Melbourne, Australia
alice@alicemakesmusic.com
Alice Makes Music
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Child development
  • Music
    • Listen and Buy Here!
    • The New Album! 'Play is Serious Business'
    • Video
    • Reviews and Media
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Privacy

Alice in Nurture Magazine

9/10/2013

 
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Tara Hashambhoy from Nurture Parenting Magazine recently. You can read the interview below or over on their website.


Music for Child ~ 
Carer Relationships

Some musicians are now specialising in music that builds 
relationships between child and carer. Tara Hashambhoy 
interviews one such musician



Melbourne songwriter, Alice Garrick’s music is simple, sweet and full of 
generosity. The lyric content of her songs are what really make them intriguing 
and unique: most songs focus on elements of the child/carer relationship 
and revel in the affirmation, love and beauty that both parties receive. The 
words bring to focus for children and adults alike the special nature of that 
relationship, even on those busy days when stress invades us and tempers heat.


How did you come to writing songs for children?
I’ve been involved since I was a teenager in connecting and working with 
children through music and performance through clowning, circus, musical 
theatre and running youth groups. I spent some time teaching beginners 
English to refugee children in Northern India and found silly songs to be a 
great way to reach past the language barrier and build the relationship. Once 
the rapport and connection is there, learning flows much more easily.
Once I had my own children I began to write songs for my children and 
for the children of my friends. Friends began asking me to perform and I was 
asked so many times to record my songs that I finally did. I am grateful to have 
some pretty wonderful and supportive friends.



How do you tailor songs for children musically?
My music is driven by the lyrics and melody. I like to keep the musical style 
fairly simple to leave room for the words. I think about how to make songs that 
are interactive and engaging so I like to play with tempo and silly concepts.

What do you aim to give children through your songs?
Aside from the fact that singing songs about dinosaurs, poo and 
overenthusiastic chickens is really fun, the underlying motivation for my 
music is to support and encourage emotional connection and relationships. 
The work of developmental psychologist, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, amongst 
others, has significantly influenced my approach to parenting and supporting 
children’s emotional development.
Being a parent and working with children can be hard work; connecting 
and reconnecting with children is fundamental to being able to ease through 
the tricky parts of raising kids. I love the idea that I might be able to make 
music that can be on in the background and, in its own little way, might help 
to support kids and their grown-ups in connecting with each other.

What do you love most about performing 
for children?

Kids don’t feel at all self-conscious about 
walking off on you when they’re not engaged 
and they are often happy to interject with 
how they think the song should go. Kids 
make you work for their attention and to 
work with integrity. Kids have enthusiasm 
that is infectious and I love that every 
time I perform it is completely different 
because I always have to adapt and work 
with the kids to make it work for them.

Comments are closed.

    Alice Makes Music





    Archives

    June 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

    Categories

    All
    Dr Gordon Neufeld
    Emotional Development
    End Of The Line Festival
    Groups
    Indigo
    Kids Music
    Music Is Awesome
    Performance
    Photo
    Review
    Stinky Picnic
    Stories Of Childhood Conference
    Under 5s

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.