Album Notes

Maggie McClellan
Here Comes a Bluebird: and other children’s songs we love

Childlike sensibility meets musical sophistication. Great for toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary.

Most of the tracks are original arrangements of traditional folk songs and rhymes. These arrangements tickle the heart and inspire the imagination.
The songs and rhymes, handed down along the generations, have endured the test of time because of their universal appeal. They are little gems of beauty that tell a story of who we are.

Children have a very positive reaction to this music:

“This music is funny!” – Reese Mueller, 5 years old.

“…Finally was able to listen to your Cd with my daughter, who is almost 5. She loved it and played it all weekend. In fact, we walked all over Fremont with her belting out the lyrics to the Kitty song and the "Fudge Fudge, Call the Judge" song. I think it's a hit. And, based on her reaction, I'd love to consign some copies in our store.” Store owner in Seattle, Dec. 2006

TESTIMONIALS FROM PARENTS

"Maggie’s music reaches and engages children unlike other recordings of children’s songs. Children want to hear the recordings again and again. They remember and sing the tunes while drawing, playing in the bathtub and riding in the car. Maggie understands the imaginative nature of children, and she creates magical music that speaks to their hearts, minds and spirits. And we, her parents, love it too!" Mary Anne Aiello

"My daughter delighted in Maggie's original compositions and for years, the only thing in our CD changer was 'Maggie Music.' My daughter would change her dance moves to the sounds she heard and sing along with passion. As an adult, I like the fact that Maggie's compositions have an original sound that is in not overly commercial and which clearly appeals to young children. Maggie is a student of the music of the world and that shows in the diversity of the pieces she writes which are always superbly arranged.

I am grateful that Maggie was such a big part of my daughter's first years. After trying a variety of classes for my daughter around the city, I never found anything that compared to what Maggie does in terms of the sophistication of what she offers to young children. A meaningful appreciation of music is one of the greatest gifts you can give to a young child - and that's what Maggie offers." Karen Hirsch

"I'd say your strengths are you draw on a wide range of musical styles and ethnic influences in your music; some sound distinctly Asian, while others are pure honky-tonk. You do a wonderful job of using humor, physical movement, language, rhythm, and story-telling to engage the children in the music and teach them basic musical concepts challenging them all the time, rather than being too cutesy and nauseating. There's a range and depth to your pieces that grows with the child, Robin's been listening to your music for two years now and it's still her favorite; kids change so fast at this age, as do their interests, so one month they want nothing but the Wiggles and next month they'll have nothing to do with them, but somehow you're able to transcend that fickleness in your music." Helen Javid