Betsy Stern: Unique and Fun Music for Children

In our second in a series of interviews with Bay Area children's musicians, we talk to singer and instrumentalist Betsy Stern, who's  jazz- and world-influenced music for children and families can be heard at live venues throughout the area, such as Novato's Playtime Safari, and in her new CD Foyo. In fact, we're giving away a free copy of Foyo, courtesy of Betsy Stern, to one lucky visitor to this site. To enter the drawing, send an email to contests@marinmommies.com with the word "Foyo" in the subject line by midnight on Sunday, June 1, 2008. We'll select one winner at random on Monday, June 2. 

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your new CD.

I'm a native of Berkeley, and grew up performing with my dad, a pianist and composer whose music was published by Disney and used on Captain Kangaroo. My dad passed away in 1993 and left me with a huge legacy/repertoire of music, ranging from jazz, blues, and world, to children's and other styles. I've always wanted to produce a CD for kids and the timing worked out beautifully to do so this year. The CD is in memory of him and dedicated to my sons.

On the CD is a group of songs that I learned when I was young and love to sing. I chose to record this CD live in the studio and solo, so it sounds (as much as possible) as I do when I perform live. I'm hoping that kids will play along with the CD as they do when they are with me during performances. I'm working on more CDs now.

My goal with children's music is to pass onto the kids and their families all sorts of music, just as it was passed onto me. My parents were both musicians, and my siblings and I were exposed to all styles of music from day one. My family is also multicultural, and I love sharing the fantastic rhythms and languages of much of the music I learned when I was younger and continue to learn because I love so many styles. Music is a wonderful gift, and one that can draw us together in such a special way worldwide.

How did you get started in music?

I got started through my parents, as everyone in the family played from a very young age. I don't remember a time when I didn't play or sing. My mom played harpsichord and piano, and my dad was a pianist. We had instruments in almost every room in the house, and we had to practice daily, half an hour when we were very young and longer as we got older. I still have the family metronome!

I started on keyboard before I can remember, and went over to guitar when I was six. I've also studied clarinet, voice, drums, composition, and double bass. I was accepted at 16 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and at Mills College. I went to Mills and transferred later to UC Berkeley, from which I graduated.

How did you get started performing music for families and children?

My dad wrote a lot of children's musicals starting long before I was born, and I went along with him to rehearsals and was in quite a few of the shows, as well as his other theatre productions and performances in which he was involved. I started performing on my own specifically with and for younger kids when I was about 16, teaching in some schools and also doing a music therapy internship at Children's Hospital, where I worked mostly with terminally ill children. I continued to perform for and teach kids on and off until a few years ago, when I started to perform regularly because the timing was right.

How would you describe your music?

My music is drawn from many different styles. It's heavily jazz-, blues-, and world-based, but I also include songs from the turn-of-the-century and anything else that has a fun and strong rhythmic base and that I like.

Because I've worked a lot as a jazz upright bassist, I am very fond of and interested in strong rhythms - and people love good rhythm. When I play, I want people to feel like moving or swaying to music—or dancing to it.

I play upright bass, guitar, requinto, and sometimes other instruments. I bring lots of percussion instruments for the kids and their grown-ups to play. I also do special programs that focus on nature, language, reading, etc., and I present an instrument-building workshop.

Most of all, I am carrying on my dad's legacy to me regarding kids: that we must never play down to them or insult them with music. Kids are very capable of listening to and enjoying all sorts of different music, and hearing all sorts of different music opens up amazing doors for young minds.

What musicians and musical genres have inspired you?

I have a long list! Certainly Bach and Mozart, Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Taj Mahal, Seiji Ozawa, Francois Rabbath, Caetano Veloso, Louis Armstrong, Gershwin, Abdullah Ibrahim, Gilberto Gil, Georges Brassens, Jacques Brel, George Sibanda, Pete Seeger, and so many others. I am inspired by all genres. Ray Brown always advised keeping our ears open, and I agree. I love chamber music. I love early music. I love jazz and blues. I love many different styles.

You regularly perform in the Bay Area; where can families go to hear you?

I'm actually leaving next week on my summer tours, but have the following local shows set over the next few months:

Sunday, July 13, 2008, noon
Stern Grove Festival
Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd.
San Francisco CA

Saturday, July 19, 2008, 11 am
Randall Museum
Sun, Wind, and Water Day - 11 am
199 Museum Way
San Francisco CA
(415) 554-9600

Saturday, August 23, 2008, 6 pm
Prewitt Family Park
4701 Lone Tree Way
Antioch CA
(925) 776-3070

I leave next week for Chicago, return here, then go up to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, back here, then back to the Midwest, and then to the South. After the South, I'm planning to go back to France for a bit. (I lived in France and England when I was younger.)

Can people hire you for special events and birthday parties?

Yes, I do lots of special events and birthday parties. For information, I can be contacted at: betsy@betsysternkidsmusic.com.

Do you offer music classes for children?

Yes, I'm just starting to teach a new series through Village Music School in Pleasant Hill. I have three sets of classes for various ages, and the class duration is 45 minutes per week for five weeks. For more information, Village Music's number is (925) 676-8400, or people can contact me at betsy@betsysternkidsmusic.com.

* * *

Thanks, Betsy, for taking the time out to answer our questions. You can learn more about Betsy and her music on her website: www.betsysternkidsmusic.com.