FamilyMusicParty.com

Rise Up Singing Songbook

2008-02-28T19:31:00.000-08:00

I love this book. This comprehensive collection contains words and guitar chords to nearly 1200 songs arranged in a compact, easy-to-use format. For those of you that want to sing while strumming a guitar or banging out the basic chords on a piano, you won't find a wider variety of fun tunes in one place. I had to buy a new copy because I used my old one till it fell apart.

"Folk Revival" favorites by Baez, Seeger, Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, Dylan, Mitchell, Taylor, Donovan & more

Contemporary folk songs from Near, Staines, Williamson, Rogers, Bok & many more

Broadway show tunes, Beatles' songs, Motown hits

Hymns, spirituals and gospel standards

Songs about peace, freedom, labor and the environment

Ballads, cowboy songs, chanteys and blues

Available in our store: Rise Up Singing: The Group Singing Songbook

Yo Gabba Gabba

2008-02-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

It's like Bootsy Collins meets the Muppets. Yo Gabba Gabba is a fantastical musical show for kids. Join DJ Lance Rock and his monster friends: Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex, and Toodee.

Check out this video: Party In My Tummy

Great Family Music Blogs

2008-02-21T18:11:00.000-08:00

There are a ton of great family music-related blogs to follow. Here are links to some of our favorites.

Indie Kids Rock
No Barney, Wiggles, or saccharine-sweet, sing-songy music. Just great independently produced kids music that truly rocks!

Hip Young Parent
Streaming kid-friendly music 24/7 from all generations & genres.

Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
Indie Music for Indie Kids on 93.9 The River and VFR.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and all that
Kids music and early childhood education.

Mama Lisa's World Blog
Conversations about the languages and cultures of the world, especially the songs and traditions of children.

Zooglobble
Kids and family music news and reviews. Kids music worth sharing.

Children's Music That Rocks
Music for kids that doesn't make adults want to rip their hair out.

Fids and Kamily
Reviews and news.

Cool Tunes for Kids
Highlighting some favorite kids' music, and also sharing insights from an actual kids' musician.

(Sm)All Ages
Doing it for the kids because "no one should have to listen to the wiggles ever."

Kids Music Planet
Podcast show notes, CD Purchasing information and related links.

Playing With Scratches by Ruckus Roboticus

2008-02-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

Although this is not really a children's music CD, it has universal appeal. It is the story of a boy growing up and learning music and facing "the establishment". With heavy drums, samples of kid's music and wild sounds it is a fun ride.

Rockin' To The Beatles (in Diapers)

2008-02-01T18:06:00.000-08:00

This kid is going to make it big.

The Johnny Cash Children's Album

2008-01-21T21:59:00.000-08:00

This record stars one of my favorite artists singing some great kid's songs. The tunes come from all over the place. Some Johnny wrote himself. He wrote "Dinosaur Song" with June Carter Cash. "Old Shep" was written by Ozark Jubilee star Red Foley and had been performed by Elvis. And Jeff Moss, one of the creators of Sesame Street, wrote a couple of the tunes.

Of course, some of the finest sounds anywhere come when Johnny and June sing together, as is heard on "I Got a Boy (and His Name is John)".

Songs
Nasty Dan
One and One Makes Two
I Got a Boy (and His Name is John)
Little Magic Glasses
Miss Tara
Dinosaur Song
Tiger Whitehead
Call of the Wild
Little Green Fountain
Old Shep
The Timber Man

Bonus tracks
There's a Bear in the Woods
Grandfather's Clock
Ah Bos Cee Dah
Why is a Fire Engine Red

The Johnny Cash Children's Album is available in our store.

Three is the Magic Number

2008-01-14T21:15:00.000-08:00

There are a ton of great resources online for a Schoolhouse Rock nostalgia fix. You can read the lyrics, see the official site or dive into the history.

I like to compare the original songs to more recent remakes. For instance, check out these two versions below, first the original, then the remake.

Three is the Magic Number
Music, lyrics, & performance by Bob Dorough

Three is the Magic Number
Performed by Blind Melon on Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks

Free to be You and Me

2008-01-13T17:21:00.000-08:00

Young Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack star in this 1974 flower child rock odyssey.

Artist: Dan Zanes

2008-01-12T20:54:00.000-08:00

"ALL AROUND THE KITCHEN" from the Family Dance album. Former punk rocker with many stunning Children's CDs. Based in New York. Visit his web site.

Artist: Raffi

2008-01-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

Certified superstar and legendary kid's music troubadour. Based in Vancouver, B.C. Visit his web site.

Musician Websites

2008-01-10T21:31:00.000-08:00

These musicians play music for the whole family. Kids and adults will find some musical favorites at these artist websites.

Dan Zanes
Former punk rocker with many stunning Children's CDs. Based in New York.

Sally Rogers
Connecticut-based, award-winning multi-instrumentalist playing folky, old-timey tunes.

Raffi
Certified superstar and legendary kid's music troubadour. Based in Vancouver, B.C.

Giant Kid
Fabulous website and fabulouser music from They Might Be Giants.

Barry Louis
A one-man symphony of comic anarchy. Music maker and video creator. Burtonsville, Maryland.

Gunnar Madsen
Multi-talented guy with Ants in his Pants. You've heard him in movies and on TV. He resides in Berkeley, CA.

Spaghetti Cake
The Young Person's Guide To The Rock Band. From Connecticut.

Billy Jonas
A percusive artist whos main instrument is the audience. Asheville, NC.

Nanna Unplugged
A silver-haired musical lady with sparkling eyes and a big kind smile.

Bill Harley
Slightly wacky storyteller, songwriter, author, playwright and performer from Seekonk, MA.

Tom Chapin
Rockland County, New York based singer songwriter with many albums and many awards.

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
Multi-instrumentalists and award winners who have played over 10,000 shows!

Ralph's World
Quirky Chicago-based singer-songwriter with a ton of fun songs.

Trout Fishing in America
Music for people who take their fun seriously.

Laurie Berkner
Music and videos from a veteran New York performer.

Arlo and Anna
Spunky, silly and smart Chicago duo.

Zak Morgan
Hilarious interactive singer storyteller from Cincinnati.

Joel Frankel
Upbeat, charming, and whimsical performer from Chicago.

Mother Goose Rocks
Rockin' tunes by various artists.

Monty Harper
Stillwater, Oklahoma-based traveling performer.

Ian Johnstone
Delightful Nanaimo, BC-based banjo picker.

Jim Cosgrove
Jam with this interactive Prairie Village, KS-based performer.

Justin Roberts
Chicago-based folk-pop children's recording artist.

Rocket Baby
Music that gets you and your child out of your seats and dancing.

Lyrics & Chords

2008-01-06T21:49:00.000-08:00

Have a sing-along. Check out these web sites for lyrics, notes, chords and all the info on your favorite family songs.

Music for Teaching: Using music to promote learning.
My-Edu Lyrics: Link page for lyrics.
The Ballad Tree: Links to song collections and indexes.
NIEHS Kid's Page: Midi melodies of classic songs with lyrics.
Songs2Play Lyrics-Chords: Directory of chords and lyrics to popular songs.
Judy & David Songbook: World famous online songbook for kids.
Kiddles
Lyrics Links
Becky's Campfire Songbook
Library of Congress
Cowboy Song Lyrics
Sea Shanty Songs
Big Eye Owl
Children's Music.org
Mama Lisa
Hebrew Songs
YMCA Campfire Songs
Guitar Tab Robot
OLGA Tabs
Temple of Tabs

Our Family Friendly Digital Media

2008-01-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I hook my laptop up to our home LCD TV and I watch videos and play games with my kids. One thing we’ve noticed is that it is often a challenge to locate appropriate music videos for the whole family. An innocent search for "Oh Suzanna" on YouTube.com might display a frat boy fart contest. We've been saving links to good videos on a new website we slapped together called FamilyMusic.tv.

Lately, rather than searching the web, we’ve been producing our own family-friendly digital creations. It is true that one of the drivers of user generated content has been users not finding what they want, so they create it themselves. Below is a sampling of our latest experiments. These were all created using consumer tools in our home. So, ah.. watch out!

The Mystery of Lazy Hill Farm
A music video made using toys and art supplies found around the house. The song was written by me and brilliantly brought to life by Ray, Zack and me at Andrew’s home studio.

The Camptown Ladies
A classic old tune spiced up by The Family Music Party Experience. Zack, Ray, and Todd played on this. Andrew engineered and produced.

Little Boxes
Written and recorded originally by Malvina Reynolds in 1962. I recorded it at Poolhaus Studios in Burbank, CA. I played all the instruments and sang all the vocals.

Faces on My Money
The kids and I tried to record a song and shoot and edit a music video in 4 hours or less...and it shows! I wrote the lyrics and part of a song and Ray supplied the better part of the melody and some real chords.

Resources & Reviews

2008-01-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

Below are some great resources for family music.

Best Children's Music

Playhouse Radio

Kid's Music Web

Children's Music Network

Kidz Music

Music for Little People

XM Kids

Video: Land of the Lost

2007-12-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

Rock out to the opening theme song to Land of the Lost.

Lyrics: Clementine

2007-12-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

In a cavern, in a canyon
Excavating for a mine
Lived a miner forty-niner
And his daughter, Clementine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

Light she was and like a fairy
And her shoes were number nine
Herring boxes without topses
Sandals were for Clementine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

Drove her ducklings to the water
Every morning just at nine
Hit her foot against a splinter
Fell into the foaming brine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

Ruby lips above the water
Blowing bubbles soft and fine
But alas, I was no swimmer
So I lost my Clementine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darlin fe7 g
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

Then the miner, forty-niner
Soon began to peak and pine
Thought he oughta join his daughter
Now he’s with his Clementine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

There’s a churchyard on the hillside
Where the flowers grow and twine
There grow roses, ‘mongst the posies
Fertilized by Clementine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

In my dreams she still doth haunt me
Robed in garlands soaked in brine
Though in life I used to hug her
Now she’s dead, I draw the line

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

Now you scouts may learn the moral
Of this little tale of mine
Artificial respiration
Would have saved my Clementine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

How I missed her, how I missed her
How I missed my Clementine
Till I kissed her little sister
And forgot my Clementine

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

The Muppets Sing Danny Boy

2007-11-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

Kermit introduces the Swedish Chef, Animal and Beaker as The Leprechaun Brothers. This trio is a great pairing of talent.

Public Domain Music (Royalty Free)

2007-10-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

PD Info

Blue Vision

EdGate

Teacher's Guide

PD Music