About FunMusic for Little Kids -
FunMusic for Little Kids® provides early childhood music education resources for teachers and those working with young children. These resources have been written and developed by Lynne Pilbrow, an early childhood music specialist with a passion to see children exposed to music education from a young age. The FunMusic for Little Kids® resources aim to introduce age-appropriate musical knowledge, skills and concepts to children, and are designed to foster an enjoyment and love of music, as well as develop children’s musical creativity. The FunMusic for Little Kids® resources draw on the methods of music educators such as Kodaly and Orff, taking the best of these approaches and forming them into a user-friendly music program which really works with young children. Lynne has trialled all of her resources with hundreds of children over many years and can attest to the fact they really do work! Producer and musician Ian Blake has collaborated with Lynne in the making of the FunMusic for Little Kids® resources – he has truly made all of the songs come alive with his brilliant instrumentation.
Currently there are three titles in the FunMusic for Little Kids® series - Animals, Transport and Christmas. The next title 'In The Garden' (songs, rhymes and activities about beetles, bugs, snails and slugs and more) is currently in production.
About Lynne Pilbrow -
Lynne has always loved music, and during her formative years had the privilege of learning piano, singing, music theory and musicianship from highly skilled music teachers. After training as a primary school teacher in Melbourne (Australia), the early part of her career was spent teaching music in primary schools. She then moved into early childhood music teaching positions in private and international schools in Canberra and Bangkok. Lynne established her FunMusic for Little Kids® business in Canberra in 2002, and taught music to hundreds of young children and their families. She has also taught music at her local primary school, conducted children’s choirs and taught music education in the undergraduate teacher education programs at the University of Canberra and Australian Catholic University. Believing that a good music program should be well-grounded in research, Lynne has completed a Master of Education, specialising in Early Childhood education, and continues to pursue research in the field of music education in the early years. Lynne is passionate about raising the profile of music education, and advocates strongly for every child to be given access to music education from a young age.
Lynne lives amongst the sheep and alpacas and gum trees on a property in Yass, New South Wales, Australia.
About Ian Blake -
Ian enjoys folk music, early music and electronica, and his own music often shows traces of all three: he has worked as a composer for theatre, film, chamber music, dance and public art projects, while his production and sound engineering skills have earned him a Gold Disc and an ARIA nomination. He has produced award-winning records for children, many for the ABC, where his multi-instrumental abilities and arranging skills have contributed to some classics. Awarded the National Folk Fellowship in 2006, he drew on children’s folklore recordings to create new music and soundscapes based on playground traditions and lullabies.
Originally from London, Ian has worked mainly in the folk and world music scene in venues from Alaska to Zanzibar. On arriving in Australia he toured extensively with children’s entertainer and educator Mike Jackson – a great way to see the country and get into fun music for little kids!
Recent activities include research into sound art, singing renaissance music and playing lots of bass.
More at www.ianblake.net