It’s summer now and it’s a fun time to watch kids PLAY. With windows open and kids outside, it’s a perfect time to hear them singing to themselves, laughing and horsing around in the summertime. I remember how important music and singing was to me when I was little! I started off singing with my family. In fact, my sister Marybeth, my brother Rafe and I were allowed to stay up late to join in the singing with our family which included our aunts and uncles, cousins, my Dad Ralph on harmonica and my mom Maurie on piano. My brother Rafe Haines is now an accomplished musician and teacher and my sister is an author and animal advocate who sings like a bird.  I often wonder if growing up on our farm with the animals and singing in the living room had a stronger effect of us then we realize.

 

I couldn’t find the picture I remember of me as a baby being held at the piano by my mom but I know it exists. I started off playing the ‘boogie woogie’ on the piano at talent shows after I would conclude my ventriloquist show with Magrau (who was still all-blue in those days). Now Magrau has sprouted feathers of red, orange and blue as bird puppets named Magrau tend to do as they reach the ripe old age of 12. Magrau likes to refer to his age as ‘noon’ because he gets times on the clock mixed up with numbers, or because he thinks it’s funny.

 

Since I moved to Vancouver I had been hearing about Marnie Grey from Music with Marnie.  We both performed musicals in the HR MacMillan Planetarium in Vancouver. I was always struck by her smile and her kind heart. She teaches these amazing music classes to children and if you haven’t already heard about her I hope you look her up as a teacher or see her sing and perform in one of her fun musical shows with her band!

Music has a magical sort of effect on the human brain. Kids in particular can learn very effectively through song. When audience participation is added then the kids can experience a wonderful blend of fun, learning and artistic appreciation.

 

In my album The Story Of Me, Myself & I one of my favourite songs to perform is called I Want to Play.

”Come look for me, by the willow tree, we’ll play hide and seek or you can sing to me.”

I asked Sarah Price who later grew up on the same farm I grew up on, to take a photo of that willow tree now.  As a kid, I remembered flying kites by the same willow tree which was quite small in those days, but magical because you could hide under the leaves and branches while laying on your back looking up at the tree. So, the song comes from my past and through song comes the willow tree. This tree is huge now! Both of our families, hers and mine have grown up by the tree and the willow tree still stands. I hope other kids get to sing underneath that willow tree. I just sang I Want to Play yesterday at The Newport Village Summer Festival and even the shy kids and adults came forward to do the actions and move to the beat of the music.

New Contest!

Hey guess what? We had a ton of great comments from our last blog post offering free CD’s for the first 3 people who left a comment. I couldn’t just give away 3 CD’s so I’m actually putting quite a few in the mail.

Listen to my CD online (you can purchase one here and/or stream for free) and then tell me who you’d like me to gift the CD to. Post your comment mentioning who you would like me to send a CD to and why and then email me at kelliehaines@shaw.ca with the name and address of your friend or family member, and I’ll get a CD out to the first 5 people who respond to this blog. Why? Because it’s fun and it helps me get my music out there to everyone! When I mail the CD, I’ll mention that it is a gift from YOU.

 

Stay tuned for some music videos where I’ll show you the actions to the songs so you can sing and do the actions at home! Also don’t forget to join our newsletter about upcoming shows and puppet happenings.

The sun is shining in my eyes as I write this so I think I’ll head out to the post office to mail the CD’s and then take my bike around the park because it’s summer! I often sing on my bike to practise, so if you hear me coming (or if you hear the voices of Kamilla or Magrau) give me a wave. It would make our day.

Kellie 😉