Press Clips
Parents Who Rock has gotten some nice press over the last few weeks: Check out what Baristanet had to say about the new CD: http://www.baristanet.com/2009/01/the_second_cd_by_the.php.
And the folks at New Jersey Family magazine are giving away a copy of the latest CD. Read what they have to say at http://www.njfamily.com/en/news/Kids_can.aspx
And then there's this one from the Montclair Times:
Riffing and Rocking to Enrich Public Schools
Parents Who Rock showcase new CD, fundraising gigs
by Mark S. Porter
of the Montclair Times
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Local musicians by the dozens fill the 23 tracks of "Let ’em play," a second CD released by the Montclair organization Parents Who Rock.
PWR is not only an organization. PWR is a guitarization, bassization and percussionization. There’s also plenty of vocalization.
"There are 60 musicians from Montclair and the Montclair area" performing on the new album, which features performances from the past year, said Alma Schneider, founder of Parents Who Rock.
PWR’s key membership requisite is that performers must be parents, many of whom long ago placed their musical instruments in closets to make space for playpens and kids’ toys. The association’s popularity has attracted enough older musicians that a sub-group has been established: Grandparents Who Rock.
"We have this amazing ‘Grandparents Who Rock’ thing happening," Schneider told The Times. "This is like a rebirth for some of them. It’s becoming this community event where they’re meeting new friends and collaborating on music."
And there’s an ancillary array of players who are young people. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," one of the new CD’s tunes, features "the children of Parents Who Rock."
Produced and engineered by Dave Cushing at Snowdome Studios in Montclair, and mastered by the acclaimed recording-studio maven Greg Calbi, the CD is available in numerous shops around town.
Proceeds from sales of the $10 album will fund the purchase of rock instruments and musical teaching in Montclair’s public schools.
"We’re hoping everyone in town will buy a CD to support this great program," said Schneider, who noted that PWR’s fundraising efforts are tied in with the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence.
The music education program is initiated by the national organization Little Kids Rock, whose founder, David Wish, resides in Montclair.
Proceeds from PWR’s debut CD, "Go Play Outside," along with numerous live performances and fundraisers, helped raise about $150,000 toward the construction of the All-Children’s Playground in Edgemont Memorial Park.
Since she founded PWR four years ago, Schneider and her colleagues have raised donations for local or regional nonprofits. They initially were motivated to share their success with nonprofit groups that needed financial assistance. Now, with the U.S. economy reeling, PWR members recognize their assistance is needed to assist human services agencies.
"Times are so tough, and soup kitchens and other nonprofits are suffering," Schneider explained.
Parents Who Rock have numerous fundraisers scheduled, with most focused on the Little Kids Rock endeavor.
"There are all these opportunities for people to participate in these fundraising events," Schneider said. "It’s so important that we have music in our lives."
Contact Mark S. Porter at porterm@montclairtimes.com.
Upcoming PWR Events
Parents Who Rock has scheduled a series of performances and fundraisers.
Wednesday. Jan. 28: Uptown, at restaurant at 595 Valley Road, will feature PWR members Ellen Paretti and Alisa Harmon in shows on Wednesday evenings, with half-priced meals for children and 5 percentof proceeds donated to Little Kids Rock.
Saturday, Jan. 31: Zara Phillips, Meryl McCusker, Barbara McCathry, Ron Holtz, Jessica Owen, Scott Moore, Cindy McCord, Hamstrung and Los Primos perform at Diva Lounge, 369 Bloomfield Ave., to benefit the Christ Church Soup Kitchen in East Orange. The show runs from 7to 10 p.m. Tickets: $10. Reservations: 973-509-3000.
Sunday, Feb. 22: PWR presents Rockin' for Kids, a family friendly concert at 3 p.m. at the Montclair High School Auditorium (entrance on Park Street). Performers include the Mama Doni Band, Mr. Ray, the Momclair Singfunny Orchestra, and the Roo-Mates from the soon-to-open Club Kid'doo. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance, and are available at the Montclair Community Pre-K, Grove Pharmacy and Keil's Pharmacy. Or order at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ or call 800-838-3006. Proceeds will fund the work of Little Kids Rock in Montclair.
Saturday, Feb. 28: Grandparents Who Rock debutsat Diva Lounge, 369 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, to benefit Little Kids Rock in Montclair. Performers include Jane Susswein, the Schuchinskis, Barbara Hassenfeld, Jim Steiner, Meg Beatie-Patrick and Barbara McCarthy. The show runs from 7 to 10 pm. Tickets are $10. Call 973-509-3000 for reservations. http://www.divalounge.com/.
