Come Sit Beside Me — And Sing

By Nancy K. Crevier

Just six months ago, Francine and David Wheeler moved from their Queens apartment with sons Nate, 4, and Ben, 15 months, to Sandy Hook, where Ms Wheeler has hung out her shingle as a piano and voice teacher. It is not the first foray into passing along her love of music, though.

Ms Wheeler and her husband, David Cole Wheeler, were in the music and theater business for a number of years, mainly in the Manhattan area. Trained in theater at DeSales University in Allentown, Penn., Ms Wheeler performed in off-Broadway productions, cabaret, and regional theater. She has done voiceovers for commercials and has appeared in musicals and lent her vocal talents to film animation. Her husband was also in theater and has appeared in commercials. But as fun as theater life is, it is also demanding, and when she and her husband decided to start a family, Ms Wheeler began to think it was time to get out of show business.

“We decided to leave theater and I started teaching music to children between the ages of 18 months and five years at the Washington Market School in New York. David is an art director now for a high end book designer in Norwalk,” Ms Wheeler said. When Ben joined the family, the Wheelers began to reconsider life as city dwellers.

 “Music can happen anywhere,” said Ms Wheeler. “We knew we wanted a piece of lawn, somewhere quiet, somewhere with good schools. We have friends in Newtown we’ve been visiting for a few years, and liked the town, so with the help of a really patient real estate agent we finally found a place.”

Once music and performance are in the blood, though, it is hard to get away from it, Ms Wheeler discovered. “Being a music teacher inspired me. I could get the kids to get up and move around to the music and it was fun. And after you have a baby, it just changes your perspective.”

She found herself making up little songs for her new baby and before she knew it, she and her husband had enough material to put together a children’s CD, Come Sit Beside Me. The CD, published in 2004, is a collection of original and classic children’s songs written and performed by Ms Wheeler and her husband, along with assistance from Sean Grisson on cello, Deborah Schmit-Lobis on piano, Ernie Martinez on banjo and mandolin, and Loren Svetvilas on percussion. Even the youngest of performers got in on the action. The song “Bananas” is mostly instrumental, augmented by the chirping, gurgling, and other vocalizations of babies Austin, Nicky, Audrey, Sofia, Leila, and Nate.

“There are a couple of kinds of kids’ songs,” said Francine Wheeler. “There are songs for moms and dads and the kids’ songs that are really just for the kids. I want to make music that’s great for kids and great for parents.”

Local residents recently heard a sampling of Ms Wheeler’s music when she performed at C.H. Booth Library earlier this month (with fellow Sandy Hook resident Darryl Gregory accompanying her), but those with sharp ears may have recognized her voice from channel 116 on XM or Sirius radio. As a result of music producer Rick Chartoff hearing Come Sit With Me, she was invited to join the Dream Jam Band, five lively musicians from the Northeast who perform original music for children.

“I joined The Dream Jam Band in 2005 and we have put out three children’s videos and The Dream Jam Band CD came out in November 2007,” said Ms Wheeler. Two of the band’s songs, “Nicky Nicky Knock Knock” and “Look Around,” have made it into the top 10 on the satellite radio networks.

 “So here I am, back in the business. I don’t know exactly how it will all work out, but kids’ concerts are usually weekends, so when we travel, hopefully it will only be Thursday through Sunday.

The other members of The Dream Jam Band — Willie Nile, Barry Gellert, Frankie Lee and Frank Corrado — collaborate with Ms Wheeler to create the songs for the band.

“I’m more apt to come up with the melody. The other band members, or my husband, will come up with the lyrics,” said Ms Wheeler.

The band’s eclectic sound is influenced by a broad range of musicians, from Mozart to the Beatles and Woody Guthrie. Ms Wheeler uses her background as a pop and swing vocalist to color the rollicking lyrics or add a twist to a classic tune.

“We have a lot of fun,” she said, “and I think that gets across to the kids.”

Writing good children’s music starts with an idea, said Ms Wheeler. “Once I have the melody, I might think of something really ordinary for the song to be about. A lot of what children think about is where you came from, everyday things, like brushing your teeth. Kids are so literate,” she said.

She will sometimes bounce a tune or hookline off of her own children.

“Nate will tell me if he likes a sound or doesn’t like the way something sounds. And if he hears something that is really good, I know it,” she said. “For kids, it is all about the music and singing, but one thing I would never do is underestimate the intelligence of a child. A simple melody is fine, but making it sophisticated is not a bad thing,” said Ms Wheeler. “I try to make it my mission to always present good music to kids.”

She is excited about the success The Dream Jam Band has had so far, but is hoping for more exposure.

“It’s exciting when kids come up and say, ‘I heard you on XM.’ But we want to get on television. Then you’re in front of the kids.”

The band has three main goals right now, she said, in addition to performing.

“One, we would love to get one of the videos on PBS, Noggin, or the Disney channel. Two, we would like to get a national tour. The third thing would be to get an extensive tour that leads to a Grammy nomination next year. The Dream Jam Band CD will be eligible for a Grammy in 2008.”

Right now the band is booked primarily in Eastern seaboard venues, with a gig coming up on February 2 at the World Café Live in Philadelphia, and other spring concerts in Westchester and New York City.

As if raising two toddlers, teaching piano and voice, dreaming up new songs – literally and figuratively — and being the lead vocalist in an up and coming children’s band is not enough, Ms Wheeler also hosts children’s music parties for birthdays and other events.

“I go to people’s homes or any space they wish and we play music and dance games, play instruments, that sort of thing. I bring along dance music, and I play my guitar and sing for them. It’s such fun to get them all up and clapping and singing,” she said.

“I don’t know how my music will be as my kids get older, but I’m sure it will evolve. What I do know, though, is that you should always sing to your kids.”

To book a children’s music party, call Francine Wheeler at 304-1395 or contact her at francine@wheelermusic.net. Learn more about The Dream Jam Band at DreamJamBand.com.