Jacks' Big Music Show:
Many of the programs on the Viacom-owned NOGGIN Channel feature music, but the songs are used mostly as segues between scene changes. One program, though, specifically features music for preschoolers. Every episode of Jack's Big Music Show is full of simple, fun tunes that are perfect for the 3 to 5 year old crowd.
The Music:
The program showcases videos by kids' musicians and bands, as well as little ditties sung by the show's star, a puppet dog named Jack, and his friends. The tunes are usually about exactly what's happening on the screen: one episode includes a song called "Up Up Up" that the characters sang enthusiastically as they climbed up a magic bean stalk. But the main difference between this show and other children's "music" programs is that Jack's music sounds as if an actual indie rock band is playing, rather than a preprogrammed keyboard with drum machine accompaniment.
The Bands:
Kids' music star Laurie Berkner rose to her present level of fame by being featured on Jack's Big Music Show, with at least one of her videos being shown per episode. The artist selection has widened significantly over the past few years, and includes artists like David Weinstone and his Music for Aardvarks Band, The Quiet Two, Hot Peas 'N Butter, former Blue's Clues host Steve Burns, and Sweet Honey in the Rock.
The Schwartzman Quartet:
The show's creators, David Rudman, Todd Hannert, and Adam Rudman, are huge fans of The Jack Benny Show. They named the lead characters, Jack, Mary, and Mel, after the personalities on that classic TV program. Another namesake on Jack's is The Schwartzman Quartet, named after The Sportsmen Quartet, a singing group who were frequent guests on Jack Benny's program.
The four-dog Schwartzman Quartet are the absolutely most charming thing about Jack's Big Music Show! Their appearances, along with their situation-appropriate songs in a doo-wop/Beach Boys style, are always the highlight of each episode in which they co-star.
Developmental Goals:
Each program on the NOGGIN Channel includes developmental goals they wish to achieve over the course of a child's viewing experience. Jack's Big Music Show's claim that it "enhances preschoolers' appreciation and understanding of music, including tempo, rhythm, dynamics through interactive play, and expands their awareness of the diversity of musical instruments and styles" seems right on. It's fun, it's catchy, and parents will find themselves singing along with their preschoolers, and that's what matters.
