Tag Archives: kindie rock

Upcoming Show: Sunday, June 1 – Fort Mason Farmers’ Market

FarmersMarketI had so much fun playing at a CFMA Farmers’ Market last week that I am doing it again this weekend! This time I am bringing my original children’s music and family friendly covers to the Fort Mason Farmers’ Market.

Come on down to Fort Mason this Sunday and support our local farmers . I will entertain you and your little ones while you shop!

 

Sunday, June 1st
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Fort Mason Farmers’ Market ‎
Fort Mason Center, Marina & Buchanan
San Francisco, CA 95136
View Location

The Fort Mason parking lot fills up quickly. I recommend parking a few blocks away and walking in rather than attempting to park in the lot.

Upcoming Show: May 18th – Blossom Hill Farmers’ Market

On Sunday, May 18th I will be playing at the Blossom Hill (San Jose) Farmers’ Market. Woo hoo! Come on by and shop for fresh fruits and veggies while I entertain you! Bring the little ones because I’ll be playing my family friendly tunes.

Sunday, May 18th
9am – 1pm
Blossom Hill Farmers’ Market ‎
Ohlone-Chynoweth Light Rail Station
San Jose, CA 95136
View Location

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Yum Strawberries! We love organic fruits and veggies!

 

Listen to: Nana

This is a fun and playful song all about me and my nana! This song started as a little ditty I used to sing to Owen on Saturday mornings…

Owen and mama two days together
Owen and mama two days together

or if it was a three day weekend I’d sing

Owen and mama three days together
Owen and mama three days together

or if I had a week off of work I’d…well, you get the picture.

He was just a baby at this time and I can still see his little smile whenever I sang him this little tune.

When I was writing songs for Obstacle Course, I decided to turn this little ditty into a song. I added verses and changed the chorus from “Owen and mama” to “me and my nana”. I thought nana had a nice ring to it and depersonalizing it would hopefully welcome others to join in on the fun. But guess what? I don’t call my grandma Nana, I call my grandma Oma. What do you call your grandma?

Give it a listen. I hope you’ll sing along!

“Nana” is a track on my upcoming album, Obstacle Course. Please check back soon for album updates or sign up for email updates by clicking the “Follow This Blog” button in the right sidebar.

– kk

Owen’s Picks

I love when a song catches Owen’s attention. He’ll stop whatever he’s doing, tilt his head to the side and ask “What’s that song?” and then declare happily, “I like it!”

Here are four songs that recently received my opinionated three-year-old’s nod of approval and, thankfully, are all fun songs the entire family will enjoy!

We heard this song on a Sunday drive out to Oma and Opa’s house. Moments after it started Owen declared “I like this song.” Although I much prefer the German version this tickled me to my 80’s core.

99 Red Balloons  – Nena

This song comes on at the end of the movie “Marmaduke”. Owen and I have watched “Marmaduke” three times, yes three times. Every time this song started Owen popped up from behind the couch (he’d lost interest in the movie by this point – sadly I was still glued to the TV) and asked, “What’s that song?” Another 80’s gem.

What I Like About You – The Romantics

This is a sweet and beautiful song from a new family album by Walter Martin (available May 13th – can’t wait!). Owen heard it for the first time one Saturday morning on Spare the Rock Spoil the Child (we listen most Saturdays via PRX.org). As soon as it came on he stopped, listened and asked “What’s that song?” then declared that he liked it!  I like it too, I like it a lot.

Sing to Me – Walter Martin featuring Karen O

We heard this next one also while listening to Spare the Rock Spoil the Child. It was Owen’s top pick from the 3/22 show. This made me very happy because it totally ROCKS! We listened to it five times and danced all over the living room. I’m definitely going to check out ScribbleMonster and see what else they’ve got going on.

A Monster Goes Rrraargh!- ScribbleMonster

What songs has your little one responded to lately?

Listen to: The Fort

I wrote this song one day while waiting for Owen to wake up from his afternoon nap. On this particular day Owen slept a lot longer than usual. I found myself with precious free time but no idea what to do.

I decided to build a fort out of a large cardboard box. I cut out a window and a door and – voilà – a fort! I was super excited to see how Owen would react when he saw his new fort. So I sat down and waited for him to wake up…and waited…and waited…”Hmmm?” I thought. “What should I do now?” I had to do something with all the excitement I was feeling over yes, a cardboard box.

The first verse of the song was basically already written

I’m building a fort today
I’m hoping you will come and play
It has a window, it has a door
When you get here it will be so much more
Fun at the fort today, down at the fort today

and the rest just followed.

So now, here is the full song for your listening pleasure!
I hope you enjoy it!

“The Fort” is a track on my upcoming album, Obstacle Course. Please check back soon for album updates or sign up for email updates by clicking the “Follow This Blog” button in the right sidebar.

– kk

Debut Album Coming Soon

I’ve been keeping quiet about my album because it has been taking much longer to complete than I originally anticipated. I am getting close to finishing so…it’s finally time to start spreading the news!

I am excited to announce and share a preview of my debut family music album, Obstacle Course!

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The album artwork is by my friend, Denis Zimmermann, of Zimmermann Studio. Denis is also the artist behind the illustrations you see around my site.

Please stay tuned for album updates!

Secret Show: Saturday, May 11th – The Sherman Elementary Garden Party

This Saturday, May 11th, I will be performing at the 6th Annual Sherman Elementary Garden Party!

The Garden Party is open to the public and admission is free. Come on by and see what the students at Sherman are growing in their garden! There will be a DJ, food, face painting, a “trashion” fashion show, live music (me!!) and lots of other fun activities.

Trashion fashion is fashion made out of garbage or more likely recyclables. I’m thinking of making a colorful necklace out of some lids I’ve collected.  I’m calling this a secret show because I’m not on the flier and aside from posting it here I feel like being a little mysterious about  it. But I will be there with my guitar and some songs. If you are in the area stop by around 1:00 pm.

Saturday, May 11th
11 – 3 pm
Sherman Elementary Garden Party
1651 Union Street

My set at 1:00 pm

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Song Inspiration – Whale Kisses

Recently, while packing up a bunch of baby gear that Owen had outgrown, I came across Owen’s aqua-themed activity mat. I felt a little sad preparing his things to give away because each item, the mat especially, triggered so many memories of Owen as a baby.

Owen spent countless hours rolling and crawling and drooling on this little piece of fabric. When he was tiny he would lay on his back, kicking his feet and punching his arms all over the place. If we played James Brown, those arms and legs really seemed to have a mind of their own.  Sometimes he would repetitively kick one of the foam poles that arched over the mat, jiggling all the sea creatures and rattles that hung above.  As he grew he became more interested in those items hanging from the poles, he would pull and swat at them or just study them and explore the different textures. He was a champ at tummy time, and would lie on his belly and rake his hand across the silky surface. I smiled as I pictured him on the mat and felt a little unsure about giving it away. But I finished packing it up and hoped another family would enjoy it as much as we did.

Later I went downstairs and saw a little whale shaped pillow peeking out of a basket, another piece of the aqua-themed mat. Seeing it triggered another memory. I remembered when I lightly touched it against Owen’s cheek and sang “whale kisses, whale kisses” and Owen giggled for the first time. I picked up Whaley, as we call the pillow, looked at it and then hugged it close. “Whale Kisses, Whale kisses, ….” I sang in my head and smiled to myself again. For just a moment I wondered if I should bring it upstairs and pack it with the rest of the mat but I knew right away I couldn’t. Our little whale pillow is definitely a keepsake item and will stay with us.

Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Gently on your cheek
Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Giggles soft and sweet

I swim right by you
Up an down and all around
I’ll rise and surprise you
Blow a spout of water out

Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Gently on your cheek
Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Giggles soft and sweet

The deepest oceans
That’s where I roam, my happy home
I eat lots of plankton
My baleen, filters it clean

Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Gently on your cheek
Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Giggles soft and sweet

Here is the video of Owen’s first giggle and the inspiration for the song “Whale Kisses”.