Family music and concerts in and around Los Angeles.
Music & Concerts
Our Top 7 L.A. Family Events for December
It’s a jam-packed month for family – and holiday – events. Our top 7 December Los Angeles family events include outdoor ice skating (to do or to watch), holiday lights, Santa Diver, Okee Dokee songs, local talent and New Year’s at noon. Beginning Dec. 1, gingerbread houses, snowfall, a toy drive and Santa Diver are part Aquarium Holidays at Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. The award-winning Okee Dokee...
All The Merry Holidays Are a Stage
While there are just 12 days of Christmas, there are double that number of SoCal “Nutcracker” productions. Some people might revel in this “Nutcracker” nirvana, while others consider it just nuts. Whether you’re Team Nutcracker or not, fear not. We’ll spotlight a handful in this roundup (and you can find more in our Calendar section), but we’re saving room to let you know about other holiday shows as well. A...
Rapping With Raffi at Glendale’s Alex Theatre
Raffi’s songs – from “Baby Beluga” to “Bananaphone” – remain popular decades after their releases. The iconic children’s musician continues to make new music at the age of 70. He recently released his 25th album, “Dog On The Floor,” named for his puppy. It’s the third album in six years for Raffi, who returned re-energized after a 12-year hiatus between CDs. Every album, he says, lets him “take different chances...
The Third Time Is Still Charming for Randy & Dave
SoCal-based songwriters Randy Sharp and Dave Kinnoin both have impressively lengthy resumes. The Grammy-winning Sharp has racked up seven number-one country singles while Kinnoin has written hundreds of songs for Disney, Sesame Street, and Henson TV. They’ve also reached great heights together as Randy & Dave. The duo’s first two albums earned 11 national family music honors. Their third collaboration, “Snorkle,” is another winning collection of catchy tunes twisted by...
5 Ways to Inspire a Love of Music in Kids this Summer
I took my first piano lesson from my mother when I was 5 years old, and have made music my life’s work. I have taught so many gifted children and seen them overcome shyness and embrace the joy of music. Here are five tips for inspiring a love of music in your children this summer. Take them to concerts. There is nothing more musically inspiring than experiencing live music. Taking...
Jess Penner and her “Imagination”
With three solo albums, plus songwriting for TV shows, films and commercials, Jess Penner has had a busy career. She recently released her first children’s album, the enchanting eight-song CD “Imagination,” and offered some thoughts recently about her music and being a mom of three – two of them under 2. Was it an easy shift to making children’s music? Yes! I have always been very intentional about making music...
Los Angeles Children’s Music: Get With The Not-Its
This year represents a big year for the Not-Its. Not only is the band working on its next album, but 2018 also marks the group’s 10th anniversary. Part of the vibrant Pacific Northwest children’s music scene that includes acts such as Casper Babypants and Recess Monkey, the Not-Its are coming to Southern California to perform a 2 p.m. show Feb. 11 at Torrance’s James Armstrong Theater. Tickets are $10-$20. The...
Lucky Diaz Shares L.A. Love on New Family Music CD
“Made In L.A.” is the perfect title for the latest CD from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. Diaz, his wife Alisha “Lishy Lou” Gaddis and their group recorded the album here and invited local children’s musicians Mista Cookie Jar, Todd McHatton, Genevieve Goings and Andrew & Polly to join them on this 12-track set. Diaz describes this album as a love letter to Los Angeles and says he...
Choir Programs Let Kids Sing a Song
Given the chance, most kids love to sing and lots of L.A. programs will help them tune in As Artistic Director Misha Shtangrud plays the piano to start a rehearsal for MUSYCA Children’s Choir, he sings, “Hello everybody, yes indeed, let’s make music, yes indeed.” His young students joyfully sing along, clearly enjoying the upbeat music and seamlessly transitioning to “Do Re Mi” and “Seasons of Love.” The kids, ages...