Mr. Aaron brings high-energy, fun music to children both in local concerts and at Rattlebox Studio. Luckily, we were able to have him stop and share a bit with us including a sneak peek into his Halloween Bash coming up Sunday! You may have heard him at your local library, community event, or even at a Rattlebox Studio class, but never got a chance to learn much about him. I find it so interesting to learn about people especially those that invest in our children and enrich our community. Here is your chance!
So... on Facebook I promised a sneak peek into the fun and prizes you'll be giving away at the Mr. Aaron Band Halloween Bash coming up this Sunday! What secrets can you tell us about the event this year?
Mr. Aaron: "This one is a big one! There will be crafts, a photo booth, face painting, and of course a super fun concert with the Mr. Aaron Band! I think it's the most fun Halloween party around for kids 10 and under, and it's definitely the cutest with all those little ones in costume. We're announcing the costume contest categories this week on Facebook, so be sure to like Rattlebox Studio to find out more. I can tell you that we are giving away lots of cool Mr. Aaron swag--CD's, t-shirts, magnets, and also free classes and memberships for Rattlebox Studio! We'll likely have categories like most sparkly princess, toughest dinosaur, and definitely the funnest family costume, so get to work on your costumes now!"
What is your favorite holiday?
Mr. Aaron: "My favorite holiday is Christmas. I really like the cozy-family-togetherness. December is such a busy season that is always lovely to relax and just be peaceful with family on Christmas day."
Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
Mr. Aaron: "The inspiration comes from all different places—things my daughters are interested in, songs we make up around the house, or even an exciting word like “maximum” (the title of my latest album) that just seems like a cool idea for a song! A lot of songs come from the classes I teach for kids at Rattlebox Studio, as we play music and discuss what’s on their minds and their ideas about holidays, seasons, colors… anything really. The excitement kids have for learning, the curiosity, is infectious, and really inspires me to make new songs."
How did you get into the music business? Was your family gifted musically?
Mr. Aaron: "Strangely enough, I’m the first musician in the family. I had a great-grandfather who was a composer, but other than him it’s just me. I started playing saxophone in band in 7th grade, went to college for music, and then did a masters degree in composition at NYU, which is how I ended up in NYC. I love it in New York, and the music scene is really awesome. I spent a lot of time writing musicals, playing in bands, and working in recording studios. I also stumbled into a Mommy and Me music class teaching job, which is how I got my start in kids music. I quickly realized that doing music for kids was a really fun way to be able to write and perform music (and get paid), and was also hugely important for children’s development. I really felt like I was making a positive difference in people’s lives, and that is really important."
What is your favorite instrument?
Mr. Aaron: "I love playing the drums. I love the physicality and the feel of it. They get people up and moving and it’s just really fun."
How can we encourage our children's musical talent?
Mr. Aaron: "Regular participation in an early childhood music class (like the ones I teach at Rattlebox) is a wonderful way to encourage our children’s musical talent. But the value of the class goes way beyond music. It’s an introduction to a community, and a social setting. The songs we sing in class facilitate children’s learning of core concepts like language, numbers, colors and more, in a way that is so fun and natural to them it doesn’t feel like learning. Kids respond very naturally to music, so it’s a really powerful tool for education and empowerment. It’s also really important to me that kids have this early positive experience in a group setting. They learn to collaborate, and they also learn to have fun and be themselves, and grow their confidence in who they are."
On the Rattlebox Studio website, it talks about a Rattlebox Studio membership. What does that entail?
Mr. Aaron: "For $50/month, you can bring your child to as many of our music, art, and yoga classes as you like. There are other benefits too: our after-class Open Play time is free for members, and you can bring a friend for their first time for free. A family membership is $75/month and allows you to bring as many (of your own) kids to as many classes as you like. It’s a great bargain and encourages regular participation, which is very important for the children. As they learn the routine of class and know what to expect, they can focus more energy on absorbing other concepts."
I was at your concert at the Johnny Appleseed Family Festival (and loved it by the way!) and a friend asked me how long Rattlebox Studio has been in Concord.
Mr. Aaron: "We’ve been in Concord for 3 years and are loving it!"
I think many people have the impression that there is not tons in the Concord area for families. Although after I became publisher for Macaroni Kid Concord NH, I found there is actually far more than meets the eye! Thank you for bringing more of the arts not just to the Concord area, but to our children!
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