All We Need Is Love...and The Beatles

All Together Now: Beatles stuff for kids of all ages is a CD & book set celebrating the fab four. The songs on the CD are respectably covered and some even include children singing backup vocals, which adds a fun, child-friendly feel. The Bangles make a fantastic guest appearance to cover "Good Day Sunshine".

The book includes poems & child-like illustrations inspired by the songs on the CD, plus Beatle facts to give new fans background information.

My mother filled our house with the scratchy sound of The Beatles on LP and as a second generation fan, I welcome this effort to connect yet another generation with a wonderful sound. Check it out!

Don't Miss the Justin Roberts Concert!

If you don't have plans this afternoon, plan to attend the Justin Roberts concert at 1 p.m. If you DO have plans, change them! This concert is super fun with wonderful opportunities for adult and child play. Check out this short video to see for yourself.



See you at 1 p.m. today!

Justin Roberts LIVE!

Don't forget to attend the Justin Roberts concert today at 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m!

Justin Roberts and his 4-piece band will present a rousing performance of songs from his many sound recordings. Seating is limited; tickets will be available in Children's Services beginning at 9 a.m.

Justin Roberts in Concert

Justin Roberts in Concert!
Friday, November 7th at 10:30 a.m. & 1:00 pm.

Theater, Main Library

Preschoolers and families: Popular children's musician, Justin Roberts and his 4-piece band will present a rousing performance of songs from his many sound recordings. Seating is limited; tickets will be available in Children's Services beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 7th. Classes should call Children's Services at 421-1220 to register for the 1:00 p.m. performance.

To learn more about Justin and hear some of his music online, click here. To find a CD to check out, click here.

Jim Gill Family Room Concert

Almost 300 people attended the Jim Gill concert on Monday night! It was a jumping, dancing, clapping, singing good time! If you missed it, you can still enjoy Jim's music - check out a CD today. Or dance along with this great video.

Let's Make Music

Let's Make Music this morning at 10:30 a.m. during Smart Start Preschool Storytime. We'll read and sing our way through some great picture books like Punk Farm by Jarrett Krosoczka, Do Your Ears Hang Low? by Caroline Church, and There Was a Bold Lady Who Wanted a Star by Charise Harper.

We'll sing and dance with musicians like Jim Gill, Hap Palmer and Raffi.

Music is a fun and entertaining way to teach kids important skills and information. During storytime today, we'll talk about the early literacy skill phonological awareness, which is the ability to hear the smaller sounds in words. Singing songs is an awesome way to practice phonological awareness with preschoolers.

If you are a teacher looking for ways to bring music into the classroom, check out our music across the curriculum booklist. Music is not just for preschoolers!

Silly Dance Contest

Before you hit "play" on this video call your children into the room and get ready to dance. Jim Gill's playful music is so much fun that you won't be able to sit still! If you like what you see here, check out one of Jim's CDs and dance some more.

If you would like to see Jim Gill LIVE AND IN PERSON, plan to visit the Main Library Theater on Monday, September 22nd at 6:30 pm for a fabulously fun family concert!

Ballet Dreams Storytime

This morning's Ballet Dreams storytime was so much fun! We read Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird, Over in the Meadow at the Big Ballet by Lisa Shulman, and Ballerina! by Peter Sis. We danced the entire List of Dances with Jim Gill and we Put Our Hands Up in the Air with Hap Palmer. After the stories and songs, Lucia Rogers from The Fort Wayne Ballet taught us the five ballet positions, showed us jumps, leaps and arabesques. She also answered all of our questions about ballet and then she posed for photos with us. See the rest of the ballet-tastic photos here!

Time 2 Chime -- LIVE!

Make plans now to attend Time 2 Chime LIVE!, a free concert of beautiful hand-chime music performed by our very own Homeschool Handchime Choir!

Click here to hear a sample of music they have prepared.

The title of this piece is "Austria" and it was arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson.
It's based on the theme from String Quartet in C, Op. 76, No. 3, Emperor Quartet by Franz Joseph Haydn.

Be sure to join us on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. for Time 2 Chime LIVE!

Babies and Toddlers: Growing Up!

Tomorrow morning at Babies and Books and Toddler Time we will be reading about growing up!

If you can't make it to the storytime, but want to explore the topic of "Growing Up" with your baby or todder you can read the book When Poppy and Max Grow Up by Lindsey Gardiner and listen to the song "I Wonder If I'm Growing" on the CD Singable Songs for the Very Young by Raffi.

Babies and Books: Friday mornings at 9:15 a.m. (through April)
Toddler Time: Friday mornings at 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. (through April)

Please note that starting in May the times for Babies and Books and Toddler Time will change. Call Children's Services for details @ 421-1220.

At Your Library! sung by Bill Harley

Bill Harley's songs and stories are engaging, energetic, and excellent for parents and children to listen to together. Ask your librarian to help you find some of his CDs.

Here's a fun song all about libraries performed by Bill Harley. Make sure your computer has speakers, turn up the volume, and enjoy! At Your Library by Bill Harley © 2005 Round River Records, used with permission http://www.billharley.com/

Musical Fun!

This afternoon musicians from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic provided a preview of Beethoven Lives Upstairs in the Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery directly across the Great Hall from Children's Services. This fantastic musical presentation was enjoyed by children of all ages.

To find out about upcoming programs in Children's Services, check out our program listings.

Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Beethoven Lives Upstairs Preview

Kids of all ages are invited to join musicians from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic on Sunday, January 13th at 2:00 p.m. for 45 minutes of music and story fun featuring the book Beethoven Lives Upstairs and music of famous composers. Listen to samples of music performed by members of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, learn about instruments from the string family, and ask questions about styles and types of classical music in this interactive program.

Another Perfect Day for Singing!

This morning a group of students from Emmanuel St. Michael Lutheran School stopped by the great hall and gave a wonderful performance!

A Perfect Winter Day to Sing at the Library!

This afternoon students from Hickory Center Elementary presented a lovely concert in the Library's great hall. Listen to them here:

The Time 2 Chime Homeschool Handchime group was wonderful in their
Holiday Concert today. Nearly 100 people enjoyed the afternoon concert
in our art gallery.



Above you can see the beginner group playing a selection entitled "Found My Notes."

Below, the advanced group plays "Jingle Bells."



Thank you Time 2 Chime! The music was beautiful! We look forward to enjoying your music even more when your group reconvenes at the Library in January.

Concert for the young and the young at heart

On Saturday, December 1st, at 2:00, the Summit City Singers will be presenting a choral concert in the Theater at the Main Library. The theme for this concert is "Through a Child's Eyes." The concert will include songs familiar to both children and adults; there will also be a sing-along! You might consider using this concert as a way to introduce choral music to your children or just as an enjoyable musical experience for the whole family.