Confetti Park Children's Workshop

Tag: johnette downing

  • Music Medley: Desert Snow Man

    Music Medley: Desert Snow Man

    Listen to this music medley "Desert Snow Man" from Confetti Park!Confetti Park: Children’s Music Radio Show from Louisiana

    This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians.

    Songs featured in this episode, in order:

    Also featured in this episode, a story called “The Lord’s Supper” by Ms. Chocolate and a music memory from Dirty Dozen saxophone player Roger Lewis.

    The Confetti Park hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

  • Music Medley – Lettuce In!

    Music Medley – Lettuce In!

    lettueConfetti Park kids radio

    This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:

    Whole World in His Hands – George Porter, Jr.
    Kazoo Song – Judy Caplan Ginsburgh
    I’m a Puppy – Mel Lecompte
    Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog – Don Abney & the Louisiana Pollywogs
    Messy Room Blues – Johnette Downing
    Ducks in a Nest – Belen Walker
    Inky Pinky Ponky – Nola Frazier
    Clean My Room – Imagination Movers
    Farmer in the Dell – Julieann Banks and Friends
    Goodbye – Red Wolf Brass Band

    Also featured in this episode, The Little Louisiana Pine Tree, and a music memory from Duane Petri.

    About Confetti Park

    The Confetti Park hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

  • Music Medley: Frog on a Lily Pad

    Music Medley: Frog on a Lily Pad

    Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana. This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:

    Also featured in this episode, a story called Gumbo, Fried Cheese, The Saints, and Drew Brees, by Patricia Reese; a Music Memory from David Rosser; and several poems. Here is a poem of childhood by Peter Cooley, Louisiana poet laureate.

    And here are Confetti Park Players Eleanor and Manele Anika with their original poems.

    The Confetti Park hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    Confetti Park is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

     

  • Music Medley: Royal Bees

    Music Medley: Royal Bees

    cartoon of queen beeConfetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.

    This medley of kids music celebrates the mighty bee! The songs also showcase a diversity of Louisiana musical styles.
    Songs featured in this episode, in order:

    We’re Going to Confetti Park – Confetti Park Players
    Be My Honey Bee – Greg Schatz
    Busy Beeline –  Johnette Downing and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band
    Three Little Birds – Renzi Center Kids
    Bumble Bee – Ginger & the Bee and the Confetti Park Players
    Sugar “Shuga”  Bee – Papillon
    Animal Planet – a poem by Marcus Page
    How Doth the Little Busy Bee – Isaac Watts, narrated by Louis Ray
    Twenty Bees – Johnette Downing


    Also featured in this episode: A misadventure in beekeeping by Louisiana beekeeper Dan Hobgood for Confetti Park Storytime. He shares a true story from his childhood:

    Marcus Page shares a poem called “Animal Planet.”

    And Confetti Park Player Louis Ray narrates a poem about bees written by Isaac Watts.

     

    The Confetti Park hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    The radio program version is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

     

  • Music Medley: Frogs & Lizards & Flies

    Music Medley: Frogs & Lizards & Flies

    FrogConfetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana. This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians.

    Songs featured in this episode, in order:

    For more information about these artists, and kids music in Louisiana, visit https://confettipark.com

    Also in this episode, a childhood music memory from church organist Louis Mayer and a storytime feature by Yvette Landry: The Ghost Tree.

    The Confetti Park hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!

    [dt_sc_button type=”with-icon” link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/confetti-park/id979442391?mt=2″ size=”medium” target=”_blank”]Subscribe on iTunes[/dt_sc_button]

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

     

  • Storytime: The Fifolet by Johnette Downing

    Storytime: The Fifolet by Johnette Downing

    The Fifolet by Johnette Downing
    The Fifolet by Johnette Downing

    In this edition of Confetti Park, we have a very special reading by Louisiana children’s author Johnette Downing. This is a narration of her new book, The Fifolet.

    The fifolet (or feufollet) is a very spooky Louisiana legend that appears frequently in Cajun and Houmas Indian folklore. The say that the fifolet are swamp spirits making lights deep in the swamps……  Great big eerie balls of light, that seem to float above the water, and beckon the watcher to follow! Interestingly, this kind of legend appears not just Louisiana culture, but around the world. (Ever heard of the will o’ the wisps in Europe or ghost lights in Japan?)

    Different explanations blame supernatural spirits, or mischievous elves and fairies, or even the lost souls  of pirates guarding lost treasures in the swamp. And some people say it’s nothing but phosphorescent swamp gas making the blue fire.

    In her book, which was illustrated by Jennifer Lindsley, Johnette Downing tells about the fifolet through the experience of fisherman Jean-Paul Pierre, who has his heart set on finding the fifolet’s buried treasure.

    “Through cypress trees and beards of moss, there is a fire spirit that you never want to cross. It will tease you and coax you and draw you near, but all the Cajuns know that you better beware.”

    Worth noting is that the music to this story was also written and performed by Johnette. The music is actually from a song about another swamp creature known in Louisiana: the loup garoup, featured on her CD From the Gumbo Pot.

  • Storytime: Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud by Johnette Downing

    Storytime: Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud by Johnette Downing

    Why the crafish lives in the mudIn this episode of Confetti Park, Johnette Downing narrates her wonderful trickster tale, Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud.

    Long ago, the Crab and the Crawfish used to be best friends. But one sweltering day, Crawfish is feeling lazy and decides to take advantage of Crab’s generosity. Young readers will enjoy the colorful collage art while they learn a lesson about the consequences of tricking other people.

    This narration, which is available on Johnette’s Reading Rocks CD, is for sale as a book and available from Pelican Publishing on Amazon.com and from Johnette’s website. There is also a fun activity book associated with this story!

    Johnette Downing is an award-winning and internationally recognized singer and songwriter. Her many accolades include Parents’ Choice Awards,  iParenting Media Awards, and National Parenting Publication Awards. She is a favorite guest and contributor to Confetti Park!

  • Storytime: Why the Possum has a Large Grin by Johnette Downing

    Storytime: Why the Possum has a Large Grin by Johnette Downing

    Why the Possum has a Large Grin
    Why the Possum has a Large Grin

    Award-winning Louisiana children’s musician and author Johnette Downing shares with Confetti Park another marvelous trickster tale—this time about a possum! (Also listen to Why the Oyster Has the Pearl.)

    When hungry Deer asks Possum how he stays so plump during the long dry season, the sly marsupial gets an idea. It wouldn’t take much for Possum to help Deer; he could just climb that ol’ persimmon tree and knock down the fruit. But Possum is just plain lazy and he’d rather trick Deer into doing the work for both of them. Once Possum decides to take advantage of his starving neighbor they both become marked forever.

    This narration of Why the Possum has a Large Grin is available on Johnette Downing’s Reading Rocks CD, and in book form by Pelican Publishing. It is also available for purchase on Amazon.

    Audio used by permission.

  • Storytime: Why the Oyster has the Pearl by Johnette Downing

    Why the Oyster has the Pearl by Johnette Downing
    Why the Oyster has the Pearl by Johnette Downing

    Award-winning Louisiana children’s musician and author Johnette Downing shares with Confetti Park this marvelous trickster tale about generosity.

    A long time ago, the Oyster was not only generous and kind; he was also the keeper of all the gems in the world. Whenever any type of creature would come to him in need, the Oyster would share his jewels without hesitation. One day, a very greedy snake hatches a plan to shift the balance of wealth in the sea. But he’s in for a surprise when he tests the limits of the Oyster’s generosity.

    This narration is available on her Reading Rocks CD, and in book form by Pelican Publishing.

    Audio used by permission.

  • Johnette Downing at Jazz Fest!

    Johnette Downing
    Johnette Downing

    In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Ray interviews Johnette Downing, award-winning children’s musician and author. Through her books and songs, Johnette shares Louisiana culture with kids around the world.

    Johnette will be appearing at Jazz Fest this year; it is her 23rd year at the fest! You can see her at the kids tent on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at 12:40-1:40 p.m. Calendar

    (She also performs at the New Orleans Jazz Historical National Park Visitor’s Center at 11 a.m. on May 1.)

    In this interview Johnette discusses how she came to play children’s music, and how the jazz sounds of New Orleans inspired her as a child. As an adult, she got to record a CD of children’s songs with Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which she considers one of her crowing achievements.

    She also discusses the importance of parents enjoying music and dancing with their children. Jazz Fest is great for that!!!