Award Winning Music
Resilient You features an award-winning children’s music series called “Something Good for Kids” Volumes 1, 2 and 3. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this unique collection showcases 30 fun, entertaining, and culturally diverse songs that teach children positive and healthy choices. The timeless songs were written and authentically produced utilizing universal themes and iconic musical styles that represent global cultures and time periods. Not only is “Something Good for Kids” fun and educational for the home, but it’s also a universal program-enhancing component for the classroom. Recipient of the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, this catchy and uplifting music series was created by acclaimed songwriter and producer Steve James, with input from educators and social-work professionals in order to insure that it met the strict requirements and standards of the educational community. It’s a perfect tool for teachers and parents alike!
“Something Good for Kids” builds resilience in students by teaching lessons like showing respect and kindness, building inner-strength safety, being a friend, leadership, stranger danger, diversity, obedience, and staying away from drugs, underage drinking, violence and crime.
Why Music?
From his many years as a songwriter, producer and performer, Steve James developed an intuitive understanding of the power of music. As he became more involved in education, he was made aware of volumes of scientific research that supported his intuition.
Steve discovered that the human brain is pre-wired for music. Dr. Sandra Trehub, a psychologist at the University of Toronto, stated “the human brain comes preloaded with music software the way a laptop comes preloaded with Windows”. He also learned that infants are born with an innate musical knowledge, and that almost everyone could grow up to have at least a small amount of musical talent.
He later came across the work of professor James Kellaris at the University of Cincinnati, who found that 99 percent of the 1,000 people surveyed reported having songs stuck in their heads. “A simple song with lots of repetition and an unexpected shift is among the most likely to bedevil you,” Kellaris says. Eventually, it creates what is called a “cognitive itch”. Professor Kellaris teaches that “the only way to ‘scratch’ a cognitive itch is to rehearse the responsible tune mentally”.
Corporations have been aware of this fact for many decades. They know that setting a message to a catchy tune or a “musical hook” can increase retention of that message. Jingles are a constant part of modern life. Who at one time or another has not had a “jingle” stuck in his head? Aware that music has been used in the advertising world for years as a branding tool, Steve wanted to come up with “jingles for good”.
Steve James’ approach has been to combine a catchy tune (or a musical hook) with important research-based messages, creating a song that is an entertaining, educational tool. In the classroom this musical message is carefully tied to the subject matter of the curriculum, ensuring that students relive the lesson whenever they hear the song.