Betsy's Blog on Children's Theater | BaileyKidsMusicals.com - BaileyKidsMusicals.com

Fifth Generation Soprano

6/9/2022

On our hike up the canyon yesterday, I managed to sneak a short video of my granddaughter singing a bit from "Frozen II." She is still very young, only 2 1/2, and yet she has begun to sing actual songs on pitch. Granted, the three note motif from the siren voice in "Frozen II" is built on intervals that are judged easiest for young children to imitate. The starting pitch descends first down a half step and then down a minor third. However, my granddaughter even tries singing it in different modulations just like on the soundtrack. Pretty good for a toddler!

My daughter and I were musing yesterday about how this little girl marks the fifth generation of fine sopranos in our family. (We are only counting the mothers and grandmothers I have known personally.) So, starting with my mother's mother Lora (her operatic voice spanned 5 octaves) to my mother Carolyn (beautiful lyric soprano), myself Betsy (another lyric Soprano), my daughter Cami (also a huge vocal range), to her daughter Camilla (destined to sing soprano, too). That makes five generations of soprano voices.

Of course, that is only counting one direct line, and not even mentioning the many fine singers in her generation. (I have 25 grandchildren and they all sing well!) We have stories from our more ancient history of many fine singers and entire families of singers and musicians on down through the extended family lines. We are just happy to continue the tradition of SINGING and playing/composing music.

Camilla, or CJ as she is called, goes around the house singing her own soundtrack. She favors us with many songs from movies and a lot from "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood." Because I am her Nursery Leader at Church, I am noticing that she is picking up more and more phrases and melodies from the Primary songs we teach her. She is sometimes the only child in Nursery, so we sing a lot.

It is clear that this toddler loves music and so does her 1 year old brother Peter. In Church he also has to have his own hymnbook open so that he can "sing" and wave his arms directing the music. Their mother started her conducting career at age 2 by sneaking onto stage when the extended family was singing a choir number. She stole the show while imitating the conducting of her great-great aunt Janie Thompson.

Toddlers should be allowed to show their developing talents!

Toddler Tantrums and Truths

4/18/2022

Living with toddlers can be so fun, though exhausting, and may sometimes point blame back directly at you!

My little 2 year old granddaughter loves to have Grandma's storybooks read to her. Nearly everyday, she insists that they be read to her. Sometimes she sits and "reads" them to herself. She particularly likes "Spin-Around Dresses and Click Shoes." Yesterday was Easter. Her "Grandmama" (not me, she calls me Grandma) sent her a beautiful new dress to wear for Easter.

The trouble was that she had only hot pink polka dotted Sunday shoes, and her mother thought she should have shoes to wear that matched her new dress. They went to the store and eventually found some shoes that would match her dress. But when Easter morning came, she adamantly demanded that she wear her pink polka-dotted "click shoes" to Church. She cried and fussed and flatly refused to wear the new shoes that matched the dress in favor of the hot pink polka-dotted shoes. After some major convincing, her mother finally convinced her to wear the new shoes. But they are not her true "click shoes."

Earlier this year, their family was visiting at Grandmama's house when another funny incident happened for which I am partly to blame. Another of my picture books Camilla likes is titled "Is This Cowboy Food ." One line happens at the end of the story when the whole trouble starts happening all over again. Well, Camilla was watching a marathon of "Mulan" movies. When the Huns started attacking in "Mulan II," Camilla shook her head, put her hand to her forehead and wailed, "It's happening again!"

I have to admit, it's nice having Camilla as my most loyal fan!

You Had to Audition to Get Into This Family

4/12/2022

Whenever my siblings and I complained about rehearsing or getting ready to do a show with my mother, she just said, "Singing is what we do." And then she added, "Don't you know you had to audition to get into this family?"

I think that was what her mother said to her when she was little, too. (My grandparents were excellent singers and were carrying on that singing tradition from generations before them!) My mother was the fifth child in a family of seven singing siblings. They grew up singing together for fun and to entertain others. Many became professional musicians, educators and entertainers.

My mother started training her children to sing practically from birth. She put me in my first show when I was just two weeks old. Anyway, all six of us learned to sing together in harmony from our very early ages. Her line was that when we were in heaven, we made sure to stand in the "singing talent" line. And then we had to go through an audition process before we got assigned to come to earth into our family. "Singing is what you were born to do." So, we did.

When my children came along, I knew what I had to do. My kids grew up knowing that they also had to audition to get into our family. We sang a lot as a family while they still lived at home. They all learned to hold their own parts and play different instruments. We enjoyed singing together.

Now, it is harder to gather from so many different places in order to sing together, but whenever we can, we still love singing together.

Megan and Melanie singing

My daughter Kathryn shared an experience she had with her kids from the other day. They had had a long day of Church meetings and choir practice and visiting other wards. Then, after a quick dinner, Mom and the older kids needed to go practice again for Stake Conference Choir. Kathryn needed their help because she was the choir director.

Eleven-year-old Megan started to complain and drag her feet, but her voice was needed in the Soprano section with her two older sisters and just a few older women. Kathryn said, "Singing is what we do in this family. Don't you remember you had to audition to even get to be in this family?"

Confused, Megan said, "Wait. What?"

Kathryn shook her head and muttered as they got into the van, "Where have you been all these years?"

Megan and Melanie have lovely voices, and here's the proof. "As the French Say" song from the play "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse."

Friend or Just Entertainment?

4/5/2022

We moved around a lot through my youth. I often felt like I never stayed in one place long enough to really bond with friends. But, I guess I had friends enough, at least I had plenty of invitations to birthday parties. We did the things other kids in that time did --- dancing to pop hits, building crazy ice cream concoctions, skating at the roller rink, swinging on the Tarzan rope over the canal, having sleep-over parties, etc.

What I remember most about going to sleep-over birthday parties is that my friends always asked me to sing them to sleep. I don't know if that was because I had a voice that would instantly put them to sleep or that they honestly liked how or what I sang. Guess I will never know for sure.

I remember the parents at the party house insisting that after a certain time, no more television or playing records would be allowed. They insisted we all go to sleep. So, I was elected to quietly sing to them. My repertoire at that time was fairly vast. I could sing Movie and Broadway tunes ad infinitum. And it felt like I indeed sang all night long. Every time I stopped, thinking the girls were all asleep, someone would pipe up and say, "No, don't stop." So on I sang from the scores of "My Fair Lady," "The Sound of Music," "Mary Poppins," "Funny Girl," almost any Rodgers and Hammerstein show or Disney show, and so on.

Providing the entertainment is something I was called on to do a lot in my life. One thing I've noticed through the years is that the entertainer doesn't actually get to mix with the audience. So, I think a lot of kids thought they knew me, but I didn't really get to know anybody.

Thank goodness I had built-in friends having a tight-knit family. They were my best friends then and still are. We sang as a family in our growing up years. And we still like singing together. And my kids sing with me and and with each other, as well.

If I had only had my sisters or daughters with me at those sleep-over parties, we could have sung in parts!

The One True Outfit

3/12/2022

Many toddlers go through this phase, I imagine. They latch onto one outfit that they want to wear day and night. Right now my granddaughter who lives with me has decided that the new dress her mother bought for her is her favorite. She wants to wear it all the time --- even to sleep in. We do not know how long this phase might last, but it may be for a long time.

Our middle son Matthew took this phase to new heights. He also had the one true outfit. His story became legend in our family. So much so that I decided to write a Children's Picture book about it.

His little friend had given him cowboy boots that he had grown out of. That started the whole thing. From then on Matthew not only wanted to wear the boots, hat, vest, bandana and rope he collected for his costume, but he also determined that his little yellow T-shirt and denim shorts were part of it, too. He came to all his meals with a scowl on his face and asked in a gruff voice, "Is this cowboy food?" Once we had explained that indeed whatever it was we were eating was true cowboy food, he would join us.

This went on for a year! Oh wait, you'll have to read the story to find out what happened next!

The music track you hear is from the Children's Musical "Stone Soup." Curiously, this fun show set in the Old West, also features cowboy food!

The ending credit music is from the musical "The Adventures of Dick Whittington" --- but wait, I may have given away too much!

Where Are They Now?

3/5/2022

Many people can still remember the television game show from the mid 1980s called "The Newlywed Game." On one show, a young couple was asked to say how they met. They both said that they played TREES in a Children's Theater production of "Peter Pan." That answer got them some curious looks and loud applause. Imagine my surprise to learn that the young husband and wife had actually met while performing in my little show! (P.S. They played other characters in that show, as well!)

Just read an article about the "Harry Potter" cast and what they look like now. It put me in a nostalgic mood. I then started to imagine my young performers and what they must look like now so many years later. Most of my first performers must be married with children of their own by now. They surely must have progressed in their many and varied careers. I know that a few have remained active in theater productions, but not many. Some seem to remember fondly being in my shows, though. It surprises me to randomly get a note of appreciation now and again.

Thank goodness for social media. Seeing these young people now posting with their families seems so surreal. It is definitely hard to recognize them! They look very different now than they did as kids. Guess they will live in my memory forever as 5-12 year olds!

Facebook Comments:
Kamberlynne Washburn
So much fondness!
Katri Jeffery Lein
We had so much fun doing the plays at the church!!
Joyce Knight Lohr
I remember them well.
Dawn Haole
My firstborn was too young to be in your shows when our paths crossed. She hung out with us at Narnia rehearsals. The first year that she was a Sunbeam , you were introducing a new song from the brand new children's songbook to Primary. Innately aware of timing and pitch, she asked if she should sing what you sang or what Sister Alexander played. ONE note was different. One short note. I don't recall the answer to that question. She later minored in music and now serves in music callings in her ward. When needed, she arranges music to suit the voices available to her.
Sarah Crowley Chaston
Dawn Haole and I still remember tiny bits of these rehearsals. Specifically a lady in grey sweats singing the song (I don't know the title, just the lyrics) "Now the real adventure starts. A journey that will truly test the best that's in our hearts . . ." Don't know why that song in particular is still stuck in my head in its entirety 30ish years later.
Lynn Marie Rinker Stallard
Justin is a missionary. Richard graduates in a few months and Sara starts high school next year. Life is moving a little too fast for me!

A Time Out for Carolyn

12/28/2021

Early in 2021, my daughter Carolyn called and suggested an idea for a new picture book. Every Christmas since 2016 I have created a picture book based on one of our funny family stories. The first one featured our middle son. The reaction from the siblings was, "Mom, there are seven of us. We each expect our own storybook."
I was true to their expectations for the first few years...
2016 - Is This Cowboy Food? featuring Matthew
2017 - Who Will Be My Friend? featuring Katelyn
2018 - Too Many Sisters featuring Michael
Then, it got harder for me to come up with ideas. So I started combining two kids into the same story.
2019 - The Wonderful, Marvelous, Magic Bunkbed - Cami and Mitchell
2020 - Spin Around Dresses and Click Shoes - Kathryn and Carolyn
Evidently, combining stories was nice, but did not fulfill the request.

Carolyn age 3

Carolyn actually suggested that I create a picture book using the story I often told about her when she was 3. I knew immediately the story she meant, and I started stammering "B...b...but no one would believe it!" "Sure they will," Carolyn said encouragingly. "And this time, I think you should create this picture book without words."
"B...b...but...I....I. can't possibly..."
"You can do it."

Well, I toiled over this story for many months. I even track tested it with some of my friends. I didn't think I was a clever enough artist to tell the story adequately without words. And the early testing bore that out. So, by the time I took it to be printed, I still wasn't convinced that the art carried the plot well enough. But I got a few copies printed anyway. Then, I stewed over this questionable decision while away on a 2-week trip. When I got back home I knew I had to redo the whole thing, but this time with words. Not a lot of words, but hopefully the right words. By then I had just a couple of weeks before Christmas!

Camilla Joy age 2

The very best compliment I got after the families had all opened their copies of the picture book was from my youngest granddaughter. Her mommy told me that she insisted they read "Time Out for Carolyn" at bedtime. Then she wanted to read it by herself 2-year-old style. She especially liked the Author page where I placed a picture of myself. She pointed and said "Gramma" over and over again. My grandmother heart is melting.

Camilla Joy reading "Time Out for Carolyn" to go to sleep

The Sweetest Things

8/21/2021

The sweetest thing happened yesterday. Little 4-year-old Avery, who was not actually in our little play, sang and danced the Chicken Family's song for me. She knew the actions and the dance moves, and stayed pretty close to all of the words and the tune. Her impromptu performance tickled my Grandma heart.

She had been to Camp because her mother was helping me, but she never really did any actual rehearsing. But after we dressed her in a cute little yellow costume with feathers around the hemline we couldn't keep her off the stage! She ended up following the little chicks around for the entire performance. Thank goodness her big sister (also a Chick) kept track of her and made sure she stayed in the right areas at least.

Our play, "The Tale of Chicken Licken" turned out so well. I have actually been getting some sweet Thank You notes from some of the cast members. They said how much fun they had during Camp and how much they miss coming. One girl even sent me a drawing she made of all of the cast members. It is so good I have it stuck up on my refrigerator.

We like to have extra activities during Camp for variety and provide time for the director to work with small groups. My daughter made sure the children had cute coloring pages and drawing activities. One of the older boys helped supervise the coloring group. It turns out that he was quite an artist. The project was to learn how to draw a fox, a chicken, a duck, a goose and a turkey. These are characters in our play. His demonstration drawing is also on my fridge. So glad the older kids were willing to help with the younger kids. What a terrific group of young thespians!

2021 Summer Theater Camp Cast of "The Tale of Chicken Licken"

Being Happy is a Choice

3/9/2021

Being happy is a choice.

How many times in my life have I heard this? Too many times to enumerate, that's for sure!
Probably your mother told you this when you were growing up. I know I have found myself speaking (in my own mother's voice) these same words to my children --- especially the ones who did not want to wake up early for school --- or at 5:00 am to get ready for Early Morning Seminary.

My high school friend's mother used to wake her up by coming into her room singing "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" at the top of her lungs. My friend usually levitated very quickly in hopes that would STOP her mother's vocalizing.

While visiting my daughter's family last week in Pennsylvania, I took the opportunity to record four granddaughters singing some of my kid's songs. These girls were willing to learn 14 new songs for me. One of the songs was "Good Mornin' Sunshine" from the play The Tale of Chicken Licken. Nine-year-old Maya told me that this was her favorite song. "It just makes me happy, Grandma!" Maya likes "Good Mornin' Sunshine" because it is all about the animals on the farm, and she likes their little mini-farm.

Hen with hands

This family began raising chickens last Easter. Those eight chicks are now egg-laying hens. Apparently, they each have unique personalities and do some very silly, but entertaining things.

Recently, the girls thought it might be funny if the hens had HANDS. So their brother Tanner used his 3D printer and made little hands for the chickens.

The girls even put them on their own heads. Now if that isn't silly...

It brings a smile to your face and giggle to your heart, just like the song...

"Good Mornin' Sunshine" sung by Maya, Megan, Melanie, and Makayla.

Freedom for Exploration

5/29/2020

Yesterday I took a walk down memory lane -- literally. When I was very young, our family lived next to an irrigation canal. The houses near us got rights on certain summer days to open the little gates to allow water to run from the canal down the hill and onto our gardens and lawns. During the summers, us kids played along the canal bank. We floated little boats, chased the water skeeters, lost our flip flops, and sometimes dammed up the wide place so we could swim. The most fun was swinging across the water and dropping in from our Tarzan swing.

Well, I hadn't visited that canal path in many, many years. I knew that changes had been made, but until yesterday, I didn't know how it had changed. The once rustic and natural canal with a dirt trail has been remodeled into a classic, upscale jogging path complete with police call boxes every few yards. It is beautiful! But it has nearly erased the precious memories of my youth. So, I decided to write a new series of stories documenting some of those cherished moments. (My girls get worried, though, when I tell their children what a feral life I led in my youth.)

These kids are wading in my same canal, but under the watchful eye of several parents. During my youth, our mothers kicked us out of the house early in the morning and told us to stay out until lunch. Then we would stay out all afternoon, too. I remember the signal when to come in was when we started hearing the neighborhood parents calling for their kids. It could be very embarrassing for kids to be called by their pet names like "Sweetie," or "Honey Bear." My dad just whistled for us and we came a running even if we were many blocks away.

So whether my daughters appreciate it or not, I intend to write some stories for my grandchildren about what a fun and free-spirited life I led as a child. Oh, how I wish that more children could know that kind of freedom for exploration.