Album Notes

Gets Kids Talking... and Singing!

The positive feedback on this CD seems to be universal! School aged kids ask for it again and again in classrooms and homes in all kinds of communities. Parents, teachers. and counselors recommend it as a musical way for children to express their feelings about everyday issues and to learn lifelong skills for building better relationships. The 14 songs feature engaging lyrics, contemporary sounds, and energetic vocals from a diverse group of musicians, including children and teens. From country to reggae, blues to hip-hop, the variety of musical styles entice children of all backgrounds and ages-as well as the adults listening in! The latest edition includes a bonus feature of 7 instrumental sing along tracks. A notated song book with guitar chords is also available directly from LessonSongs Music.

Peace educator Paulette Meier uses music as a way to build unity, explore differences, and teach skills and concepts in conflict resolution and social/emotional learning. Her songs grew out of her work with elementary and middle school age students in both rural Kentucky and urban Cincinnati areas, and they reflect common conflicts in all students' lives.

A strong believer in collaboration and inclusion, Meier brought in the voices of pre-teenagers and a wonderfully diverse mix of musicians. David Archer, a British musician living in the U.S., arranged most of the songs and provided vocal and guitar accompaniment. Atlanta hip-hop artist James Oglesby wrote and sang the lead on "Cool Cooperation," and jazz musician William Menefield sang the lead on "Martin and Robby." Come Join the Circle has won a Parents' Choice Approved Award, a Children's Music Web award, and was featured on the website, SongsforTeaching.com.

What People Are Saying...

"Excellent content, beautifully recorded, well sung and played. I love the variety of styles." -Peggy Seeger

"Come Join the Circle is absolutely exceptional. Every classroom across America should have it. The wisdom in it is priceless." --Naomi Drew, author of Hope and Healing: Peaceful Parenting in an Uncertain World; www.learningpeace.com

"The songs - melodic and catchy, but never preachy - just might inspire your children to work things out."
-- Parenting Magazine

"The excellent production, good songs that don't talk down to kids, live and lively instrumentation, and clear passion of the performers make this CD particularly entertaining and engaging to kids and families. And what's more, the kids might actually learn something useful to help them get along in life!" - John McCutcheon, musician and 5x Grammy award winner

"A delightful collection of songs aimed at teaching children about conflict resolution, cooperation, dealing with peer pressure and bullies...full of toe-tapping, hand-clapping tunes." -- Cincinnati Post

"It doesn't sound like a kids' CD, so your pre-teen won't be embarrassed to play it. Chances are it will get you dancing around the room as well!" -- review in Enough! -newsletter of The Center for a New American Dream