Kid Pan Alley: Press

Renee Montagne interviews Paul Reisler about Kid Pan Alley.

A Song in your Heart

Paul Reisler travels the country these days putting on his Kid Pan Alley workshops. Paul sits with school age children and together they create wonderful things. The results are that thousands of songs have been written by thousands of kids. Their lyrics grace the contents of several CD’s. When the kids sing their songs, they are backed by Reisler's Rid Pan Alley Band which is made up of nationally and inter-nationally recognized musicians. It's hard not to feel inspired and invigorated when you hear the music and see the smiling faces of these young people. They are seeing and hearing the fruits of their creativity. It’s a stunning process to witness.
Creativity in our children is needed ore than ever these days. With so much teaching to the test and cuts made to arts programs across the country, it is refreshing to see that Reisler and his crew of merry music makers is having great success. In Charlottesville and Albemarle county, 16 elementary schools have already booked weeklong residencies for Reisler’s magic for next year.
Reisler has come back to his roots Rappahannock and for the third straight year, students in Rappahannock due in large part to support from like Headwaters, the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, have been busy making music.
They've got a concert coming up on May 2 at 7 p.m. at the elementary school. Hopefully, you'll be able to hear them for yourself.
What Reisler is doing and what many in this county are trying to do is forge partnerships that result in success. Educating children, seeing them succeed and hearing them sing is affirmation that they have our support.
It's not just recognizing the beauty in them but the beauty in us as their advocates.

Article about Kid Pan Alley Residency in Albemarle Family Magazine:

Huge pieces of paper stick to the blackboard in Laura Hall's and Neil Hakel's classroom at Jackson-Via Elementary school in Charlottesville. Scribbled on them in blue, purple, and green are snippets of lyrics springing from the minds of first- through fourth-graders. They are brainstorming ideas for Kid Pan Alley, a week-long residency working with professional musicians. They're learning what it takes to be songwriters...Click here to view full article and pictures!

An interview with Kid Pan Alley's Paddy Dougherty about our Lynchburg project and performance with the Lynchburg Symphony.

A great article for the Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development magzine that talks about some of the educational uses of Kid Pan Alley Click here to view full article and pictures!

Anne Carley - Virginia Educational Leadership Magazine (Jan 23, 2008)

This is a great TV review. It may take a while to download, so please be patient because it's worth the wait!

VIRGINIAN-PILOT
STRING RENDITIONS: workshop makes kids on-the-spot songwriters.

Keep it democratic, slightly chaotic, wide-open. Just watch Paul Reisler. He knows how.
The folk musician spent the week at Taylor Elementary School in West Ghent, shepherding children through the normally solitary songwriting process.

Today, the classes will perform 10 original songs during concerts at 1:30 and 7 p.m. On Wednesday, however, many of the songs had yet to be written.

"What do you guys want to write about?" Reisler, 57, asked the group of fourth-graders as they sat down. The suggestions came rapid-fire. Summer vacation, shoes, snow, the mall. "I have no clue," said 9 -year-old Michaella Phillips. "What a great title!" Reisler fired back. Football, America, strings.

Reisler's colleague, Kathy Hussey, made a list on the white board. Then it was time to vote. Eyes closed. Hands popped up intermittently. After a run-off, strings won. Reisler kept the class moving as he tuned his guitar.

"So, what about strings?" The children tossed out suggestions, offering items - shoestrings, fishing line, phone cords - and expressions - "on a shoestring," "no strings attached," "at the end of my rope." Another vote. The winner: "puppet on a string."
Reisler and the group played with the theme, repeating it. "I'm just a puppet on a string. I'm just a puppet on your string." The students chose the latter.

Hussey added to the board, riffing off string: thing, sing, string, bring. "You make me dance, you make me sing," someone offered.

"Nice," Reisler said. "Now we need a melody.
A melody is like a walk in the mountains. Some notes go up, some notes go down." Grace White took a stab in a small, steady voice.

Reisler repeated her cadence, his left hand searching out the chords on his guitar. "That's really up tempo," said Hussey, bobbing her head. "Show tune-y." Reisler kept playing with the tune as the students worked out rhymes.

"I'll do anything," shouted James Lyle, 10. Reisler picked up on this. "You know that I'll do anything," he said. "I'll do anything for you." A pause. Everyone was stumped. A teacher handed Hussey a red monster puppet for inspiration. Reisler watched it dance. "You move my hands, you move my feet?" he offered. "You move my body to the beat," added a student. "You move me down the street," chimed in another. All good, but they needed two syllables to round out the line. "Of love," a child offered. "Street of love." This sent up a giggle, but it would stay for now.

With six minutes left in class, Reisler hustled the children up to a microphone and turned on his laptop recorder. They sang two good takes, each with conviction. I'm just a puppet on your string You make me dance, you make me sing I'll do anything for you You move my hands, you move my feet You move my body to the beat You move me down the street of love "Put a pad of paper by your bed," Reisler told the children as they left. "Wake up in the middle of the night. Write down what comes to you in your dreams."
The plan was to write verses Thursday to flesh out the chorus they ha d just written. Next week,

Reisler and Hussey will run another workshop at James Monroe Elementary in Park Place. Both are sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Debra and Grey Persons and Debra's mother, Doris Gimbert Cunningham. Grey Persons works in The Virginian-Pilot's advertising department.

Reisler, who founded the folk group Trapezoid in the 1970s, started the project, known as Kid Pan Alley, after a songwriting residency in rural Rappahannock County, where he lives. Since then, he estimates he's written more than 600 songs with more than 12,000 children around the country.

The younger the child, he said, the more they take to the challenge, the less they edit themselves. "Self-censorship is the enemy of creativity," Reisler said as he put his guitar away. "The artist's role is to get it all out there and then let it gel, shape it."

Kid Pan Alley--Kids' music we can all love

With the mission, "inspiring kids to be creators, not consumers," you have to love Kid Pan Alley even before you listen to the music that this project brings to life. But give their CD a spin and you may become a true fan like me.

Kid Pan Alley brings together professional songwriters, musicians, and kids to create new music. This Grammy-nominated collaboration has produced over 600 songs with 12,000 children. Imagine what this opportunity means for those kids--to bring this kind of artistic creation into their school day. The results are fabulous. I have had Kid Pan Alley Nashville spinning in my car CD player for a month now. I didn't want to give it just a cursory review, but I really wanted to see whether this music would make it onto my family's must-play list. It has. I am always on the lookout for music that kids and adults can both enjoy, and Kid Pan Alley Nashville is the only kid-oriented CD that I occasionally play when I am actually alone in the car. When my daughter is there, we listen to it a lot, with her serving as DJ, requesting "Put on track 17...track 10" as we sing along together.

The songs on Kid Pan Alley Nashville range from a gorgeous lullaby, "Whispering in Spanish," written in collaboration with a bilingual second-grader, to the hilarious bluegrass song, "Extra Hand," to the rock cut "No Fair" recorded with Will Hoge. (My favorite lyric: "The fair only comes to town once a year...IT'S NO FAIR!")

Get in a kids' frame of mind to enjoy a silly, catchy song like "Stinky Socks"...but any adult with a heart has to love songs like the hauntingly beautiful melody "Rainforest" sung by country artist Darrell Scott. "Rainforest" illustrates how music made through collaboration can transcend the boundaries of any one genre. The song opens with melancholy woodwinds and strings but builds to a Sgt. Pepper-worthy climax of joyful brass.

The songs are most successful when the elements of the kids' collaboration are brought to the forefront. The only misfire for me is the song "Download it All for Free" which is perfectly listenable, but communicates a preachy adult message, warning kids that if they download songs without paying the artists the music will go away. It comes across as a sermon against technology and globalization that lacks an authentic kid angle. That's the exception to the rule on this wonderful collection.

I look forward to listening to other Kid Pan Alley albums. If you are looking for a last-minute holiday gift for families whose kids are too old for The Wiggles but not yet ready for "High School Musical"--or whose parents are just too weary of overhyped commercialism and are looking for a more authentic kid music experience--you can't go wrong with Kid Pan Alley. The music is available through CD Baby, Barnes and Noble.com, or the iTunes music store, where you can download the music in good conscience.

Check out Kid Pan Alley's own website to learn more about the founders' vision and the creative process that goes in to making this wonderful music.

PERFORMING SONGWRITER MAGAZINE
GOOD WORKS—CELEBRATING THOSE WHO USE THEIR MUSIC TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES By Clay Steakley

ALL ARTISTS KNOW the line between creativity and chaos is often blurry one. But the most honest and original work comes from pushing that boundary~or at least coming pretty close. That's what songwriter/composer/teacher Paul Reisler does every day that he works with his Kid Pan Alley music enrichment program, where he collaborates with classrooms of children to write original songs. After all, what better place to find chaos than a room full of kids?
"My job is to keep them right on this side of chaos," Reisler says, "so that they're excited and shouting out the first thing they think of. It's that initial idea that has the juice. It's when they worry about if it's a cool enough idea that you're lost. You're navigating a fine line between chaos and thinking."

With Kid Pan Alley, Reisler goes into the schools and works with children, allowing them to write their own songs about what they want to talk about. Reisler gently directs them and comes up with music on the spot. Considering its humble beginnings, this relatively young program is already gaining considerable recognition.

"It skirted three years ago," Reisler explains. I live in a very small rural community in Virginia called Rappahannock County. The county has about 6,000 people, and the town Little Washington, which is the county seat, has about 200. So you can kind of get an idea of just how rural it is. There are a lot of artists living there, however. I'd been asked by one of my best friends to go in and work with the kids in the school.

I've done a huge amount of songwriting teaching for adults-I teach all over the country, and I've been doing that for 12 or 14 years. But I'd never worked with kids before in that regard. I thought, 'God, how am I possibly going to write a song with a group of kids?' So I thought up all these ideas so I'd be prepared to do whatever. Then I walked in there, and in the very first class period, threw it all away. We wrote a great song in the first hour and kind of went from there. I spent three weeks in our local school system and worked with virtually every kid in the county-many of them two or three times. We wrote close to 50 songs, and I was writing three songs a day."

As word spread and more and more people wanted copies of the songs, Reisler began to see a community-bonding experience develop. "I got this idea to get all the different musicians in the community together and have each of them record a song in their own style. I had almost every musician in the county involved in it in one way or another, all the recording engineers. We raised all the money up front to make the album so that the money, from sales of the album went to more music enrichment programs for the kids. We had this album release concert and 1,000 people showed up i a county of 6,000 people, 1,000 people came." He shakes his head and adds, "Little of this was planned. I stumbled into this. 1 didn't realize what incredible co-writers kids are."

The current Kid Pan Alley CD project finds Reisler working in Nashville. "I got a bunch of my friends together, the A-team writers, and they're going in and writing with the children. We've got Beth Nielsen Chapman, Angela Kaset, Gary Nicholson, Darrell Scott, Jon Vezner, and Bill Lloyd. Right now, we're in the process of writing the songs. We've probably written about 20 in the last two weeks." From there, Reisler and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra will arrange the songs and choose from a list of celebrity recording artists to record the songs. Once again, the money from the sale of CDs will go to more much-needed music enrichment programs.

"One of the most important things that I've learned from all of this is how much kids need to learn that they can be creators and not consumers," Reisler says. "Our entire culture is teaching them how to consume stuff-how to buy as if we could buy our way out of the world's problems, $87 million here, $30 billion there. ... We don't buy our way out of things; we create our way out. Everything of value in the world has been created by someone having an idea and doing it. And yet we're teaching our kids how to not be creative. We're beating the creativity out of them by the relentless assault of video games and TV. We're entertaining them and getting their attention, but not teaching them how to do the thing that's actually going to make the world a better place. So, in our own small way, it's starting with something they're the interested in."

Reisler and Kid Pan Alley are working on curriculum guides and manuals for teachers and songwriters who would like to get involved. VISIT: www.kidpanalley.org and www.paulreisler.com to learn more.

Quotes from Teachers:
“Students learned the steps in brainstorming, selecting an idea to pursue, and then generating verses and melody to actualize their idea. They worked together under your leadership to collaborate, piggy-back, and compromise, as they produced a song with melody and words that they owned and would perform for others. What more engaging method of learning the value of teamwork, vocabulary and wit?”
Kathy Grove, Headmistress, Wakefield Country Day School

“Kid Pan Alley was one of the best experiences that our students have ever had at our school! Thank you for sharing your songwriting and musical skills with our students. I told the audience during our Kid Pan Alley performances, "Tonight will be something you will probably remember the rest of your life!" This experience will have direct and residual effects for years to come for the students that participated. The students are inspired to take a greater interest in the arts. The students are encouraged to do better academically in school.”
Tom Caton, Principal, Elkin Elementary, Elkin, NC

Paul Reisler had great rapport with the children when he worked with them on brainstorming and lyric writing. He was able to bring out their creativity in fun, exciting sessions.
Harriette Rosenblatt, Rappahannock Elementary, Washington, VA

“Paul Reisler was easily able to adapt to the age and maturity level of each group. His phenomenal guitar skills together with his innate sense of melody and rhyme helped the children build confidence in lyric-writing very quickly.“ Joy Rollins, Rappahannock Elementary, Washington, VA

“You inspired me in ways that will change my teaching for years to come. I am going to incorporate a writing unit in the spring each year and have a showcase at the end of the year. Perhaps even do some cd's as a fundraiser.” Hilary Parks, Whitsett Elementary, Nashville, TN

“I was hesitant at first about taking class time for a project that didn’t cover the SOL’s; however, they addressed poetry writing SOL’s for forth grade. They really did well teaching figurative language such as similies, metaphors, onomatopoeia and alliteration. Rhyme scheme and poetry patterns were also present in their teachings. I really appreciate this workshop and I know my students did. Their final product was awesome.” Sandra Clement, Blue Ridge Elementary, Ararat, VA

“The confidence levels just soared as they realized that they really could create something meaningful themselves.” Ramona Kahle, Woolwine Elementary, Woolwine, VA

“I was surprised at some of the children who generally remain very quiet during regualr music class time, eagerly and uncharacteristically bringing forth their comments and ideas. Suggestions were not hard to come by and it was a joy to watch the children’s ideas unfold before my eyes.”
Evelyn Oyster, Wakefield Country Day School, Flint Hill, VA

Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner • Grammy Nominee

“Feel-good songs, bluesy songs, funny songs and silly songs, big-hearted, I-know-how-you-feel songs: This beautifully produced CD is an all-inclusive celebration of creativity, shared experiences and new horizons.” Parents’ Choice

“WHERE HAVE YOU PEOPLE BEEN ALL MY LIFE??? I got the CD "Tidal Wave of Song," and it made my day. It also made my review in Metrokids Magazine. Frankly, I was despairing of finding anything good to write about this month and was reaching back to some of last year's favorites (Grammy-nominated). I put your CD in the player, and my only problem is what to play first on Kids Corner. I love this CD. It is quite amazing.” Kathy O'Connell, WXPN-FM, Philadelphia, PA

"The Nashville Chamber Orchestra's Kid Pan Alley CD has not left my car CD player since I first received it. Kids of all ages love it. The songwriting of the school children along with adult songwriters is so incredibly disarming."
Amy Grant, Grammy award winner

"The Kid Pan Alley project is a great concept, to be sure. But the end result is even more impressive. Kids' music that is exactly that: Music for-and by-kids. The songs are written with a charming honesty and whimsy that only children can create. "Tidal Wave of Song" is unquestionably the most original kids' CD I've heard all year."
Kenny Curtis, XM Satellite Radio

“Paul Reisler's talents are many and his creativity, vast. Not to many people can do what he can do, bring the spirit of music and creating to new generations, opening up one of the most important doors there is. He is a national treasure." Robert Fritz, author of Creating and The Path of Least Resistance, composer, organizational consultant

"Tidal Wave of Song is a veritable tsunami of homegrown music from Rappahannock County, VA. Wide-ranging, surprising and fun. But my favorite thing about the CD is that it is one of the most community-based projects I've ever heard. From start to finish it sings a song that could and should be lifted in every neighborhood, county and coun-try: "This is who we are!" I love it!” John McCutcheon, Rounder Recording Artist

“What a delightful group of songs from Paul Reisler and the children of Rappahannock County, Virginia! Funny, thoughtful and, above all, musical.
Tom Paxton, Recording Artist and author

“All I know is Kid Pan Alley’s first project, Tidal Wave Of Song, is the only CD that has lived in our SUV CD player for 2 years – a family record. It’s only competition is the new Kid Pan CD! Paul Reisler has tapped into the creative powers of kids, inspiring and empowering them, and lighting a new fire in the artists that get the privilege of working with them.” Lari White, Nashville Underground Recording Artist

“From the first notes you are hooked by the joy that went into this project….It’s an album as ageless as the community that has created it, and that rings true with just one lis-ten…Music that can be enjoyed by the entire family.”
MetroKids Magazine, Philadelphia, PA

“Until recently, if you asked kids in Rappahannock County, VA where music comes from, they’d answer ‘the radio.’ But that was before they learned an important lesson from composer/performer Paul Reisler. Now they know music is what happens when a bunch of kids brainstorm with a musician willing to listen.” 64 Magazine

New CD featuring local students grabs award

July 01, 2005

A new group of talented musicians is emerging in Nashville, but you won’t catch them at a local club. These youngsters are only on Kid Pan Alley—Nashville, a new CD that snagged a 2005 Parents’ Choice Gold Award in Music from the Parents’ Choice Foundation.

The album is a collaboration of songwriters, popular musicians and more than 1,000 kids from 15 Metro Nashville Public Schools. The catchy CD features wholesome, spirited lyrics set to reggae, pop, country, blues and other styles.

The kids and contributors have a lot to smile about, considering that only six out of 1,000 submissions receive awards. The Parents’ Choice Foundation has rated children’s media products since 1978.

Each song is led by a notable musician backed by a children’s chorus and accompanied by the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. Contributors include Will Hoge, Delbert McClinton, Beth Nielsen Chapman and the Nashville Bluegrass Band.

“It is a great reflection on Nashville — really the kind of project that could only flourish here,” said NCO Musical Director Paul Gambill. “It’s just a really great affirmation of the work we’re doing, the program we have, and the kids themselves.”

Led by artistic director Paul Reisler, local songwriters visited Metro classrooms where they introduced kids to songwriting and spurred them to create songs. The results were whittled down to 18, and each participating student got a copy of the finished product.

Reisler, a Virginia teacher and songwriter, said the project was an “opportunity for them to do something and for it to be done on the highest level.”

To get your hands on a copy, call the NCO at 256-6546 or visit www.nco.org.