WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
'Lemonade' stands for kids' music Student's album serves up fun for all ages
ByVonna Keomanyvong
vkeomanyvong@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
"The orange and yellow monster lived in a dragon cave;" said Victor Bailey in a dignified British accent. "He went out the back and gave a little growl. He rolled his eyes and did a little dance. And the orange and yellow monster was never seen again."
Bailey, director for the Hall Center for the Humanities, said these lines for a children's sing-along CD created by Melanie Dill. Atwood graduate student.
About 30 University professors and students contributed to Rainbow Lemonade, which was released in Lawrence last weekend.
The sing-along includes classical, blues, jazz and folk songs about how to say hello in languages such as Cantonese, Japanese and Portuguese; how a butterfly develops and how to spell the names of different kinds of toys.
Dill said children and adults could enjoy the album. She said the name was meant to convey the whimsical feel of the album.
"It's slightly trippy," Dill said. "That's part of the appeal."
Dill said she was inspired to create her first children's CD, called Alphabet Parade, three years ago after taking a music appreciation class at the University.
She said the class required students to listen to a tape that tried to get children to appreciate music.
"They were trying to be entertaining and it just failed," Dill said. "The songs were very good, but it just did not have any humor.
After the class, she said she wanted to create something that children and adults could listen
"Parents and children should interact together," Dill said. "It's important because it enhances their bond."
to together.
Dill said this album was more sophisticated than her first, and she wanted to make a song from this album into a children's book. Dill wrote 15 of the 24 songs on the album. The rest were traditional or written by friends.
Mark Boren, Lenexa graduate student, contributed his trumpet skills in the song Left and Right, which teaches children how to cross the street. He said he liked working on the CD because children would learn about classical music.
"I think it's good to introduce kids to classically oriented music," Boren said. "It seems like pop music is the dominant form in our society so it's good for kids to listen to classical instruments like the trumpet."
Rainbow Lemonade costs between $15 and $18. It can be purchased at The Bay Leaf, 725 Massachusetts St.; Borders Books Music & Cafe, 700 New Hampshire St.; The Toy Store, 841 Massachusetts St.; and the KU Bookstore in the Kansas Union.
Lana Lucas-Best, the manager of The Toy Store, said she sold 10 of the store's 18 copies of Rainbow Lemonade.
Lucas-Best said. "Melanie's first CD was one of our best-selling CDs because it was a happy children's CD. Children relate to that."
Dill said the album was important because it helped children learn.
"It's going to put people in a good mood," Dill said. "Learning is easier when it's put to music and when it's fun."
Edited by Adam Pracht
Lindsey Gold/Kansan
Jenny Schwering, Lawrence Free State high school junior and sales associate at The Toy Store, organizes the shelf that holds the CD "Rainbow Lemonade." Lana Lucas-Best, manager of the store's Lawrence location, said the children's sing-along album was the store's the top seller. "I like it, it's really upbeat and happy," she said. Melanie Dill, an Atwood graduate student who created the album, released the album last weekend.
Break out the Nintendo: RAs enjoy a relaxed fall break
By Matt Stumpff
mstumpff@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
With flocks of students leaving town for fall break, resident assistants look forward to the down time spent in the residence halls.
Some RAs must stay at the halls for the break,but their duties ease as their residents vacate the buildings.
This is the second year for fall break at the University of Kansas.
"It was pretty dead here," Dies said. "Around Saturday or Sunday people started trickling in."
The Lehigh senior said he kept it simple when he had to stay at the halls during breaks.
"Watch a lot of TV. Whip out
the old N64 and play it for a while," Dies said. "Anything that doesn't involve school or work."
Dies said the student housing staff tried to keep one RA on each floor during the breaks, and RAs who stay would help monitor floors without RAs. He said he got this year's break off and planned to visit a friend at the University of Illinois.
The department of student housing typically schedules certain RAs to be on duty like any other weekend, said Diana Robertson, associate director for residence life. RAs can switch shifts if needed.
Clint Pfalser, Hashinger Hall RA, said he looked forward to his job during fall break.
"About half the floor leaves. It's very nice." the Caney senior said. "It's just a lot quieter and you don't have to deal with the stress of a lot of people."
Pfalser said overseeing fewer students also gave RAs the opportunity to better know the individual residents who stayed for fall break.
Richard Friesner, Albuquerque, N.M., junior, said he worked during last year's fall break and would be working again this year.
"I probably wouldn't have gone home anyway," Friesner said. "It's a good week to be on
duty because not too much stuff goes on."
Friesner said McCollum became significantly quieter during last year's fall break, which was conducive to the activities he took part in during the breaks.
"I sleep a lot. Watch a movie or something," Friesner said. "It's not a real exciting time."
-Edited by Sarah Hill
- Now Open -
an Asian Noodle Shop & Thai Restaurant Dumplings, Satays, Salads, Noodles, Curries & Vegetarian Dishes
Carryout Available
Sun,Mon~ 11:00 AM-9:00 PM
Tues,Wed,Thur ~ 11:00 AM-10:00 PM
Fri,Sat ~ 11:00 AM-2:00 AM
(Late Night Bar Only)
Downtown • 811 Massachusetts • 832-0001