Meet Monkey Monkey Music!

               Monkey Monkey Music

     If you haven't heard of Monkey Monkey Music, now is the time to get informed. Monkey Monkey Music is a awesome children's band created by Meredith LeVande.Meredith and her band mates excel in connecting to the kids with the use of original children's songs, along with the classics as well. I was at a show last summer at a local library and fell in love with the enthusiastic way she reached out to the kids, and the way the children connected to her! Soon you will be able to experience Monkey Monkey Music yourself when they come to Long Island for two performances this summer! To tide you over until then, make sure you look for her music videos on PBS, check out her website, and please read this amazing Q&A that Meredith was generous enough to do with us! The answers she has provided will give you a better idea as to why her performances are so truly unique and make the kids go ga-ga!

MG:     How did you come to create MMM?

ML: I loved singing traditional children's songs with families, but wanted to create original music for children. I was teaching children's music classes and was inspired by the children's reactions to music. I was coming from a singer/songwriter perspective, and I was sick of my music making me sad and so introspective. This was a much different experience, and I felt that in my kids’ music, I was removing myself from the equation and I needed to do just that.  Their reactions were so fun and primal that when I saw them, they collectively reminded me of adorable little monkeys which is why I call it MMM.

MG:     What are the inspirations for your music?

ML: I don't think that the inspirations for my music are necessarily traditional ones. I didn't grow up hearing all styles of music, nor did I come from a musical family. Rather, singing as a child helped me deal with many struggles. My mother became severely mentally ill when I was a toddler and communicating with her was difficult. But, when I sang with her, we seemed to be on the same page at that moment. Her reality was completely distorted. She was diagnosed with Schizophrenia when I was three years old. At that time, there was very little help for people with mental illnesses and her episodes were quite severe.  But, I remember singing with her, and in those moments we were in the same space. Singing just made me feel whole and good about myself which is why I later followed my instincts to pursue music.

MG:     Children's entertainment is a hard gig, what made you chose a career in this industry? I don't think there is anything harder, really.

ML:When I started out, things were very different. I try to always keep in mind that what inspired me was the connection I have with children when I perform, whether live or in video. When I focus on that, I'm able to tune out much of the ugliness that I see and don't want to be associated with or participate in.  As my friend's pastor says, " a path with no resistance, is a path to nowhere."

MG:     Whats a typical show like How do you make each one special?

ML:     My shows are all highly interactive and are really meant to keep the children engaged from beginning to end.  They are about connecting with children. So, I often have a set that I know works. I think what makes each one special is the different and creative ways that children express themselves.

MG:     What has been your greatest achievement with MMM?

ML:     My greatest achievement first and foremost is always being able to connect with children in a musical way. Whether I do that at a birthday party, concert or video, that's the primary order of business. But, in terms of my life's work, my videos airing on over 100 PBS member stations and public television stations is a huge accomplishment. I am extremely proud of this and eternally grateful for this opportunity. I have always wanted to work in public television because I believe in public television’s mission. At its earliest inception, it was meant to provide access to children who otherwise didn’t have access to early childhood education programs. I was a child that public television served, and I am honored to serve other children through public television.

MG:     What is the MMM message to the little ones (mission statement)

ML:     Well, I definitely have a mission in my work, but I'm not entirely sure if my mission as a children's entertainer is something that I can directly express to a child per se. First and foremost, I think that acknowledging the importance of early childhood education and music's role in it is critical to healthy human development. I have a deep sense of justice, and know firsthand that not all children have the same access and opportunities as others do. Knowing what we know about early childhood, ensuring that every child is properly cared for in his or her first five years of life is crucial to a healthy and productive existence. I believe that it should be a birthright that every person be given the tools to live to their full potential and more research points to the need of a strong foundation in the first five years of life, particularly the first three years of life. I have an expression: "children learn when they are engaged and music engages children." So, my overall message is to take early childhood very seriously, and to see that all children have equal access to it. But my message in communicating with children musically is to try and find a space that speaks directly to them and honor the time of life when jumping, clapping, dancing and pretending is joyful. I think we are our truest selves at that age and I hope my music encourages children to remain true to themselves and to persevere.

MG:     What stations can we see ur videos on here on Long Island? 

ML:     You can see my videos on NJTV throughout the day in between children's shows.

MG:     What show do you have coming up?

ML:      This week I have performances  in Vegas at Vegas PBS, The Charleston Heights Arts Center in Vegas and in LA. But I have a bunch of Long Island shows in August. Please go to www.monkeymonkeymusic.comand check out the show schedule. I’m playing in Long Island 4 times in August and am really looking forward to it!

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