When I first popped in the latest CD from Jim Gill, I was looking forward to hearing something brand new in children's music. I had heard great things about Gill from a few of my readers, so expectations were high.
After receiving a copy of Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times last week, I gave it a listen. I realized quickly that this voice was familiar to me. And the humor was familiar. The first track, "Hello, I Must Be Going" was an old Marx Brothers song. My husband will love this, I thought. And I was loving it. But I contined to be distracted by the familiarity.
Had I seen this guy in concert? Did he have a video on Noggin? I flipped through the liner notes to look for clues. I took a closer look at his picture as I continued to listen. I laughed at the lyrics, which are incredibly clear and easy to follow. My six-year-old began to follow the directions on "Jump Up, Turn Around" as he passed through the room where I was listening (yes, I listen to some of this music without my children).
By the time I reached track seven, it struck me how I knew this voice. I Googled the phrase "Oh Hey, Oh Hi, Hello" and there was Jim Gill. He was the voice behind one of my son's favorite songs from back in pre-school. I'd heard my son sing that song a hundred times, and I had heard the CD in his classroom often enough to recognize Gill's voice. If you don't know this song, it's a perfect comedy routine for a four-year-old. I used to make my son sing it for relatives when we would go visit.
So I'm listening to the "Oh Hey, Oh Hi, Hello" guy (as Jim Gill will now forever be known in my head), and I found myself enjoying the music more and more. Many of the songs call for movement - jumping, clapping, dancing - and the instrumentation reflects this physicality extremely well. Songs like "Rhythm in My Fingers" and "Backwards Day" get listeners singing along.
Although the music is fairly soothing and mild, Gill's lyrics inspire lots of active participation. The instrumentation is somewhat "old-school" - more of a jazz combo than the rock-pop sound that has become prevalent with so many other artists. His distinct sound and style make him a standout in the ever-growing field of artists recording music for children and families.
Moving Rhymes for Modern Times is the fifth CD from Gill. He has been recognized by the American Library Association and the Parents' Choice Foundation. As a child development specialist, Gill knows how to reach audiences through music. Read more about him here, hear samples here, and shop for CD's here.
June 02, 2006
Deja Vu, Mr. Gill
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7 comments:
Cool. He sounds a bit like Raffi in terms of the participation thing.
I listen to him without the children, too! Jim's clever songs are a reflection of what he personally believes in: the importance of play for young children. His timeless music meets the physical and mental needs for diverse groups of children (and adults). I strongly recommend Jim Gill's music!
Jim Gill is great! Sometimes he preforms live at the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville, Il. I've had the pleasure of attending several special performances that he did for children with disabilities at Little Friends also located in Naperville. His shows are interactive and lots of fun for the children. Now that I have a child of my own, I have purchased some of his CDs for her to listen to and play along with.
Jim Gill is wonderful. I have used his cd's in my classroom and the kids (and parents that come in) love it! They especially love the songs "Poison Ivy" and "Spin Again". But all of the songs are great body awareness songs for preschoolers, but even some of my third grade students really enjoy them.
Dear Mrs. Davis,
I'm glad that you wrote such a nice review about Jim Gill & his music...
However, while your praises of Jim’s unique style and sound are all true, readers should also be aware that there is tremendous educational value in Jim's music that goes far beyond just the enjoyment of music.
As an educator, I utilize each song on every CD that Jim has out -- and not just because it's fun to listen to. We use his music daily in all of our programs because he's the only musician that we can find out there whose music simultaneously & effectively reaches & teaches ALL age groups -- Tots through School-Age. And, we especially value the way his music develops "Phonemic Awareness", "...the single most predictive early literacy skill linked to later reading success and a love for reading."
Additionally, we have found his music to help our students to develop: Listening skills, oral expression, motor planning, social skills, expanded imagination, body awareness, rhythm, spatial concepts, identification of instrument sounds, color recognition, numbers, spelling, & print awareness (when accompanied by posted lyrics). I also love the fact that his music encourages multi-sensory learning experiences, therefore it simultaneously reaches ALL types of learners: Visual, Auditory, & Kinesthetic – so, no child falls through the cracks. This teaching approach, albiet via music, fosters the acquisition and retention of newly learned information, based on the latest brain research. In my professional opinion, these are the most important reasons why Jim Gill’s music is a “stand-out” among all other such artists – the fact that he has a ‘distinct sound and style’ is only the icing on the cake.
We just hope that he keeps making more music, because you can bet there will be a place in all of our programs for every song that he ever creates.
Cherie Mondrella
Center Director - Lockport, IL,
President & Founder,
Fun-Etics!,TM Inc.
(815) 690-9484
www.ActiveLiteracy.com
I've been using Jim Gill's music in my preschool storytimes for around 10 years. Each generation of children has a favorite. The current group absolutely love "I Took A Bath In A Washing Machine" from "Jim Gill Sings The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes". Earlier favorites include "The Silly Dance Contest" and "Spin Again". My favorite from the current cd is "Family Good-byes". The children are always requesting their favorites and I am more than happy to oblige!
A Children's Librarian in Brookville Ohio
Our family has been listening to Jim Gill's music for at least 8 years -- ever since we had a chance to see him perform at our (then) local library in Woodridge, IL. Now in Colorado, we continue to get every CD and listen to them constantly. We've even modified songs to fit our situation (such as "Toy Boat," which can be sung with any 2-syllable phrase). It's so nice to see him getting more national awareness. Jim Gill is awesome!
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