Album Notes

Mr. Darby’s Music with Friends has become a full-time children’s musical entertainment/learning business after forming a connection with Chris Van Scyoc at Children’s Music Source in 1998. I currently visit 12 schools and child care centers throughout the Seattle area each week singing, playing and entertaining children ages one to twelve years. I bring with me guitar, banjo, cahon (box drum), djembe, shakers, wooden tongue drums and a bag full of fun including song storybooks, puppet friends and an interesting assortment of pitch and rhythm related items. It’s great to also bring in the violin for interval games, the mandolin, and the hammered dulcimer, tuning forks for listening games, a beginner’s harp and even my fabulous eight-toned Lebaphone. The Lebaphone is an idiophone where pitches are produced by striking the tops of bamboo cylinders with paddles.

I am fortunate to be able to share with children a great variety of musical adventures, games and stories. I am lucky to be in the presence of children and see the looks of wonder, the knowing smiles, the spontaneous outbreaks of dancing and to hear the peals of laughter.

I am Mr. Darby Gerking and live in Bellevue, Washington. I attended the University of Washington from 1981-1986 and earned B.A. in Music with Percussion emphasis. I am the father of Jen Gerking, age 25 and Aaron Gerking, age 23.

Thank you for spending some time with me!