Silly Goose and Val Smalkin

Kindercare & St. James Academy

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-07-13T22:45:02-04:00

One child made my day at Kindercare when he told his mother about Silly Goose and said, “This was the best day ... ever!” Here are the pictures I took while I was dancing. Check out those funny facies during The Slip. And, teachers,, you were the best!

The last picture is from St. James Academy the boy on the right, Derrick, is a fantastic dancer! Thanks for having fun with me guys!

St. James Academy Paul’s Place Summer Camp

A Good Week!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-07-07T22:35:09-04:00

It’s been a great week with good shows and many new friends, especially the 12 year old young man at Harborplace who was stupendous with the lead Pink Flamingo and Funky Monkey. He already plans to go to the University of Florida to get a degree in astronomy, but I think he’ll go all the way for a Ph.D.

Here’s a video from Gaithersburg!

Music and Children and Work

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-07-04T09:45:27-04:00

Happy 4th of July! But, seriously now, as I sat at the dinner table the other night (and a delicious dinner it was, too) with the Judge (my husband - semi-retired), and another judge (Judy - really, a real life Judge Judy), and my son and his wife (both lawyers), and listened to them talk about their cases and issues my stomach was doing flip-flops of anxiety just hearing about these problems 4rd or 5th hand (victim - to witness - to Judge - to law clerks - to me), and THAT is why I sing, compose, and make up silly performance bits for children and their parents. My mother taught me that it’s not nice to fight ... I made a terrible trial lawyer, a good research lawyer, but I make a much better singer and clown.

What’s your story?

Gaithersburg! Wow!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-07-01T18:54:37-04:00

Thank you, Gaithersburg, for being so receptive to Silly Goose, Rufus, Cyleena, and Friends. And to the young man, in the picture immediately,below who absolutely made the show when he freed his inner-bird... THANK YOU!

And thanks to the Moms who joined the Cancan Chorus ... Look
at yourselves! You look GREAT!

I think we were being elephants here. Right?

Gaithersburg, my arms are open for you!

Some puppet friends:

Cyleena, the 3-toed Sloth Rufus, the Reluctant Dragon And, silly Silly Goose!

And some very special new friends! Thank you for sharing the day with me!

Hereford Library, I love you!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-07-01T06:43:51-04:00

What a crowd at Hereford, and did anyone but me see the 12 month old baby in the car seat doing the rolling hand motion during Beautiful Zoo? That’s, in a sense, a new low for me! Tee hee.

I did not have my camera with me so I don’t have any pictures, but I did take a video. I need to change the format but I’ll get it on youtube over the weekend!

A special thanks to my nordic friend who was brave enough to handle a pink flamingo. You made the show, you know!

See you at Harborplace on July 7 at 10:00!

New Songs!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-06-27T17:27:17-04:00

So, I’ve been working all week to memorize the words to a new song I wrote for to introduce the Pink Flamingo Dancing Troupe. Come to the

Hereford Library on June 30 at 10:30, or the
Gaithersburg City Hall Pavilion on July 1 at 10:30 AM

to see if I succeeded! I’m very pleased with the arrangement I produced of the Intermezzo music from Offenbach’s Gaite Parisienne, The Tales of Hoffmann, better known as the traditional Cancan music.

Harborplace

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-06-19T00:31:06-04:00

We had a ball at Harborplace on Wednesday, June 16th. It was rainy outside, but sunny in the food court with all my friends. Thanks for sharing an hour with Silly Goose & Val.

Parkville Library!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-05-10T07:58:43-04:00

Here we come!
Today 10:30 AM!

And there we were!

This was a very young, but very involved group of children. I was particularly impressed with the yellow-shirted day care group. Their teachers were gentle, clear, creative, kind, and effective. Thus, the children were equally well behaved! Kudos to Parkville!

Look at the eyes right above!
I think his Mom is in trouble! Who could ever say, “No,” to that face!

Cross Keys - Fair in the Square

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-05-08T20:11:48-04:00

Check out these totally above average children and parents at Cross Keys! And please go to the end of the pictures to comment, if only to say,
“I was here!”

Do the Funkey Monkey!

Too cute for words! ...... I can do it! I can!

Um, dee-dum, dee-dum / Shaka your thumb!

Phew!

And stop!

My audience!

More Audience!

Bop she-bop count, “1, 2, 3,”
Bop she-bop say, “A, B, C!”

Bam, she-bam, she-bam,
Clap-a your hands!

Dip, dee-dip, dee-dip
Shake-a your hips!

Dee, dee-dee, dee-dee
Bend-a, bend-a, bend-a your knees..

Oo, dee-doo, dee-doo,
Tap-a your shoe.

Umm, dee-dum, dee-dum
Shake-a your thumbs...

Oh, dee-doh, dee-doh
Bend-a, bend-a, bend your elbows!

Add them all together and....

STOP!

White Marsh Library

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-04-24T19:57:50-04:00

Second show of the day at White Marsh Library... phew! Silly Goose made lots of new friends, and Cyleena, the three-toed sloth, made her debut! I’ll bet you guys didn’t know there was a jungle behind us! Thank you for making this a special day!

And look at these brave parents doing The Slip!

“Oo-dee-doo, dee-doo, tappa’ your shoe!” - Bam She Bam

Uh-oh! Val’s gonna fall!

“Now it’s time for you to stop!” - Bam She Bam

Reisterstown LIbrary!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-04-24T19:45:15-04:00

What super parents and children! Thank you everyone for coming inside on such a sunny day! Here’s the whole crowd:

We made faces , but then one of us didn’t quite realize the making faces picture was over... see the second picture.

“Make a funny face, but don’t you say a word!” - from The Slip

Doesn’t this Mom look like she grew an extra pair of arms? And isn’t her daughter adorable?

“You put your elbows high, and your chin down low!” - The Slip

And everyone else seeing just “how far those hips go ‘round!”

St. James Academy Show!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-04-17T08:27:50-04:00

What a night at the St. James Academy Children’s Dinner Theatre!

New York! Zoo! Fun!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-04-08T11:00:43-04:00

I Heart New York and the Maryland Zoo!

Bunny BonanZoo Day Three

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-04-04T15:52:38-04:00

Zoo audience on Day three of the Bunny BonanZoo at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

Bunny BonanZoo Day Two

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-04-03T18:24:37-04:00

Zoo audience on Day two of the Bunny BonanZoo at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

Bunny BonanZoo Day One

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-04-02T16:48:14-04:00

Zoo audience on Day one of the Bunny BonanZoo at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

Towson Library! Yaay!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-03-27T12:44:36-04:00

What fun we had at the Towson Library! Every single parent got up to dance The Slip and I’m thinking of one little girl (no more than two in a pink sweat shirt) who danced and smiled and delighted my heart!

Thank you parents and children!

Anyone have pictures to send me at Val@sillygooseandval.com? I’ll post them if you wish (no names of course).

Snow!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-02-11T15:06:56-05:00

My shoes have been delayed because of the show! But I suppose there are worse fates.

But for shoes like these a certain amount of emotion is de rigeur!

Ladies in Pink are ready!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-02-04T19:49:58-05:00

Are they not beautiful?

Dressed Flamingos!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-01-31T20:08:28-05:00

Ah! Now they are ready ... almost!

Flamingos!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-01-29T21:45:13-05:00

These are the newest members of the Musical Zoo. They are putting their best foot forward. Can you help me name them?

Introducing Theodore Eliott Bear!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-01-29T21:41:53-05:00

But you may call him Ted E. for short.

Color?

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-01-25T21:58:34-05:00

The divine Miz Tiz has been convincing me to add color to my show. So, what do you think of these lovely converse high tops! They’ll arrive in 4 weeks or so!

Thank you!

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-01-21T12:46:30-05:00

I had forgotten joy of seeing 3 to 5 years olds smile and laugh at Silly Goose, Cy, and Rufus... and the hugs! I'm sure their hugs will add at least 10 healthy, joyful years to my life. Thank you Miz Tiz for being there for me!

Preview Hereford Library Jan 21, 2010

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-01-19T16:24:17-05:00

Here’s the line up of songs for the Hereford Library on Thursday Morning, Jan 21, 2010 at 10:30 AM. You can preview them on the Listening Booth page.

All materials © 2010 Valerie Leonhart Smalkin - may be used only by request... please.

Zoo Shakin’ - We’ll all learn how to say hello politely!

Shakin’ hands at the Musical Zoo
Shakin’ hands me and you.
Shakin’ hands at the Musical Zoo
How do you do? ....

Zoo ‘n’ Do Dah - The children choose which animals we’ll see and what they’ll say.

I like to go to the Zoo with my Mama
I like to go on a sunny day...
I like to go to the Zoo with my Mama
Listen to what the animals say....

Hop Silly Goose - Silly Goose gets the best of Val in this hopping, jumping, nodding, and finally sleeping song!

Hop Silly Goose, eiddle-dee, eiddle-dum
Hop Silly Goose, eiddle-dee dum

Birdie - Make a birdie with your hand, see it fly about, and learn left from right!

Shake the birdie, wake up the birdie,
See the birdie fly around.
Shake the birdie, wake up the birdie,
On your head she will sit down.

Sloth - Cy, the Sloth, is sad, because he’s endangered.

I am a three-toed sloth,
A three-toed sloth I am,
I live up in the trees,
I see the world upside down!

Barnyard Dance - Get up and dance like a horse, cow, Donny Donkey, or Douggy Doggie (lyrics: Laura Green)

Stamp your feet and flap your hands
Get ready for the Barnyard Dance...

Polliwog - Grow from a polliwog to a frog in Val’s arrangement Karen Rupprecht’s Polliwog song.

A little Polli wog-wog,
Wanted to be a frog, frog,
With head and a tail, he swam like a fish,
But to be on land was his wish, wish...

Dino Dance - Did you know that dinosaurs danced?

About a hundred million years ago,
Lived animals called dinosaurs,
They did walk and they did prance,
Ant they did do the Dinosaur Dance...

Rufus - Poor Rufus, the children in the audience frighten him!

Rufus, the Reluctant Dragon,
He’s so very shy!
When he hears the children coming,
He just runs and hides,
Because he’s Rufus, The Reluctant Dragon

Bam she Bam - A little rock ‘n’ roll clapping of hands, singing, and dancing.

Bam she bam, she bam, clappa your hands,
Dip dee dip, dee dip, shaka your hips,
Dee da dee, da dee, benda, benda, benda your knees...

Beautiful Zoo - A trip to the zoo and a guessing game.

I see a furry animal, he’s prowling around,
And he’s growling around,
Like a cat he goes round.
He has a fuzzy mane , he throws his head back and roars.
He is called the King by all the world.

Goodbye - And all good things come to an end. - Goodbye!

The Best Job Ever

valerie.smalkin@gmail.com — 2010-01-19T16:22:51-05:00

I am privileged to make music with children and their parents. I went to law school, you know, but only because the life of a jazz musician was so hard ... dare I say dangerous? And, at one point I thought I would make a darn good lawyer. That is, until I saw a cartoon of a lawyer explaining to his client on the way into court, “ I think you ought to know, my mother taught me it’s not nice to fight.” That was me, and having children of my own clinched the deal. I LOVE caring for children, and I never knew that about myself until I had one, or two.

So, since 1987 that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m beginning to think of myself as a little tiny shedding star who goes through life helping people laugh. What do you like to do? Tell me. I want to know!