay, so yesterday with the deadline looming large, I was panic-stricken! But after a productive day working on the website with my webmaster, and giving the first staff workshop to teachers participating in the project, I'm just plain excited! 

So what exactly is going to happen on September first at the end of this countdown?

Here's What!

1. www.SingWithOurKids will go live! Although it will start with minimal content, you'll be able to see my   vision as you explore the site. And every day after that  there will be new songs, ideas, and information. It will be unlike any other early learning website, and all free!

2. My Indiegogo Fundraiser campaign will launch. We'll try to raise $10,000 to pay for the website development over the next nine months. The campaign will only be 30 days (oh no, another countdown!), and if we don't reach the goal I'll fund the site personally. So either way, it's happening!

3. Public Kick-off Celebration at Island Books on Mercer Island, one of my partners in the project.http://www.mercerislandbooks.com/  Each month I'll take a book based on a song  right off their shelves and read and sing it! Parents will be given information on using these books, and a book list of the best ones currently available. We'll do some wiggle songs from the website, and I'll explain how the project will work.. We'll finish the event with a sing-along song, and I'll have lyric sheets. So if you live in teh Seattle area, join us at Island Books this Saturday, September 1st, at 6:30 pm- and bring your neighbors and friends! We'll be building new old traditions, and I can't wait!

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Counting Down the Last 5 Days!

Today’s Preview of the Sing With Our Kids Website: The Shrinking Great American Folk Song

One of the advantages of having sung with children for so many years (and yes, having been a child myself), is that I have a perspective on how our culture has changed. And as I'm sure you'll agree, the American folk song is shrinking! Those old songs that seemed to go on forever and ever (long enough for a bus ride to camp or a trip to Grandma's house) are just about down to a single chorus! A couple of years ago I was singing Jingle Bells with a large group of children and we were having a rollicking good time until  I got to "dashing through the snow...." Suddenly I was singing solo as the children looked on with perplexed little faces! What in the world was I singing about?

It was only a few years ago that children knew all three of the most common verses, and we all laughed at the funny sounding words...( just what the heck does  "up-sot" mean, anyway?). It was fun, and interesting and yes, silly! What does it matter you may wonder? Well, first let me first tell you that the chorus of Jingle Bells sung repeatedly by itself is kind of a chore. The real fun, it turns out, is in those crazy old words! And when we forget how these songs go, we won't be able to sing them together. And when we can't sing these songs together, they won't be replaced. They aren't being replaced. But the good news is, they are still here, and all we have to do to not lose them is use them! Sing With Our Kids will be there to make sure we do - in all their fully restored funny word-filled glory!

One Week From Today!

Yup, after over a year of planning, the Sing With Our Kids website and project is about to begin!

Today's Preview of the Sing With Our Kids website- Our Best Friend- the Public Library!

Today I received the final draft of the list of Books That Sing. My local librarian, the Amazing Margaret Martin, has been working very hard on this invaluable resource. We met a couple of weeks ago and spent hours going through piles of books- my favorites, her favorites  and some neither of us were familiar with. I took a pile home and "tested" them with my two young grandchildren (and as a result my book purchases will be going up this month!). 

These books based on traditional and original songs, as well as books with strong rhythm, are like gold when you're looking for something to fully engage restless (or any) children. There will be lots of information on their use on on the website, but having this current list and where to locate them in the library is incredibly exciting! One of my frustrations has always been that these books are not all in one place, either at the library or in book stores. So you don't know what is out there, or how to find it! Armed with this list, you will be able to check out or order them from your local library. I can't wait to make my own way through this list to find the hidden treasures I haven't seen before. Between my own grandchildren and the hundreds of children I see at school visits, they will get a thorough workout and review! 

My local book store, Island Books, will be carrying a collection of these books that are in print. Once they are out of print, you can sometimes find them on Amazon, but the last time I tried to find one that was only a few years old, it was $250! So I say buy them now if they are in print and you love them (and by the way, the average length of time a book is available on book store shelves- 6 months!), or take advantage of our free society's best resource- the public library!