The J. Paul Getty Museum presents Garden Concerts for Kids this August, a free annual outdoor music series for kids and their families in the Getty Center’s Central Garden featuring some of the best children’s musical artists from across the nation.

Garden Concerts for Kids kicks off this summer with LA-based Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band on August 6 and 7.  One of the brightest new artists on the kids’ music scene, this Silver Lake trio was named the best new kids’ artist of 2010 by USA Today. Their fresh rockabilly, retro tunes, and indie goodness open the concert series, with songs from their brand new album, Oh Lucky Day!

The following weekend, August 13 and 14, Grammy nominated Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could will get every family up and dancing with their energetic beats. They are a rollicking back-porch rock ‘n’ roll band with a feel-good R & B foundation. According to National Public Radio, they “might just be the best-sounding band in children’s music.” 

Closing out the season on August 20 and 21 singer-guitarist Frances England will bring her warm, indie-folk melodies and alt-rock rhythms to the Getty.  Performing from her brand new Parent’s Choice Gold Award-winning album, Mind Of My Own, England will sing about bicycles, ladybugs, and Jacques Cousteau.  England’s incredibly creative and slightly off-beat take on family life has inspired a world of fans since her 2007 breakout album, Fascinating Creatures.

The Garden Concerts for Kids are held in the Central Garden at the Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, from 4:00-5:30 p.m.   Admission is free, and no reservations are required. 

Parking is $15.  For more information visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

I love going to Hollywood Bowl. The venue, warm weather, people, music and food… what is there not to like?

Hollywood Bowl offers classes for little ones and here is the description of the program and its’ 2011 schedule.

SummerSounds, our popular music and arts festival for kids at the Hollywood Bowl, returns with a musical journey through Los Angeles, one of the most exciting cities in the world, where diverse cultures influence and enrich one another in unique ways. Each SummerSounds program features live music and dance, plus art workshops guided by professional artists.

This season’s lineup includes:

The Korean Classical Music and Dance Company (July 5-15) – authentic Korean music with unique instruments and exciting, elegant fan dances
Sylvia St. James & the St. James Singers (July 18-29) – joyful gospel music
Ken O’Malley (August 1-12) – a feisty blend of traditional and new Irish folk music

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Saturday, May 14, but if you are a subscriber to Hollywood Bowl or LA Philharmonic, you can order your tickets now by logging in to your account here.

When:
Sat, JULY 17, 2010 9:30am to 10:05am & 11:00am to 11:45am
PLUS 1st Sundays of each Month!
Sunday, August 1, 2010 11:00am to 11:45am

Where:
Recreational Music Center
7308 Coldwater Canyon
North Hollywood, CA 91605
(818) 982-0461

Cost: FREE!

A place where everyone has permission to explore music making!

Join RMC for kids drum circle where kids can enjoy interactive creative music making with parents, friends, and family using rhythm, song, and dance to build community, foster self-confidence, and HAVE FUN!!!

Recommended ages for kids: 2 to 12, but all ages are welcome.
The older kids and parents play supportive rhythms and songs while the younger children explore instruments and rhythm making.

Parents are encouraged to participate. Parents must stay with children.

Drums Provided. No Reservations Needed

I am convinced that the one of the most important education that I can give my baby bean is foreign language education. So I did some research and found a French Mommy and Me class near our house. See you there!

Alliance Française de Los Angeles
French cultural and language center

10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite #120
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-652-0306

Classes they offer are:

1. Bebe Musique (newborn to 2 year old)
2. Mommy & Me / Petit a Petit (1 to 2 years old)
3. French Preschool (3 to 5 years old)
4. Mini-Groups (3 to 5 years old)
5. French for American Children (7 to 10 year old)

For pricing and class schedule, visit Alliance Française website.

Sunshine Music, which offers music classes and Spanish music class for children up to age 7 has updated winter enrollment information available. Registration closes on January 24th so if you are thinking of enrolling your little one head over to their website available at Sunshinemusic.org.

On their website, you can learn more about their program, view their schedule, and sign up for demo classes! They offer classes in various locations throughout Los Angeles, so you will be able to find a class near you.

The Pasadena Symphony Association’s Musical Circus at The Americana at Brand in Glendale is great for children 3-8 years of age.

The Circus begins with the instrument “petting zoo” where youngsters can toot flutes, blow trumpets, pluck violins and cellos and bang on percussion instrument.

The Musical Circus is free, so bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun music making!

To view the full schedule, please visit Pasadena Symphony website.

The Americana at Brand
889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210-1555 ( View Map )
2 pm-3:30 pm

I recently heard of “Music Together.” It is a music based mommy and me classes for infants to kindergarteners. If you are interested in this type of activities for you child visit their website and request more information for a class near you!

Garden Concerts for Kids 2009
A FREE outdoor music series for families

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, August 15 & 16, 22 & 23, and 29 & 30, 2009
Time: 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Location: Getty Center, Central Garden
Admission: Free; no reservations required.

Enjoy the best of children’s music in the great outdoors at Garden Concerts for Kids, offering three weekends of kid-tastic, sing-along fun in the Central Garden. Make it an afternoon—come early to browse the galleries, wander the gardens, and enjoy a picnic on the grass.

For more information visit Getty’s website.

When I sit with my little bean for some playtime, I am always searching for some background music for her to listen to. I bought some children’s music on CDs and transferred them over to my itunes, but the library is still very limited. Most of those CDs have twinkle twinkle on it so I am not having much luck exposing her to variety of styles. Also, I have noticed that its very hard to find children’s music at stores such as BestBuy.

Parents with same dilemma, head over to Jitterbug. They have tons of children’s music you can listen for free. Click on the radio and you will have music in the background while you stack blocks so your little one can crawl over and knock it down with the biggest smile.

Hollywood Bowl is having SummerSounds 2009 : Music and Art for Kids (ages 3 through 9). This year’s theme is to explore ethnic Los Angeles – its musicians, the neighborhood they reflect and the world music that informs them.

There are 3 different programs running for 6 weeks: Brazil on the Westside, Mexico in East Los Angeles, India Little India in Artesia. There are Music performances and Art workshops each session.

Admission is $7 for Music Performance and $5 for Art Workshop. Group discounts are availab.e for froups of 20 or more.

For more information visit Hollywoodbowl website.