Indie Kids Artist of the Month: Sharon Novak
- Apr 9, 2016
- 5 min read
This month, Radio Nursery profiles Indie kids artist Sharon Novak from Conway, New Hampshire.
RadioNursery.com: Tell us more about your work Sharon.
Sharon Novak: I work at Mountain Top Music Center in Conway, NH. I have been teaching early childhood music classes since January 2007 where I sing with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. I also sing at a few preschools outside of the school in our local communities on a weekly basis. I am very privileged to sing at our local Children's Museum, the MWV Children's Museum every week. I love my work with young children so much that it truly has become my life's passion. I have as of today made 3 CD's which you can find in local stores and at CD Baby. Children are already loving these CD's and asking to hear them over and over. Midwest Tape is distributing some of my CD's for me which is quite an honor. I am honored to say that Dance with Me: Songs for Young Children is a top seller at CD Baby. I am now working on my fourth CD which will include 10 original songs and 3 traditional songs.
RadioNursery.com: Why have you chosen a career in children’s music?
Sharon Novak: I have worked with children all of my life. I have a BS in Elementary Education and have taught in elementary schools and preschools. I have two children of my own and I love working with children. A little over 9 years ago I began working in a local music school, Mountain Top Music Center, in Conway, New Hampshire. My job is singing with babies, toddlers, preschoolers and teaching a few other music classes and lessons. All I can say is that the moment I sat down on the floor with my guitar and started singing with babies and toddlers I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Nothing in my life except maybe the birth of my own children has been more wonderful. I have been working with love and passion on children’s music ever since.
RadioNursery.com: Why do you enjoy singing children’s music?
Sharon Novak: Children’s music is refreshing. Everyone grows up and develops new interests in life. But inside we are still children in so many ways (whether we like to admit it or not). We still have fears, feel lonely, have to deal with so many different emotions, and are always learning. Children’s music helps me to apply all of the core truths of life not only for children but for adults also. Working with children helps me understand life. Children today are going through so many stressful things and have no choice about any of it. It is my hope that my music will bring joy into their lives and help them to develop a positive view on how to deal with so many things that life will bring their way. Sometimes when things get rough, we just need to have a party, dance, laugh, clap our hands, and sometimes we need to cry and think about things a little more deeply. Children need music that is their own. Music is such a wonderful avenue to teach all of these truths. Music touches the heart and when the heart is touched memories are made. I have spent a lot of time choosing and perfecting the songs that I sing with children. I am always testing the waters to find out which songs work best. It has become my gift and profession. I guess one could say that I am so in love with what I do that I am somewhat obsessed with it.
RadioNursery.com: Is it fun to write songs for children?
Sharon Novak: I love to write songs for children! I love creating fun activities through my songs. My song, “Come on Everybody” has children clapping their hands, stomping their feet, flying like a bird, etc. Kids love it. Many songs that I write invite children to move. I have recently written songs that allow children to fill in words to finish the song. Children love this because they become involved in writing the song. I have also written songs that allow children to add or take away objects or felt figures. Again, a lot of fun. My songwriting is mostly for younger children: babies, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary school children. These are the children I have the privilege to sing for almost every day.The CD that I am working on now will be discussing emotions in a way that preschoolers can understand it. I think a lot of the subjects that I cover in my music for children on this CD are also wonderful for adults. And some of the songs are just fun! Kids and adults in my life are already loving them.
RadioNursery.com: What is your favorite song that you have written?
Sharon Novak: Choosing my favorite is hard because I like them all for different reasons. The answer to that question for most songwriters is usually the “last one I wrote.” I have some new ones that I love. The ones I love the most on my CD, Dance with me are “Come on Everybody” and “My Pippilo Named Fred.” Children enjoy these songs a lot. I get requests from children over and over again for my Pippilo songs. He is my preschool rebel. And I know that the humor in these songs fits preschool humor and humor for young children. Adults adore my Pippilo. I personally love the lullabies that I have written because they are reflections of my experiences with my own two children when they were very young. My newest lullaby that will be on my fourth CD and my fifth lullaby CD is possibly one of my personal favorites. How Do You Walk Like a Dinosaur? is fantastic and probably one of my best song activities for preschool classrooms. I think it imitates the concept in Hap Palmer’s song, Sammy, which is used in many preschool classrooms. All of the preschools I work in love my song, How Do You Walk Like a Dinosaur?
RadioNursery.com: How do you know what to write about?
Sharon Novak: My ideas come from working with children. I learn what kinds of songs children like by singing different songs with them. I use ideas from traditional children’s songs that children have been singing for years. If children like and respond to certain traditional songs, I know that I need to write a song with the same ideas and format. For example, children love the song, “Down by the Bay.” They love helping me choose different animals and rhyming words that go with them. I have written a song where children fill in a food they like, Frogs in My Backyard. Music makes me feel better when I feel sad, and sometimes it makes me cry if the words are sad. I can laugh with some funny songs. Music is a very powerful thing. For me, when I pick up my guitar and begin strumming chords I begin to relax and feel calm. Music is really like a medicine as it truly changes the way I feel. When I become overwhelmed with certain emotions, writing a song helps me understand better what I am feeling. Music helps me forget the stress around me and after playing and singing songs, I am no longer stressed.
Some people like video games; some people like to watch TV; some people like to eat chocolate; I like to play and sing music. It is my love and passion, and I have to share it with others.
You can buy Sharon's albums as an ITunes digital download HERE.
If you want to know more about Sharon, buy physical CD's, or book her for a gig, you can get in touch with her on SharonNovak.com
All her biggest tunes play on RadioNursery.com
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