A NOTE TO EDUCATORS (from Conductor Jack)...
Let me first tell you that I'm a teacher who loves to sing, not a singer who loves to teach. I love playing music for families and children, however. As an educator, I've learned that it's so much easier to teach when you have the tools of melody and rhythm. Children relate to musical messages in a fun, engaging way. I believe the best music can be sung by anyone - a simple melody, a few chords.
My wife Kitty and I each have a degree in Early Childhood Education, and when I'm not playing shows, I enjoy hosting conferences and providing resource materials for Early Childhood curriculum programs nationwide. You will notice that we have several costumed characters that form the Zinghoppers band. The use of these characters is based on both our child development research as well as our in-class time. We love telling our colleges that Penelope The Possum, Olo The Donkey and Coconuts The Kangaroo were all at one-time simple sock puppets that we created as teaching assistants. Now they are full-size characters, each with their own voice and personality! You will be shocked at how quickly your young children will relate to these colorful characters.
I am even a "character" of sorts, always appearing in traditional train conductor costume. This is also by choice because we all know how important familiarity and routine is to young children. Think of my railroad garb like Mr. Roger's sweater - a simple yet powerful reminder of daily routine...which sets the stage for learning.
This collection of songs was incredibly fun to write. Kitty and I worked with our "Hero Team" - a group of five dedicated teachers and professors that helped guide the content of this CD. We have songs covering a wide range of topics included a lineup game, a clean up song and circle time tunes. We have a song for each Center in your school. Many of the songs are based on traditional nursery rhyme melodies to help you learn them easily and incorporate them into the classroom quickly. Remember you don't need to be a great singer (or even a good one) to use music in transitional times. Young children respond so well to music that you will guide them through the day simply with a smile.
After many years of classroom experience I know how challenging, yet rewarding, your job is. We would like to take a moment to acknowledge you. Every day you have the incredible responsibility of shaping our world...and we thank you for that. It is our hope that the songs on this CD will encourage positive behavior and have your children singing their way through the day!
A NOTE TO PARENTS (from Conductor Jack)...
Toot! Toot! I am so thankful you are reading this. We appreciate your support so much! Over the past year, we have played nearly 300 shows and I can't tell you how many times a mom will ask if we have a tooth brushing song, or a dad will ask if I know any songs about cleaning up. The same themes come up over and over and we've been keeping a list of topic requests. At the same time, my wife Kitty and I decided to focus on a CD for educators of younger children to have singable songs that help with lunchtime, going outside or hand washing, for example. What we discovered was that the songs we were writing for both projects (parents and educators) all fit into what we jokingly dubbed, "A Day In The Life Of A Preschooler".
This CD is a "concept album", which means the songs are all unified by a theme. Another way to put it is to look at this CD as a story - there is a beginning, a middle and an end. The first 8 tracks are about the before school activities in a typical day: making a bed, riding in a car, meeting new friends at school. We even address the issue of separation anxiety. In the song, "I've Got A Family That Loves Me" - the child is encouraged to know that even though the family will drop them off at school (Track 8) they will always be picked up at the end of a school day (Track 36). Many of the songs in the middle of this CD can be used by parents or caregivers anytime. For example, "Hello, Happy Yum Yum Food" (Track 24) is an instrumental purposefully written as lunchtime music with a relaxing, calming melody.
Our goal has always been a very simple one: to encourage children ages 1-9 to explore the world around them. You are your child's greatest teacher, so remember that any moment can be a teachable one in the life of a young child.
Before recording this collection, we gave demos of this CD to parents of our young fans to get them "tested" at home and the feedback was overwhelming positive. We are so proud of this new collection and hope that some of the songs may become part of the "soundtrack" to your child's life. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for purchasing this album. We appreciate you so much. Happy zinging, oops - I meant happy singing!
ABOUT THIS CD...
It's time to sing your way through the day with award-winning innovative educators, the Zinghoppers. Parents of preschoolers will appreciate the before-school songs that encourage positive behavior.
Educators can turn stressful moments into fun learning experiences with practical, simple activity songs. From "Center Time Songs" to "Clean Up" and "Nap Time" every transition of the day is addressed with appropriate, imaginative sing-a-long songs. Guaranteed to provide children with an outlet for wiggles, while giving their brains a jump start with cross lateral games. "Between times" can be "teachable times" with this remarkable, classroom-tested CD.
Conductor Jack, leader of the Zinghoppers, has a very clear goal for the preschool pop band: “to play fun, interactive music that encourages kids (ages 1-9) to explore the world around them.” Now based in Franklin, Tennessee, the Zinghoppers recorded “Sing Your Way Through The Day” in such far-flung locales as: Sydney (Australia), Minneapolis, New York, Paris (France) and of course Nashville.
Lead vocal duties are split between Conductor Jack and Penelope The Possum and the group is rounded out by their friends Olo The Donkey (guitar) and Coconuts The Kangaroo (drums). Described as “Dan Zanes meets the Wiggles”, the band has been named “Nashville’s #1 Family Act” and performs upwards of 500 shows a year.
The Tennessean hailed leader Conductor Jack as, “The most famous musician in Nashville - if you are under five.”
The fab four of fun are joined by some of Nashville’s most prestigious session musicians who have recorded and toured with: Johnny Cash, Jessica Simpson, Jewel, Big & Rich, Richie Sambora, Steven Curtis Chapman and SonicFlood. A highlight of the new CD is the title track - which features Enzo Reinhardt on lead guitar. Enzo is the great-grandson of the legendary gypsy jazz great, Django Reinhardt.
“Our goal with this album is to present a day in the life of a preschooler. From getting up in the morning to the last song in the evening, we hope children are inspired to sing their way through the day,” explains Conductor Jack.
For more information on Conductor Jack and the Zinghoppers, please visit: www.zinghoppers.com.
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