To be quite honest, I’m not a very musical person. Sure, I listen to the radio in the car and attend the occasional Jimmy Buffett concert, but music has never been a real integral part of my life. (With the exception of a rather short career as a piano player at the age of eight and a few rather torturous years in the middle school band as a rather mediocre clarinet player, of course.) It wasn’t until I became a parent that I saw something of substance in this particular realm. I have firmly adopted the Music Together philosophy that all children are musical and that they learn through “active music making.” It emphasizes caregiver involvement and teaches parents to interact musically with their children. I see huge developmental strides in my children as they grow and blossom in this program and I, in turn, have found a fantastic educational and entertaining experience that I am able to enjoy with my children. I am continually fascinated by the emotion that they seem to be able to read in the language of a song. They are soothed by lullabies, calmed by reggae, and get excited when listening to “Daddy Music.”
I try to make music a large part of my day and my week. The kids and I play instruments and have dance parties; we belt out Ralph’s World songs in the car. We play lullabies at bedtime; we attend Music Together classes, and we go to concerts together. A few years ago, I discovered the most wonderful thing to add to our musical repertoire: the summer concert series. These fabulous, often free evening events crop up all over our state this time of the year, offering a patch of grass and a band. You just add your family, a beach blanket, and a picnic dinner for a stress-free, low cost, no mess evening out. Our family spends at least one night a week attending such an event and it is one of the highlights of our summer. It was at just such a concert that we first saw the children’s band that we have spent the last four years following around: The Toe Jam Puppet Band.
A Toe Jam Puppet Band performance is a unique blend of fun singing, dancing, and interactive storytelling that brings children (and the occasional parent) up on stage to participate in the show. The quirky duo’s antics are hilarious and they throw in plenty of underlying adult humor to keep the moms and dads chuckling. The kids gather up front and are welcomed into a circle of excitement that keeps their senses stimulated for a full hour. Mr. Vinny, a fun-loving and excitable man who acts half child, has kids chasing him around, squealing with joy as he squirts them with water during the “Car Wash” song. Mr. Tom stands on the stage behind him, singing his original songs and playing the guitar in a plaid suit with matching plaid shoes. From the bubbles and hula hoops to the silly hats and the Conga line, the ‘kiddos’ are provided with a virtual smorgasbord of excitement guaranteed to entertain. Moms and dads are encouraged to join in, dosey-doing with their children and holding up their feet in proper lawnmower position. It really is an all-encompassing family good time.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of attending a concert, I implore you to do so. Your kids will thank you. While they can be found every Monday at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, their online schedule is bursting with tour dates that span Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and parts of New Hampshire. I have been known to travel long distances to catch a show, but excited to say that they will be in South Kingstown on August 17th. See you there…
Tuesday, August 17th at 6:30 PM
South Kingstown Parks and Recreation Summer Concert Series
Peace Dale Village Green
325 Columbia Street
Wakefield, RI
Rain Location: Peace Dale Elementary School Gymnasium
109 Kersey Rd., Wakefield, RI
~Colleen~
Thanks for the great tip! Bellani loves to bring families together through music. Check out our Fall selection of music classes – Rock A Baby, ABC Music and Me and Music Together!
This is great! I’ve been trying to find ways to get our kids more into music. Depressingly, as I’m a musician, they seem entirely uninterested. In fact, they’re pretty much terrified of my guitar. Sigh. I’ll try to check out these Toe Jam folks!