Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: 213-742-9344
Email:
info@lovemeplayful.com
Love Me Playful CD honored as one of “Dr. Toy’s 100 Best
Children’s Products for 2005”
by The Institute for Childhood Resources
SACRAMENTO, CA. October 10, 2005
 The Gymboree Corporation and Rhapsody Records of Sacramento
announced today that Love Me Playful - a music CD for young
children to be released in November 2005 - has been named as one
of the “Best Children’s Products of 2005” by industry analyst
Dr. Stevanne Auerbach
Love Me Playful is the second CD in an innovative music series
developed by Dr. Gwendolyn McGraw, award-winning children’s
artist and children’s music specialist who is Chair of Music
Education at The University of Southern California’s Thornton
School of Music. This award-winning CD features almost 50
minutes of happy, interactive musical adventures for parents to
share with their young children. The gently playful songs on the
recording provide a framework for fun with music at home or
school. Dr. Toy reviewers called attention to the wonderful
vocals and arrangements on the recording, and noted, as well,
the “winning collaboration” of McGraw with Craig Long, a
Sacramento recording engineer who has produced a number of
platinum records over the years. “With a great mix of
traditional favorites along with songs composed by McGraw, there
is plenty to engage listeners—and singers—of all ages on this
outstanding CD!”
According to Dr. McGraw, research clearly shows that babies and
toddlers understand the “preverbal language” of mood and emotion
that is communicated through music. The sixteen selections on
the Love Me Playful CD were composed and arranged to be
responsive to these capabilities of very little children. In the
accompanying CD activity booklet, Dr. McGraw presents a
framework for fun that includes movement and dancing; playing
instruments; using puppets, balls and bubbles, and time-honored
music-play games. These in-the-moment activities create openness
for a wonderful and happy bonding experience to occur between
the parent and child.
 “In the first three years of life, this is what it’s all about.
These happy moments help the parent and child to feel more
connected and “in tune” with one another.” Dr. McGraw continued,
“I’m a real advocate for parents taking the time to make these
connections in very early childhood, and truly believe that the
right music can be a powerful ally in “attunement” and healthy
social-emotional growth. One of the special things about the
Love Me Playful CD is the way it invites parents and their
little ones to share happy times. The recording captures some of
the playful excitement and wonder that little children feel in
response to songs that are just right for their
age and stage of development. As the lyrics of the first song
suggest, “Come on and play. . .
Hey! Hey! . . . It’s a wonderful day!” I hope that adults will
do just that - get involved in happy and healthy music play with
their babies, toddlers, and preschool children.”
An Innovative Music Series
With nearly twenty years experience in making music with and for
young children, McGraw set out several years ago to translate
some important research findings into recordings that would be
enjoyed by little children and their parents. She envisioned
developmentally appropriate recordings that were musically
conceived and engineered to be responsive to the auditory,
perceptual, cognitive, and social-emotional needs of babies and
toddlers; recordings that would serve as a musical framework for
parent-child interaction in the home; and recordings that would
be timeless in their artistry and appeal. The resultant music
series --Songs of Peace and Play—makes its debut in November
with two CDs: the award-winning Love Me Playful and a soothing
collection of lullabies entitled Love Me Tender. Gwendolyn
McGraw’s vocals on the Love Me Tender CD have been described as
“absolutely beautiful!” by radio and recording industry
executives. Both CDs are scheduled for release in Gymboree Play
and Music centers, and online at
www.gymboree.com.
People hoping for a sneak preview of the award-winning Love Me
Playful CD can listen to audio-clips found at
www.lovemeplayful.com. In addition to getting a feel for both of
the CDs, parents and educators will find information that will
help them to use music more effectively with babies and young
children.
About Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Children’s Products”
According to Dr. Toy, winning products in the “100 Best
Children’s Products” competition include innovative toys, games,
books, videos and DVDs, audiotapes and CDs—and represent many
companies, both large and small—across the US, Canada, and other
countries. The outstanding products selected as winners were
considered to be the “most developmentally appropriate and
engaging” products of the year. The products range from low to
high tech for “hours of constructive, educational, and
stimulating fun.” In Dr. Auerbach’s view, “Children learn best
from play, and these smart products encourage children to
maximize their potential.” For a complete list of winners,
please visit www.drtoy.com .
About Gymboree
The Gymboree Corporation's specialty retail brands offer unique,
high-quality products delivered with personalized customer
service. The Gymboree Corporation also operates online stores at
www.gymboree.com and
www.janieandjack.com, and offers directed
parent-child developmental programs at 518 franchised and
company operated centers in the United States and 23 other
countries. Visit www.gymboree.com or call 1-866-671-GROW.
About Rhapsody Records
Rhapsody Records (Sacramento) specializes in music that has been
developed and engineered to be responsive to the auditory,
perceptual, cognitive, and social-emotional needs of infants and
young children. Keepsake CDs in the award-winning Songs of Peace
and Play series are timeless in their artistry and appeal, and
will be enjoyed by listeners of all ages. High quality
recordings have received praise for wonderful vocals and
arrangements, a great mix of styles, and outstanding production
values.
www.lovemeplayful.com . Email:
info@lovemeplayful.com
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