Do you remember that awful song…something about “School Days, dear old Golden Rule days…Reading and Writing and ‘Rithmatic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick”…Ouch! well let’s assume the hickory stick part is not done anymore, anywhere…but the reading, writing and ‘rithmetic are more emphasized than ever…WHAT HAPPENED TO MUSIC?! Crucial! CREATIVITY! Vital! Reading, writing and ‘rithmetic can even be taught WITH music, rhythmic rap, song, movement, imagination, children’s music with meaningful words…AND to address the SPIRIT of the child is THE most breathing, organic and basic need a young growing being can have…to address their EMOTIONAL well being, their self-esteem, the balancing of BOTH SIDES OF THE BRAIN…right and left hemispheres…addressing the WHOLE CHILD is fundamental to full growth!  Let’s integrate the ARTS—all of the arts—music, theatre, dance, art… along with reading, writing and arithmetic, and we will help to develop beautifully loved and sensitive whole children whose EMOTIONAL IQ is every bit as balanced as  INTELLECTUAL IQ.  Well, I’ll get off my platform now…I feel passionate about this subject…let’s not half teach the children…let’s find ways to plant seeds of joy and life long desires to learn.

Cheryl Melody children’s music CDs, concerts, keynotes and workshops

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”…I remember hearing kids say that taunt when I was a young child, and it is a phrase that doesn’t ring true for me personally or professionally.  Words have a tremendous vibration within the delicate soul of each and every person, no matter what age.  Words can make you feel on top of the world, or devastated, hurt and forever wounded.  As a composer of meaningful children’s music as well as inspiring adult music, I am deeply conscious of the impact of words.  In the Cheryl Melody song “I’m an Amazing Person Today,” I seek to nurture self-esteem by writing words that remind us ”to be our own best friend,”  in “Caterpillar-Butterfly,” the words encourage us to grow and change and be all we can be, and in songs like “One Planet,” “Peace is a Verb,” “Friends Forever,” “The Smile of Friendship,” “The No Bully Rap“…I hope to   instill character-building values such as inclusion, nonviolence, anti-bullying, anti-bias, multicultural celebration, effective communication, respect for each other, respect for ourself and respect for the earth…all through the power of words within every song.   I invite each person who buys music or borrows music from the library to carefully select music that raises consciousness, encourages the highest part of a child or adult to shine through, and emphasizes values of sharing, caring, cooperation, love and humanity.  Preview and listen to the words with your heart, your wisdom and intuition, and ask yourself if the song is good for your inner child as well as the children around you.  Sticks and stones can hurt and so can words, or they build a beautiful foundation of love, hope, possibility and feeling good both inside and out.

Cheryl Melody  Award-winning children’s music