Sesame Street Music Works Celebrates One Fantastic Year

Last November, the debut of Sesame Street Music Works was a media sensation. But its real success has come in the months since—in the homes, classrooms, music stores and day care sites across the country where the program continues to provide millions of kids and their parents with just the right start to a lifetime of enjoyable, beneficial music.

Anyone can provide these resources to their kids anytime, either by visiting the Sesame Music Zone Web site at www.sesamestreet.com or ordering the Music Works Wonders video.

The video has taken honors at more than a dozen recent video award presentations, including the New York Festivals Competition, the Telly Awards and the International Film and Video Awards. Perhaps more telling than the professional accolades are the real-world testimonials coming in from parents, educators, caregivers and retailers who have embraced Sesame Street Music Works in the months since it became available.

Sesame Street is viewed by more than 8 million people a week in the United States and has been broadcast in more than 140 countries, making it the most widely watched television program in the world. The winner of 84 Emmy Awards—more than any other show in history—Sesame Street has been a global pioneer in the use of television to educate young minds.

“The success of Music Works has been phenomenal, and its benefits are going to kids across the country every day,” says AMC Executive Director Joe Lamond. “There’s no one else on earth who could have done what Sesame Workshop has done to make this happen, and they’re a great partner.”

Ponzella Johnson says her 6-year-old son Paul visits the Sesame Music Zone Web site several times a week. “It’s a superb program,” she says. “He enjoys the music and the interaction immensely, and it’s not difficult to use. He especially likes the instrument section, where he gets to put his own band together.”

Christine Zall’s sons Jacob (4) and Gabriel (2) play on the Sesame Music Zone site all the time. “It’s the only time they sit together and play nice,” she reports. “It’s spurred their interest in music—we have a piano in the home, and they ask for instruments all the time now.”

Melissa Schiffli, who administers a state-approved parenting curriculum as part of Community Action of Northeast Indiana, takes the Music Works Wonders video on home visits. “I don’t know a kid who doesn’t like Elmo or Sesame Street,” she says of one encounter. “But what amazed me was that the mother had a big smile on her face. She got up and started dancing with her kids. They realized they could use old pots and pans to make music and have family time together.”

Para-educator Amanda Lockman, who works with special-needs kids at Southridge Elementary School in Ridgefield, WA, recalls the benefits Music Works Wonders held for one autistic 9-year-old who had motor difficulties. “It sparked her interest in music,” she says. “She would clap her hands and stomp her feet. I had not been able to get her to go into the music class until we watched that video. It’s definitely helped with my students.”

Rebecca Apodaca of A&D Music in Laguna Hills, CA, reports that her in-store Sesame Street Music Works sessions with local preschool groups have been a smash. “When a group comes in, we show them the video, and the kids interact with it using percussion instruments or clapping,” she says. “Sometimes we pause it so they can play on their own. Then, the kids join in the tape’s jam session at the end, and we give the video to the school. The response has been excellent from the teachers who participate with it, and I think it’s increased our visibility and community standing.” A&D even offers out-of-store Sesame Street Music Works programs, using loaner instruments, as an alternative idea for birthday parties.