Help: Folk music video for children

Subject: Folk music video for children
From: GUEST,Christine Rigney
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 11:01 PM

Greetings, I'm wondering if someone might be able to point me in the right direction. I'm assisting in home schooling a very special ten year old girl who has autism. In several weeks we will be starting a new unit on the history of folk music, (nothing too involved - general music appreciation). Since video is a medium she responds so well to I'm hoping to find one (or several) which is educational and entertaining for a young person. I'm tremendously grateful for any suggestions anyone may have. P.S. While I'm here I'd be foolish not to ask... any ideas for children's folk music story books? Much thanks, Christine

Subject: RE: Help: Folk music video for children
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 04:31 PM

John Langstaff http://www.revels.org/langstaff_video.html has a nice series that includes 2 videos for children. Scroll down on the Revels web site and check out ( I think) # 5 & 6. They are very appealing!
BTW, my son has an autism related disorder and we have found the computer to be the best way to reach him with music- the creations he composes on Noteworthy Composer are pretty dazzling- to us at least!

Subject: RE: Help: Folk music video for children
From: Margo
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 07:56 PM

I sing daily at the early childhood center where my son is a student. My son and daughter also have autism so I'd love to chat with you about your student. Each and every child with autism are so different!!! What works for one doesn't work for another.
Anyway, you can send me a personal message here, or email me at [e-mail]. I'd love to chat with you! Margo

Subject: RE: Help: Folk music video for children
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 10:16 PM

I have several autistic children in my pediatric practice, and would be very interested in what you folks have found that has helped. We're a small rural island with not a lot of local resources, but if there are online resources that have been helpful I'd appreciate knowing about them. I've helped parents work through lots of standard and very nonstandard kinds of treatment, but as you well know, this is a very individualized disorder with no magic bullet.
And Christine, to answer your original question, you might think about looking for videotapes of some traditional folk performers in concert. I'm thinking of The Weavers, Pete Seeger (alone), early Joan Baez, etc. It's not what we would think of as "kids video", but there's a reason why these old songs have been so popular for so long even without "kidifying" them. I'm guessing that your student is at a high enough level to appreciate the music. Another source is the Wee Sing series, put together by two women in Oregon whose names I can't recall at the moment. The original audiotape series includes one called "Wee Sing Fun and Folk" which is an outstanding collection of traditional folk songs done by people who really enjoy what they're singing, and I think they may have a video series now. Good luck, and welcome to the Mudcat.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Folk music video for children
From: rangeroger
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 10:34 PM

Christine, try to find any of the Rabbit Ears "American Heroes and Legends" series of video tapes.They include good storytelling combined with music in an animation format.
The one I have is "Jonny Appleseed". Garrison Keilor narrates and Mark O'Conner does the music.There are several others but the only address I can give you is:
Rabbit Ears Productions,Inc.
Rowayton,Ct.
rr

Subject: RE: Help: Folk music video for children
From: GUEST,Victoria
Date: 22 Mar 00 - 08:38 PM

Tom & Chris Kastle have a great video for kids - the kids at my school just love it. It doesn't deal with the history of folk music,per se, but it presents sea chanteys (often with movements, hand motions,etc.) and also tells a little bit about the origins of that type of music. It's available through their website at http://www.schoonerman.com/sextant.htm Good luck in your teaching endeavors!