FRAN FRIEDMAN
with WOOLITE

To learn more about Fran read WarmLines article below "Positive Performer - Family Favorite Fran Friedman" or visit Fran's website www.franfriedman.com.

Warmest Thanks to Fran Friedman, Our Event Sponsors,
Volunteers and Attendees!

Positive Performer - Family Favorite Fran Friedman

Photograph by Holly Blomster
www.abraxisphotography.com

Award-winning children’s musician and recording artist Fran Friedman visited WarmLines for a special family performance on Saturday, January 19th (see above).

In addition to concerts and CDs, Fran shares her love of music - and its positive effect on her young listeners - through adult workshops, speaking engagements, children’s classes, and parties. We asked Fran to bring us up-to-date on her career, family, and philosophy.

First of all, can we look forward to a new CD anytime soon?
I am working on my fifth CD right now! Like my first, Songs for a Smile, this one is geared toward the younger children.

You have had a long, happy, and successful career as a children’s entertainer. What keeps you motivated?
I love children. Their hearts are so open to being loved, and when they are, you can see it in their eyes and their smiles; they glow. And performing in concert or at parties is fun! It’s a great feeling when I see parents or teachers hugging and loving the children during the songs that I sing - and I do provide lots of opportunities for hugging! I also hope the parents/adults enjoy the music for themselves, and that it touches on tender moments from their own childhoods.

How do you choose your musical selections?
The songs I select for concerts, parties, and classes are chosen so they are developmentally appropriate for the children I am singing with, whether they are babies or elementary school children. The great thing about music is that it can be enjoyed on so many levels. It can be enjoyed for itself. Infants and toddlers may be drawn in by the rhythm, while older children take pleasure in being able to sing along. Music can be a great way to express ideas such as kindness, respect, diversity, and differing abilities. It can help with mathematical concepts, developing language, and phonics. Particular songs can inspire family or classroom discussions about feelings of competence or gratitude. And some songs are just about having fun!

How do your classes differ from your performances?
During classes, I am not performing. My focus is on each individual child and his/her growth. I receive lots of pleasure from the children in my classes; I get to spend time with them on a regular basis for an extended period of time - frequently years. I have time to develop the underlying purpose of a song and relate it to the children. I find my background in audiology and neuropsychology - which included child development - extremely useful as I work with children.

What role does your lamb puppet, Woolite, play?
Woolite is a creation from my heart. She is very young, and not yet capable of certain tasks. Therefore, she recruits the children to help her with things such as singing the alphabet. Children love to feel helpful, and they love to help Woolite learn. They cheer when - with their help - she gets through the entire alphabet. Woolite empowers children to accept mistakes as part of their learning process, and to try again. She also teaches about being kind, gentle, and polite.

You’ve also made time to conduct parent/teacher workshops.
I’ve been a keynote speaker and workshop leader at many conferences and for many organizations. I love doing them; we have a lot of fun. Workshops often address specific ways parents and teachers can promote children’s self-esteem, resilience, disability awareness, and academic achievement through music. It’s exciting to share information and ideas and to encourage other adults to make music with the children in their lives.

A supportive family must be one key to your success!
Charlie is my husband and best friend; we are blessed to have two wonderful children. Charlie’s amazing. He has always been there for me. He sees that I am happy and that I love the work I do, and that makes him happy.