CBC Music announced on July 18 the addition of the Kids' CBC music stream to its lineup of free music channels. This new web radio station is geared towards the two-to-six-year-old set and offers a continuous, free stream of songs from such artists as Anne Murray, Raffi, Sharon, Lois & Bram and Fred Penner.
Check out the new Kids' CBC stream on CBC Music.
In addition to the Kids' CBC stream, CBC Music offers a range of commentary and entertaining analysis of children's music. For instance, if you're a parent of small children, then you know that not all kids' music is suitable for adults. CBC Music's Dave Shumka is here to help:
Kid Koala to Tegan & Sara: 5 kids' songs that don't suck.
Montreal musical renaissance man Socalled, a.k.a. Josh Dolgin, is not only a pianist, producer, composer, arranger, rapper and singer, but also a magician, cartoonist and puppet maker. We felt these latter talents, especially, made him the right person to guide us through the whimsical world of children's music. Socalled rose to the challenge:
Socalled's guide to kids' music.
While you may not find a lot of five year olds hanging out at the local blues bar on a Saturday afternoon, waiting for a turn on the open stage, that doesn’t mean kids don’t like blues:
Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, Buckwheat Zydeco make blues for little people.
Dan Zanes started his career in music in the 1980s as the frontman for the Boston-based garage act the Del Fuegos, an act praised by sources including the magazine Rolling Stone and the Boss, Bruce Springsteen. However, when Zanes and his wife settled down and had a baby, the songwriter turned his talents to making music for children. What started out as a side project quickly became a new musical direction for his career. He shares his tips with CBC Music:
Dan Zanes on how to perform music for children.
To celebrate the launch of our new Kids' CBC stream on CBC Music, we asked Kids' CBC celebrity yam Mamma Yamma to share her shuffle playlist. Yamma put her iPod on shuffle, and told us about the first 10 songs to play out. Given the numerous musical guests who've played her Kensington Market grocery-café, it's no surprise many of those talented Canadians landed on her playlist:
Mamma Yamma shares her shuffle playlist.
Fred Penner is one of the cornerstones of high quality children’s music. The Juno-winning gentle giant of the genre (called the "Canadian Minister of Positivity" by Los Angeles Parent) has much insight into what performers should do to make a genuine and joyful connection with children. He shares some of that insight with CBC Music.:
Fred Penner’s tips for entertaining tots (and kids of all ages)
Related:
Sesame Street's Cookie Monster parodies Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe'
Judy and David: Children's music from Canada's sing-along superstars