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Award-winning song writer, Kath Bees sings and entertains children. |
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Hi!
I write songs for kids! I love writing, singing and recording
my songs.
I love interacting with kids and seeing their happy, smiling
faces when they sing songs (especially mine!! =)).
I love their openness, honesty and willingness to participate.
Thanks all you kids out there!!
Before the year 2000 I was a ‘shower-singer’
and played a few
chords on the guitar. It was suggested that I audition for the
Nelson School of Music Contemporary Performance Course and completed
the course in 2000. That’s when I realised that I loved and
had the ability, to write songs.
At the end of 2001 I wrote my first children’s song for a
group to perform at their end of year school concert. It was
about Christmas and the School Holidays.
In 2002 I submitted 3 songs and had one song "Individuality"
published by the Learning Media Ltd on their Kiwi Kidsongs
CD No12. My daughter, then 11yrs old, sang it. In 2003 I had
2 songs published on KKS No 13 – "Dad I wanna be a Camel"
and "Seasons". These three songs are very popular
with Primary School teachers and pupils around NZ.
At this
stage it was more of a "hobby", but last year (2006)
I took some time off my ‘real’ job to concentrate on recording
a kids CD because I had been asked to perform during the 2006
Nelson Arts Festival. This was to be my very first kids’ concert.
I had a lot of help from Rich Kendrick who played guitar and
bass on the CD, David Bowater who recorded, mixed and mastered
it and Liz Kendrick who’s harmonies just rock!!! My daughter
sang "Individuality" with me and my 2 nieces sang
on "Don’t Wanna". I designed a very simple cover
and "Dragons Under My Bed" was "born"!!
Through word-of-mouth and some small school concerts I started
selling more CDs and after a few months had sold/given away
around 300. I started thinking more seriously about song writing
as a career. By chance I met Paul Kayser who suggested a more
"marketable" cover and Dennis Juan Ma was given
the job of designing it.
While the cover was being designed, Rich and I performed my
original songs at many schools and kindergartens in the Nelson
area. My name and music is now pretty well known around here.
Once the cover was finished I could start marketing the CD
nationwide through retailers. The songs play on KidsFm in
the UK and there are a few in the USA, the UK and one in Norway!
I feel a bit like a late bloomer, but I love it and I am learning
all the time!!
I have been commissioned to write 4 Primary School Songs so
far and an "environmentally friendly" song for kids
by the Carbon Reduction group in Nelson called "Save the
Planet".
I came 3rd in the Open Section of the Pacific Songwriting Competition
in 2005 with the title song off the CD and was a finalist in
the USA Songwriting Contest with "Individuality".
Last year I was a runner up in the USA Song of the Year Contest.
Most of my inspiration and ideas have come from my daughter,
my own experiences, observing children and walking on the
beach!!
My biggest goal is to be a household name!!!
Awards
Finalist, USA Songwriting Competition 2005 with ‘Individuality’
3rd Place, Pacific Songwriting Contest Open Section 2005 with ‘Dragons Under my Bed’
1st Place, Pacific Songwriting Contest Open Section 2007 with ‘Don’t Wanna’
3rd Place, Pacific Songwriting Contest Open Section 2007 with ‘Dad, I wanna be a camel‘’ |
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