Earl Leonard | Public figure

Earl Leonard

Phone: +61 411 492 572

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• Musician/band

25.01.2022 Here's an EP of songs I've been writing with my primary school students. The first song seems a little dark but the plot of the school play we're writting is that life is horrible in the land with no (school) values and the students have to go on a quest to find them! Which they do! (each of the next 5 songs are about one value, with the final song being them all coming together and life being great from then on). https://earlleonard-musicforkids.bandcamp.com

23.01.2022 Throw back photos. I really did have some fun times playing for kids

23.01.2022 One of the really important reasons to call out even minor acts of bullying, or racism, or misogyny or abusive relationships when you see them is because the victim needs to feel supported, believed, sane even, if they are ever going to feel strong enough to stand up for themselves. If the perpetrator only ever hears the victim complaint they can always too easily rationalise the complaints away as hysteria, or insanity, or over reaction, or whining, exaggeration, being thin-...skinned or whatever. Never ever say `it's none of my business' or `it's mot my place to get involved' or `I'm trying to be neutral'. These stances always help the perpetrator, never the victims. Do better. The world needs it

22.01.2022 Last Thursday was my 40th Birthday! I don't know why it didn't show on Facebook. My wonderful kids gave me the best present possible - they showed me how much t...hey know and understand me with their actions and words (as well as their gifts). We played board games and music. My brother, sister, father, mother and their partners and at least one very dear friend also showed me how much they get me. And feeling `known' has always been my greatest desire. (While being misunderstood by and misunderstanding others I care for and feel connected to has been the source of my greatest pain) So while my delightful cherubs were at school I gave myself a present and spent the day finally finishing off the mixing this hiphop for kids song I wrote with some of my students last year. It is called The Seed. I have heaps more songs to mix. And heaps of my own material for kids to record. (Including those Hiphop story books I keep talking about. Three of which are done lyrically at least). If you feel up to giving me a belated birthday present please listen, like share, review, criticise ... whatever you think I might deserve. Thanks everyone

21.01.2022 My darling Rosie was with me from start to finish of this final gig. Such a huge helper and a huge inspiration. Her brother Jasper - who started off my whole Music for Kids adventure by coming into the world - watched on as well, and gave me some very useful feedback. Thanks heap once again for everyone who has supported me over the years. Take care

20.01.2022 Just some more music (Jess Buckley's Lover You Should Have Come Over starts at about 1 min 40) as a thank you to all my remaining fans Should I do some online shows for kids in lieu of performing live these days?

20.01.2022 Just got back from grocery shopping with these two excellent helpers and called out 'hey babe, we're home!' I am done. Trying my best everyday but still completely baffled by how this is my life now and unable to navigate all the feelings. The break from Facebook, that some of you may have noticed, has not helped. Something has to give and it's Music for Kids. Performing used to be one of my greatest joys, but now, like so many of my once favourite things, it is just pain.... I have three shows booked for these holidays, that I will still bring my best self to, at Stockland Wendouree thanks to The Song Room 10am-10.45am Wednesday the 11th, Thursday the 12th and Friday the 13th. Free! And then it's goodbye from this page and that part of my life. I will continue to work on my hiphop for kids songs and stories but I can no longer face 'the public'. I will see how I feel about teaching at the end of the year at the conclusion of my current contracts. Thanks for all you support, especially to Kat, Shiree, Rachel and Arkie who started me on this journey 8 years ago and all the people who've hired me, and come to see me play. It is a huge deal to be trusted to entertain your kids and I have really appreciated it and always tried to do my best Take care, Earl

20.01.2022 My mum just tagged me in a post she shared of Kermit the Frog playing this song for us, so I decided to play it for her too

19.01.2022 I've been re-watching some of the live videos I made of all the songs I'd written with students over the few years of doing `song writing in schools' literacy enrichment programs. Checking to see if any stand out as songs I should make `full band' versions of. I think I managed to kick out 35 original songs in my busiest year, using my enthusiasm and skills to harness the creative of young people!... Most have some pretty interesting rhymes and funny ideas in them: https://youtu.be/vlwSm0hxceI

18.01.2022 Current plan: one `normal' kids music album, one blues album, one folk-pop album, one rap album for grown ups, and a bunch of rap EPs for kids all by end of 2019

16.01.2022 How did this now blow up?!

15.01.2022 Tomorrow, Wednesday 11th of April at 10am in the Childrens' Play Area at Stockland Wendouree (near OPSM) the first of my 3 farewell to Music for Kids shows, brought to you by The Song Room. My penultimate and final shows will be performed at 10am Thurs 12th and 10am Fri 13th respectively. The date of this finale is more fitting than most could possibly know. It's been a fun 8 years folks. Thanks for all your support

15.01.2022 Another hip-hop song for kids. Vocals and FX only! A story about Space Exploration

14.01.2022 Folks! Here are two experimental hiphop for kids songs! One of them is a slight reworking of my old song "Patrick the Wombat" and the other is a short story I wrote as part of a class I taught about how to rhyme "Norbert Corbett" that I have added beats (and a weird, Bowie-esq. experimental bridge thing) to! Check 'em out! And let me know what your kids think!... Am I being too weird? (Social isolation does strange things to a person, am I right?) Haha!

13.01.2022 Here's another of my hiphop songs for kids. The first I wrote (and the commission that in part gave me the idea and started me off down the path of learning more about hiphop) a couple of years ago, for Patrick the Wombat's birthday:

12.01.2022 Covid 19 has had some benefits! While my teaching time has been dramatically cut, I have had time to go through my catalog of original children's music and start recording a new album! Watch this space! In the meantime, here are the tracks I made with and for my Teesdale Primary School students back in 2018 or their school concert:... https://earlleonard-musicforkids.bandcamp.com/ This is also where the new material will be released!

12.01.2022 New music for kids! Lyrically appropriate songs made with kids for kids - this song is part of an seven song series I am writing about the five values of Teesdale Primary School and what life is like without and then with them. Rock on kids

11.01.2022 1 more gig down, with one more to go. Thanks again to those who came and sung and danced. Sorry I can't be stronger folks. I feel bad for letting all the kids and their parents down but I just miss her so much and still feel so lost without her. Can't entertain kids authentically when I just feel full of bitterness and resentment, not love and joy like I used to. Take care

10.01.2022 I want to share some exciting news! So, most of y'all know that after my wife left me unexpectedly I found it too hard emotionally to entertain children ... especially as it became more difficut for me to manage the processing troubles and sensory issues I have as symptoms of my autism. (I am still writing songs for kids).... As a new, quieter alternative to performing and classroom teaching, I have been working on getting acreditation as a tutor and with the NDIS with the idea of offering not just music (guitar/piano/voice/drums/songwriting/theory) but also maths, literacy and other general coaching services to any students interested - particularly those on the spectrum who might benefit from having a teacher who 'gets it'. Feel free to send me thoughts and watch this space for developments! Thanks again, everyone, for all you support

05.01.2022 Friends and fans who work at or have children at local schools - I am applying to be one of the music teaching artist mentors in this program, so get on to it if you want me to work at your school!!

02.01.2022 One of my more regular clients back in the day

01.01.2022 Maintained by the amazing Jade, a fabulous website full of free stories, fairy tales and poems - from all around the world - for kids!