Little Elephants » Music

Paper plate banjo

Veronique Christensen — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:00:00 +0000

This one was from the Peninsula School’s Holiday Craft Fair.

You have to hold the banjo pretty close up to hear it well, but the sound is amazing — reminds me of a Didgeridoo — way cool!

To make your own:

Wrap three strong rubber-bands around a thick paper plate
Staple that plate onto another one so you can’t displace the rubber-bands
Hot-glue on a paint stirring stick for the arm
Decorate
Strum!

I can’t emphasize enough how much I like easy projects

Handmade guitar

Veronique Christensen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:16:05 +0000

Maggie gets very upset with me when I haul out the recycling because in it she sees endless possibilities, countless projects just waiting to happen. One of her favorites is Marching Band. Brothers get recruited as workers or audience members, and if they’re really lucky, they get to march as well. She makes all the instruments: maracas, shakers, tambourines, drums, bottle flutes, and guitars.

To make her Box Guitar all you need is a box, some rubber bands, tape or a stapler, and an empty paper-towl roll.

Cut out a square(ish) on the front of the box, and a hole big enough for the roll at on end.
Tape or staple rubber bands across the open section on the front. They should be pretty taught.
Stick the tube in at the end and tape to secure it.
Strum!

I was surprised at how well this worked, while not exactly the most musical of sounds, it definitely made different pitched plinks and plunks when strummed.

Next time, I’m thinking I’ll break out the tempera paints, and glitter glue so she can properly decorate her oeuvre, and make it her own (dub Tim Gunn voice-over here). As is this photo feels a bit too much like product placement for me . At least this time, she chose a soda bottle for her flute instead of the usual wine or beer

Apple Camp

Veronique Christensen — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:44:23 +0000

Maggie and Bjørn went to camp this morning, Apple Camp that is. I’d heard that our local Apple stores hosted workshops for kids — being a Mac Momma, I had to try it out.

I signed ‘em up for the Music Camp and I have to say, the Apple guys and gals did a great job with the kids, first introducing them to iTunes, and then walking them through their own compositions on GarageBand. After two and a half hours M&B had far eclipsed my sorry grasp of the app.

They each came back with a song they co-wrote and produced with another camper, plus a bunch of cool schwag — t-shirt, patch, note-book, bumpersticker, and Mama’s favorite, a Field Guide to Apple Camp programs filled to brimming with good tips and tricks for the kids.

On top of it all the program is completely free — it’d better be considering that they force the parents to stay put for the whole thing (in spite of having signed waivers and whatnot), so we have to browse and daydream about all the stuff we’d like to get some day (iPhone, I’m looking at you).

I was on the fence about exposing my kids to such overt advertising and, let’s be honest here, this program really is all about introducing them to the brand, but in this case I’m convincing myself that it’s ok ’cause they’re learning something really cool and creative.

I hope I’m not deluding myself.

[cross posted on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog]

Global grooves

Veronique Christensen — Mon, 14 May 2007 21:44:38 +0000

My friends sent me this awesome video of their kids dancing. Of course I had to beg and plead to share with my peeps — if you need a smile today, this is the vid for you

Donovan’s Pied Piper

Veronique Christensen — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:37:20 +0000

Today is one of those days… I’m still under the weather (I’m convinced it’s the Plague), the house is a disaster, the laundry pile has morphed into a mountain range, the baby won’t nap, and I’m too wiped out to entertain him. For me, this is a Donovan moment.

We’ve had Pied Piper for a few years now and all our kids love it. The grown-ups, too. It’s quiet, happy, dancy-type music. Just perfect for lifting my spirits, and perfect to get the little one thinking that life is beautiful and fun.

I’m crossing fingers that all the dancing will get him ready for a snooze soon

Piano boy

Veronique Christensen — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:08:07 +0000

This one is for the grandparents, aunts, and uncles who live much too far away. After two months of lessons, my boy has taken to improvisation. I think he’s incredible (even without the piano). This is required viewing for folks with the sur-names of Chesnais or Christensen.

A hard day’s night

Veronique Christensen — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 10:15:41 +0000

With the Olders both getting into their music so much recently, Tomas has begun introducing them to the Fab Four as part of their fundamentals of musicology education. This weekend he taught them to play "In my life," by the Beatles on guitar and piano. Both children have added their own twist to the classic, and have arranged their performances to their liking. When Tomas isn’t around, it’s my job to find lyrics, and to sing along so they can catch the tune (this is not to say that I can actually carry a tune, but I do my best). My Mamma’s heart just about bursts (sometimes with laughter) when I listen to them sing and play.

Last night was a family movie night. After an upside-down dinner of saussage and scrambled eggs, we all piled into bed with pillows, and comfy duvets to settle in and watch a flick on the computer monitor (’cause there ain’t no TV no more). Keeping to the Beatles theme, we watched A Hard Day’s Night and the kids LOVED it. I never expected them to react so strongly to it, but by the end of the viewing they were sleepy, but oh so happy, and both commented on how much they liked the movie with BIG smiles on their happy faces. What a perfect way to end the weekend and head off to bed.

Little Froggy

Veronique Christensen — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:25:51 +0000

Our young friend AC is visiting for the day. She and Maggie have been friends since they were two years old (Bjørn’s entire life!). They’ve been busy all day, playing make believe, making more magnetic paper dolls, and inventing new songs as they play. I had to share their latest:

I’m a Little Froggy,
Short and stout.
I eat my bugs,
And then I poop ‘em out.
Excuse me!
I just burped!
Very Nutritious!

I even recorded it using Apple’s Garageband and managed to miss the very beginning, but you can click the link to have a listen:

Download froggy.m4a

That’s Maggie you’ll hear on guitar

Kids growing up…

Veronique Christensen — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 10:11:40 +0000

We spent Thanksgving with extended family and re-discovered my sister-in-law’s family. At the end of the evening we listened to some recorded-at-home tracks; written and performed by her niece. Today I had to post a link to share the work that this young woman is doing.

I first met Ana when she was a little girl. She was lovely then, and now she is lovely and incredibly talented. I’ll be first in line to buy her CD!

>> Check out Ana Caravelle’s MySpace page to hear her sing.

Little T’s birthday rattle

Veronique Christensen — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 10:01:12 +0000

For Little T’s first birthday, M made him this rattle out of cups, pop-corn kernels, and painters’ tape. He loves it! (but not quite as much as the Rocket Ship she made ealier this week).