Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Big Idea - Need everyone's help!

I've shared this with a few people, and the more I talk about it, the more excited I am by it.

The idea started when I was playing Emma her evening lesson, and couldn't stop thinking about my mom singing a song and playing the guitar. Also, I've been reading about people playing music and reading and talking to their babies, or playing them tapes of people, and how beneficial they found it. (With benefits like the baby recognizing important voices and turning their head toward the familiar voice in recognition and smiling.)

So, here's the idea. I would like everyone (family and friends) to record themselves - reading a story, reading a poem, telling a folk tale, or singing (or any combination thereof). At the beginning of the piece, I would like to have a brief introduction of yourself, and your relationship to me/her (Hi, this is Grandma, or Hi, this is Uncle G-Dog, or, Your Aunt So-and-So). Then, your piece(s).

There are certain specific things I would like.
I want mom to record "Dona", playing the guitar and singing, and any other songs she might have sung to us as kids.
Favorite kids' stories are good - Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You, The Velveteen Rabbit.
Children's poems - Shel Silverstein is great, as is Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass (my favorites are Jabberwocky and the Walrus and the Carpenter).
Your favorite children's storybook - I know my sister C likes Harold and the Purple Crayon. And my dad used to read Goodnight Moon every night before bed to the three youngest girls.
My favorite Dr. Seuss is "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" (which I know N still thinks was his lesser effort). But, really, any Dr. Seuss.
Curious George Stories. Amelia Bedelia. If you give a mouse a cookie... (and related titles). Those Mo Willem books that T is fond of for her girls.
Reading or Telling a folklore story.
Singing your favorite song.

I'm not sure whether I'll play these for her prenatally, in her hospital incubator, or both.

If you have the ability to record digitally and send to me as MP3, that's super-awesome. Otherwise, until I stop working, I have access to production rooms if you need to record onto a cassette or minicassette tape, and then I'll load them as MP3. As MP3, I can load them to my ipod and play them to her before she's born, or burn them to a CD which can be played to her at the hospital.

If you want to participate in the great Emma mix-tape, post a comment here or email me, and I'll get a list going. I'm looking forward to this!

4 comments:

alicia said...

your dad will have to set up the recording session - but I am willing to sing and play Dona,Dona.

Anonymous said...

well i'd prolly have to get a program for the computer or borrow somone's tape deck but i'd be glad to read her jabberwocky and perhaps sing her rose rose.

Anonymous said...

I'm thrilled to provide a recording for the #1 great-grandchild. I can sing nursery rhymes or read or both. Your choice. Let me know.

Anonymous said...

I don't have access to recording equipment! I have so many things floating through my head that I could do, but I don't know how to get any of it onto a portable medium. Curious George is the best, as is Dr. Suess (even his lesser efforts - side note, E just got There's a Wocket in my Pocket. I totally forgot how awesome that book is!). I would love to read Home for a Bunny (I taught myself to read on that one and still remember most of it). There is another hilarious children's book, but I don't know if you want to corrupt your kid just yet. My two absolutely adore it, but it is a bit...common may be a nice way to put it. Walter the Farting Dog. That one may have to wait until she sees the humor in flatulence, but it is really funny once they get it. Anyway, if you have any ideas on how I can contribute, please, please, please let me know.

-N