Robert the Guitar Guy (Robert Markowitz) is a children's singer, guitarist, songwriter, educator, and recording artist.
Robert's latest CD, DON'T SNEEZE CHOO-CHOOTRAIN won the iParenting Media Award and was called “fun, varied, and upbeat” by School Library Journal. His first album, MOVING TO THE BEAT was a CD BabyChildren's Pop Editor's Pick.
He incorporates music, rhythm, movement, humor, role-playing, storytelling and props in his interactive shows and classes for children. Age range can be adjusted by show. Robert will bring his guitar, puppets, rhythm instruments, and a sound system, if necessary.
Based in Westchester County, NY, Robert plays at many local libraries monthly. Here are several librarians familiar with his work:
Scarsdale Library – Karen Zielinski
Wilton Library(CT) Andrea Falkner
Eastchester Library Teresa Chang
Cos Cob Library (CT) Wendy Silver
White Plns Lib. Rosemary Rasmussen
ROBERT'S MUSIC AND MOVEMENT PARTY combines creative play and movement: often marching, jumping or dancing. One song mixes a bedtime lullaby with a rock and roll jumping song. In another, the ants go marching into a spider and then must duck and hide.
Robert alternates sitting and standing, high energy and tranquility, music and comedy, singing and moving, well-tested original material and old favorites. His material masquerades as pure entertainment but is also aimed at teaching basic music competency, rhythmically and tonally.
POP SING-ALONG PLAY-ALONG PARTY
Hey, guess what having a ten-year old daughter means? It means Robert knows Katy Perry from Selena Gomez! Taylor Swift from Nicki Minaj! Like Guitar George, Robert knows all the chords, and he can play and sing your favorites: Fireworks, Dynamite, Call Me Maybe, Trouble, Rolling in the Deep, Moves like Jagger, Starships, Party Rock, What Makes You Beautiful, Gangnam Style, Who Says?, Drive By, Ceiling Can't Hold Us, and more! You get to use all sorts of instruments and props as Robert sings and play your favorite songs! So, call Robert for your next sleep-over, birthday, or holiday party!
BATMAN PARTY
Robert in a Batman costume conducts a superhero training program, using musical games and songs.
Very, very funny (even for adults)!
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR PARTY IN ROBERT'S OWN WORDS
A birthday performance is unique in that I am especially interested in enchanting one member of the audience, the birthday child. Some birthday children crave my attention and the attention of their friends, and others don't. Before I begin to perform, I've already received an intuitive sense of how extroverted the birthday child feels on this particular day, and also what mood of performance might fit this group of children.
For children turning 4 and older, parental participation in the show is unimportant. However, if a party is made up of mostly 1's, 2's, and children just turning 3, the participation of the birthday child's parent(s) really contributes to a great experience. I encourage you to see what it feels like for adults and toddlers alike to be singing and moving together under your roof.
My performance for ones and twos has a good deal in common with a toddler music class, but includes more humor and silliness. My repertoire is vast because I teach and perform for babies and toddlers practically every day. Typically I'll begin with puppets, then lead some rhythmic lap riding with parent and child. After that, it's time to get the children's hands clapping or rubbing to a comic chant usually involving body parts: nose, cheeks, ears, knees, etc. Now, I'll say "Hello" in song and greet everyone.
I've developed an ability to remember their names, but name tags are always nice. By this time, I can usually feel that the kids want to get up and move, but if the children are mellow or space is very tight, I'll do some dramatic pieces based around songs. "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is the catalyst for one of these. On our feet, we march, jump, dance, shimmy, or sometimes walk, all to catchy songs specially tailored to these movements. Then there's instrument time and fun with other props, not to mention simple magic tricks that even a two year old enjoys. I'll also bring some rhythm instruments for the children to play. There's an idea of what goes on, but it's not so much "the what" but "the how."
Note: I may bring drums, shakers, woodblocks, rhythm sticks, sleigh bells, tonal bells, scarves, stuffed animals (bunnies, fish), a buddy band, puppets, magical props, more.