music

Maestro Classics Carnival of the Animals is Zoological Music Kids Will Love-Giveaway

December 12, 2012 by Kathryn 42 Comments

The Maestro Classics Stories in Music collection is one of my very favourites series in children’s music. I absolutely love the way that the CDs marry engaging stories with stunning classical music tracks to ensure that some of the most acclaimed music in the world becomes a family-friendly listening experience.

The newest release from Maestro Classics, Carnival of the Animals with the music of Camille Saint-Saens, is definitely one of the more child-friendly CDs in this series and I played it for the boys one day after school to see how they liked it. They had previously listened to the Maestro Classic CDs Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel and My Name is Handel, so they were familiar with the format of the CDs and sat down with me to enjoy the story. [Read more…]

Create, Edit and Share Your Media in a Snap with Roxio Creator NXT-Giveaway

December 9, 2012 by Kathryn 55 Comments

With Christmas quickly approaching, capturing and sharing all those special holiday memories is so important. And when the time comes to edit and share those photos and videos, I want them to look their best. So when I got the chance to review the newest version of the Roxio Creator NXT digital media suite, I knew I would put it to plenty of use in the coming weeks.

Roxio Creator NXT is the ultimate do-it-all program for family media. From music to data to videos, this software has all the features you need to create and share with friends and family. I installed the software and sat down to explore exactly what Roxio Creator could do.

The first thing that I appreciated about the software was that it included video tutorials. I don’t have a whole lot of experience with editing and so I really liked the fact that I could learn how to create better photos, videos and music compilations quickly and easily.

Roxio Creator NXT also allows you to capture streaming video from sites such as YouTube and convert videos to different formats so that they can be enjoyed on a variety of devices. Having one program that could do so much with my media was incredibly convenient. And Roxio Creator even includes the incredibly popular PhotoShop Pro X4 photo editing software! [Read more…]

Create a Peaceful Bedtime Tradition with the I Am Sleepy Children’s CD by Sukey Molloy-Giveaway

October 31, 2012 by Brenna 30 Comments

Bedtime is always a challenge in my home. Neither of my daughters take it well. In our efforts to make it easier for them my husband and I have a fairly consistent routine for them at bedtime which includes a half-hour warning, a bath on some nights but not all, moisturizer, teeth brushing and always three stories for each girl. However most nights still end with the frustration of them continuously coming out of their rooms to go pee, ask us “very important” questions or otherwise delay the inevitable task of falling asleep. Needless to say we are generally willing to try most reasonable tips we hear about easing your children to sleep when the time for bed arrives.

i am sleepy cover art So when we got the opportunity to review a musical CD called I Am Sleepy by Sukey Molloy that was designed to help young children fall asleep, I was hopeful and excited to give it a try. First of all I must say that even as an adult I found the music to be extremely soothing. The CD has 17 tracks which are mostly musical but also includes a few whimsical stories mixed in. Sukey Molloy states that her inspiration for the CD came from her warm childhood memories of her own mother singing to her at bedtime and I found that peaceful feeling really came through in her music. [Read more…]

The Great Gazzoon Provides Fanciful Audio Entertainment from Award-Winning Children’s Performer Rick Scott-Giveaway

September 27, 2012 by Kathryn 21 Comments

I don’t make any secret of my love of children’s music and literature. They are, in my opinion, one of the best foundations for future success and the fact that children are born with a natural love of music and stories only strengthens my beliefs. That’s why I take every opportunity I can to expose my children to a variety of stories and songs that will increase their appreciation for the diversity of the arts and the limitless boundaries of the human imagination.

the great gazzoon cover When I received an illustrated musical audio novel entitled The Great Gazzoon: A Tall Tale with Tunes and Turbulence by Rick Scott, I knew that I had found one of those gems in the world of children’s entertainment that would become a favourite in our home. Here’s a brief synopsis of the set:

Like his ancestors before him, Gazoon Wazoo is supposed to be practicing for the terrifying Walk across The Wire between the terrifying peaks of Mount Lanadoon. Instead he’s been playing his shnookimer and making up songs with his special ekko and a poetry-writing Princess. Can one boy’s love of music outsmart the angry Winds, defeat wily Lord Grot and bring balance and safety to the Kingdom? Join Rick Scott and 25 actors, singers and musicians for a musical audio adventures on 4 CDs with 40-page illustrated songbook. [Read more…]

Give Your Kids a New Way to Learn the Alphabet with W is for Wapiti: An Alphabet Songbook-Giveaway

September 20, 2012 by Kathryn 52 Comments

Almost every family has a colourful board book featuring the alphabet to help children learn that A is for Apple and B is for Bear. But what about a book that breaks out of that mould with an enchanting song for each letter? A book where M is for Marmot, I is for Imagine and W…is for Wapiti?

w is for wapiti cover art Having seen my fair share of alphabet books in my lifetime, I was delighted by the originality of W is for Wapiti: An Alphabet Songbook, the newest storybook and CD release from The Secret Mountain. With songs for each letter of the alphabet and bright, engaging pictures, it was the type of book designed to really engage a child instead of just being an endless repetition of letters and objects.

The songs had such a unique style and I especially liked some of the humour-based songs. In fact, the very first song, Aha Aha! Did You Do That? was one that kids and parents everywhere will be able to relate to. With a stern authority figure wondering who was being mischievous in the house and innocent-eyed children declaring that it certainly wasn’t them, it was like a song right out of our family’s home. (Though fortunately I’ve never had to deal with anyone putting a toad on my pie a la mode!) [Read more…]