This page will help you browse top kids' music picks in various groupings.
Halfway through 2009, the kids' music field is already full of top-notch albums for children and their families. This short list by no means represents all of the great kids' CDs that have been released so far this year, it just goes to show that the quality and diversity of kids' music just keeps growing. Here are some prime examples of the best kids' music of 2009.
The best children's music of 2008.
The Disney Pixar company has been releasing ground-breaking animated films for almost 15 years now. From 1995's
Toy Story Soundtrack to 2009's
Up Soundtrack, each Disney Pixar movie has been accompanied by a wide range of music: sweeping orchestral works, pop tunes, original compositions, and cover songs. After giving them all a listen, I've chosen the Top 5 Disney Pixar Soundtracks.
With the impending arrival of
High School Musical 4 (scheduled for 2010, people!), it's time to reflect, recap, and revisit the Top 10
High School Musical songs. The
High School Musical Soundtracks weren't wall-to-wall songwriting gems, no doubt, but there were a few highlights among the three CDs. Go Wildcats!
A countdown of the Top 10 musical guests during the first season of
Yo Gabba Gabba!.
OK, so, what's Americana music? Think of it as a throwback to old school rock and roll, flavored with with regional influences. This list of new Americana music for kids includes exceptional albums by bands and performers who excell in making kids' music for grownups and adult music for children.
Before Dan Zanes, before Barney, before
Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, kids' music in its infancy was sometimes rough-hewn, often poorly recorded, but definitely full of heart and soul. These five classic children's albums should be on everyone's "must-hear" list, especially if you have young music fans in the house.
Sure, there are lots of Beatles lullaby albums out there, but after a while, they all start sounding alike. I went out and found ten unique CDs worth of Beatles instrumentals that'll help your little ones drop off into "Golden Slumbers." Here are the Top 10 Beatles Lullaby Albums:
These artists aren't new to the music business. Heck, several of them have hit the Billboard Top 100 as grownup bands or performers. But they are all new to the kids' music world, and that world is a better place for it. Here are the Top 12 best kids' music debuts of 2008:
What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your kids than to explore the world of Irish music for children. These five CDs are full of traditional tunes, story songs, dances, and sing-alongs performed in both English and Irish. Sláinte!
Ahh, summer! A time to kick back and relax, read a few books and play in the pool, splash in the ocean and enjoy the sun. Here's the perfect soundtrack for the season, a list of great summer songs for kids.
Here's a list of great Hanukkah music for kids, from klezmer to pop, from traditional to humorous remakes. There's one album for each night, plus a bonus CD to wrap up the season.
For your last-minute Thanksgiving song search, here are some of the top tunes ready for digital downloading. Happy Holidays!
Founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is an internationally celebrated African cultural holiday that pays tribute to the rich cultural roots of African people. Kwanzaa is based on seven fundamental principles, which are referred to as the Nguzo Saba. These CDs are a great way to introduce children to the concepts of Kwanzaa while having musical fun!
There are literally hundreds of Christmas-related CDs and albums out there, so I've narrowed the list to holiday collections that feature "back-to-basics" renditions of wintry fireside classics, plus a couple of "essential listening" soundtracks. Take a look:
Looking for a great Halloween CD to play at your child's classroom party or to greet trick-or-treaters at your door? Here's a short list of some of the best Halloween songs for children. These top Halloween tunes for kids are arranged by release date. Boo!
Sure, The Beatles have written and performed some great songs, no doubt about that. But what if you want to share your love of The Fab Four with your little ones? Where do you start? Which songs or albums do you pick? The best idea is to enjoy the songs with them, not play the songs at them. Looking through The Beatles’ albums, I picked out fourteen tunes that would be best for sing-alongs, son…
Music for babies and toddlers should include recognizable songs, easy-to-remember lyrics and tunes, well-enunciated words, and lullabies. These six CDs are great examples of music that is appropriate for the youngest listener. They are all recent releases and are readily available online.
As many of the pop stars we listened to in college and high school hit middle age, several are rethinking and expanding their musical careers by tapping into the children’s music genre. Here are several of the most recent kids’ music releases by bands and performers who were at one point on the Billboard charts:
The Carolinas are just one region of the United States where independently produced children's music has moved to the forefront of the genre. Here are a few of the best kids' performers from North and South Carolina.
Songs for children under four should include clearly enunciated words, easy to memorize lyrics, and fun tunes. Here are eleven of the best performers of music for the toddler crowd, with links to their Web pages, and a highly recommended CD by each artist.
Songs for children ages 4 to 8 should include great pop song structure and imaginative, funny, and fantastical lyrics. Here are some of the best new bands and performers for the preschool and early elementary crowd.
Top 10
Yo Gabba Gabba! Musical Guests from Season 1.
Top 10 High School Musical Songs.
Information about children's music artists, including bios and discographies.
List of the Best Disney Pixar Soundtracks.
A list of summer songs for kids, from some of the best kindie rock artists in the field.
