Chorus sings background vocals for alumni’s new album
Grammy Award-winning children’s musician and performer, Tim Kubart returned to Woodward Parkway Elementary School to record background vocal tracks for his upcoming album, Building Blocks. Under the direction of music teacher, Stephanie Haas, the third-grade chorus sang lyrics from Kubart’s new song, “We are Growing.”
“Tim is a pied piper when it comes to children’s music and they absolutely adored working with him,” said Hass. “I am so proud of how hard the children worked and stayed focused during the recording session. It’s really thrilling to think we contributed to an album that will be enjoyed by families across the country.”
Kubart, who graduated Farmingdale High School in 2004, has made sure his tour has included a stop at his elementary school for the past three years. During his visit for last year’s show, he happened to hear the chorus practicing and asked Haas if they could be on his next album. Set for release in the fall of 2018, Building Blocks is all about how communities grow, and how as you get older you realize there’s more people to care about.
After the recording, Kubart held a Q-and-A session with the children and described the process of writing the album (along with fellow musicians Matt Puckett and Dominic Fallacaro) at a cabin in the woods. He said the trees were the inspiration for the song, “We are Growing,” and he told the kids, on “all of our songs, we try to remember what it was like to be your age.”
When one student asked, “How are you going to sing the song on tour without us?” Kubart jokingly replied, “We’re getting a big bus and taking you all!” The children cheered wildly at that idea, and when they heard the recorded tracks played back for them, there was an absolute sea of smiles.
Kubart discovered his chosen profession during college. He was volunteering at a homeless shelter and was asked to play guitar and sing for the children. Immediately, he was struck by the thought, “this is what I do!” His first album, Home, won the 2015 Grammy for Best Children’s Album. He says, “The songs are about Farmingdale and the memories I created growing up here.”
His bio includes four years as the host/writer/producer of SUNNY SIDE UP, on NBCUniversal’s Sprout Channel, and he’s currently a cast member in POSTMODERN JUKEBOX. He writes songs for Sesame Street and his first children’s book, OOPSIE-DO! is slated to hit bookstores in May 2018.
Kubart has happy memories from his years at Woodward Elementary, and was pleased to feel and see “a lot of energy and great messaging all over the school.” When Building Blocks comes out next year, he plans to return and perform a big concert for all the students.
—Submitted by the
Farmingdale School District
