My name is Tara Chiusano and I've been entertaining kids for a long time. I have a B.A. degree in Theatre and Dance and a Minor in Music from James Madison University, and have actually been putting my degree to use!
Back in 1999, I worked at a company called the Children's Playshop in Harrisonburg, VA and I acted in various shows for children. I had two wonderful directors, Dr. William Buck and Pam Johnson, who inspired me to pursue a career in acting and in early childhood education. Some of the plays that I was in at the Children's Playshop were Rumplestiltskin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Princess and the Pea, Bremen Town Musicians, and Hansel and Gretel.
After that, I went on to performing in several national tours of A Christmas Carol, Pinocchio, and The Frog Prince. Touring the country performing for thousands of young children was so much fun, but it can be exhausting! I eventually settled down in the D.C. Metro area and decided to work on a career in early childhood education. Currently, I teach about 13 classes with a total of 130 students between the ages of 0-5yrs. I find it to be a very rewarding and satisfying job!
Over time, I was inspired to write several songs for children, songs that teach and songs that entertain. I hope that you and your family like this CD and find my music to be memorable and enjoyable.
Some suggested activities and educational opportunities for these songs:
Track 1: Hello! Hola! --learn basic Spanish phrases and numbers
Track 3: Big, Bright, Beautiful Train --play shakers, tap
rhythm sticks, good movement song: follow the lyrics.
Track 4: This Train --play shakers, tap rhythm sticks, learn loud and soft, bounce baby
Track 5: There's a Little Wheel --play different instruments; bells, drums, sticks, shakers, follow the lyrics
Track 7: If You're Happy and You Know It --movement, following directions
Track 8: Journey 'Round the World --creative movement, enhance locomotor skills, learning sounds of cars, trains, boats, etc.; dance around the room pretending to be each thing- make sounds and appropriate movements.
Track 9: Do, Do, Pity My Case --creative movement, playing pretend, enhance locomotor skills, practice miming the basic chore movements in the song
Track 11: Waltzing Matilda --movement, dance and sing together
Track 12: Rockin' in my Boat --learning directions (left, right, forward, backwards), movement, great song for rocking and bouncing babies!
Track 14: Fireworks --learn colors, play with colored scarves, parachute
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