INTERVIEW

Rockin’ Grandma

Music lover, teacher, lifelong student – Judi Cranston has been immersed in music since childhood but today her focus is on teaching others to teach young children to also develop a love of music. In the minds of many – young and older – the founder of kindyRock simply, rocks!

This highly experienced teacher from Kawakawa Bay, who has used her education background to create music company, kindyRock, says her life journey, her values and her music have shaped who she is enabling her to give something back to the world.

Like most people Judi Cranston wears many hats – mum, grandmother, motivator, musician, mentor.

Add to that, survivor, swimmer, passionate traveller, positive thinker, dreamer, and a believer in the power of possibilities, including the power of music, and you have an energetic creative dedicated to providing exceptional music experiences for youngsters ranging from newborn to 6-year-olds.

This highly experienced teacher from Kawakawa Bay, who has used her education background to create music company, kindyRock, says her life journey, her values and her music have shaped who she is enabling her to give something back to the world.

But right now it’s a new video, called Grandad’s Farm, sponsored by NZ on Air, with animation by Parry Jones of Dunedin, which has been keeping her busy.

“Set to go live soon, Grandad’s Farm is one of my original songs written in 2009. Back then YouTube wasn’t even used and now I’m catching up creating video content to go with my library of more than 120 songs,’ Judi explains.

“It’s a funny thing because when I started I never encouraged young children to watch screens, but you need to have the ‘if you can’t beat them, then join them mentality’ and now the majority of my music has visual learning experiences too. I do that by creating video content which encourages active participation from the little people watching.”

When she founded kindyRock, Judi says the initial idea was to enhance children’s development with fun musical activities. However, she soon realised that parents, teachers and caregivers needed to love the music just as much as the children. That realisation saw Judi move to her now wider path, providing resources so adults can deliver not just musical experiences to children but outstanding musical experiences.

Her resources are used by childcare centres, libraries, schools, early learning centres, global music franchises and community groups all around the world.

“They are also used in homes, in kiddies’ yoga, gym and dance classes, and, of course, music classes,” she says. “Then, last year, with the help of Creative New Zealand funding, I released a free App to bring kindyRock music even closer to home. The Granddad’s Farm video is just another step in this musical journey.”

While these days kindyRock is all consuming, Judi’s music journey started at the age of three when she performed on stage at the old Auckland Town Hall singing, Jesus Loves Me.

“I’ve always been an essentially shy person but on stage, I’m another person altogether, I love it and can be somewhat extroverted!”

Born in Auckland, the youngest of four children, she says she has always loved music.

“After gaining a Bachelor of Music Education, I threw myself into teaching children of all ages – preschool through to secondary. However, I also loved performing. So, in 2005 I left teaching to unleash my inner rock star: I founded a band called Famous Fish which toured extensively around New Zealand, and was extremely successful in the corporate market.”

Originally living in Papakura, it was there Judi developed the Famous Fish School of Rock, which went beyond the notes and music to provide inspiration and motivation. Then, when the last of her five children had left home she and her husband decided to “up sticks and move to the beach.”

“That was in 2009, Kawakawa Bay was beautiful and handy; it has suited us ever since.”

But, it was in 2007 that life threw up quite a challenge. After breaking her knee on stage – “ironically, whilst performing Gary Moore’s Walking!” – Judi couldn’t perform and decided to refocus. That’s when kindyRock first started to emerge.

“I realised music was a fantastic tool for teaching and preschoolers were at a perfect age for music education – music which teaches things because at that age all the things they are learning, such as counting, how to jump, social skills, language, fine motor skills – the list is endless – can be taught within the context of a song.

“That’s where kindyRock resources come in as they are created to teach something – they’re not just a pretty face, so to speak! Music is also about helping children develop many different skills plus a strong, healthy brain.”

But choosing the right songs and creating musical activities which go with the programme (in the classroom or at home) was no easy task.

That’s why Judi has created hundreds of songs, musical sessions, training packages and even lesson plans for early childhood educators so they can meet the wide range of needs, personalities and situations they encounter.

“Educators, childcare operators and their staff, or just keen parents can learn how to engage children through running fun and simple music experiences or full blown music lessons,” Judi explains. “With our help they can make it an uninterrupted magical experience.

“At kindyRock we understand the pressures parents are under on a normal day and even more so with Covid-19 lockdowns confining many children to the home.

“I know from experience that finding great activities for kids to help them grow, and which are easy for everyone to use, can be challenging. Wonderfully, our kindyRock App can help younger age groups such a lot.”

And, Judi’s work doesn’t stop there. She was recently supported by the NZ Music Commission to create a music training course (called Rock Your Music Programme) for early childhood teachers which will result in them gaining a certificate in pre-school music education.

This began in November and her first intake had 63 participants from New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Singapore.

“This was something I’d been dreaming about for more than 10 years,” she says. “I love facilitating learning for teachers so they can ultimately take that knowledge, understanding and passion for music education into the pre-school environment. It gives people a strong foundation to do more music anywhere, any time.

“I’ve always wanted to make big ripples in the world and teaching the teachers means that my philosophy and music can go so much further than my small Kawakawa Bay backyard.

“I’m passionate about music education and the impact music can have on our lives, from prebirth until our final year. Music is a fabulous and vital tool and it is great that I have found a way to share that tool with so many people on a daily basis.”