I first saw Hullabaloo perform by happenstance. I was running late for storytime at Pottery Barn Kids in UTC my son was an infant at the time. I remember hearing live music. It sounded really cool it didn't dawn on me that it was children's music. This wasn't "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," it was more like rockabilly. Well, my stroller did a 360 degree turn when I saw about two hundred toddlers and their parents jamming to Hullabaloo's Steve Denyes and his guitar. What is this? I had to call my friend who was also running late for storytime "Girl get over here they have live music at the Westfield!" It was a happening, as far as happenings go on the toddler circuit. Year after year I happened to catch Hullabaloo perform, and if you're like me you've probably asked yourself how did Hullabaloo begin?
STEVE DENYES: I always wanted to be a musician in the same way kids dream of being a sports star or an astronaut. It was that sort of dream for me. As I was finishing college I decided to give it a try.
MACARONI KID: Did you always want to perform children's music?
I resisted the idea of making music for kids for a long time. Mostly because so much of the music for kids back then was pretty bad. There were a lot of singing dinosaurs and overly-produced, sugary-sweet kids music acts that just turned me off to the idea. Then, it occurred to me that you could actually make great music for kids that didn't have to be like that.
How long have you been singing children's songs?
I started making music for kids when I was teaching music in the public schools. I'd make up songs to suit the lessons we were working on and we'd do a lot of singing in class. I started Hullabaloo with my longtime friend Brendan Kremer almost exactly 14 years ago.
How important is it for children to hear music at a young age?
On the most basic level, music is about human expression. It gives kids the tools to feel and express emotion before they even have the use of words to express themselves.
What is a good age for children to learn an instrument?
I really like the idea of starting kids with a huge variety of musical experiences at an early age. Let them play the drum, shake a shaker and experiment with a keyboard. As a teacher, it was always my goal to keep music as fun and exciting as long as possible. Learning to play an instrument in the traditional sense requires a lot of patience and persistence. Having said all that, the best time to start is when a kid is excited to learn and ready to put in the effort.
What is the best part about performing for children?
Grownups are really set in their ways musically. I'm guilty of that too. By the time we grow up, we have so many associations with different genres that it really colors our experience. Kids, on the other hand, are so open to new sounds. They're just ready to enjoy.
What inspires your music?
It's sort of an endless loop. Playing music for kids and families, I'm around kids and families nearly every day. We talk and laugh before and after the shows. In those moments I get to see what matters to kids, what interest them, what makes them smile.
To see a show visit Hullabaloo's website www.hullabalooband.com
