Preschool Age Music

I love Yo Gabba Gabba and so does my preschooler! They have popular artists doing original kids songs. Ting Tings, Weezer, Chromeo, of Montreal, etc.

We just got Yo Gabba Gabba #2 and love it. Another good artist I saw on Nick was Rachel Coleman. But for classic songs that we grew up with, I downloaded 123 Favorite Kids Songs from iTunes. It's got all the classics in a variety of musical genres.

Barenaked Ladies has a children's album that's pretty cute. It's called Snacktime.

My kids and I enjoy many of the Broadway show tunes ( Annie, The Sound of Music, Grease, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mama Mia, Spamalot...in addition they also love the music from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Siagon etc)

We love IMAGINATION MOVERS too!

We love all the wigglworms cds put out by The Old Town School of Folk Music. We bought them all off itunes, they are just great!

Jules "Everybody Has a Belly Button" is a fun, hilarious CD for kids. I've turned quite a bit of parents on to it :) We've seen him live twice and the kids love him.

http://www.julesmusic.com/

2 words JUSTIN ROBERTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like him so much that I have listened to him without the kids.

The singer-songwriter Elizabeth Mitchell (esp. her Sunny Day album, part of the Smithsonian Folkways series). The album (various artists) For the Kids Too! (Ambrosia Parsley's song Everybody Came is the first commercial tune -- as in not Old McDonald, Twinkle Twinkle, etc. -- that my nearly two-year old son ever sang!)

I teach a mommy and me music class. Sara Hickman is wonderful. Parents and kids love her!

Harry Belefonte is another popular one...an oldie but a goodie. He sings Day-O and Jump in the Line. A few of his songs have religious undertones, so you may have to edit the song list to what you are comfortable with.

They Might Be Giants. Kids LOVE these CDs. Make sure you get their kids music and not the adult (No!, Here Come the ABCs, Here Come the 123s and Here Comes Science).

Peter and the Wolf soundtrack, especially if you have the book/story to go with it.

Peter, Paul and Mary. Their older stuff is loved by preschoolers. They also have newer albums geared specifically for kids.

My four year old and I really like listening to They Might Be Giants for kids - they have ABC's and 123's and another one all about Science too.

Try Carole Peterson's Sticky Sticky Bubblegum CD. My kids LOVE this cd. We all know the songs by heart because we have heard them countless times. My son's preschool teacher introduced us to her.

Steve Beno and Laurie Berkner. They are great!

Back when my son was in preschool the home daycare he was in had WONDERFUL music lessons and singing with Mr. P and his wife Mrs. P.

Totally by accident, I came in contact with them again and now they are also giving my now 10 year old son guitar lessons! When i asked if he wanted to switch from his previous lessons to Mr and Mrs P, he couldn't wait and said that music with them was 'the best' thing he remembered about preschool.

I know you were asking about recorded music, but if you ever want some live singing and insturments, call Mr. P and his wife at ###-###-####. They are both just so enthusiastic and really patient with kids- they really teach them to LOVE music :)

Putamayo, Dan Zanes, Laurie Berkner, They Might Be Giants, Recess Monkey, Choo Choo Soul... we use all kinds of other (not "kid") music in the daycare too; from Beethoven to Lady Gaga.

Justin Roberts and Putomayo!!!

We love Justin Roberts!
Putamayo Kids is pretty cool too -they're a collection of world music compilation so there's a lot of exposure from different cultures.
Hap Palmer is another good one and his website has downloadable activities that go with his music.