A Jumping Jubilee
“How many biscuits can you eat?” is one of the important musical questions posed to your toddler by folk singer Gayle Schmitt and her Toodala Ramblers in their “Jumping Frog Jubilees.” Gayle and her Ramblers typically draw an entire mosh pit of energetic youngsters with their upbeat, finger-picking bluegrass style and entertaining lyrics. Plus it’s not unusual to find a few small kids singing backup or joining in on the chorus. Don’t miss the fun on Feb. 19 for two shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in San Francisco’s Randall Museum. The act is part of the 11th annual San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival, a nine-day festival in venues around the Bay Area.
Gayle Schmitt sings, plays guitar, and writes the clever lyrics to songs that speak straight to a young child’s heart — songs about getting your first haircut, the joys of lemonade, your kitty cat, eating pizza, and "The Boo Boo Song." Her toe-tappin’ band includes bass, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. This popular music and movement teacher in San Francisco, offers classes in preschools and gymnasiums. Her albums Front Porch Favorites and Everything is a Song, have won a Parent’s Choice Award and a Children’s Music Web Award respectively. Kids of ages 2-8 will love this concert, and beware: The infectious nature of these tunes will have parents dancing too.
The San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival also produces the following in-school shows: Gayle Schmitt & the Toodala Ramblers at San Francisco Friends School, Feb. 11, 10:20-10:50 a.m.; The Foghorn Trio at Park Day School in Oakland, Feb. 15, 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m.; the Water Tower Bucket Boys at Bishop O'Dowd School High School in Oakland, Feb. 16 at noon. For information on Gayle see www.gaylessongs.com and the Festival schedule is at www.sfbluegrass.org. Advanced tickets are available here.
All-City Public School Music Festival
The Who’s Who of the San Francisco public school music scene will gather for a beautiful showcase of talent at the All-City Public School Music Festival on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at Lowell High School. Some 300 musicians have been selected to perform in honor ensembles — high school and middle school bands, orchestra and choruses, and a newly added jazz combo directed by Henry Hung. The students rehearse as a group on Friday and Saturday before the performance, and with their own music teachers in preparation for the big concert.
Sponsored by the Association of Instructors in Music (AIM) and put together by volunteers like Jon Frank, music teacher at Hoover Middle School and AIM president, the teachers spend many hours organizing this festival and raising money to pay for most of the expenses. Says Frank: “AIM sponsors this event to give students the challenge of playing in an honor group and the opportunity to make music with students from different schools. When district funding fell short, members of AIM felt that it was important to keep the tradition going on our own.”
Supervisor Carmen Chu and Board of Education member Emily Murase, whose older daughter plays in the Presidio Middle School band, will both speak at the occasion. The public is invited to hear the concert. No tickets are required but arrive early if you want to get a seat!
Black History Month Essay Contest
Hey kids, it’s Black History Month, and SFCV is holding an essay contest to celebrate. See the details on how to participate here.
It’s not too late to use one of our many recently published resources to research your topic. What about exploring our new composer bios to learn about favorite composer-pianists Scott Joplin? You may be interested in African-American singers — the legendary Shirley Verrett, one of greatest opera singers of the past 50 years; Roland Hayes, the first lyric tenor to receive acclaim here and abroad; or up-and-coming singer, the cute, young Sidney Outlaw.
Write just a few short words on these musicians or others, and send them to [email protected] by Feb. 27. You could win a chance to be published on our Web site, and a $25 gift card to iTunes. Enter today!