Photo by Maxime Bhm on Unsplash
Discover the educational music that is captivating young audiences! Jessa Campbell’s upbeat, danceable songs teach science concepts while infusing joy and humor. With her new album “Forest Flow,” Jessa is changing the trend of children’s disconnection with nature. Through catchy tunes and engaging music videos, she inspires families to explore the outdoors, fostering a love for conservation and a healthier lifestyle. Join the movement and let the music enhance your life!
Guest
Joining me today from Portland, Oregon, is Parents’ Choice Award-winning singer/songwriter Jessa Campbell. Jessa bridges the worlds of music and ecology, enchanting young audiences with the wonders of nature through her songs. She infuses a joyful sense of humor into her upbeat, educational shows and songs. Jessa has an impressive background as a singer and dancer, and her songwriting is informed by the styles of the adult bands with which she regularly performs – which means her upbeat, danceable STEM- and ecology-based songs are enjoyed by kids AND their grownups (for which I thank her on behalf of parents everywhere)!
Notes
We discuss:
- The powerful (and underutilized) tool of learning facts and concepts through song.
- How Jessa started teaching science concepts to kids through song.
- Science concepts taught through Jessa’s songs include seed dispersal, migration, food chains, tree canopies, refraction of light, how rainbows are made, and fun facts about the sun.
- Jessa’s first album for families, Can You Feel It, released in 2019. It landed a Parents’ Choice Silver Award, was featured on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live channel, and enjoyed the “High Five Album of the Week” spotlight on Australia’s Kinderling Kids Radio.
- The childhood trend that concerns Jessa. Jessa says, “Here’s the problem: Children today spend less time outdoors than any other generation, devoting only four to seven minutes to unstructured outdoor play per day while spending an average of seven and a half hours in front of electronic media. As a result, child obesity has reached unprecedented levels and continues to rise. Children are carrying this sedentary lifestyle and a disconnection with nature into adulthood which creates a troubling national trend for the future of conservation, our economy, and the health and wellness of our communities.”
- How Jessa’s music can be a tool in changing this trend.
- Ideas to incorporate this learning tool into summer camps, dance parties, family car rides, classrooms, projects, outdoor events, and more.
- Incorporate Jessa’s music videos for even more educational effect and value
- How Jessa’s songs are inspired by the musical tastes of her own kiddos!
- Jessa’s kids’ band is called Jessa Campbell & the Saplings.
- Jessa new album, Forest Flow, JUST released June 9. This is her second album for families and is rooted in ecology. It celebrates the rich biodiversity of the forest, and reflects this diversity in the musical genres represented by including elements of hip-hop, pop, dance, and folk to create a fun, engaging experience.
- Songs in Forest Flow include “Rainbow Flow,” “Movement is Chemistry,” “Owl’s Game” (an eco-hip-hop tune about the food chain), and “Swim With Me” (an ode to the joys of swimming).
- One of the bilingual songs on the album, “Vuela, Vuela, Fly,” tells about the migration of monarch butterflies. The butterflies start out as eggs on milkweed plants in the US, and travel all the way to Mexico, at which point the song’s lyrics change to Spanish.
- Forest Flow is for all ages, but especially for ages 4 – 8.
- Jessa notes, “As collective ‘Saplings,’ we develop compassion, creativity, and confidence, rooted in the wisdom of nature. May we grow this beautiful forest together!”
Connect/Other Resources
- Jessa Campbell & the Saplings website
- Jessa’s albums are available on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Bandcamp:
- Can You Feel It
- Forest Flow (NEW: released June 9, 2023!)
- Forest Flow features collaborations with SaulPaul, TravisT, LDW, Palo-Mah, and 28 Tha Native.
Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:
- Ep. 45: Laurie Berkner describes music’s stabilizing effect for children during uncertain times, and serenades her graduating childhood fans
- Ep. 152: Helping children identify, express, and regulate emotions with music; with Stephanie Leavell, MT-BC
- Ep. 139: What is Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and what are its benefits? With Anthony Molinaro
- Ep. 138: Classroom STEAM integration through music production & songwriting; with Writers Room U
- Ep. 137: What makes a lullaby a lullaby, and what difference does it make? with Laurel Trainor, PhD
- Ep. 120: The inclusive, sustainable music classroom; with United Sound’s Julie Duty
- Ep. 108: How is music boosting skills and learning in students in special education? With Natalie Hawkins, MT-BC
- Ep. 106: How to Talk… when kids don’t want to practice, with authors Joanna Faber & Julie King
- Ep. 91: What music do the sounds of ice and glaciers make? With Charles Van Kirk
- Ep. 74: Why do birds (and insects and whales) sing? With David Rothenberg, PhD
- View all episodes related to Education & Community
- View all episodes related to Science & Health
In-Episode Promo
This is a quick break to tell you about Libsyn, the service that I use to host my podcast. I chose Libsyn when I started Enhance Life with Music in 2019 because I wanted a provider who had been in the space since the beginning, knew what they were doing, and wouldn’t be throwing any wrenches into what I already knew would be a learning curve for me as a new podcaster. I wanted to know my host would be dependable and make my podcasting experience as smooth as possible – for me and my listeners. I have never looked back. Libsyn has great communication about industry changes and new publishing outlets available; as well as fast, clear customer support whenever I have a question.
Libsyn is offering up to 2 months of free podcasting service to Enhance Life with Music listeners, using the promo code ENHANCE. Just click the link in the show notes to bring your podcast to life and have your voice heard on any and all podcast directories, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Again, just click on the promo code ENHANCE in the show notes to bring your podcast to life and get up to 2 months of free podcasting service with Libsyn.
Coda
Jessa shares a clip from a song from her new album, Forest Flow. The song is called “Rainbow Flow” and features SaulPaul and LDW. Here is the full YouTube video:
Closing Words
What a great song! That is a clip of “Rainbow Flow” (featuring SaulPaul and LDW) from Jessa’s brand new album, Forest Flow. You can watch the YouTube video in the show notes or at www.jessacampbellsaplings.com. Thank you so much to Jessa for enhancing lives with music combined with science, nature, and ecology. I love how she teaches these concepts through music, a medium that makes the information exponentially absorbed and retained. And the music makes it a fun experience that is also a human connection.
All Enhance Life with Music episodes are evergreen; so check out the back catalogue for more ways that music can make your life better.
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Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.
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