Preschool children hear banjo music, songs about fall at Ela Area Public Library

Singer-songwriter Anne-Marie Akin introduced a banjo to her performance for preschool children allowing them to strum the strings and dance to her songs at the Ela Area Public Library.

"It's November, so we will be singing some harvest time songs and songs about fall," Akin said as she pulled out her banjo. "It's exciting (for children) to be near a musical instrument and exciting to be near someone who sings to you. Today, they are going to see a banjo. I'm hoping that a lot of them have never been around a banjo before and I am expecting that most of them will be very excited."

The Chicago artist played original compositions, such as "Bee Bop Bananas," as well as old favorites such as "Clap Your Hands," "Working on the Railroad" and "Wheels on the Bus" for the 23 children and parents during the interactive concert.

"We're so happy that there is such an opportunity for live music for little kids. She really enjoys it, especially during the winter," said Anna Gali of Lake Zurich, who brought her 14-month-old daughter, Eva, to the show. "She (Akin) is wonderful with the kids."

Akin is an instructor with The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. She also uses her music to work with infants and toddlers from low-income families in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs at the Carole Robertson Center for Learning and through the Ounce of Prevention Fund at the Educare Center on the South Side of Chicago.