This series is a treat for parent and child or teacher and class. Margie La Bella's pleasant, soothing voice is easy to understand as she gently encourages kids to listen and learn through music. As a music therapist and special educator, she has written and produced lively entertaining songs for all kids introducing them to pop, jazz, folk, rap, swing, reggae and world music styles. 

The first CD in the series, "Move!" focuses on building receptive language skills as children follow directions to "rub your tummy until the music stops," follow the "Multi-Step Blues," or learn concepts in the "Opposite Jam." Each song fosters concept development through active movements and dance. Skills addressed include: single and multi-step directions, body parts, opposites,verbs, prepositions, creative problem solving and more.

Move onto to "Sing!" and enjoy vocal play and expressive language as children learn to follow fun syllables that lead to a song about Mister Monkey or the Leeway Train with related actions to match the rhythm. Children are actively engaged in songs written and designed to elicit vocal play, vowel and consonant production, articulation and simple sentences. Songs are presented in a variety of styles including hip-hop, new-age, folk, pop and reggae.

The "Play!" CD is two really CDs in one and centers around the auditory skills needed to enhance listening, following directions and processing (understanding) skills. The first 30 minutes helps teach awareness of loud, soft, fast, slow, and the presence and absence of sound-all characteristics of good communication. The second half asks children to listen to, interpret, and respond to instrument sounds and music clips. Children can do the listening exercises either sitting or standing.

Finally, "Mixing it Up!" combines the lessons learned and gets children moving, singing, and playing because now "I've Got the Music in Me." "Body Rap" is one a favorite as, "I saw my hands and they started to clap, I thought of my nose and face started humming, my whole body started to move and my shoulders got in the groove" as movements are added while matched to a body part and rhythmic phrase. 

So gather the children around to move to the music and in the middle of all the fun, you will produce some good listeners.