Laughing Pizza: Sing Dance Learn

LAUGHING PIZZA EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM

Welcome Pizza Parents and Educators!

We are thrilled to introduce you to the educational mission of Laughing Pizza. We have included information about our music, our message, and our educational goals – and some specific examples of meeting those goals through our songs and videos. Our mission focuses on enriching the lives of children and their families through music. To this end we have enlisted the critical input of childhood development specialists, educational experts, and dedicated parents. Joining forces with those most deeply in tune with the needs of children and families allows us to provide quality musical entertainment with lyrics that encourage positive value development, critical thinking, energetic movement, and respect for the world around us. Our songs cover issues like friendship, self-worth, cultural diversity, and the joy of learning. Come along with us and discover all the places our music can take you.

Target Audience

Laughing Pizza was founded to provide wholesome entertainment that could be shared by the entire family. Our goal is to write fun lyrics and melodies that appeal to everyone from the ages of two to one hundred and two. We have found, however, that our most enthusiastic fans are children in the age range of eighteen months to ten years–and, of course, their parents, who are thrilled to enjoy meaningful music with their kids.

Educational Goals

General Goal

Our fundamental goal is to enhance a child’s ability to interact with the world around them. In doing this, a child’s success in school, in the family, and in the social environment at large is of primary importance. We introduce key messages about acceptance, inclusion, confidence, sharing, and the joy of learning by utilizing the positive social power inherent in music. Each song is designed to be an interactive and exciting teaching opportunity.

Specific Objectives

Through our unique and upbeat musical style we strive to meet the following objectives:

–Teach basic structure of the elements of music.

–Establish opportunities for creativity and enhanced learning in math, literature, and language.

–Support the development of personal values and morality by introducing themes of honesty, compassion, leadership, cooperation, sharing, and appreciation for differences between families and cultures.

–Reinforce critical thinking skills, goal setting, and problem solving skills.

–Encourage physical well-being, confidence, and enhanced coordination through dance and movement.

–Demonstrate positive messages associated with making friends and participating as a member of a team which facilitates the transition to active participation in an educational setting.

–Introduce concepts related to sequencing, probabilities, vocabulary, and following directions.

Educational Rationale

Numerous studies focusing on art and music therapy have highlighted the importance of preparing a child for the structured school environment. Success in a school setting can often be a precursor for success outside of school. There is a correlation between a child who feels positive about the world around them and a child who is well positioned to thrive in and out of school. Our Sing-Dance-Learn platform is grounded in learning theory and developmental psychology and is designed with children in mind.

Educational Platform

Sing

Unique, lively, and engaging, the music of Laughing Pizza is at the heart of all we do. Each song can stand alone to be listened to by a child individually, shared with a parent, or experienced through the excitement generated by a group. A child is empowered when they are able to master the lyrics and melodies of our songs. Studies have shown that learning messages through rhyme and meter makes retention easier and more enjoyable. Infectious musical rhythms provide the inspiration for the concentration and focus needed to do this. The children are eager to learn our songs and this serves to reinforce the benefits of persistence and self-expression.

Dance

The majority of our music is designed with a dancing child in mind. We infuse each song with a readily apparent beat and encourage a child to experience our music through participation. Like other forms of communication, dancing is an additional way for a child to express what he or she is feeling or thinking. While heavily creative, dance helps a child become more comfortable and confident in the use and control of their body.

When we interact with our audience in close proximity, the children who see our show and listen to our music have an opportunity to see the hard work and effort associated with being a performer. This includes the practice and rehearsal associated with the dance routines.

We have also written some ballads and slower paced songs to express important feelings and experiences we have had as parents. These songs provide additional opportunity for reflection while the children sway gently to the music of flute, guitar, and piano.

Learn

We infuse our lyrics with messages that teach. It is our view that learning occurs constantly in our lives, even at moments when we appear to be “just playing.” Life is learning! We keep this in mind as we create songs to capture some of life’s most poignant messages. Our songs motivate a child to actively embrace life and meet the world head on with confidence and kindness.

Educational Format

Our Presentation

We have merged our music and our message to create a safe and comfortable zone in which a child can relate to our songs. We are a real family and we let our audience know this. The reality of a Mom, Dad, and daughter performing together is a powerful message about family unity. Emily’s appearance as a band member, peer, and role model is especially captivating to our fans. The strength of our music is in both its’ subtlety and its’ accessibility—a family singing together and having fun captures the imagination of every child. We reach out to our audience through several avenues; our CDs, our DVDs, and our live concert performances.

Examples of Our Social Learning and Academic Themes

Laughing Pizza’s music encompasses a wide variety of important social and academic themes. We have listed a sampling of specific themes below along with a few verses from selected songs.

Joy of school and learning mathematical concepts;
Counting, adding, subtracting, probability,
patterns, and shapes.

Back to school again is an energetic salute to the glory of school. It acknowledges the freedom of summer days but gets children excited about the return to school and friends.

“Summertime,
I don’t have to get up early,
Gonna sleep late, hang out,
Take my time
Doing what I want to do, then I’ll
Start going out of my mind
Oh yeah I’m missing my friends,
Can’t wait for the summer to end
Na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey
I’m going back to school again.
Na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey
Yes, I’m going back to school again.”

Five Dollars is a fun song about children deciding how to spend five dollars at the store. The song demonstrates how the children calculate what they can buy, and how much they have left after each purchase. It also shows how much fun it can be to buy things for others.

“We got five dollars, we got five dollars, we got five dollars
What else can we get?

We thought about our brother,
He likes chocolate chips.
He eats them with a glass of milk
In between each sip.
Oh, they cost a dollar, we only get the best.
Take one from the five we have,
How much is there left?
We got four dollars, we got four dollars,
What else can we get?

We thought about our parents,
They like to read the news.
The paper costs a dollar
Well that leaves us with two.
We thought about our class mates,
They like jellybeans and if that costs a dollar
You know just what that means.
We got one dollar… (etc)”

Always, Sometimes, Never is a catchy song about probability. You can’t help but learn something here while smiling and singing right along.

“Did you ever toss a coin in the air?
Call heads or tails and the chances are fair,
50/50 that’s one chance in two,
Chances are equal whatever you choose.
You say you wonder if elephant fly,
I really don’t that think the chances are high.
You’d never find it, it’s never been seen.
I guess that’s just what zero probability means.
Always, sometimes, never,
Which will it be?
Chances tell us the probabilities, like 50/50.”

Breakfast Jive is all about a family making breakfast together and counting all the while. Some of our fans have told us that it is a family ritual to sing this song while making weekend breakfast. Try it, it’s one tasty way to do math.

“We got seven eggs in the refrigerator,
Seven eggs what will we do?
Seven eggs in the refrigerator,
How many for me, how many for you?
I like my eggs to be soft-boiled
I’m still small so one’s enough for me,
Mom gets two, and one for junior,
Dad’s a big guy, so he gets three.
That’s two for mom, three for Daddy.
Two and three make five.
One for me and one for junior,
Add ‘em all together for the breakfast jive.

Count the eggs and count the dishes,
Count the forks and count the knives.
Breakfast time is so delicious,
Put your hands together for the breakfast jive.”

What Comes First? highlights the logic of sequencing in a way we can all relate to. It points out the fundamental order of everyday activities in a matter of fact, yet meaningful way and conjures up some funny images along the way of trying to do things in reverse.

“What comes first?
The honey or the bee?
What comes first?
Homework or TV?
It’s important to play
But you know what they say.
What comes first? What comes first?

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday in a row.
It doesn’t work the other way,
That’s just the way it goes.
Winter, Spring, and Summer
Are followed by the Fall.
You can’t put up a picture
If you haven’t got a wall…”

Patterns is a great song about all the different patterns we see around us everyday.

“Lying in my bed at night,
Staring at the ceiling, shadows and light
Making patterns everywhere
I can’t help but dream and stare.
Looks like snowflakes, polka-dots
Checkerboards, it never stops.
Stars and stripes, and zigzags too,
Amazing what our minds can do.
Moon lights up the night,
Sun lights up the day. What can I say?

We are living in a world of patterns,
We are living in a world of patterns,
We are living in a world of patterns.
Patterns all over the world.”

Outside My Window creates vivid images of all the shapes that surround us. You find yourself breaking everything you see down into its basic shapes as you sing along to this song.

“First thing that I see is tall streetlight,
It shows me when to cross the street
And how to cross it right.
The top is a box that is easily seen
And the lights inside are circles red, yellow, and green.
Circles and a box and a cylinder shaped pole,
Three shapes in one street light,
Three shapes to make it whole.
And you say outside my window
What shapes can I see?
Outside my window
What’s looking back at me?
So take a look outside your window
And I’m sure you’ll find,
No matter where you look
There’re shapes of every kind.”

Respect and admiration for cultural differences

We’re All the Same on the Inside is an upbeat song that acknowledges how wonderfully different we all are on the outside, yet also points to our common humanity on the inside.

“Hey, just look around the world,
So many different faces.
Well, each of us is something special
In our special way.
We may not look alike,
But there’s no wrong or right,
Big or small, after all, we all love to smile.
We’re all the same on the inside.
We’re just you and me.
We’re all the same on the outside
Just a variety.”

Share a Smile! is a song you just have to move to – from spelling out the word ‘s-m-i-l-e’ to jumping around to the fast paced music. This song teaches that a smile is a universal language and can open up the avenue to communication.

“It’s a great big world with everybody in it.
There’s room enough for you and me.
It’s a great big world it only takes a minute
To share a smile with somebody.
Everywhere, everyplace
Different voices, different choices always a new face.
So reach out, let someone in,
Open up another’s heart, it’s easy to begin.
When you can’t find the words to say,
You can say it in a very simple way,
S – M – I – L – E, Come on along and smile with me.”

Zaminamina is a song of African heritage with additional original lyrics by Laughing Pizza that promotes the uniting force of music and brotherhood.

“Zaminamina, Oh, oh,
Woca woca eh eh.
Zaminamina, zangalewa,
Anawa ah ah.
Jungo eh eh, jungo eh eh.
Zaminamina, zangalewa
Anawa ah ah.
Zaminamina, oh, oh.
We can sing together.
Zaminamina zangalewa,
We have each other,
Sisters and brothers.

Family and friendship

Jake and Roo is a song about the friendship between two dogs that, like sibling relationships, can sometimes be a little rocky. The song teaches the lesson that despite the downs and because of the ups—it is good to go through life with someone by your side.

“When Dan first brought Roo home,
Jake would rather have been alone
‘Cuz Roo’s a dinosaur dog that jumps like a frog
And bothers Jake all day long
But after a while you see,
Roo is part of the family
‘Cuz Jake’s gotten used to Roo on the loose
And now they just play all day

Oh life is so much better when you’ve got someone by your side
Jake and Roo together they do just fine”

Valentine’s Day offers up the idea that loving sentiments are too grand a thing to reserve for only one day a year, and urges listeners to tell someone “I love you” everyday.

“Every day should be valentines’ day.
Don’t hesitate don’t wait to say it.
Every day should be valentines’ day.
Tell somebody “I love you,”
Bet they’ll say it back to you”

Goodbye, Farewell acknowledges the sadness that often accompanies goodbyes yet encourages children to look to the bright side of future reunion. It also helps them understand how remembrance of good times can recreate the joy of being together.

“You know it’s never easy when you have to say goodbye.
It gives you that sad feeling, makes you feel all blue inside.
We’ll be riding back this way, hope it won’t be too long.
You can always think of us each time you sing this song.
Goodbye, farewell now, we’ll see you soon again.
Goodbye, farewell now, you really are our friends.
Think of us often and in the in-betweens
Goodbye, farewell now, we’ll see you in our dreams.”

Don’t Cry About Stuff encourages children to value relationships over material possessions. The song sights figures in history and offers opportunities to talk about the lessons learned through the events surrounding these people.

“You may lose your things or break a few
But those can be replaced or glued
So don’t you cry, cry, cry, cry about stuff.
Oh life is very funny
What really counts you can’t buy with money
It’s all the way that you feel
Turns out to be the only thing that’s real
King Midas had the golden touch
But look what happens when you want too much
So don’t you cry, cry, cry, cry about stuff
Napoleon thought he’d conquer all
But it’s greed that makes an empire fall
So don’t you cry, cry, cry about stuff.
Plastic, metal, wood, or glass
Stuff wears out, but love will last.
So don’t you cry, cry, cry, cry about stuff.”

Self worth attributes: Confidence, the magic of effort,
Imagination, and the amazing work our bodies can do,

Candy Bar let’s kids know that there is always a place they can be accepted and that they are fine just the way they are, each stars.

“You don’t have to try so hard, come in just the way you are.
The doors are open step inside. Oh it’s a sugar coated ride.
All the colors in the air and there’s music everywhere
There’s so much for you to do, there’s no way to lose.”

Sophie opens up the wide world of imagination and inspires children to let loose with their own imagination.

“Sophie, where are you? Won’t you come over and set me free?
Oh, we’ll dance in fountains and climb up on mountains
And pretend that we live in a tree.
Oh, Sophie where are you? Won’t you come over and play today?
Cause with your imagination there are not enough hours in the day
So just stay and stay and stay.”

Feelin’ Good! touts all the amazing things that our bodies allow us to do and gives children an appreciation for their capabilities.

“Oh, I’m feelin’ good just like I should
From my head down to my toes
All the things my body knows.
Come and learn with me and you will see
How your body helps you do
The things you do when you’re feelin’ good.

Isn’t it amazing what your mind can do?
Hundreds of decisions that your brain can make for you;
Picking up a seashell, opening a door,
Inventing something no one’s ever done before.”

Don’t Give Up illuminates the merits of effort by promoting a grateful heart and demonstrating the value of the old adage, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.’

“Don’t give up, things couldn’t be that bad.
Don’t give up, think of all the things that you have.
If it doesn’t work the first time you can always start again.
Second time might just be right
You can never tell my friend.
So don’t give up, no matter what you do.
Don’t give up, ’cause your dreams can all come true.
If the sun doesn’t shine today, it doesn’t mean it won’t shine tomorrow.
Sometimes we need the rainy days but happy days will follow.”

Final Thoughts

As we’ve pointed out, Laughing Pizza’s music enhances many aspects of social and academic life for young children, but as we’re reminded by numerous teachers and parents, we can’t forget about the place that simple joy and “feelin’ good” have in all our lives.

For more information and samples of Laughing Pizza music and video, visit our website at www.laughingpizza.com.