BestChildrensMusic.com 2.0

I signed up for Skype a couple of years ago when I was taking the Emerging Technologies class as part of my Masters of Technology In Education program through Lesley University. It was fun then but, to be honest, when the class finished so did my use of Skype.

But everywhere I look today, folks are using this wonderful, and free, communication application from everything to from its basic phone service to its chat and video capabiltiies.

So I just wanted to let you know that my Skype account is active again.
Feel free to Skype me at fkoch841.
Hope to hear from you!!

Photo Credits
Skype Tiles:
http://flickr.com/photos/ajk/285003449/
Skype Team London:
http://flickr.com/photos/leedryburgh/64025652/

To say I was surprised would really be an understatement. Over the weekend I received notice that one of my songs “Money In Your Pocket” was named a semi-finalist in the children’s music category of the 2006 International Songwriting Competition.

I wrote “Money In Your Pocket” for Money Savvy Generation, a forward thinking education company with a critically acclaimed financial literacy program for elementary schools. The song is one of three commissioned by its founders, Michael and Susan Beacham, to support their curriculum.

A couple of years ago, I wrote and recorded the “Money Savvy Theme Song” and we knew then that music would become an integral part of their program. So last year the company decided it was time to integrate some more music into their curriculum. Michael already had some very concrete ideas of song themes and lyric content. The first song we collaborated on was “Kids Can Earn Money Too.” Michael supplied the lyrics and I tweaked them and set them to music. Next came a brief history of money with “In Ancient Times” where again, Michael created the lyrics and I adjusted them and created the music.

“Money In Your Pocket” came to life in a different fashion. By this time, I had a good handle on the focus and direction that the company wanted to go with their songs so I decided to write something on my own for the project. I wrote the lyrics and music for “Money In Your Pocket” (originally titled “Who Wants Some Money?”) and submitted it to Michael and Susan. They both loved it. Michael tweaked the lyrics a bit and the song was ready for to be recorded.

We recorded the three songs at Steve Rashid’s studio in Evanston, Illinois in the summber of 2006. I am excited about how well they came out and how welll they have been received. I am also proud to say that two of the songs feature my son, Matthew (age 10) on vocals. In fact you can hear him on verse two of “Money In Your Pocket.”

Click here to download a copy of the lyrics.

Turn up the volume and give “Money In Your Pocket” a listen…

 Money In Your Pocket: Play Now | Play in Popup

From the Vaults…
The following podcast was recorded in the August of 2006 and we are finally posting it. I told you it took us a while to get this stuff going! Anyway, we believe you will still find the content relevant, entertaining and informative. And though you might know one or two of the artists, our goal is to bring the music of other artists into your ears.

Program Notes:
00:00 Introduction - featuring Matthew Koch, original music by Kyle Chipman
00:36 Brief background on BestChildrensMusic.com and Fred Koch
02:46 Summer ‘06 Spotlight CD: Meltdown! by Justin Roberts
03:34 “I Chalk” - excerpt
05:23 “My Brother Did It” - excerpt
07:04 Summer ‘06 Spotlight CD: Moving Rhymes for Modern Times by Jim Gill
08:24 “Face The Facts” - excerpt
09:23 “Drumming The House”
13:11 Summer ‘06 Spotlight CD: I Was A Supa-Dupa-Pupa! by Lucas Miller
14:14 “It’s All About The Hive”
17:43 “Can You See The Connection?”
20:41 Closing comments, upcoming program themes

 BestChildrensMusic.com Podcast #1: Play Now | Play in Popup

Welcome to the new blogging side of BestChildrensMusic.com!

As with our website, it has taken us a long time to get from idea and concept to product and content. But we feel it has been worth the wait and hope that eventually, you will feel the same.

The website is wonderful and because of it we have been able to meet and network with many wonderful and extraordinary people from parents, teachers and librarians to children’s music artists, record label owners and marketing folks. But what is so attractive about the blogosphere is that we can get reviews out immediately so artists and their audience are able to have almost immediate feedback and access to information. Plus we will be able to feature upcoming and yet unrealeased audio projects and even put a few podcasts now and then.

So now that we are up and running, we hope you will add us to your RSS feed and check out our views and reviews of the best in children’s music.

Thanks for your support.