The Laurie Berkner Band Blog

Songs to Shake Your Body Down To!

We love the fact that music goes hand-in-hand with exercise, and we especially love how dancing is so much for fun ALL ages, big and small.

For the smallest person, groovin' to the music helps teach about our bodies, how to move them, how to best use them, and how to start out life in a healthy way.  But EVERYONE enjoys letting loose and shakin' it down!

Our new DVD, Party Day!, features lots of songs to dance to - just check out this video for "Shake Your Body Down":

 

So, here is a list of our favorite LBB songs to move to:

  1) I’m Gonna Catch You (tons of different kinds of movement)
  2) Walk Along the River (different steps and dance moves)
  3) Drive My Car (driving motions)
  4) My Energy (lots of different dance and step movement)
  5) I Know a Chicken (shaking, circles, etc)
  6) We Are the Dinosaurs (stomping)
  7) I Really Love to Dance (free-for-all dancing, other hand motions)
  8) Moon Moon Moon (hand motions)
  9) Open Your Heard (hand motions)
  10) Pig on Her Head (following directions of movement – toe touches, etc)
  11) Shake Your Body Down (will be on our new DVD coming out July 26th)

You can find mp3’s of all of these songs on iTunes: http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?entity=song&media=all&page=1&restrict=true&startIndex=0&term=laurie+berkner or Amazon.com

Party Day! DVD Release

Hello friends!  We return to blog land with excellent news: Our new DVD, Party Day!, will hit the shelves (both virtual and real) tomorrow.  To celebrate, we wanted you to check out some of the new videos in the DVD! To see the teaser, click here.

The DVD takes the band to 3 parties - a costume party, a birthday party, and a pajama party!

First, check out "Party Day" - the title video on the new DVD - and meet our new friends: a lady bug, a banana slug, a cucumber beetle, and an ant who REALLY know how to get the party started:

 

Next, do you want to play a game? Get up and move your body as you follow Laurie's directions in a fun follow-the-leader song!

Want to get the DVD for $2 off plus free shipping - hurry! Our Facebook promotion ends tonight - just head over to Facebook by clicking the photo below and share - when 5 friends click on your link from either Facebook or Twitter, you'll be emailed the coupon!

The Funny Things Your Kids Say (Again!)

Thanks to our Facebook Fans for leaving some these comments - check them out on Facebook for MANY more!

Karol Lorenz

My three-year-old son: "Mommy, let me smell you...you smell like hugging." (I get a big hug.) Daddy asks, "What do I smell like, buddy?" His response: "Like broccoli."

Eileen Miller Wilson

my daughter is autistic and non-verbal, but.....she brought me a box of baggies out of a kitchen drawer, which displayed a picture of the ziplock with strawberries in it, pointed at the strawberries and said "dis" (this) Molly Kate, 10yrs DS/ASD

Martie Amerson-Warren

After playing outside my 7 year old daughter Haley came inside and said "Whew!! I'm sweatting like a hamburger!!"-LOL!!

Mardi Steinitz O'Connor

My husband came home from work and asked our 3 year old if he liked wearing big boy underwear for the first time, his response was "No, they're too casual".

Bernadette Vidal ‎

5 y.o. was coloring a My Little Pony page. She reached for the red crayon, and colored it's eye red. "Someone took a picture of this pony, it got red eye, and they didn't photoshop it."

Catina Closson

My 6 month old was sitting on my lap facing me and my 6 year old was sitting on me side-saddle. My 6 month old leaned forward and tried to bite the button on my shirt in the chest area, and my 6 year old without missing a beat said, "Sissy, it's been too long. All that milk in there is expired."

Leslie Fields Oleschuk

In the car, on the way home from school, my 4 year old son said, "Mommy, my mouth is awesome." I said, "why is that?" He replied, " Because of all the words I can say and songs I can sing." :)

Shannon White Knowles

While driving through the campus of our local college my 5 year old watched a student drop a milk carton and leave the litter on the ground. My daughter then said to me, "That is not very responsible. That is littering. She looks like a grown up, but I don't think she really is". I thought is was such a true statement on many levels.

About the Band

We asked what you'd like to know about the band members, and Laurie decided to tackle them all herself.  Here are some of her answers!

Thanks to: Julie Atkinson-Blumenstock, Caly Kim, Citlalic Tepetla Rojas, Becky Rossman Schneider, Sharon Cerasoli, Mindy Livesay William, Natalie Simovski,  and Christie Powers Burnetfor your questions!

 

 

1) How many kids does everyone  have? And do they come to your concerts also?

I am actually the only band member who has a child (Lucy, she's 6, and you can get a peek of her in some of the webcasts).  I started bringing Lucy to shows when she was 5 months old and she still attends many of our local performances.  One of the things I always try to do when she comes now is to sing about the animal Lucy brings to wear on her head (during "Pig on Her Head") so I can at least give her a little "hello" during the show.


Susie has many kids in her life, including nieces, nephews, friends's kids and neighbors, and is a very extra special person for Lucy.

Adam teaches music to kids, and right now has classes for kids ranging in age from 3 and 4 years old to teenagers.

Bobby has nieces and nephews!

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2) How did you guys all meet/get together?

 

 

 

Susie and I met in the gym at Rockefeller University where Susie worked as a nurse, and I was the music specialist for the Child and Family Center, in the early 90's.  After discovering that we were both musicians and that we really liked each other, I asked Susie if she would like to join an all-female cover band called Lois Lane that had just hired me as their lead guitarist.  Then when I started to perform my songs for kids in 1997, I asked Susie if she would join me yet again on a new adventure, and the beginning of the LBB was born.  

  Adam and I met after college while we were both still living in New Jersey.   At first we became friends through a circle of musicians from the New Brunswick area, and ultimately we started playing music together.  (Adam played in my original rock band, Red Onion, and I played in one of his, Land of Minerals.)   In 2005 when my husband Brian (who had joined Susie and me by playing bass with us in 2001) left the LBB, Adam seemed a natural choice for a replacement as he had performed as a studio musician on my first three albums.

 

I met Bob when we were first asked to create five video interstitials for Noggin (now Nick Jr.) in 2004.  He was a producer and recording engineer who was hired to record us for this particular project.  He also turned out to be a wonderfully enjoyable and extremely talented guy.  On top of all of that, he played the drums!  After continuing to work with him on all of the videos for Jack's Big Music Show and hiring him to co-produce the "We are. . .the Laurie Berkner Band" DVD and Rocketship Run CD with me, he ended up adding percussion and drums to many of the tracks.  When Adam and Susie and I started playing songs off of Rocketship Run in concert, I could no longer imagine the songs without his drum parts and we asked him to start performing with us live.

Finally, the Laurie Berkner Band was complete!

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3)What products does Laurie use to make her curly hair look so fabulous?

I go to a salon in Manhattan for people with curly hair called Devachan, and I use only their products (plus Ayurvedic oils and a little Keristasse now and then when I need more moisture in my hair, which is very dry).  The owner, Lorraine Massey also has  a great book out called Curly GIrl, The Handbook (I've seen it for sale on Amazon) that explains the process they use.  Or you can check out their philosophy and tips at < <http://www.devaconcepts.com/stylists> http://www.devaconcepts.com/about <http://www.devaconcepts.com/> >  There are also many YouTube informational videos out there made  by people who use the devachan hair care system.

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4) How did you decide to create the band?

I started playing music for kids when I was a children's music specialist at pre-schools and day care centers around New York City.  I tried to learn as many songs as I could to sing with the kids, but eventually my laziness won out and I realized it would be easier just to write them myself.  I started asking the kids what they wanted to sing about ("Dinosaurs!") and then I would just make up songs that worked for me in the classroom that they also seemed to like.  Eventually, encouraged by the parents of my students and with a loan from one of the places I worked at, I recorded my first album, "Whaddaya Think of That?" (joined on various tracks by Susie, Brian and Adam).  As audiences at my performances grew, so did my desire to play with other musicians and I asked Susie to play with me.  The rest is explained in the answer to the second question above :).  

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5) Where does everyone live, in terms of either state or  region...not  specifics!! my daughter has been asking these 2 questions  lately..

We all live in New York City.  Susie, Bobby and I live in Manhattan, and Adam lives in Brooklyn.

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6) How many guitars does laurie have?  and what colors?

I have four acoustic guitars that I use regularly.  They are all Taylors: purple, blue, dark brown with a sunburst, and medium brown.  The medium brown one was the first new guitar I ever bought and was light brown when I got it.  The wood has gotten darker over the years and because I have my other guitars, now I really only use it for recording and for playing around the house.  I also have an Ibanez electric guitar that is a shape that is called a "semi-hollow body."  It's also a brown color. You can read more about my instruments here < <http://thelaurieberknerbandblog.typepad.com/the-laurie-berkner-band/2010/03/lauries-guitars.html> http://thelaurieberknerbandblog.typepad.com/the-laurie-berkner-band/2010/03/lauries-guitars.html>

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7) Does your family travel with you?

Sometimes! The band's family members come along when we have shows in cities where family and friends live, and Lucy came to California with us when we shot the new DVD that is coming out later this year.  

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8) What songs do your kids like you to sing to them? Moon Moon  Moon  & Goodnight are our favorite goodnight songs. And Clean It Up  always  gets my girls going.

For a long time I sang three songs to Lucy every night.  "White Coral Bells", "Nona", and "St. Judy's Comet" (by Paul Simon).  Recently she has been asking me to sing her songs that I used to sing when she was a tiny baby (like "Hush Little Baby" and "All the Pretty Little Horses") as well as songs that my mother used to sing to me (like "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" and "Sing a Song of Sixpence").  I also love to make up songs for her while she's going to sleep.

Thanks for all of the great questions.  If you want to know more, we have a more detailed history on our website, www.twotomatoes.com <http://www.twotomatoes.com> .  Thanks for reading!  -Laurie

 

HA! The Great Things Kids Say

We asked our Facebook fans to tell us the funniest, sweetest, and/or most profound things their kids have said in the last week.  Here are a few of the responses - we love these!

 

My 2.5 year old said the other day: "I a princess!" *to my husband:* "You a prince!" *to me:* "You a waitress!"

 

Last night, Hannah, 2 1/2: "Mommy, I need to wake up early so I can build a RAINBOW!" Which is nice, because it's awfully cold and dreary here in the midwest right now :-P

 

My son said to my husband,
Crew: "Daddy, can I please watch a video?
Travis: "No buddy, it's time for bed."
Crew: "Daddy! Are you ARGUING?! That's it! No shows for you, Daddy!"

 

3-year-old sneezed at breakfast. he said "aw, man!" i said "what?" he said "i got 'bless you' all over my cereal!"

 

Braden to Daddy : Dad, my bed is wet. Ken: I think you need to stop drinking so much before bed. Braden: DAD, it's not juice... it's PEE!! ;)

 

I was playing with my 2 year old daughter "eating" her belly. She was loving every minute of it and laughing hysterically...all of a sudden she stood straight up and put her hand under my chin and said "okay Mommy, spit it out now!" HAHA!

 

‎"Mommy, where are the chopsticks? I need to catch a fly."

 

I told my 2 1/2 year old that I loved her "to the moon and back" and she said "I love you to the moon and front!"

 

My 4 yr old pull a dog toy out from under the bed that belonged to our dog that passed away over a yr ago. i asked her to put it back bc if daddys sees it he'll get upset. she said "it's ok if he sees it, i'll pretend to be a dog and he won't be disappointed"

 

He asked me if I loved his hair. I said yes. He replied: then don't cut it no more. My son has autism and hates the hair cutting process. I just loved how he systematically built his no more haircuts argument. Ha ha

 

My son was home sick this week and he said "Mom I'm going in my room to kick back and listen to The Best of The Laurie Berkner Band"

 

My 2 year old: "Princess Mommy, would you go to the ball with me?"

 

My 6-year-old was running around in just a shirt so I told him he was "three-quarters" naked. So he took off the shirt and yelled "now I'm one dollar naked! "

 

5-year-old daughter said, "Something smells bad in the car." Her 3-year-old brother replied, "I think it's car sauce."

Send us YOUR favorite quote from your child - we can't wait for more!

Make a Valentines (or Anytime) Mailbox!

We will be filming a brand new Valentine's Day Musical Nightlight Webcast tomorrow, and what better time than to create a Magical Mailbox for all those lovely Valentine's Day letters?!

Fun mailboxes are great for the whole family - Make one for the whole family, or create a different one for each family member.  Then, leave each other special notes and little goodies to say "I love you" or "I'm thinking about you!"

What you'll need:

• Several pieces of craft foam - These usually come in packs of 6 or more, but you can get individual sheets.  Your mailbox will be the size of one sheet of foam folded into a "U" shape. We used several colors.
• Foam glue
• Foam Glue gun (these are very cheap, but you'll need a grownup to do the gluing - you can use other kinds of glue, but the project will take longer)
• Decorative foam pieces or scrapbooking supplies (to decorate the outside of the mailbox)
• Stick-on letter - to write your name, etc
• One brad (the little metal things you stick through paper)
• A marker or pen

Step 1: Cut your shapes

See the shapes in the picture above. This is less complicated than it sound if you follow the photos, we promise!

You will need the following:

• One piece of solid craft foam for the "body" of the mailbox (purple) - cut a slit it it for mail to go in!
• 
• 2 "U-shaped" pieces - make these by tracing the outline of the large piece folded into the mailbox body shape.  Trace the second from the first.
• 2 1/2" strips to go around the U-shaped pieces
• A "flag" - you can make this any way you want!
• The bottom of the mailbox - the width of the body and the length of the bottom of the U-shaped pieces

Step 2: Glue together

You will need to glue the pieces together to make the body

1) Glue the 1/2" strips (yellow in our mailbox) to the U-shaped pieces (aqua) so they form a "lip"

2) Glue one of the U-shaped pieces to the bottom piece (aqua/aqua)

3) Place the body piece (purple) on your U-shaped/bottom piece and be sure it fits - trim if necessary, and then glue the sides down, forming the entire mailbox except for the last U-shaped/lip

4) Glue the bottom of the U-shaped piece to the end of the mailbox, making sure it fits - trim if necessary

5) Glue the back U-shaped piece to the body so it is completely shut (in smaller mailboxes, you can skip this step - this is to keep the shape from flopping)

Step 3: Decorate it!

• Add trim to cover up any rough patches (red in ours)
• If yours feels floppy, cut a few 1/2" strips of foam or cardboard and glue to the inside, forming "struts"
• Use your brad to attach your flag to the side of the mailbox
• Add letters, color, or glue shapes.  Most craft stores sell fun foam cut outs, or you can use your scraps and make your own!

Step 4: Deliver your letters!

Now, write fun letters or draw pictures, and place them in the mailbox for your friends and family!  Make sure you put the flag up when you put mail inside so everyone knows a letter is awaiting them!

And... stay tuned for our Valentine's Day Musical Nightlight on our website on  February 10th, where the Magical Mailbox will make it's first appearance, filled with FAN MAIL for Laurie to read!

Sock Puppet Rock Show!

Have you noticed how your socks sometimes seems to disappear?  Got a bunch of lonely socks lying around?  Don't throw them out!

Give your lonely socks another shot at life by turning them into ROCK STARS!

Making sock puppets is fun and simple - you can get as creative as you want by adding eyes, hair, nose, and even a tongue!  Or, if you're ready to rock RIGHT NOW, just grab a plain sock and give it life by putting your hand in and making it move - no crafting required!

Step 1:  Make your sock puppet - or just grab a sock!

You can use craft supplies like pom-poms, buttons, or just cut circles out of an old cereal box to make eyes. We used a knotted piece of ribbon for hair, and cut a cardboard mouth out of an old postcard.  Use glue, or sew your pieces on!

Grab a Sock!

Make it come alive!

 

Snazz it up!

Step 2: Pick a song.

We used "I Love My Rooster"

Step 3: Set up your stage!

You can make a puppet show stage out of old boxes, or just set yourself up behind a couch!

Step 4: Invite your audience

Invite your family and friends to come watch your Rockin' Sockin' Rock Show! You can tell people, make signs and invitations, or film yourself for later!

Step 5: Perform!

Turn on the music and begin rockin'! If you have more than one performer, make the socks sing to each other, or make a dance piece with them! Get creative and have a blast!

See below for a short example, performed by our brand new Sock Puppet, Sockerella:

 

 

Obstacle Course

Throw on some music and get ready to race!

It's easy to make a fun obstacle course at home, and it's a great way to create an exciting indoor activity for these chilly months!

Here's what you need to do:

1) Pick a space

The bigger, the better!  Living rooms and playrooms are perfect.  Make sure you clear away any items that could be bumped or stepped on before you start, and be sure the space is safe!  Setting up pillows near corners or couch feet is a good idea.

2) Gather supplies!  Some good obstacle course items include:

• couch pillows
• hula hoops
• trampolines (the small ones!)
• batons/hockey sticks/baseball bats/other types of long sticks
• small tables
• jump rope
• several pieces of newspaper
• beanbags or stuffed animals
• Stop watch

3) Set up the events!

You can get VERY creative with your course, but here are a few suggestions:

• Stagger 4-5 couch pillows in front of each other, and jump from one to the other.  You can make special rules like if you fall off or touch the ground, you have to start over.
  
• You can also use couch pillows to make a tunnel - use 3 pillows to make 2 walls and a roof, and try to go under it without knocking it over - if you do, you have to set it back up and start over!
  
• Hula hoops can either be placed on the floor in front of each other, and the course-runner can jump into each, or a helper can hold them sideways and the course-runner can crawl through them.
• Trampolines - have the course-runner jump 15 times on the trampoline (try it on one leg, or alternating!)
• Have a helper hold your hockey stick (or other long stick) low to the ground, and have the course-runner either jump over it or LIMBO under it.
• The course runner should shimmy/army-crawl under the table - for more fun, cover it with a blanket to make an enclosed tunnel.
• Have the course runner walk a short distance using the 3 pieces of newspaper - he or she must always step on a piece of newspaper, so to move forward, he or she must pick up the last paper stepped on and place it in front of his or her feet.  (This one can get VERY silly!)
• Place beanbags or soft stuffed animals in a line, and have the course runner weave in and out!

4) Explain the rules to everyone playing, and be sure to have a grown-up around to make sure everything is safe.  You can have your grown-up time you to see how long it takes, or just practice using your body in different ways.

5) Make it a more fun team-effort by creating a relay (when one course-runner is done, pass a "baton" to the next person.  You even can have your grown-up time you and try to beat your collective time!)

Last week, Laurie's daughter Lucy made a course for her doll using things like straws, measuring cups, and rubber bands.  You can try this with stuffed animals or action figures - why not even try mimicking your own course in miniature?

Have fun, and remember to be sure everything is safe before you start!

December Contest: Winner and Week 3!

Need a gift? Here's some great ideas for MAKING them with your kids.  Thanks to everyone who participated!

Our winner this week is:

Sharon DeWitt

With this great homemade gift idea:

My children's preschool made these and they are so cute, we made some for family members as well! Take a clear glass votive holder and dip your child's pointer, middle, and ring fingers in white paint to about mid second digit. Press them onto the glass so they make three distinct figures. these will be your snowmen. Once dry, have your child draw eyes, noses, buttons, and arms with a marker. Include a candle and this poem: Little snowmen, one, two, three, Made with my fingers- for you from me. When you light the candle, It will burn so bright, To remind you that I LOVE YOU, Day and night! Don't forget to date the bottom of the glass!

Our runners up are:

Benny, Tabitha DePaolo, Ashlee, Debi B, and Melissa McGuire

See the Runners Up blog for their recipes!

Each December Contest winner will receive:

1) The new "Let's Hear it for the Laurie Berkner Band" DVD

2) "The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band" CD

3) A LBB CD of your choice

4) Some other fun LBB goodies!

These will make great gifts for the holidays!

To enter, simply answer the question below in the comment section of this blog OR by e-mailing us at [email protected]. You may submit your answer anytime between now and 10am on Friday, Dec. 24th!

Winners will be announced each Friday afternoon in December, along with the new contest question, right here on the blog!

Contest Question:

We've covered food and gifts, now let's hear your ideas for fun GAMES or ACTIVITIES during the holidays!  Extra points for games that are fun for the whole family, small AND big. 

Good luck and be sure to check out this past week's recipe responses for great, simple holiday gift ideas that you can MAKE!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving! 

The band wanted to share some of the things they are thankful for in honor of the holiday.  We'd love to hear about whar YOU are thankful for! Leave us a comment and let us know!

Adam:

1) My family and friends, many who coming over to our house for Thanksgiving.

2) Music, been composing and playing a lot! I love being a bassist and always have gratitude that the universe chose to play the bass.

3) My Zen practice and all my Sangha brothers and sisters!

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Susie:

 1) For my family and friends, both human and animal... I would be nothing and nowhere without them. They give me love,support and give my life meaning.

2) Music - My life would be colorless and empty without it...

3) Health - both physical and mental - a blessing  taken  for granted too often.

4) I am grateful to be allowed choice... what to eat, to believe, to listen to. 

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Bob:

1) All the pottery I'm able to make in the midst of all the music I'm able to make

2) All the close friends I have all over the world... and deeply thankful that most of them are passionate people!

3) I have a brother and sister to share Thanksiving with

4) All the AMAZING new technology that allows me to be so public in thanks!

5) That it's the holiday season!

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Laurie:

 1) My family (especially Brian and Lucy) and my friends

2) The feeling I get when I see something beautiful in nature like the Hudson River or the leaves changing on the trees.

3) Music, especially singing because it is one of the things that gives me the most pleasure, where I can express myself and my feelings

 

And here is a special Thanksgiving tidbit from our fan, Olivia: