Q&A on Camp Sparkler and the Power of Music for Kids
This summer, Sparkler’s new video podcast series Tune Up is at the heart of our summer learning program Camp Sparkler. Tune Up uses the healing power of music to help children (and the adults who love them) tackle childhood challenges. Hosted by writer, composer, and long-time educator Benjamin Weiner, Tune Up invites children to discuss tough topics — from becoming a big sibling to facing bedtime to cleaning up — and write songs to help themselves and others. As we kick off Camp, Sparkler’s executive director, Julia Levy, who is the producer of Tune Up, chatted with Benjamin about it.
Julia: Benjamin, could you tell us a little about your background?
Benjamin: I was a teacher for many years, I taught preschool, first, second, and third grade, mostly. And then in 2021, I transitioned full-time into children’s media, writing for kids’ TV shows on Nickelodeon, PBS, and Netflix, as well as a number of podcasts, scripted kids’ podcasts. And I also have a kids’ music act that really took off, in the past couple years called Princess Backpack and Benjamin, which you can find wherever you stream music, that has a lot of the same themes that we get to talk about in Tune Up…And I have a children’s book coming out with Simon & Schuster in the next couple years, slow process, but I’m very excited for that as well.
Julia: As a teacher, why do you think summer is an important time for learning?
Benjamin: In the fall, we can tell how kids spent their summers — which kids had been continuing to read, and continuing to learn and grow, and kind of keep their minds on over the summer. It’s great to be able to provide as many resources as you can, whether it’s something like Camp Sparkler or a reading list — which we also have as part of Camp Sparkler, so that kids can continue to build on the skills that they have, while also having some well-earned downtime as well during the summer.
Julia: Now, let's talk about Tune Up! I first I first saw you using "The Tune Up Method" on an episode of Sparkler's Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, when you turned kids' words about moving to a new home into a song in your role as "the song healer." Tell us how you came up with this method.
Benjamin: I think it started when I was teaching piano to a little kid who had no interest in learning piano at all; it turned out what he wanted to do is he wanted me to play piano, and he would make up songs and improvise songs, and it was so much fun, and his parents were okay with it and that kind of became our thing. Music that was coming directly from this kid — it was so different and so special. And then, as an educator, it’s something that I started to do, both in that form, where I would just make music and kids would make things up , and then also the more structured process when we were taking something we were learning about in the classroom and turning it into a song or turning some of the social issues that were coming up in the classroom into a song. It’s been so incredible to make a podcast and kind of formalize the structure so that anybody can use it.
Julia: Is it true that ANYBODY can use the Tune Up method, even if they're not a musician like you?
Benjamin: I do feel strongly that everybody can sing…If you aren’t as comfortable making up a song, I think reusing melodies, that the kids already like or nursery rhymes can be really helpful. Kids are not self-conscious yet, so as an educator, you can lean on that, and kind of let them do most of the singing, and then kind of write things down, and see if you can match their tunes, and that’s a great way to do it.
Julia: Does the same go for parents?
Benjamin: Absolutely. For parents, your kids think you’re the best singer in the world. They love your voice. I also know a Broadway performer whose toddler will say, “Stop singing, Mommy! Stop singing!” And she’s a Broadway actress. So, you know, it could go both ways.
Julia: My kids say that — but probably for cause. Can you tell us how the Tune Up Method works?
Benjamin: The Tune Up method is very simple. The first thing you’ll do is you’ll talk to the kids about the topic. You might already have an idea for a song about sharing your toys or being flexible — or there might be something the kids are thinking about. And then you have a conversation, and then you do some pretend. I use a sock puppet named Bloop, but you could use stuffed animals, you could use pencils, whatever you have, but I think that really kind of brings the topic kind of into the realm of play, which is kids’ first language.
And then I start writing down ideas in a notebook. It could be little fragments that we’ve already said, or maybe the kid has another idea, and then we write things down. And then I grab a ukulele — but you could use any instrument or just your voices. Sometimes kids won’t have an idea for a tune, and sometimes they will beat on a drum to help make a rhythm. And we will make up a tune, a melody, or fragments of melody. Then usually I will go home and kind of take some time with it and piece things together because I love writing songs.
Finally, you share the song with the kids, and say, “Here’s the song that we made up together,” and I find even if it’s a little different from what they initially wrote, if you’ve kind of put your teacher touch on it a little bit, they feel so much ownership over it, and it’s a song that they really want to sing again and again.
Julia: The Tune Up songs are SO catchy — I'm so excited to share them with Sparkler families this summer! Let's talk a little about Camp Sparkler. What can families expect?
Benjamin: You’ll see this whole process in action. You’ll also have the benefit, at the end, of seeing a finished version of the song with a full music video that is produced by a Grammy-winning kid’s musician, and we’re really happy with how all of the episodes came out. Each one tackles a different social-emotional issue, and puts a lot of weight on the kids’ words and the kids’ ability to articulate how they go through these problems. You’ll also see the pretend segment, you’ll see the whole thing. And we also have, you know, kind of stand-alone versions of these songs, so if you find that the kids you work with, or the kids in your life love the songs, you can just come back to those songs again and again, which have these really teachable lessons in them.
Julia: Awesome! And, for everybody who doesn't know, Sparkler also provides a lineup of activities in the app each week that go together with the episodes, so families can play together after listening and learning from Benjamin, Bloop, and the kid guests.
Benjamin: And books that go along with each theme!
Julia: Yes! We're very excited about that. We're also excited that this summer the families who complete the most Camp Sparkler activities will get to attend live virtual Tune Up concerts with YOU and make their own songs! What will those sessions be like?
Benjamin: There will be a lot of listening. I’ve already connected with a few listeners of the Tune Up podcast who have learned from the podcast that “I can tell this guy anything, and I want to!” So they do. And then I will gently find our way into some focused songwriting, we’ll write down some words. Because it’s on Zoom, we might write on the screen or draw a few little pictures. And then I might strum what the music might sound like, and then what the tune might sound like, and how it might fit together. Some kids already know about rhymes — rhymes are wonderful in songs…Then I will play a finished or a semi-finished version of the song, and maybe they will sing it along with me, which — with Zoom delay — can be a little tricky, but I’ve done it, and it’s okay, it works as best as it can.
Julia: The moral of the story is play throughout the summer and you might get to participate in a live Tune Up session! What else is on the horizon for Tune Up that you want to share?
Benjamin: In the fall, we will have a Tune Up album release with all the songs from Tune Up! And we’re doing a special summer series with “Bloop on the Stoop” — so if kids have summery questions or concerns they want to share, they can ask their parents to record them in a short video and send it to TuneUp@playsparkler.org, and that might turn into a special episode of Tune Up.
Julia: Yes! Bring on all the questions for Benjamin and Bloop! Benjamin, we're SO excited to go camping with you this summer. Thanks for chatting.
Benjamin: I’m packing my bag. Can’t wait!
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