Let’s Hear It For The Laurie Berkner Band … And For Kids’ Receptiveness To Music
by Karl J. Paloucek
Competition for the musical attention of preschoolers is escalating once again. Noggin has announced yet another upcoming programming event geared at trying to foster music appreciation in its target audience. Let’s Hear It for The Laurie Berkner Band! (premiering July 12) looks essentially to be a showcase for its titular act, encompassing as it does 17 music videos for the band, including one for the song “My Family,” which was created specifically for Noggin. According to the press release, other featured clips will include “preschool favorites” like “Victor Vito” and “Pig on Her Head.” The whole shebang will be hosted by Noggin’s Moose and Zee.
I have somewhat mixed feelings about this. While I certainly appreciate the zeal with which some of today’s talented songsters have embraced the mission of creating kid-friendly music and videos — Ms. Berkner and her crew not least, who obviously take their music and mission very seriously — the cynical part of me recognizes that it’s a full-on commercial targeted at preschoolers and their parents. But that’s [Read more →]


By Elaine Bergstrom
by Karl J. Paloucek


by Karl J. Paloucek
by Karl J. Paloucek