If your sound is “on” you’re listening to a cut from my new CD, Come and Make a Circle 3, due out Fall 2012.  I know, I know, I’ve been announcing this CD for a while now.  No worries, however.  I’ve been in the studio on and off for a year and am making significant progress.  I know it will be a worthy addition to the Come and Make a Circle series of CDs, both of which are winners of the Parents’ Choice Award.  Visit this website again in a few months to hear more about the release date and thanks for your interest!

Dot and I have been performing and perfecting our show for over ten years at schools and congregations throughout Illinois.  We always have a great time and truly love working with one another.  Our show is a story and music program that we like to think seamlessly combines the two art forms.  Dot generously allows me to act in some of her best-loved stories, and I love it when Dot adds her harmony vocals and relentless, positive energy to my songs.  It is a delight working and playing with the best, most original storyteller in the Chicago area.

Happy New Year one and all!  I hope the new year finds you happy and healthy, though I can’t help but think we’ll need lots of laughter these next 10 months as we face another presidential election.

As January draws to a close, I’m grateful for the nine different sites that employ me and the hundreds of children I see over 26 classes each week.  In addition, I am still at work on my new CD, Come and Make a Circle 3:  Look What I Can Do!   Still can’t say for sure when it will be released in its entirety, but I will be posting songs as they are mixed and mastered at this website so you can hear how the project unfolds.  My friend and recording engineer Victor Sanders (Lakeside Media) is helping me create the 8th CD of my children’s music career!  I’ve got tons of new songs and poems and some of the most wonderful musicians in town helping me make the CD sound fabulous.  Most of the songs are original, but one cover song is Peter and Ellen Allard’s “We’re Building a Better World,” a song many of you have heard me sing in class and concert.

I had a great time with the fine people of Oak Park last Sunday as we raised the roof of Wonderworks, the much-cherished children’s museum located on North Avenue.  Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of performing there with my musical buddy Matt Yanny-Tillar, my storytelling friend Dot Kane, and solo.  Sunday’s solo concert could not have happened without the help of willing dads and moms as backup singers, dancers and musicians.

Please join me at Schuba’s on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as we do a little fundraising for JCYS Lakeview Family Center.  Call 773-281-2533 for ticket information.  We had a blast at last year’s February concert and lots of families stayed to enjoy the delicious food from Schuba’s brunch menu.

Check me out on Facebook, if you haven’t already.  I’m trying to be as media savvy as possible these days, so I’m commiting to posting events, news, photos and video as often as I can and driving my daughters crazy as they guide me through the various machinations of social media.

As I enjoy our late-blooming winter in Chicago, I send all of my friends across the country wishes for snow to play in, rain to jump in, arms to hold you, and music to serenade you.

Susan S.xo

Friends,

Our daughters are home and all is right with the world, or so it seems.  I am looking forward to our annual celebrations of Hanukah and Christmas with Ali, Hope and Hannah as we honor the traditions of both sides of our families.

The fall has been a busy time of transition and creativity for both my husband Jay and me.  Jay had a commissioned play produced at his high school, “The Fortune Teller’s Price.”  His play was part of an evening of short pieces that won raves from audiences for 8 performances earlier this month.

I am in the studio (again!) working on Come and Make a Circle 3:  Look What I Can Do!  One of my new songs is what you are hearing upon visiting my website.  It’s called “Wiggle ‘Til the Cows Come Home,” and I hope you like it.  In the spirit of the many holidays celebrated at this time of year, I’m also offering a free download of my song “What Is Peace to You?” recorded some years ago with the Chicago-based folk band VOICES.  Simply click here to get it:  13 What Is Peace to You-

I wish you the merriest of holidays and hope that you, too, are able to be closest to the ones you love.

Susanxo

Some of Chicago’s favorite children’s musicians helped raise money for CMN at the Old Town School of Folk Music on October 2, 2011!  Top Row:  Alvin McGovern, Jeanie B!, Tara Trudel, Brigid Finucane, Amy Lowe, and me.  Bottom Row:  Laura Doherty, Karen Banks-Lubicz, and Miss Carole (Stephens).

Our graduation party and garage mural project.

Hope, Ms. Julie Waller, and Hannah.

Both of our girls had major graduations this year:  Hope from Oberlin College and Hannah from Walter Payton College Prep.  Jay and I couldn’t be more proud of them.  We hosted a joint graduation party in June for about 70 close friends and family members, including several honored guests like Ms. Julie Waller, the girls’ beloved second grade teacher from LaSalle Language Academy.  Jay made possible the painting of a new mural on our garage with the help of many of our guests.  It’s just about the happiest garage you’ll ever see and brings new life to our alley. 

Getting back to work on my new recording so I’ll be able to promote it in the fall when the girls are off on their adventures and Jay and I become empty-nesters.   Hope has accepted a job in Copenhagen and Hannah will be off to Macalester in St. Paul/Minneapolis August.  And yes, I will need to stay crazy busy in order to endure their absences with grace and resilience!

I hope you are able to stay sane in this crazy world with the love and support of those around you.  Making music, staying creative and working with children help me to see the world as a beautiful place and understand how very privileged I am to live in it and do the work I love. 

 Thanks to all of you for all the above.

Susan S., July 2011

Thanks to Barry Kafka, my web guru, purchasers of my two Come and Make a Circle CDs can now print out copies of the lyrics and song lists right here at my website!  Simply click on the “Goodies” button and then click on “Song Lists and Lyrics.”  Voila!

It seems I can’t pick up a newspaper without reading about bullying in our communities and schoolyards and the increasingly dire consequences of young people mistreating one another.  I am proud to announce the release of Big Bully, a new compilation by Recess Music.  My song, “I’m Sorry,” is one of the tracks on this CD  promoting awareness of this timely issue.

“I’m Sorry” was first released on my recording Songs In the Key of Chai: Oldish, Newish and Mostly Jewish Songs for All Families (2008).  I wrote the song as a way for young ones to practice these important words, especially as they relate to the practice of apologizing to loved ones during Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.

Other artists whose work appears as part of the compilation include Nancy  Tucker, Milkshake and Lou Del Bianco.

To find out more about Big Bully and how to purchase copies, click on this link:  Recess Music’s Facebook page.