Tag: songs

New Orleans-created Confetti Park CD wins a Parents’ Choice Approved Award

We’re Going to Confetti Park! is an album

NEW ORLEANS-CREATED CONFETTI PARK CD WINS A 2016 PARENTS’ CHOICE APPROVED AWARD
CD featuring world-class New Orleans musicians collaborating with kids on Louisiana-inspired songs is honored for its wholesome entertainment value.

Contact: Katy Hobgood Ray, [email protected]

New Orleans, LA – April 11, 2016 —We’re Going to Confetti Park!, the first musical release from New Orleans-based children’s media workshop Confetti Park, has won a 2016 Parents’ Choice Approved Award. Link to award site

21 tracks include jump rope jingles and whimsical songs about pirates, frogs, snoballs, Roman candy, and other uniquely New Orleans experiences, all to a soundscape created by world-class musicians such as Johnny Vidacovich, Jon Erik-Kellso, Evan Christopher, Matt Perrine, Patti Adams, Roger Lewis, David Rosser, Brian Coogan, Tim Robertson, Sarah Quintana, and others.

The principal performers are Katy Hobgood Ray and the Confetti Park Players, an all-ages children’s chorus who meet weekly to sing, make rhythms, learn traditional New Orleans songs, and practice the craft of songwriting.

“This album sounds like a carefree, sunny afternoon in Louisiana, but it also sounds to me like many months of practice and recording with these kids,” says choir director Katy Hobgood Ray. “They have worked hard and I am proud of them. I am so delighted that the Parents’ Choice Foundation has honored us.”

Parents’ Choice Approved Seals are given on the basis of the production, entertainment, and human values they exemplify. A Parents’ Choice Approved seal indicates a wholesome product that helps children enjoy developing physical, emotional, social or academic skills.

We’re Going to Confetti Park! was recorded by Matt Aguiluz and Jason Rhein at Marigny Recording Studio and mastered by Bruce Barielle. It is available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and CD Baby. You can also order CDs from https://confettipark.com or buy them at Louisiana Music Factory, Euclid Records NOLA, Fleurty Girl, and Magic Box Toys in New Orleans.

Musicians featured on We’re Going to Confetti Park!
Patti Adams, Matt Aguiluz, Chuck Bee, Evan Christopher, Brian Coogan, John Doheny, John Haffner, Scott Albert Johnson, Jon-Erik Kellso, Chris Lane, Roger Lewis, Ted Lindsay, Tom McDermott, Paul McDonald, Michelle Nelson, Rick G. Nelson, Mr. Okra, Beth Patterson, Matthew Perrine, Sarah Quintana, David Eugene Ray, Katy Hobgood Ray, Jason Rhein, Tim Robertson, David Rosser, Greg Schatz, Dr. Sick, Michael Skinkus, Daniele Spadavecchia, James G. Thornton, Dylan Field Turner, Johnny Vidacovich.

Confetti Park Players featured on We’re Going to Confetti Park!
Lily Bell, Luna Bell, Keller Clark, Saura Duke, Dean Foster, Elisa McDonald, Charleston McLean, Millie Moffett, Hrilina Ramrakhiani, Louis Ray, Sadie Strong, Virginia Strong

About Confetti Park
Confetti Park is a children’s media workshop, weekly radio program and podcast based out of New Orleans. Our first children’s book, The Little Mouse Santi, was named by Kirkus Reviews among the Best Books of 2015 (and is winner of a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award).

About Parents’ Choice Foundation
Since 1978, Parents’ Choice has been reviewing and recommending quality children’s media and toys. To learn more about the Parents’ Choice Foundation, visit http://www.parents-choice.org/

MEDIA: E-mail Katy Hobgood Ray
Watch Out for the Pirates – the music video!

Enjoy this music video for “Watch Out for the Pirates” featuring the Confetti Park Players and the NOLA Pyrates, filmed on location in Pirates Alley in the French Quarter, New Orleans, La. (Additional footage from Mardi Gras 2016.) This catchy pirate tune was written by Greg Schatz, a fabulous and prolific songwriter living in New Orleans, ‘specially for the Confetti Park Players. He’s one of our favorites!

The video debuts just in time for NOLA Pyrate Week, which comes around once a year. We are so thrilled to have such good friends in the NOLA Pyrates, who come to our city to do good deeds and have a good time. Thank you to Captain John Swallow, QM Seika Hellbound and their NOLA Pyrates crew for telling our kids stories, teaching us how to swashbuckle, sharing with us your pirate history lore, and for being in our music video.

Thank you to ‘Ween Dream! The kids were outfitted in loaned pirate costumes by ‘Ween Dream, a costume donation 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recycles donated Halloween costumes and gives them to kids in need.

And a very special thanks to Ava Santana-Cassano and Sally Asher for loving film footage, to Leighton Barrett Strong for assistance, and to Thais and company at Pirates Alley Cafe for all the support and goodies. And to John Haffner, for being sparkly and awesome on Mardi Gras day.

We’re Going to Confetti Park

“Watch Out for the Pirates” is from the album We’re Going to Confetti Park! by Katy Hobgood Ray & the Confetti Park Players. Available on CD & digitally.

“Watch Out for the Pirates” (Greg Schatz, Kathryn Hobgood Ray) features: Rick G. Nelson, bass; Beth Patterson, Irish bouzouki; Katy Ray, vocals; Tim Robertson, guitar; Greg Schatz, accordion; Dr. Sick, fiddle; Michael Skinkus, percussion. Pirates: Matt Aguiluz, Keller Clark, John Haffner, Chris Lane, Elisa McDonald, Charleston McLean, Millie Moffett, Beth Patterson, David Eugene Ray. Recorded at Marigny Recording Studio. Mastered by Bruce Barielle.

Spend my days on the Seven Seas
Live my life just as I please
Ride the waves, catch the breeze
Watch out for the pirates

Chorus:
Watch out, hey watch out!
Watch out for the pirates!
Watch out, hey watch out!
Watch out for the pirates!

I don’t know but I’ve been told
The pirate ships are strong and bold
They come in the night and they steal your gold
So watch out for the pirates

Doesn’t matter what your rank
Keep your coin safe in the bank
Don’t let them make you walk the plank
Watch out for the pirates

We’ll dock at New Orleans at dawn
Eat those beans until they’re gone
Look out for that old man Jean,
He was once a pirate

Doesn’t matter where you are
Could be a boat could be a car
They’ll sneak up on you and go “ARGH!”
Watch out for the pirates
Music Medley: Swamp Fire
Will-o’-the-wisp and Snake by Hendrich, Hermann (b.1856)

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 musical styles. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Bucket’s Got a Hole in It – Kermit Ruffins
- 3-6-9 (The Clapping Song) – Confetti Park Players
- Line Cutter – Imagination Movers
- Glow Worm – Swing Setters
- Ha Ha This-A-Way – Lead Belly
- Feufollet – Katy Hobgood Ray
Also in this episode, a narration of The Fifolet by Johnette Downing, about the Louisiana swamp fire spirit, and a Music Memory from Tom Stagg.

The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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:
- WHIV 102.3 FM in New Orleans every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Listen via Live Stream)
- KSLU 90.9 FM in Hammond every Sunday at 12 p.m. NOON
Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.
Music Medley: Swamp Fire
Will-o’-the-wisp and Snake by Hendrich, Hermann (b.1856)

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 musical styles. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Bucket’s Got a Hole in It – Kermit Ruffins
- 3-6-9 (The Clapping Song) – Confetti Park Players
- Line Cutter – Imagination Movers
- Glow Worm – Swing Setters
- Ha Ha This-A-Way – Lead Belly
- Feufollet – Katy Hobgood Ray
Also in this episode, a narration of The Fifolet by Johnette Downing, about the Louisiana swamp fire spirit, and a Music Memory from Tom Stagg.

The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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:
- WHIV 102.3 FM in New Orleans every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Listen via Live Stream)
- KSLU 90.9 FM in Hammond every Sunday at 12 p.m. NOON
Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.
Music Medley: Frogs & Lizards & Flies
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:
- Strolling Along – Johnette Downing
- Happy Together – Dr. Michael White
- Ezzard and Theodore – Dustin Johnson & the Louisiana Pollywogs
- Take Me To The Trail Ride – Terrance Simien
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 podcast and radio program, 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:
- WHIV 102.3 FM in New Orleans every Saturday at 12 p.m.
- WHYR 96.9 FM in Baton Rouge every Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
- KSLU 90.9 FM in Hammond every Sunday at 12 p.m.
Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.
Interview: Judy Caplan Ginsburgh shares Jewish culture through music

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh has been performing children’s music since 1981.

In this edition of Confetti Park, Katy Ray sits down with Judy Caplan Ginsburgh of Alexandria, La. to talk about children’s music. Judy has been creating music for children since 1981! Among the topics they discuss: what kinds of songs do little kids love? How does Judy share her Jewish heritage through song?

Judy specializes in music for young children and in Jewish music. In fact, Judy is a rabbi, a Jewish religious leader. While she has a degree in vocal performance (from Indiana University), she never intended to become a children’s musician. She was singing songs with the children at her office’s preschool regularly (on her lunch breaks), when parents and teachers started asking her to record some of the songs. Thus, her first album was born: Sing Along with Judy. That was in 1981—the rest is history!

Judy writes original music but also plays traditional songs.

“I’m a huge believer in not forgetting these old nursery rhymes and folk tunes that have been around for so long. They’ve been around for generations because they are good,” says Judy. “We ought to teach new things and write new things, but we shouldn’t forget these old tried and true songs, either.”

What makes a children’s song good?

“Number one, they’re simple. They’re short. The tunes are very catchy, they’re easy to catch on to,” advises Judy. “Many of the tunes a lot of us use in early childhood music are also call and response… and also things called zipper songs, where the tune and the words remain the same except for one word. So those kinds of songs work very well for young children because they’re repetitive, they’re repeating after you, they’re reinforcing one thing at a time so they actually can be used for learning.”

Judy also uses a lot of props, audience participation, and movement when working with children in music. “You cannot sing to children. You sing with children,” she emphasizes.

In addition to her numerous general music CDs for young kids (preschool age), Judy has recorded nine albums of Jewish music. These CDs are really good for families, says Judy.

“There are so many interfaith families now, and that’s really why this started,” she explains.”Mainly the mothers were not Jewish, but they were the ones raising the children. So they needed to learn the traditional songs that their kids were singing at Sunday School and at Jewish camp. To help teach non-Jews about our Jewish heritage…This is music that we all grew up with, they they may not have.”

While Judy’s earlier Jewish music CDs feature mostly traditional songs, her later CDs feature originals.

“I used to teach in a Jewish day school, and a lot of times we’re trying to teach a concept, an ethical philosophy, and I always taught with music,” explains Judy. “But there wouldn’t be a song, for instance, about tzedakah, which means charity, or helping people. And, so I wrote a song about tzedakah.”

Just loves performing and is also available for teacher training, to teach teachers how to use music in the classroom. You can reach her through her website at http://www.judymusic.com/

Songs featured in this episode: “Aiken Drum,” “Sing Along Song,” and “Tzedakah.”
Interview: Rich Collins of The Imagination Movers

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Ray interviews Rich Collins of the Imagination Movers. The Imagination Movers are one of the most famous kids’ music bands in the world, and they hail from New Orleans!

From their website: “In 2003, four New Orleans friends – Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott “Smitty” Smith – had an idea. They thought kids wanted and deserved music that spoke to them, not down to them. So, they started gathering after their kids’ bedtimes to write songs and brainstorm ideas about a children’s television show. Two years later, they had become the latest sensation of their musical city, attracting parents and children alike with an eclectic pop sensibility and lyrical turns about healthy snacks and playing catch and conquering childhood fears of bedtime. Lines to the Movers’ shows stretched for blocks.”

Today, the Imagination Movers are ranked as the No. 1 rated major touring act for families, according to Ticketmaster. They’ve embarked on several world tours, have recorded nine albums, partnered with Disney on an Emmy-winning show, and now, they have another animated show in the works!

Rich is the drummer (and the Scribble Sticks master!) in the television show. In real life, he is a super multi-instrumentalist and a great songwriter. Rich has a recording studio in his house where lots of the group’s brainstorming happens.

Rich is a father of five children, and tells Katy about how the songs he and fellow Movers write are evolving as their kids are growing up. In their newest album just released this year, called Licensed to Move, the songs address such sophisticated topics as line cutters, messy rooms, and fingers coated in snack powder.

Rich points out that this album is also very high energy!

“It is a rowdy record,” he says. “We’ve made probably 190 songs over the last eleven years and I don’t think any collection of music has been this energetic!”

Rich also discusses the animated television show “Super Movers” currently in development with Toronto-based 9 Story Media Group. The series is tentatively scheduled for a 2016 debut.

Listen to the full interview, full of musical treats, on this free podcast.
Music Medley: Nacho Cheese & Snoballs

Photo by Lara Cerri via Flickr Creative Commons

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:

I Love Nachos – Philip Melancon
A Tisket-A Tasket – The Swing Setters
Song of a Creole Slave – Terrance Simien
Les Tils Yeaux Noirs – Nancy Tabb Marcantel
Music Memory – Rockin Dopsie Jr
Joyeaux – Lee Benoit
The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog – Don Abney and his Catahoulas
Snoball Chant – Confetti Park Players
Snoball – Katy Ray

The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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
Music Medley: Crawfish Time
Photo of crawfish by Sally Asher

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:
- Get On Board – Buckwheat Zydeco
- High Hopes – Kermit Ruffins
- Crawfish! – Papillon
- Get Along Home, Cindy Cindy – Kandice Chester
- Crawfish Song – Johnette Downing
- Toulouse the Crawfish Hunter – Black Guidry
- Les Tils Yeux Noirs – Nancy Tabb Marcantel
- What Do The DoodleBugs Do? – Ted Lindsay
Buttermilk Drop

In honor of National Donut Day we are sharing this track from the Confetti Park Players‘ upcoming CD! “Buttermilk Drop” – the BEST DONUT IN THE WORLD! ‪#‎nola‬ ‪#‎love‬ ‪#‎NationalDonutDay‬.

This track features Rick G. Nelson, bass; Katy Ray, vocals; Greg Schatz, accordion; Daniele Spadavecchia, guitar; James G. Thornton, trumpet. (Snaps by Katy, Ted Lindsay and Jason Rhein.) Kids chorus: Keller Clark, Elisa McDonald, Charleston McLean, and Millie Moffett.

More about the album We’re Going to Confetti Park….

The first recorded music project from Confetti Park is almost complete! It’s in the mastering phase now, under the listening ears of Bruce Barielle. Engineered by Jason Rhein and Matt Aguiluz at Marigny Recording Studio.

Created by Katy Hobgood Ray, the CD features a chorus of children (the Confetti Park Players) singing about pirates, frogs, snoballs, and Candy Land balls along with a star-studded lineup of musicians (Johnny Vidacovich, Jon-Erik Kellso, Evan Christopher, Matt Perrine, Patti Adams, Beth Patterson, Tom McDermott, Roger Lewis, David Rosser, Brian Coogan, Tim Robertson, and more).

Expected release date of Summer 2015.
Interview: How Jeremy Lyons started singing to kids

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Ray interviews Jeremy Lyons about how he started playing for kids and what kinds of songs he plays. Jeremy also discusses how much he enjoys the curiosity and interest of little human beings in music.

Jeremy Lyons began his musical career playing in a washboard band on the streets of the French Quarter in the early 1990s. He played in several bands, most notably Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys, a group that blended the sounds of rockabilly and New Orleans R&B with Piedmont-style fingerpicking and surf guitar.

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Jeremy and his family (who had evacuated to Baton Rouge to be with his grandparents) lost most of their possessions when their house flooded. He has since permanently relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston.

That’s where Jeremy started playing kids music, using his style he dubs ‘DeltaSilly.’ He now has two CDs for children, Music for Kids and Silly Goose Music.

As a music buff, Jeremy likes to draw from folk songs and the early popular music of America, and he shares fun music history with his little listeners. Jeremy offers a special in-studio performance for Confetti Park—he plays the Woody Guthrie song “Mail Myself to You.”
Sneak peek of fun new New Orleans kids music!

On Feb. 12, I was a guest on WHIV 102.3 FM New Orleans, the newly launched community radio station for our fair city. Andrew Ward, the dynamic station manager, interviewed me about Confetti Park projects, including the children’s choir and our upcoming CD, “We’re Going to Confetti Park.” Listen

We’ve been working with Matt Aguiluz at Marigny Recording Studio to create a whimsical, magical CD of original children’s songs inspired by life in Louisiana. The CD features a chorus of children singing about pirates, frogs, snoballs, and Candy Land balls along with a star-studded lineup of musicians (Johnny Vidacovich, Jon-Erik Kellso, Evan Christopher, Matt Perrine, Patti Adams, Beth Patterson, Tom McDermott, Roger Lewis, James G. Thornton, Greg Schatz, David Rosser, Rick G. Nelson, Brian Coogan, Tim Robertson, Sarah Quintana, and more).

Mr. Okra & Katy Ray

There is even a guest performance with Mr. Okra!

We are shooting for a release date of April 2015.

Check out Roman Candy Man, featuring Patti Adams of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra on piccolo.