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Kids 'Q' up for show

January 18, 2007 12:50 am

By COLLETTE CAPRARA

For THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Hey, boys and girls, could that be your mom on stage with a kitty puppet as a "meow-meow" backup vocalist for a song about a mischievous cat? Is that your dad as the driver of the imaginary school bus? Could that be you in the limelight as a flower sprouting from a seed and blossoming in the sun?

All of these scenarios are possible for youngsters attending the Betsy Q concert at the Children's Museum of Richmond on Saturday.

A dynamic and engaging children's entertainer, Betsy Q. Forbes has been thrilling young audiences for nearly two decades, packing plenty of audience participation and fun-filled educational experiences into the songs she writes and performs.

"I've been doing children's shows for 18 years, and I often meet teenagers and young adults who say they will never forget seeing me perform when they were in elementary school," Forbes said. "Some of them can still sing all the words to a song I performed back then."

Forbes recently received an e-mail from a foreign exchange student who translated for her German host family the words from "Are We There Yet?," a Betsy Q song about a classic family experience. The student said the family thought it was hilarious and now always plays that CD when they travel in their car.

Betsy Q performances incorporate live music from a keyboard and drum machine, as well as music from one of five CDs written and sung by Forbes. The use of prerecorded music gives Forbes the freedom to move through the crowd with her wireless mike and interact with the children.

Young audiences delight in acting out the story of a song, singing along to familiar tunes, and providing vocal sound effects on cue. In addition, Forbes chooses volunteers of all ages to join her on stage to lead the audience in the motions of the songs.

Many Betsy Q songs, such as "The Plant Song," "Bugs" and "The Mighty Trees," are aligned with elementary school Standards of Learning content. "In America," which was written upon the request of one elementary school, inspires a sense of patriotism. Other songs, such as "I'm Special" and "A Better Way," promote self-esteem and conflict resolution.

"Not only does the music have educational value, but it's a great family experience. The kids are having a great time with their parents and their siblings," Forbes said. "There is a lot of energy and electricity in the audience."

Collette Caprara is a freelance writer who lives with her family in Spotsylvania.