Unfortunately, bullying, self esteem issues and the need for mutual care and understanding, don’t only occur in the school classroom.  Summer community sports teams, summer camp, neighborhood playgrounds…wherever kids gather… bullying and exclusion can happen.  Some children easily adapt to new situations and some children need extra help.  Children come in all different packages, sizes, and skills, as do all people.  Understanding about differences brings acceptance.  The Best Foot Forward Music Series is dedicated to using uplifting, fun music to create an appreciation for the adventure of being human.  We believe our positive, educational, entertaining music can bring human harmony and understanding.

As we approach the end of the school year, or if you are already thinking of your children in a new classroom and with a new teacher come fall, perhaps you would consider gifting your teacher, principle, school counselor, or administrator with the Best Foot Forward Music Series for use in your child’s classroom or school.  Also think about gifting the summer sports coach, your child’s camp counselor, or summer birthday parties, with music that can help and heal.

My home state of Minnesota recently, through appointment by Governor Mark Dayton, established a “Taskforce for the Prevention of Bullying”.  The purpose is to establish guidelines and tools for educators and parents, students and concerned citizens of this state.

Recently, I have sent each member of the Minnesota Taskforce the following letter, and a copy of each    of the three albums of the Best Foot Forward Music Series.  I want to share portions of this letter with you.   If this can be a resource or springboard for any of you to address the bullying issues in your community, I will be very happy!

Nancy Doan, Recess Music CEO

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What should a student do when encountering a BIG BULLY?  I am very happy that the State of Minnesota has created a taskforce, not only to answer that question, but also to develop a “tool box” of positive options for dealing with the challenge of school bullying.

As a Minnesota native, entrepreneur, and parent, I too am very concerned about bullying.  My company, Recess Music: Playtime for Your Ears, has developed the BEST FOOT FORWARD MUSIC SERIES, an award winning collection of CDs designed to help kids, families, and educators address the issue.

OUR MISSION:

• We entertain, encourage, and educate children and families about the adventure of being human through music that presents positive ideas for living a life full of possibilities.
• We embrace the ideals of global peace, social justice, harmony and understanding.
• We believe that all human beings, regardless of age, can be equipped to appreciate a world that is wise, fair, and generous hearted.
• We dream of a world where music can help and heal.

Three albums, focused for ages 4-11, comprise our series:

• BIG BULLY… ANTI-BULLYING
• U R SOME 1... SELF CONFIDENCE
• SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES… SOCIAL EMPATHY

With more albums planned for the future, our series has won national awards, international recognition, and rave reviews and has been included on many “best of” lists since the release of BIG BULLY in 2011.

Enclosed you will find these three dynamic collections of music, addressing the experience and challenges of being a kid and being human. Please consider the BEST FOOT FORWARD MUSIC SERIES as a positive tool in addressing the current societal challenges we all face in our schools and communities.

EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE AND VALUED.

How long has it been since you have laid on your back in your yard, on a  beautiful clear evening and gazed at the amazing starry sky?  Have you attempted to count the stars or looked for the constellations?  Star watching is a wonderful place to start appreciating Mother Earth and the beauty of our dynamic green planet.

Scientists have found, “carvings on a 32,500 year old ivory tablet of the same stars that we see in our sky today in the constellation Orion”, says  spacetoday.org.  That means that people have been drawing pretty pictures, and counting stars, and thinking of constellations for a very long time!  Clearly, the sky has been the “ceiling” of our earth world for uncountable years.  We don’t yet understand how old our world is or how our earth continues to spin within our galaxy or universe, or how long it will have its’ own place in our celestial sky.  What we do know is how fun and interesting it is to look up and see the wonders of the cosmos.

So tonight in your yard or from your window LOOK UP AT THE SKY ABOVE YOU, and chose our very own special star. Perhaps tonight could be your chance to draw a picture, or make a carving, like people did 32,000 years ago, or take a picture of LA BELLA STELLA…..and to tell others about the beautiful “ceiling” of our world!

Do you think people far into the future will, one day, look at your pictures of the stars?

LA BELLA STELLA is the fifth release in the critically-acclaimed Celebrate Earth series from Recess Music. This album of children’s music features many contrasting styles and teaches kids about galaxies, solar systems, and other wonders of our universe. These songs were chosen for LA BELLA STELLA because they engage, educate, entertain, and encourage children to think about the natural setting of their lives to balance the ‘virtual’ world they live in. Just like the other discs in the Celebrate Earth series, LA BELLA STELLA features engaging, fun tunes enjoyable for kids and parents alike!

Click here to order La Bella Stella from the Recess Music Store.

January 15, 2012

LA BELLA STELLA will be the fifth release in the critically acclaimed Celebrate Earth series from Recess Music. This album of children’s music features many contrasting styles and teaches kids about galaxies, solar systems, and other wonders of the universe. These songs were chosen for LA BELLA STELLA because they engage, educate, entertain and encourage childern to think about the natural setting of their lives to balance the “virtual” world they live in. Just like the other discs in the Celebrate Earth series, LA BELLA STELLA freatures engaging, fun tunes enjoyable fo kids and parents alike.

A portion of the proceeds from CD sales will be donated to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire.

LA BELLA STELLA will be released at the end of March … it is a fabulous addition to the already award winning Celebrate Earth series. It will be available to purchase from this website starting the third week of March.

Peace … Nancy Doan

October 20, 2011

MORE magazine features entrepreneurs at age 60+ that have learned how to feed their souls while also making the world a better place as part of their “Second Acts” series. Among the group featured this month is Nancy Doan (www.more.com/older-entrepreneurs-second-acts-doing-good) with a brief story behing the vision and passion of Recess Music.

Peace … Nancy Doan

October 16, 2011

The Sunday New York Times includes an analysis by Elisabeth Rosenthal that asks the question “Where did global warming go?”. She notes that even as other countries take action, the issue is fading from the American agenda. I would encourage that you read the article to fully appreciate the analysis.

Recess Music’s Celebrate Earth Music Series is dedicated to entertaining, encouraging, and educating children and families about our magnificent green planet through Earth-friendly music. It is important that our children learn to appreciate and embrace the natural resources of Earth and grow up to support the wonders of our planet. We believe that no matter where we live on our planet, we are all citizens of the world.

Peace … Nancy Doan

October 4, 2011

October is the National Anti-Bullying Month in the U.S. and we at Recess Music are very aware of the many children, families, educators and communities who have turned their attention to this national problem. Big Bully, a compilation of music performed by very gifted artists, is our way of providing a positive, upbeat approach to solving the problem. We at Recess Music would like to thank the “Reviewed by Mom Blog” for the wonderful review recently written about our album Big Bully. The blog stated in part:

“Today I want to tell you about a children’s CD that I feel very passionately about. Big Bully, A Best Foot Forward CD from Recess Music is a CD that I would like to place in the hands of every child on the planet. I think it is that good and I think it is that important. All you have to do is read the paper or turn on the news and see what an epidemic the problem of bullying is. I actually get sick to my stomach when I think about it. As a mother my heart breaks to think of a child being bullied and I hope my children are never the victims of bullies or bullies themselves. When I heard about Big Bully I was anxious to play it for my children. As the title suggests, Big Bully, is full of songs handling the topic of bullying head on…

This whole entire CD is a masterpiece. My kids LOVE the CD from start to finish. The songs give sound advice. For instance in “Bully Bubba” the line “telling is not tattling. Telling will protect you and me” about speaking up for yourself or others. In Vicious Vinnie a boy is portrayed as the victim of bully and will do anything he can to avoid going to school until he tells his teacher who is able to help. When I heard the song “I’m Sorry” I actually wept. The line of “I am sorry I did the thing that I did that made you sad” helps children to understand the power of saying “I’m sorry”. I am actually tearing up over the beauty of it now.

I could really go on and on about this CD. I think it is well done and enjoyable for the kids to hear and the message is SO IMPORTANT. This CD should be in every single classroom and if I could I would hand deliver it to every teacher on the planet. I told you….I am passionate about this one. Please, please get this CD for the children in your life. It is empowering and insightful and it is a step toward stopping bulling.”

The entire blog may be reviewed at reviewedbymom.blogspot.com/2011/09/big-bullyreview-giveaway.html.

We appreciate very much your endorsement of this album and the entire Best Foot Forward Music Series.

As always, Peace,
Nancy Doan

September 20, 2011

Recess Music’s next release is the second of the Best Foot Forward series, dedicated to helping kids value a world that is wise, fair and generous hearted, is titled “U R Some 1″. I have been thrilled with the advanced reviews and want to share one in particular from the Growing My Kids Reviews blog that I found very touching: www.growingababyreviews.com/2011/09/cd-review-and-giveaway-u-r-some-1.html

Enjoy! Amazon.com carries all the Recess Music releases and will soon allow advanced orders for “U R Some 1″.

Peace … Nancy Doan

September 13, 2010

QRS, ” Quick Service Restaurant” magazine, out of San Francisco, is all about fast casual restaurant news, trends, and info for the greater  S.F. area food scene. They have a great on-line presence – take a look: www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/ones_to_watch/145/laboulange-1.phtml

This Aug. 31, 2010 article is about La Boulange , the top French bakery in the S.F. area, who is striving to do all the right things to be a good GREEN citizen. In addition, Emily Doan, quoted in the article, is my daughter a “chip off the old block.” Proud Mama!

Peace … Nancy Doan

August 31,2010

HAVE YOU HEARD? ” THE CAT in the HAT KNOWS a LOT ABOUT THAT!”  It’s a new science program for kids from PBS.  Beginning on Labor Day, the cat is given voice by Martin Short,  and the goal is to get kids excited about science.  The full story was featured in the New York Times on Sunday, August 29 (www.dailycomet.com/article/20100830/ENTERTAINMENT/100829350/1275?Title=The-Cat-in-the-Hat-comes-back-in-the-name-of-science).

This, of course, is the goal of Recess Music and its Celebrate Earth Music Series!  “Celebrate Earth,” “Growing Veggie Soup,” and the autumn release of “Ocean Motion” are each educational and entertaining music for children and families that promote our beautiful planet. 

Peace … Nancy Doan