We interviewed award winning singer Diana Panton about her new album, ‘ I Believe In Little Things’. We know you and your family will love it as much as we do!
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How do you balance being a high school teacher and an award winning recording artist?
It’s delicate balance, and obviously a strong commitment to both fields is essential. Organization is key, and there is simply no time for procrastination. It is also critical to schedule in some down time with a walk, a massage or a film just to keep things from moving too quickly all the time.
Tell us your inspiration for creating I Believe In Little Things…
A couple of years ago, I started to get an increasing number of emails from parents saying they would use some of my songs to put their kids to bed at night. One daycare centre said the kids themselves would request the “sleepy time” music at nap time. I’ve been told I have a soothing voice, and I just figured that if kids are already enjoying my music, why not create an album specifically for them.
Tell us how this album is perfect for family listening…
This album contains many children’s classics that will spark memories for parents from their own childhoods. I’ve already heard from many parents who said they felt quite moved to hear songs that their parents sang to them when they were little and that they now take pleasure in sharing with their own children. These classic children’s songs deserve a new audience and offer children the opportunity to be exposed to jazz at a young age. There is also a lot of zippy children’s music on the market, but this album offers both parents and children the opportunity to share in some relaxed listening.
Do you have a favorite song on this album?
I have a soft spot for “Halfway Down the Stairs” – a song based on a poem by A.A. Milne (author of Winnie-the-Pooh). It describes how a child goes halfway up the stairs and then just sits – not focusing on getting to the top, but rather taking time to reflect and enjoy the process along the way.
This is something that kids do naturally, and sometimes parents need to be reminded to stop and smell the roses too.
Parents will recognize many of your beautiful songs. Why is it important to share these songs with our children?
Many of these songs came from an era when songwriting was a craft unto itself. The quality of the compositions and the lyrics are largely unmatched today. It is also an opportunity for parents to pass along the gift of music from their childhoods and share these songs with a new generation of children.
What advice would you give to all of our young readers who are aspiring singers?
Listen to music that you enjoy and get your inspiration from there. Try making up your own songs once in a while by singing about things that are important to you. Think about the words you are singing, and imagine you are telling a story to someone through a song.
