The Singing Lizard

http://www.earnestparenting.com/2009/10/22/i-met-a-singing-lizard/

Well. I haven’t met her in person, but I have heard her sing. Really, I have! The Singing Lizard is the work of Liz DeRoche, who is pre-releasing AlphaBeat, an album your kids will love.

I played some of the tracks and both Captain Earthquake and The Manager give the songs 2 thumbs up. Each. Much dancing and smiles took place here at the Earnest Parenting Product Test Studio (aka my basement).

The first song on the album is called AlphaBeat and it’s a new version of the Alphabet Song. I thought at first that the boys would brush the whole thing off thinking they were too old, but they really enjoyed the track and requested it again later on.

Generally speaking AlphaBeat is targeted at younger children, with titles like The Wheels on the Bus, Row Row Row, and Bump On the Log. The Singing Lizard also has custom gift packages which range from $25 to $100 depending on what you request. She’ll even write an original song personalized just for your child.

I was contacted by someone representing Liz asking if I’d review the album. And! She kindly offered to let me give away a copy here on the blog! I love doing that. :)

If you want to win a copy of AlphaBeat, leave your name in the comments below. Contest will be open until 11:59pm Eastern Tuesday, October 27. Winner will be announced on Wednesday October 28, 2009.

**Note: We here at Earnest Parenting were kindly given a copy of the AlphaBeat CD. No other compensation was offered or given for this review.

We have a winner! Congratulations to Naomi Lundeen, commenter number 7. I used Random.Org and her comment was chosen. Enjoy the CD and the baby girls Naomi!! - Earnest Parenting

http://www.pkmeco.com/familyblog/2009/10/singing-lizard.html

A singing lizard?

Yeah, I thought the same thing. This is going to be like the singing chipmunks, or that dancing hamster.

But the lizard in question turns out to be Liz DeRoche, a talented singer/songwriter who has released her first children's CD, titled Alphabeat.

Her debut is aimed right at preschool to early elementary kids, so it's full of simple, easy-to-understand lyrics set to fun and bouncy music.

That could describe any number of cloyingly cute kids artists, but not The Singing Lizard. The difference with her sound is that it's a grown-up piano-based pop that would not be out of place on the radio next to such singers as Leslie Feist and Regina Spektor.

Liz gets that you don't have to sing down to kids. She takes classic songs like "Row Row Row Your Boat," "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and "Old MacDonald" and makes them contemporary and fresh.

Along with plenty of original songs, Alphabeat makes for an incredibly fun listen for kids and parents alike. It definitely receives my highest recommendation, along with that of my 8-year-old daughter who thought she was too old for songs about the alphabet and numbers, but changed her mind after hearing The Singing Lizard sing about them.

I'm also happy to be able to offer a free giveaway of this album, only this time it's in a digital form for easy downloading to your computer or mp3 player. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post, telling me your favorite kids song.

I'll pick a winner at the end of the week, who will then need to send me their email address for a special download link from The Singing Lizard herself.

In the meantime, visit her site to listen to tracks from Alphabeat. - A Family Runs Through It

http://greatwallsofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2009/11/singing-lizard-kids-cd-review-and.html

Every parent who has ever suffered through endless renditions of the most annoying kids song ever knows how much it can grate on your nerves. In my case, the song is "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." By the third time in a row hearing it, I'm snarling nastily in my head, "would someone just squash the dumb spider already and put us all out of his misery!"

We are a family that loves music. If the radio isn't playing, or my iPod isn't plugged into the receiver and set on shuffle, someone in the house is singing. My 5 and 3 year old's have recently taken to disappearing together into their bedroom for "band practice." They stand on my son's bed (the "stage"), while my son holds my husband's guitar in front of him like a stand up bass and my daughter plays the harmonica. They take requests. It's hysterical. One thing is clear from the songs they choose to perform--they appreciate good music.

Unfortunately, over the summer, after hearing a Nirvana song on the radio and having my son ask me what "horny" means, I also realized that they absorb more from lyrics than I thought they did. It was time to choose my music a little more carefully. However, most of the music meant for kids ears, while fun for them, makes me cringe. Especially the spider one.

So I was thrilled when I was asked to preview the debut album of The Singing Lizard, AKA Liz DeRoche, Alphabeat, and both my kids and I loved it.

Many kids CDs sound like cartoon music, but DeRoche's versions of classic children's tunes are set to funky beats with creative twists on the lyrics. It was perfect music for dancing to, and also nice to have on in the background without worrying about swear words. In fact, several times I have found myself humming the title track, and her version of "The Wheels On The Bus" really got my toe tapping. Even the version of my most hated song, "Itsy," had a nice Sarah McLaughlin-esque feel to it. I didn't grit my teeth even once. It helps that DeRoche has a nice voice!

One lucky reader will win a free Internet download of the Alphabeat album. To enter, leave a comment on this post and tell me how your kids feel about music. I must have a valid email address, as this is the way you will receive your prize. This contest will be open for one week and I will choose a winner on Saturday, November 21, and publish the name of the winner on this post. Good luck!

You can purchase individual tracks and order custom CD's at TheSingingLizard.com. Don't forget the holidays coming up, this CD would make a great stocking stuffer.

Disclaimer: The Alphabeat CD was provided for me for free. My opinions are my own and I am not being paid for a positive review.
- The Great Walls of Baltimore

http://artfulmomdc.blogspot.com/2009/11/arts-in-infancy-part-2-music.html

(excerpt)

If you are looking for a good excuse to get out of the house with your little one, there are oodles of free or cheap live entertainment for families in Washington, DC. Sticky Fingers Bakery in Columbia Heights hosts a Kiddie Happy Hour on some Wednesday mornings. Toddlers can practice their new dancing moves while grownups enjoy discounts on cafe drinks. Become a Facebook Fan of Sticky Fingers to get more info about upcoming acts, dates and times.

Local singer and musician Liz DeRoche, aka "The Singing Lizard", gave a great solo performance on keyboards at Sticky Fingers recently but invited kids to accompany her on toy drums, rattles and microphones. She was very encouraging to the impressionable young musicians, "Good drumming!". Her website features the internet pre-release of her debut album "Alphabeat" (Hurray!). If you are pinching pennies and can't spring for the whole album all at once, download an individual track to play before bed time. Babies are comforted by repetitive sounds and routines. BTW, Liz will also personalize a song or album cover for your child. See her website for details and prices.

After listening to The Singing Lizard's CD time and again, seeing her live was even more fun for AS and myself. He looked at me and began bobbing his head as soon as she began singing as if to say, "Hey! She's playing our favorite song!". - artful mom dc

http://dcarts.dc.gov/dcarts/lib/dcarts/pdfs/januaryan_loresfinal3.pdf

DCCAH will award 515 grants totaling $7.25 million to fund arts projects across the District of Columbia. DCCAH is proud to continue offering support to the District’s unique artists
and arts organizations. Congratulations to these individuals
and organizations who received funding so far in 2010:

Young artist program

•Elizabeth Dawn DeRoche
(AKA The Singing Lizard)
- DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities