An Interview with Award-Winning Musician Red Grammer

        What happens when you take playful songs, infuse them with meaning, and present them to kids in an interactive manner, allowing them to act as the orchestra? The answer is… a lot. Kids and parents alike discover rhythm and melody and harmony. The entire room comes together to make music, and everyone leaves feeling a little happier and a little more connected than they did when they came in. The young and the old and the in-between discover that important messages have more meaning when they’re presented in a way that makes people smile and laugh and giggle.

        If you’re intrigued, you should come see for yourself.

        Red Grammer, an award-winning musician and performer, is coming to the Treasure Valley to engage and entertain kids of all ages. Sponsored by Open Door Children’s Theatre and the Treasure Valley Family YMCA, Red will perform on March 6, 2010 at 4pm in the Boise High School Auditorium.

        Red’s philosophy is that music helps us to see and connect with the community around us. One of the first times he experienced an artist’s ability to make community visible through music was at a Pete Seeger concert. Within moments of the concert’s beginning, he says everyone there felt as though they were part of a wonderful family—a deep connection ran through the audience. Red aspires to create the same kind of experience for his own audiences.

        His concerts rely on audience participation. He explains, “In other cultures artists are not so separated from audiences. After a concert, people get together and everyone has something to share.” His own music is designed to move the hearts of his listeners and to stir the artists within them—to help the children see themselves not just as audience members, but as artists helping to make the music.

        Red’s music is unabashedly directed toward children. He’s always loved music and writing songs, but it wasn’t until he and his wife started creating songs for their own children that they realized they were creating songs that other children might enjoy, too. They recorded the song “Can You Sound Just Like Me?” and before they knew it, they found themselves being interviewed on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Things really took off from there.

        Together Red and his wife Kathy created the album Teaching Peace. This album tapped into a growing interest in the developing global community and helped kids to appreciate diversity around the world. Even though the messages were big, the songs remained fun.

        In fact, every song Red creates has one rule—it has to be fun. It needs to get kids tapping their feet, singing along, clapping their hands. A fun song can convey meaning that will stick for kids, and that’s the other common thread among Red’s music. The songs teach important lessons without lecturing. The lessons are fun, and so they are easy to remember and internalize. The meaning in Red’s songs ranges from seeing the beauty within ourselves to appreciating the differences and similarities among the variety of cultures around the world.

        Red never loses sight of the fact that what he does is valuable work. “Growing up is important work, but it’s difficult.” He underscores that adults need to take time and really listen to children. As a society, we sometimes get hung up on material things—in having that next cool thing—but Red, through music and rhythm, reminds adults that the memories kids hold tightest are those centered around time with family. His concert gives families a chance to relax and play together, to delight in music, to get a little bit wacky. And that’s what kids need and want the most.

        Raising a quality person takes time and attention, but there’s help to be found along the way. The right book or the right phrase or the right song… these things can help parents to raise the kind of engaged, compassionate adults that we need in the future and that kids are hungry to grow into. But we have to pay attention to notice when opportunity presents itself. And the lessons we convey to our kids have to be fun—that’s how children know that something is good.

Heather Robson is a local freelance writer with a passion for healthy families. You can send her questions and comments at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Teacher Workshop

            In addition to the concert, Red will also present a hands-on workshop for teachers, “Bebop Your Best!  Music to Build Character.” Red shows teachers how they can use music to create a playful, positive social atmosphere within their classrooms. Growing up is a creative process, and so is learning. Red helps teachers to discover their own creative spark and gives them tools and tricks for bringing that spark into the classroom on a daily basis. From movement to music to art to literature, Red shows teachers how they can integrate the fun and meaningful lessons from his songs into their school communities in a variety of ways.

            For concert and workshop information call 571-4242 or go to www.opendoorchildrenstheatre.org. The downtown Boise YMCA will also have information. Call 344-5501 or go to www.ymcatvidaho.org.