The story of Tots Tunes & the new full band show
Founded at Vortex Jazz Club, London back in 2011, Tots Tunes is the brainchild of cellist, composer & creative leader Tara Franks. Set up as Interactive, creative parent and babies (0-4s) classes - the workshops include part songs from around the world, original tunes and few dance moves for all. Tots Tunes (the flagship project of Tara’s community enterprise SoundsCreative Projects) is for parents who want to connect with other like-minded people in the neighbourhood, listen to, learn and sing some inspiring ‘non-baby’ acoustic music all accompanied by cello & percussion.
Award-winning Tots Tunes has featured at the London Jazz Festival, on BBC6 Music, gained commissions with Johnson & Johnson and and collaborated with Nest Collective, National Trust, The Green House, Dartington Arts along with clothing brands Little House of Vild and Mama Owl. With a footfall of over 15,000 participants big & small over the years, alongside the release of two much lauded albums, Tots Tunes is now also up and running on the South Coast (New partnerships with The Bright Foundation, The Beacon - Hastings, Marina Fountain - St Leonards on Sea, Hastings Contemporary).
Some parent feedback…
“My daughter cheers when I mention shaking and stomping with Tara; as do I, it’s such a fun and high quality experience”
“the way you channel your art forms is simply phenomenal and inspiring, thank you for doing what you do”
Tots Tunes on Tour - full band family show
With Arts Council England Project Grant support (2021) and to celebrate over 10 years of bringing joy to many East London (and now South Coast) families, Tara has created a full band interactive show - Tots Tunes on Tour - bringing an exciting expanded version of the repertoire of world, folk and new music to audiences big & small.
With two sold out launch gigs in Summer 2022 (Hastings - The Beacon and London - Music Halls Walthamstow), the top class band of musicians from the international Jazz & world folk scene features; Bernhard Shimplesbelrger (percussion), Preetha Narayanan (violin/voice), Francesca Ter-berg (cello/voice), Flora Curzon (Violin/voice) alongside cellist/vocalist and founder Tara Franks (cello/vocals/percussion).
Tara is now looking to tour the family show at venues, galleries and festivals. This show is family focused and suitable for all ages.
Testamonials:
“Tara is an exceptional musician and creator, and her Tots Tunes project is without a doubt the most creatively rewarding class or workshop I have ever attended as a parent! I have seen first-hand how transformative Tara's work is, and admire her ability to connect parents, children and communities in person and online through original music of the highest quality. I am excited to see her extending the project's reach to new locations, and to witness the creative burgeoning of the project to include other brilliant musicians in her planned tour” Sara Mohr-Pietch (Programmer, Curator, BBC Radio Broadcaster)
'Tots Tunes - WOW! Pure joy! Tots Tunes incredible musical talent lifts the spirits of weary parents, laughter to little ones and dancing to both. It was a pleasure to welcome Tots Tunes to The Sanctuary. A pleasure to work with, they came with warm hearts and big smiles, inviting every single audience member to become part of their special musical family' Dan Copperfield (The Sanctuary, Music Halls)
The Tots Tunes repertoire and albums…
Including 2nd Album ‘Moonshine and Butterflies’ (December 2021) and animations for the Tots Tunes YouTube channel.
More about Tots Tunes and SoundsCreative Projects…
Testimonials from Tots Tunes participants/parents
“ amazing! Loved it! I just wanted to encourage you to do more classes”.
“I have never heard the cello played the way you did, let alone with you singing along! Wonderful performer”
“I just wanted to say a heartfelt thanks for your amazing class.. I found those first 6-7-8 months so terribly hard, I felt so lost every day. So lonely many times. This sounds a little mad, but Tots Tunes saved my sanity on some pretty dark days, and I just realised this today looking at the newer Mums, knowing that your session is probably saving them from some lonely dark days too in the unknown world of Mamahood. Anyway, I just wanted you to know what an amazing service you're doing for each of us Mums, and what a joy the class is”
"I attended Tots Tunes with our first daughter (nearly 4) from the time she was about 6 months old and was looking forward to bringing our second (6 months). From the moment Tara opened the sessions with her cello they were both transfixed by the live music. For me, it was the joy of attending a baby music class and not just singing "wheels on the bus" but folk songs from around the world."
“you are simply an incredible beautiful talented being and it transpires in all your projects, the way you channel your art forms is simply phenomenal and inspiring, thank you for doing what you do”
Bablands Review
“My favourite thing about this class though, aside from the fact that it wasn’t just another hour of my life lost to nursery rhymes, was how into it everyone – and that includes parents and babies – was…. beautiful live music, the welcoming teacher, the element of interactivity and the fast pace”
Online
“Thank you so much for tots tunes virtual sessions!! …your creativity is really inspirational”
“This is so brilliant! Glad you are still putting your music, and joy, out into the world”
“Thanks Tara, we haven't been since mine were both babes in arms but they both loved it so much this morning. Such a lovely idea in this strange time”
