Music is a universal language, with the power to lift our spirits and bring us closer together. So start the New Year by sharing new kids music with your students and families. The amazing talent emerging in this field goes far beyond the latest KidzBop album.

Podcasts offer musicians new ways to share their talents and engage young people. This playlist features personified instruments, wisdom from a composer of blockbuster movie scores, a coming-of-age story from a Korean-American pop star, and diverse kid indie music that will make your collections sing. Feel the rhythm of a new year!

Kidcasts Playlist: Music Play

Noodle Loaf, “Video Playdate”

Ages 5-9–Chock-full of interactive music play for young kids, Noodle Loaf is hosted by Dan Saks, a music educator and author. Each episode begins with the Noodle Loaf Choir, created from kid listeners sending in voice recordings. The opening songs set a gleeful mood for the fun that follows. This episode features a robot dance song to which kids can add their own sound effects, and a fill-in-the-blank song. Dan’s mellow and reassuring voice will entice young and old to sing and dance along.
 

Classical Kids Storytime, “KinderLute”

Ages 7-12–American Public Media, in concert with Classical Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), produces well thought-out content for grade schoolers about classical music. In this episode, listeners are introduced to the orchestra through sound and storytelling. They meet four string instruments—violin, viola, cello, and bass—and learn about their sound, parts, and size. That’s followed by a warm-hearted, comical story in which the instruments have names and personalities, teaching young musicians why it is important to take care of instruments. A great introduction to orchestra instruments.

Note: Symphonies around the country are finding inventive ways to share classical music education with their young listeners. The Cincinnati Orchestra’s podcast Classics for Kids , New York Philharmonic for Kids, Oregon Symphony Storytimes , is just one example. Be sure to explore your local symphony orchestra for resources and partnership opportunities.
 

The Music Box: Global Explorations, “Drumming from Ghana”

Ages 7-12–The Music Box podcast, produced by Louisville Public Media and PRX, now in its fourth season, explores music-making around the world. Miss Faith, teacher, and host, takes listeners on musical journeys across the globe. This episode features music from West Africa exploring how drumming is part of daily life there. Charles Amewudah, a Ghanaian drummer, talks about the ways that drumming brings people together with joy. He describes the appearance of the drums and how to play them to achieve different pitches and sounds. This show includes strong episodes for upper elementary and middle school students about world music and culture. Lessons are aligned with national arts standards, and the website includes videos and lessons.
 

The Music Podcast for Kids, “Interview with Harry Gregson-Williams: Award-Winning Composer”

Ages 9-14–Harry Gregson-Williams, composer for film and TV scores including Disneynature’s Penguins and the Shrek films, shares his creative process, comparing and contrasting the development of those two delightful scores. Explaining how he was inspired by the prolific Hans Zimmer’s ability to create distinct musical worlds, Gregson-Williams also describes his childhood and music education and how both set him on the composing path. Perfect for film and music aficionados, especially Disney ones.
 

Bandtastic, “Mission 1: Seabass of Earth”

Ages 9-14–The supergroup Bandtastic formed by recruiting musical prodigies from galactic realms across the universe, including Sebastian, a 12-year-old Earth boy who can play just about any instrument, including a pigeon. You get the idea… this is the wackiest, grooviest, most absurd sci-fi musical audio show for kids. The musical is five episodes long, with a bonus episode including song samples. Each episode builds on the next, so listeners should start with “Mission 1” to get the gist of the story. Written by comedians/musicians Drennon Davis and Mike Phirman; the latter released a hilarious kids music album in 2018, Songs to Sing at Children.
 

Song Exploder- Eric Nam, “Love Die Young”

Ages 13 Up–PRX’s Song Exploder follows the creation of a particular song with an immense amount of creative storytelling. The show interviews the different creators, providing the backstory to both the band and song. This year’s related Song Exploder Netflix series features icons such as Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and R.E.M. In this episode, vocalist Eric Nam shares his Cinderella-like story of entering the K-Pop scene in Korea, which gave him a platform and the ability to hone his craft as an artist. He describes the trials and tribulations of moving from one international music scene to the next, sharing how his life journey has been shaped by being an immigrant and a Korean-American person. A modern tale of an inspiring, humble, and talented artist.

Two must-listen podcasts feature new, indie music for kids, also known as kindie music:

Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl (SMBC) “December 5, 2020”

All ages

This radio/podcast show, launched in 2017 by Dave Loftin from Chattanooga, TN, features two hours of kindie music each week. Loftin has a passion for sharing this music with families, creating playlists that highlight the diverse, exciting talent from this realm. This recent episode includes talent from Kymberly Stewart to Lucky Diaz, Mista Cookie Jar and Gustafer Yellowgold. The show streams on WAWL and in podcast form.

Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, “11-15-2020”

All ages

Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child bills itself as “indie music for indie kids.” This show has long roots in sharing kids music, starting in 2005 on Valley Free radio, and evolving through various radio stations and formats to what it is today: a one hour show on KUTX, available in syndication, and through PRX in podcast form. It’s similar to SMCB in that it features the best and newest in kindie music. It highlights music that meets the moment, whether that’s new Hanukkah songs for kids or Grammy Award nominees. The effort is a family affair: host Bill Child’s kids Ella and Liam curate all the listening, promote kid concerts, and have their own record label that produces compilations to benefit charities around the world. Their most recent album, Let All the Children Boogie: A Tribute to David Bowie, benefits the It Gets Better Project.

Play on!

Anne Bensfield, the remote learning coordinator at the Oak Park Public Library, is listening and engaging in ways to support her community. Buttons & Figs podcast creator Pamela Rogers inspires creative expression from elementary school kids by reading, writing, and playing with words.