CSHM First Review and Giveaway: Name Your Tune

My Little Chica loves music. We've gotten into the habit of having dance parties when she wakes up from her nap. She claps, spins, bounces and boogies to the beats. Little Chica especially loves when we make up songs for her that use her name ("Where is Lucy? Where is Lucy?" to Frere Jacques is one example).

Well, I have found out about a great product that combines both music and Little Chica's name!

The people at Name Your Tune, a Toronto-based company founded by Candace and Eric Alper, create CD's of children's music. The tunes are well-known and much-loved favorites ("The Wheel's on the Bus" and "The More We Get Together" are just 2 of the 14 songs found on the CD). The best part? Each song on the CD is personalized with your child's name! Instead of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm," the song now sings, "Little [your child's name here] Had a Farm." EVERY song has the child's name interwoven into the lyrics.

Eric Alper, co-founder of Name Your Tune, contacted me recently about their company. He gave me a great gift: the opportunity to review one of the Name Your Tune CD's! It sounded fun, so I agreed.

A few days ago, a CD arrived in the mail all the way from Canada! Little Chica and I opened it to find a vibrantly colored CD case. Upon opening the CD Jacket, we found a CD with her name on it: Lucy. Wow! We quickly popped it into the computer to listen to the tunes Lucy's Name Your Tune CD offered.

I wasn't sure what to expect. To be honest, I was even a bit skeptical before I listened to the CD. Growing up (back in the 80's, mind you), a few of my friends had cassette tapes (yes, I am dating myself) similar to this: a compilation of songs that incorporated their name into the lyrics. Those tapes were great, and I am sure innovative for the time. But, the "name" that was woven into the music was often a computer-generated robotic voice that sounded completely detached from the song. One could barely decipher the name, and I'm sure some kids were more scared of the tapes than endeared to them.

So, you can imagine my surprise when the Name Your Tune music came through the speakers: Folksy fun instrumental melodies filled with happy (and human!) voices. And I'm not sure how the magic happens at Name Your Tune, but Lucy's name was perfectly sung into every song. No robotic voices. No detached lyrics. Just smooth music involving my daughter's beautiful name!

Not only is the music pleasant and upbeat, but Little Chica LOVES hearing her name sung in the songs! Every time she hears "Lucy, if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!" She smiles and looks at me as if to say, "Did you HEAR that? They sang MY NAME! MY NAME. I'm famous!"

(Or whatever it is 14-month old's mind thinks of...)

I also appreciate that the songs have some educational aspects as well. Some of the songs ask the child to "clap your hands, "stomp your feet," or act out the motions to "The Wheels on the Bus." My 14-month old is learning to listen and to respond to what the music asks. I'm amazed!

I had no idea what I would be receiving when Name Your Tune arrived. But I am delighted by the music and love that my daughter finds joy in listening to it.

If you have a young child in your life, this is a great (and educational) CD to have in your collection. To learn more about the company and the founders, the Alpers, check out their website: Name Your Tune, inc.

Now for the GREAT part:

GIVEAWAY TIME!

ONE lucky winner will receive a Name Your Tune CD personalized with their child's name on it! The Name Your Tune Giveaway will run from Monday, 10/12 until Friday, 10/16 at 9pm. Winner will be announced on Saturday!

All you have to do to Enter the Name Your Tune Giveaway:

1) Leave a comment below. Make sure to leave your NAME and EMAIL address, so I can contact you if your name is chosen!

Bonus Entries

(You can receive an extra entry by doing any or all of the following. Make sure to leave a comment [including your name and email] for EACH ONE):

2) Become a Follower of my blog

3) Blog about this Giveaway on YOUR Blog (leave a link to the post in the comment)

4) Check out the Name Your Tune website and share one of the other personalized products that interests you.

For those who do not win, there will be a conciliatory prize, so stay tuned and check back on Saturday! And I will have another giveaway in the near future, so plenty to look forward to!

Best of luck, and Happy Winning!