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Kathleen - Teachers.Net is VERY HAPpy to present Hap Palmer! Hap is an innovator in the use of music and movement to teach skills and encourage the use of imagination. His recordings and videos have received numerous honors including the Parent's Choice Award and the National Parenting Publications Award.
Peg/ok - Mr. Palmer, do you have any new releases?
Linda/2/CA - It is nice to put a face to my old 33 rpm records--yes that is how long I have been using Mr. Palmers songs
Hap - Peg my newest release is "Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet?"
Kathleen - Linda, that's what I have, 33 LPs!
Hap - Yes many teachers still prefer the LP's but CD's are becoming more popular.
Kathleen - Hap has been honored by: the Parents' Choice Award, the American Library Association Notable Recordings Designation, the American Library Association Best of the Best for Children, the National Parenting Publications Award, and the American Video Award.
Kathleen - Hap, learning how to find the track on CD's challenges those of us who are over... ahme, 25 ;-) LP's are easiest for us:-)
Peg/ok - CD's are wonderful, much better than cassettes
Teachmn - My all time favorite is "Witches Brew"!
Kathleen - Hap, have the needs of children for music and movement changed in any way since you began performing for that group?
meeha/ece/tx - I LOVE my CD's ... can't even begin to imaagine life without them now!
Hap - Actually the CD's are easier for me when I'm doing workshops. When I started many years ago, if Iwas nervous my hand would shake and it was hard to get the needle in the right groove of the LP.
Peg/ok - "Hello Everybody" is a great way to start the morning. Thanks for being so aware of childrens need to move!
Hap - Kathleen, I think the need is greater than ever with video games and computers taking so much of child's play time it's really important to get up and move.
Kathleen - Hap, you do workshops?
Hap - Yes I do a limited number. I will be at the NAEYC in New Orleans.
Kathleen - RATS! I KNEW I should have gone to naeyc this year! Will you be there next year (in Atlanta)?
Mama B - Hap, I am a retired teacher in South Carolina and was in the education business for about 40 years. It is a pleasure to tell you "face to face" how much yur songs have meant to the children over the years.
Hap - Thank you Mama B - and welcome.
Hap - Yes I will be in Atlanta next year.
Kathleen - Hap Palmer's educational background includes an M.A. in Dance Education from the University of California at Los Angeles. His recordings and videos have received numerous honors. He has taught courses for various education extension programs, participated in the Friends of the School Volunteers Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District and taught classes in creative movement for children, physical fitness and tap dance. He has also performed with the UCLA Dance Company, and the Pierce College Dance Theater.
Kathleen - Hap do you do any work with Public TV or Public Radio?
Tchrjoyce - Hap, you have been a wonderful resource for me for years. Do you have anything new coming soon?
foxydinosaur - I teach Native American Students, Kinder level and they Love "The Eagle" I've taught them hand motiooons and we've done it three time for Kinder Graduation. The parents from years before even ask me if I'm going to teach that song.
Hap - No I have not done work with public TV or Radio, but I am willing
Kathleen - Hap, any plans for workshops in CA?
Hap - I am glad to hear "The Eagle" is well received.
meeha/ece/tx - on which album does one find "the Eagle"?
Hap - I am doing 2 concerts in Thousand Oaks on the 17 of November.
Teachmn - The students on the reservation I teach at love "The Eagle" also!
Peg/ok - Any visits to Oklahoma?
foxydinosaur - It's on Witches Brew.
Hap - The Eagle" is on the recording "Witches Brew"
Hap - None planned as yet Peg
Peachy/K/NC - Hap, is sheet music still available. I have an assistant who plays the guitar, and it would be great to have the sheet music.
meeha/ece/tx - Thanks! Guess I need to explore some of my CD's a bit more!
lin/pre-k - do you have anything planned for the northeast
Linda/2/CA - Do any of your songs have Big Books to go along with them?
Hap - Sheet music for many of the songs are available from Alfred Music Publishers: http://www.alfredpub.com/
Hap - No Linda, but I would love to have some. Any ideas how to get this done?
eimmik - Hap, I have used your songs with workshops that I teach with colleagues and I have found that adults love to move to your music just as the children do. Any plans to do songs geared more for older students?
Linda/2/CA - Not really-guess you need to find an artist
foxydinosaur - I think Big Books would be great, also
Tchrjoyce - Hap, what advice would you give for using music in the classroom? We are being pushed to do so much reading, writing and math. Singing songs is being considered a frill in some kindergartens.
Hap - I have some songs for 2nd to 4th grade on "Can Cockatoos Count By Twos?"
Linda/2/CA - I use songs to teach language development among other things
pez/k/Fl - You mentioned before that you have a new CD out. What type of songs are on it?
foxydinosaur - There is a big push for phonemic awareness in our district and we are supposed to go back to teaching nursery rhymes. It is really hard to find good ones with aa bb lines. I teach ESL kinder. Do you have any plans to put more things like that out?
Hap - Tchrjoyce, I think songs are very benificial for reading readiness. The rhymes and alliteration develop the child's ear for sounds of language which is essential for success in understanding phonics.
Tchrjoyce - Thanks, Hap, I agree with you! I appreciate the input from an expert! I'll be sure to quote you!
Hap - I'm working on a new project called "Early Childhood Classics"
Jacki - I find the best teaching in my class comes from teaching thru music. Love the hap palmer records
foxydinosaur - I agree too, it really helps me with my students.
Hap - Thanks Jacki
Kathleen - At http://www.nncc.org/Curriculum/cc21_music.movement.html: "Music and dancing are inside each child. All caregivers do is let them out. That is good news for those of us who are not gifted in these areas. It tells us that all we need to do is encourage, not "teach" music and movement. Here are some ideas that may help you "let the music out." (go to the url to read the ideas)
pez/k/Fl - What type of songs are on your new CD?
meeha/ece/tx - my (special needs) preschoolers definitely respond better to music than to spoken language! at times i even get speech imitation from non-speakers when we use the music mode of teaching!
Kathleen - that's terrific, meeha. music reaches every child, right?
Linda/2/CA - jacki--I have to agree with you--I am a teacher trainer at my site and some of the newer teachers are amazed at some of his early stuff--they all ran out and tried to get copies of it
Jacki - i have a little boy from pakistan who is learning a lot of english thru my records i use
Peachy/K/NC - Hap, your music is loved by today's kids just as much as when I first started teaching. I am always so glad because I would want to play them anyway
Hap - "Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet?" has songs for learning through music and movement. A complete description is on my web site http://www.happalmer.com
Sobo/1/IA - Hap, when I taught kdg. I loved your colors song!!!! You make having music in the classroom fun!! Thanks again!
Hap - Thanks Peachy
Jacki - i used the color song today come to think of it!
Hap - Thank you Sobo
Jacki - what made you decide to write these type of songs for kids?
Kathleen - Hap, who is Martha Palmer who makes beautiful music with you?
pez/k/Fl - I used Sammy today. A song that is as popular with my students today as it was back when i started teaching.
meeha/ece/tx - i think my kids have had more fun with "Scamper" ... i get repeated requests for "do it again" when we do it!
foxydinosaur - I've been teaching for thirteen years and I can't imagine a year with out Hap. I love "This is the way we get up in the morning." It's so happy.
Kathleen - pez, that is my all time favorite! (Sammy) Kids love it year after year after year...you get the idea!
Sarah - Their favorite is the color song - could you ever do one with more colors?
Hap - I started by singing folk songs of the 60's, but the children kept wanting to get up and move. So I started writing songs that tap children's natual desire to be actively involved.
Jacki - i like the song what is your name the best on that record? i find the songs are as appealing today to my kids as they were 25 yrs ago when I started teaching
Hap - Martha Palmer is my ex wife. She has remarried and her name is now Martha Cheney. she has written many fine instructional books for parents , teachers and children.
Hap - If I cant' get to all your questions, feel free to email me at hap@netwood.net
Kathleen - A good source of ideas for Music and Movement for infants through early school age: http://www.nncc.org/Series/good.time.music.html
lin/pre-k - Do you have any songs with echos? By this I mean you sing a verse, and the children repeat after you?
foxydinosaur - Do you have a cultural CD out?
eimmik - I think Hap reaches more than just the early childhood grades! My fifth graders have a comfort zone with Hap's music
Teachmn - I agree, eimmik....my 4th and 5th graders love it too!
Jacki - that is because they learned it in preschool or kgn
Hap - lin/pre-K yes one is called "What a Miracle" Someone else asked about multi cultural songs. I have one called "Ways to Say Hello" which tells how to say hello in 15 different languages.
foxydinosaur - I agree, one of the fifth grade teachers at my school, borrows my records frequently.
Linda/2/CA - I know one of his earliest recordings was traditional music like Michael Row Your Boat Ashore--that was a lifesaver since I can't carry a tune for anything
Jacki - what record or tape is the "Ways to say hello on?
debbie - You have been my favoorite children's atist since 1972 when I first was intorduced to your records.
Hap - Teachmn - yes my daughter taught 4th grade for several years, and the students loved the chance to get up and move
meeha/ece/tx - Several years ago I purchased two of Hap's albums done in Spanish!
Teachmn - Hap...and to sing there little hearts out!
Peachy/K/NC - I bought Seagulls for myself to play at home. So beautiful!!
Kathleen - We all need to move, for sure.
Hap - "Can JUmbo Jet Sing the Alphabet?" has a hello and good bye song with many different languages, but I do not have a tape limited to only multi cultual songs.
Kathleen - Hap, who was your inspiration as a child? Did anyone turn you on to music?
foxydinosaur - Hap, I have grandchildren now who have grown up with you also, thanks to my records and tapes. So you really get spread around. I love the Funky Penguins, used it for a Christmas program one year, it was adorable.
eimmik - Hap, what are all the instruments that you play?
Kathleen - Hap, who are your favorite (music) artists today?
Jacki - wow there are alot of tapes and records I don't have and will have to get to find out what you all are talking about!
Kathleen - Hap, I see that you offer free shipping on pre-paid orders! And tax is included in your prices! See http://www.happalmer.com/order.htm and Phone/Fax: (818) 885-0200, E-mail: hap@netwood.net
Hap - Kathleen, gosh I heard so many different kinds of music as I was growing up. My dad collected recordings from the big band era, Genny Goodman Artie Shaw etc. I also heard a lot of Jazz. In the 60's I went through a folk music period, then a country periond with people like Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. I started playing th clarinet when I was 8 and took up the guitar in college
Kathleen - Hap, what do you have coming out in 2000?
Hap - eimmik - my main instrument is the guitar, but i also play woodwinds and clarinet and electric bass.
Kathleen - Hap, did you grow up on the West Coast?
Hap - Kathleen - In 2000 I will release a recording called "Early Childhood Classics" also some new Baby Songs Videos
Hap - Yes, I'm a rarity an actual LA native.
Kathleen - Hap, is there any one song you never get tired of playing on request?
Hap - Sammy
Marcia/Ca - Oh those Baby Songs..my youngest loved those (and me, too!)
Tchrjoyce - Hap, what is YOUR favorite song that you wrote?
Peachy/K/NC - Will the EC Classics have some of the favorite oldies...like Colors and Sammy?
Linda/2/CA - Do you have anything for teaching continents, oceans and the like?
Kathleen - ME TOO! (Sammy)Hap, what is the focus of your workshops?
Hap - Tchrjoyce - I never have one favorite. My head is always in what I am writing at the time.
Kathleen - The Children's Music Web, a non-profit organization dedicated to music for kids: http://www.childrensmusic.org/index.html [offers a free newsletter]
Hap - Kathleen, I try to get teachers up and moving so they can experience first hand how music and movement works for encouraging learning.
Kathleen - Hap, Linda asks whether any of your songs teach about continents, oceans, etc
Jacki - ever have one of those workshops in Phila PA area?
Hap - No Linda, but that's a good idea. any other suggestions?
Kathleen - Hap, multi-cultural materials are in demand
Linda/2/CA - Take a look at the Soc Studies standards for CA--a lot of Americana in it--national symbols, landmarks, people, etc
Kathleen - foxy, you were asking earlier about aa bb pattern stuff. Would you elaborate for Hap?
Marcia/Ca - friendship and family....stars....
foxydinosaur - Yes, I'd like to see one on Saving the planet, and dinosaurs.
Kathleen - Songs for Getting Along
meeha/ece/tx - manners ... social skills ... planets
Kathleen - Hap, you'll have access to the transcript, so don't worry about keeping up with all of the ideas live :-)
Hap - Kathleen - what are the most important concepts or ideas you would like to see in multi-cultural materials?
foxydinosaur - One two, buckle my shoe, is aa, then the next verse is( bb) three four shut my door.
Marcia/Ca - we see children with such diverse family structures..it would be nice to have songs about grandma's and grandpa's and step families..that show loving kindness...
Kathleen - Hap, for me, emphasizing how we are all alike
eimmik - cooperative learning
meeha/ece/tx - Do you have a song similar to the "Weekly Rap" for the months of the year?
Hap - yes this is true Marcia
Linda/2/CA - which one has Weekly Rap on it
foxydinosaur - I coulldn't agree more, my children live in extended families, so they sometimes have a hard time distuguishing.
Kathleen - Hap, nursery rhymes and traditional chants, songs with accompanying charts in large size so kids can follow along with the words
meeha/ece/tx - Can A Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye has the Weekly Rap
Kathleen - Hap, I think you would make a fortune putting out class size charts with the lyrics of the songs you offer for kindergarten-gr. 2
foxydinosaur - Great idea Kathleen.
Linda/2/CA - Yes--the Nursery Rhymes are almost a must--so many of our children today are not exposed to them before coming to school
Marcia/Ca - And most of all ...the children singing slowly...most songs on tapes sing tooooo fast...
Hap - Kathleen - Yes, I have a song called "We Are All Alike" which is on the latest Baby Songs Video and on my recording that the filter wont let me type the name of "Can --- Count by Twos?" I also have one with the same idea called "Spinning on the Same Ball" from "A Child's World of Lullabies"
Hap - Weelkly Rap is from "Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet?"
Kathleen - Marcia, good point. That's what I like about Hap's songs, they move at the right pace for little ones
Hap - Kathleen any ideas how to produce class size charts? The printing must be very costly.
Kathleen - Hap, I would think major publishers would be interested, I'll e-mail some ideas later
Tchrjoyce - I agree that class size charts would be a big hit!
Kathleen - yes, fozy, for pocket charts.
Tchrjoyce - Another idea would be to make strips and pictures for pocket charts.
meeha/ece/tx - if you hook up with a publisher (scholastic, dlm, ...) you could work 'in tandem' to create a curriculum featuring the charts ... create your own pub. company for that matter ... create pre-reading, early reading curriculum which could be based on so many of your well-loved songs! the market IS there!
marykay - the Wright Group....might be a possibility..they publish wonderful big books
pez/k/Fl - There is one song (can't recall the name of it) tells of changes, tides rolling in and out, earth turning. Such a nice song.
Kathleen - Yes, save us the work of writing out pocket chart cards with Sammy lyrics ;-)
Kathleen - Hap, you'll have to write a song about your friends here at Teachers.Net :-)
Hap - yes Tchrjoyce I think pictures would often be helpful. I have a song about a roller coaster for example, and many children do not know what this looks like. Also many children have never seen many of the basic musical instrumnets.
Hap - good idea meeha/ece/tx
Linda/2/CA - So true about instruments
foxydinosaur - Can't you just see a big book about SAMMY? It would be great.
Kathleen - I would buy it in a minute!
lin/pre-k - Do you have any christian based songs?
meeha/ece/tx - a good computer cd program could be based in introducing experiences (like a roller coaster) or the orchestra or band instruments ...
Tchrjoyce - I spend lots of time writing out charts and making lesson related pocket chart materials. I love the big book idea too!
ms lala land - I would love to see a Sammy big book.
Hap - pez/k/fl you might be thinking of "Natures Sweet Endless song"
pez/k/Fl - Yes, that's it. Thanks Hap. Someone borrowed the record and never returned it.
Kathleen - Hap, would you ask during the naeyc workshop if any Teachers.Net teachers are present? Then you could give them a special wave!
Hap - No lin/pre K, but many churces use "What A Miracle" or "Angels Watching Over Me" (from Child's World of Lullabies)
Linda/2/CA - My kids love Angels
Kathleen - Hap, then there is another idea, the religious songs
Kathleen - Hap, what is your dream gig?
Hap - Do you think the color in kind of big book is best, or do you prefer full color books?
Linda/2/CA - Full color books are VERY expensive--blacklines are better
foxydinosaur - I like the color in Kind, so they can be reproduced .
Hap - Let's see .... my dream gig would be to be able to reach everyone in person with out having to fly on planes and be away from home.
Kathleen - Hap, little, reproducible books to accompany big books, songs are wonderful for classrooms
Linda/2/CA - Teleconferencing!!!!
Tchrjoyce - I like the color in too!
Kathleen - Hap, well, then tonight is one step toward that gig ;-)
meeha/ece/tx - absolutely, Kathleen! I like having the little books, too!
Kathleen - Of course, we can't hear you singing!
Hap - yes it is Kathleen, thanks for the opportunity.
marykay - I agree with Kathleen. The little reproducibles to go with the big books...great idea!
Hap - When you say "little books," what size are they?
Kathleen - hap, just made from an 8x11 sheet or two, cut and folded
Kathleen - Hap, I'll mail a sample to you
Hap - a sample would be great thanks Kathleen.
Tchrjoyce - Repoducible books are a huge seller now.
Linda/2/CA - Thanks for all the many years of wonderful music experiences from a teacher who can't sing at all
Kathleen - Hap, it's time to close, but would you just sing one line of one of your songs for us? ;-)
foxydinosaur - Especially the one about Sammy. He has to be the first.
Tchrjoyce - Witches Brew would be great too!
pez/k/Fl - And Grandmother's Farm
ms lala land - Thanks Hap for all you do for kid and teachers and thanks for taking the time to chat with us. See you in New Orleans.
Tchrjoyce - Hap, thanks again for making our teaching more fun and productive. You are a treasure!
Hap - Okay, "This is a song about Sammy, his father sent him out to buy bread, But Sammy didn't feel like walking, He wished he could fly instead." In verses that follow, you can include the names of children in your class. follow ups where you personalize the songs are really valuable.
Linda/2/CA - One last question--how did you get a name like Hap?
Tchrjoyce - Applause!
Kathleen - Thanks, Hap!! This was wonderful fun!
foxydinosaur - wow. thanks
ms lala land - Standing ovation
Hap - My parents actually gave it to me as a child. It was very embarassing in school, but it turned out to be just the right name for what I do.
Linda/2/CA - Take your bows!!!!
Kathleen - Participants, thank you! This was a lot of fun! Goodnight all. Hap I'll e-mail to follow up.
Hap - Thank you all for participating and for the helpful ideas.
lin/pre-k - Well Hap is appropriate for someone who makes others so HAPpy!
