In the beginning of this song, there is an instrument that sounds like it is a playful walking bear. When I hear it, it makes me want to get down on all fours, and pretend that I am really big and heavy. Can you guess what instrument plays the part of the bear? (Hint: It is a kind of horn, and it is used a lot in klezmer music. But this one is made to sound especially deep.)

Check out this video to see!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZtX3WHF_E

This song was written by one of my favorite songwriters of all time. His name was Bob Blue, and besides writing great songs for children and adults, he taught 2nd grade in Massachusetts for many years. I knew him through the Children’s Music Network, which he help start. My first workshop with him, and the wonderful songs we shared in it, are what inspired me to build a life around children’s music. In his later years, Bob developed a disease called multiple sclerosis, which made it hard for him to walk, move, and write. But he still kept creating songs for a very long time by pecking them out with one finger on his keyboard. You can read more about his remarkable life and great big heart at this website: www.bobblue.org

Can you guess what types of horns are playing in this song? Hint: look at the picture on this page. See Drew and Chris in the studio with me? They were playing on this song!