Album Notes

Royce Robinson is a Gastonia, NC based singer/songwriter and educator/teaching artist. BIG KIDS, BIG PLANS is a selection of curriculum focused, motivational songs he has written for and applied in the elementary school classroom since his work in education began in 2004 with the Charlotte, NC based Education Institute of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center (a member of the Kennedy Center's Partners in Education Program), ArtsTeach, an affiliate of the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Arts and Science Council, and the Durham (NC) Arts Council's Creative Arts in the Public Schools programs. This album was made possible by a North Carolina Arts Council Regional Artist Grant.

BIG KIDS, BIG PLANS is a live studio album of educational songs that reinforces literacy, along with healthy living and character education, while exposing the students to a variety of musical instruments and genres. Katie and Her Crazy Uncles---Bill Moore, Ken Todd, Brom Sargent, Bob Bigger, Lander Robinson, and Katie Lawton---perform with Royce on a number of mostly acoustic instruments. You will hear guitars, acoustic and electric, as well as the violin, bass, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, congas, and drums. Royce's original pieces have been arranged by the band in various styles from folk and bluegrass to Americana/country and rock'n'roll.

The songs on this album were written primarily for the upper elementary grades---but several of these lively songs have themes and messages that reach the younger students. The instrumentation and arrangements were created for adults, as well as children, to enjoy.

The Gaston-Lincoln (NC) Library System reviewed the rough tracks and ordered copies for all branch locations, and scheduled two performances----all before the CD was released. The Gaston County Schools, North Carolina Blumenthal Education Institute and ArtsTeach partner schools have requested copies. The Gaston School of the Arts has requested copies for its annual third grade focused DICTIONARY PROJECT.