Thanks, again, Tim!
Baron Dave Romm
Teaching Kids
By Baron Dave Romm
Kids love music, and they can get rather picky about it. You, as the adult, can guide musical tastes and introduce the child to new experiences. But at some point, they have their favorites and want to listen to their songs. Over and over.
Recently, I was visiting my niece's family. When she was three, I made Sydney several music CDs that they have been merrily playing since. Now five, I figured that she could pick songs out of a large selection. I'd brought dozens of songs I suspected she'd like (and that wouldn't drive the adults crazy!). As expected, she loved the idea. Not quite as expected, she wanted to do it herself.
Brief instructions. I was using CD Creator (Toast on the Mac), but most programs are similar. All this assumes, of course, that you have a) a computer and b) a CD burner and c) a sound card/speakers.
Step 1: Preload the music in a folder or directory. This is actually the most work, and the most boring. The kid can help select the possibilities (favorite album, new CD by a favorite group, a recommendation, etc.) but you should probably do most of this before she joins you.
Create a folder/directory. Make it fairly easy to navigate to.
If you already have songs in your playlist, add shortcuts to the directory.
If you don't have songs downloaded/extracted, do this manually. Put a CD in the drive. On the PC, the list of songs (numbered, not named, usually) will appear on the top half of the screen. Select one cut, and choose Extract to from the menu. (Geek note: You can choose what file type the resulting file will be. The default tends to be mp3s, but I prefer .aiff or any of the uncompressed media.) On the Mac, create an audio CD and click on the Audio button, then navigate to the CD. Then choose the Extract To... button on the bottom.
Either one at a time or by whole CD, extract songs to the directory. Rename the files. Ie, instead of "Track 1", change it to something descriptive like "Grandfathers_clock_Seeger.aiff". This will make it easier for the child to pick the songs. (Geek note: Spaces and apostrophies are bad.)
Continue adding songs to the kid's directory. Have more than you think you'll need.
Step 2: Make sure you have blank CDs, cases, the full name and credits of the songs, etc.
Step 3: Call the kid to the computer. Younger kids can sit on your lap, older kids might want their own chair. Open up CD Creator with the song directory on the top half of the screen. One by one, double click on the songs to preview them. The if the kid likes the song, drag it down into the lower part of the screen to add it to the new CD. Better yet, have the kid do it. Guide them through the mouse clicks and dragging. They'll pick it up quick.
Warning! Teaching Syd how to play the songs meant she could play them over and over. We listened to some of the cuts five or six times in a row. Fortunately, they were great songs. ("ooowee, oowee baby. oowee, oowee baby. Won't you let me take you on a Sea Cruise"). We danced and danced! And got others to dance too!
Step 4: Order the cuts. You can just leave the list alone, but I like to have a smooth track list. Pick a song to start with, then the one you want to hear after that, etc. Explain what you're doing to the kid, so they understand the concept of playing DJ for themselves. Some will be bored, but some will pick up on the concept quickly.
Step 5: Have the kid pick a name for the collection, then burn a blank CD. Save the Song List.
Step 6: Write the name on the CD. If you have a label-maker and want to do it properly, go ahead.
And now you're done... but wait! More adult stuff.
Step 7: Annotate the tracks. Okay, I'm more insistent on proper credit than some, but I do think you should keep a listing of what's on the CD. Preferably, with in the CD case. A track listing should have a) the name of the song, b) the artist and c) the time. The time of each cut is listed in the CD Creator, if not on the original album. You can either do a proper CD insert (for which there are many programs) or simply print out the listing and fold the paper up into the CD case. I have colored cardstock that I use for these purposes. You can get perforated CD inserts at almost any place that sells CDs.
Sit back and have the kid enjoy her CD! You can play it in the car, over the stereo, etc.
Keep adding songs to the directory. You may wind up making several CDs and the kid might want some of the same cuts repeated. What the heck. It's her music.
Baron Dave Romm is a conceptual artist and a noble of Ladonia with a radio show, a very weird CD collection and an ever growing list of political links. He reviews things at random for obscure web sites. You can read all his music recommendations from Bartcop-E here, you can order Shockwave Radio Theater CDs, and you can hear the last two Shockwave broadcasts in Real Audio here (scroll down to Shockwave). Thanks to everyone who has sent me music to play on the air, and I'm continuing to collect extra-weird stuff.
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