Introducing: Kids Music by Marcie

If I had to choose just one extracurricular activity for my children, it would be a difficult toss-up between swimming and music classes.

Swimming is a life skill. And a scholarship sport.

Formally introducing music into your child’s life, on the other hand, is proven to improve memory and math skills. The folks at Kindermusik – for whom I have a strong affinity – state that music “helps [kids’] brain cells make the connections needed for virtually every kind of intelligence.”

There is, in fact, study after study reporting the positive benefits that music has on brain development and IQ – right from birth.

This is Marcie.

Meet Marcie. She makes all kinds of music, but as an academic pursuing her masters in elementary education with creative arts integration, she’s passionate about music for children. For her, it’s not just about catchy tunes, easy melodies and words that rhyme with “booger.” It’s about music as communication and play therapy, encouraging teamwork and fostering friendships.

Marcie’s no stranger to the music biz and managed to fund an entire album, called Make a Discovery (songs for kids) with the help of a site called Kickstarter. Just what does an artist who actually believes in the power of music do when she doesn’t have to recoup the investment of making an album?

She gives it away. For free. With no strings.

I had to ask Marcie to clarify when she contacted me. “Like, for free FREE?” I asked. Yep. Really – you can download all 20 songs (plus some bonus features like extra tracks and picture eBooks) from anywhere in the world, anytime, and not pay a penny.

Then listen to fun songs like “Faeryland,” which dances along as a chipper fairy might. “Make a Discovery” really shows off Marcie’s dance-track background, with the most house-like tune I’ve ever heard on a kids’ CD. Seriously, you could bust out a disco ball, dim the lights (maybe grab a couple of LITE-BRITEs for pops of kid-friendly colour) and dance your butt off with the kids to this one.

There’s even a rendition of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” where Marcie goes full-on Disney. I can picture myself singing “Close Your Eyes” to my kids at bedtime – OK, maybe the abridged version since it’s five minutes long.

I really like “Talk it Out.” It’s got a nice melody and encourages kids to use their words to solve problems – a message that I know I can do a better job of imparting, even just between The K Man and Miss Q.

The best part, of course, is that if there’s a song or two that doesn’t float your boat, just delete them from your playlist – because they’re FREE. (I love free.)

Actual CDs – the kind that come in a case, not an MP3 format – are available free of charge for schools, libraries, community centres, hospitals and charitable organizations. You can find Marcie on email, Twitter or Facebook.

Now go get some free kids’ music!

This post has been sponsored by Kids Music by Marcie.