FRACTURED: FAIRY TALES REMIXED by Tara Trudel

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A musical, literary, teaching discussion full of fun with Tara Trudel

Conversations with Tara are always a load of fun -- in part because we have lots in common.  I'm so excited to share this interview surrounding her first full-length album for kids: FRACTURED: FAIRY TALES REMIXED. I love how she used the musical term in the title "remix" which is what they call it when they do a new version of something usually mixed with the old -- new tempo, new genre, new instrumentation over an old base.  And that's exactly what fractured fairy tales do as well: take familiar characters, problems, plots, and overlay them with new settings, new points of view, new questions, unknown bits about the characters.  We see it often in picture books, so this album is a perfect complement to many of the fractured fairy tale books widely available. It also makes this album extremely versatile: perfect for story time, classroom, bedtime read-alouds, the music classroom and more!  It is such. a. fun. album! Which song is her favorite? How did revision create a stronger album?  What connections are there between writing songs and writing stories? Listen up! Then check out all the links, resources, reading, writing, teaching and musicking tips, writing prompts and more below.  Be sure to leave a comment ON THIS BLOG POST by Aug. 30 at 11:59 PM EST to be entered in the drawing for a brand new book by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by Zoe Si, with another fun song by Tara Trudel. 

Fractured: Fairy Tales REmixed by Tara Trudel

This delightful album for kids is sure to create some curiosity, spark some questions, and inspire some stories in kids and adults of all ages. It's a great complement to many fractured fairy tale stories and books that are available, and creates perfect opportunities for anyone to create their own version of some of these stories, to consider alternate points-of-view, to compare and contrast characters and plot, and lots more!  Tara has found clever ways to re-explore these familiar stories and characters. Check out the YouTube playlist and the Pinterest board for lots of resources to help you use this book with your homeschool, story time,  classroom, music class, summer camp, and so much more. Also, links below for where to listen to the full album and to enjoy Tara's other music as well. There are some real earworms on the album, too. So don't be surprised if you find yourself singing some of these refrains over and over in your mind.  For me, "once upon a time -- whoo-oo" keeps replaying.  Let us know in the comments which song or phrase stood out to you.

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

Not only is this the opener for the album that sets the stage -- literally. It's also the earworm that has been replaying in my head. (Consider yourself forewarned ;-)). It's perfect for the classroom, great for a discussion about whether or not narrators are reliable, point of view, and what questions do storytellers leave unanswered.  It also reinforces some of the hallmarks of fairy tales with "Once upon a time" and "happily ever after"  Parents, your kiddos are going to want to put this one on repeat.  But don't stop here. . . go enjoy the whole album. 

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

• First of all, this album is a MUST if you are doing a unit on fairy tales!
• Overall the album can be used to teach and/or reinforce the characteristics of fairy tales.
• It can also help with character analysis.
• Teaching point of view and how to look at things from various characters POV.
• Creating empathy for characters who have been maligned (transferable to creating empathy. period.)
  
• Helping students understand that there is more than one way of telling a story.
• This would make a fabulous anchor piece for a unit of study on fairy tales. If I were using it in a classroom, I would pull a selection of books for each song.  Read/ask questions of the characters, analyze them, "interview" them, read various versions from various points of view, maybe vote on which version does the best job presenting the "truth" or a "balanced" approach. Listen, read, talk, find text evidence.
• It would be super fun to have several groups and hold mock trials for the wolf, the witch, the stepmother, etc. and the "lawyers" must use text evidence to clear or convict their assigned character. The class would become the jury.  Lots of content in that project, and it would be fun for the kids.
• Compare/contrast THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG, "Little and Good" and other versions to determine which is the most fun, most believable, most difficult to believe, etc.

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

 I wish I'd had this album last year, as it would have fit in beautifully with my yearly theme in the music room: Nursery Rhymes, Folk Tales, and Fairy Tales.  I planned lots of lessons, programs, and activities around this theme throughout the year. This album would have been a perfect addition. (See the links section for some of the pieces I used for lessons and programming for my programs and last year's theme.)

• Magic Mirror song would be fun to give kids safety mirrors (unbreakable) and let them design a creative routine to go with. You could even make mirrors with aluminum foil and cardstock, etc. (check the Pinterest board)
• "What's the Story" -- strong rhythm! Great for steady beat exercises, discussions/practice of beat vs. rhythm
• "Little and Good" -- great percussion song -- Create a simple bucket drum routine, cardio drumming, body percussion, percussion play-along. One thing I did for my program was assigned each row a different instrument and a different rhythm so that we could all play along at once without having to remember where to start/stop, etc. You could do that same thing with this song. One group could have steady beat on one instrument. Another group, different instrument straight eighth notes. Another group ti-ti- ta, ti-ti ta, etc.
• "The People in the Town" -- fun hip-hop beat. Let students design their own dance routine (individually or in groups). 
• "Fairy Godmother" would make a really sweet scarf routine (Either you design or let the kids freestyle or give them a few minutes each week for 3-4 weeks and then everyone performs either simultaneously or individually or you can have groups design a routine). You also could make magic wands and let them use them as props or give each student one rhythm stick and a partner. They could use their one stick as a magic wand and decide on places in the song where they would tap their sticks together in various rhythms to match the song.
• "Not a Villain Song" -- strong beat, "girl power" "strong/powerful vs. evil" Could be a good percussion or rhythm piece or would be fun to create a dance routine or use some fun props for movement activities.

Writing Prompts from Tonnye

So many writing opportunities:

1. Write a letter to a fairy tale character
2. Write a report about the elements/characteristics of a fairy tale.
3. Write a comparison between two versions of a fairy tale.
4. Rewrite the ending of a fairy tale.
5. Blend two fairy tales.
6. Write a fairy tale where the roles are reversed (ie. there's a prince in distress and a brave peasant girl rescues him, etc.)
7. Make a list of questions you could ask a magic mirror besides who's the fairest of them all.
8. If you were the fairy godmother, write about 3 wishes you'd like to have come true and why.
9. Rewrite Little Red Riding Hood with a wolf who is "little and good" in a big bad world.
10. Write a recipe/how-to guide for a poisoned apple or a gingerbread cottage.
11.  Complete a fairy tale "roll-a-story" (Here's a free version on Teachers Pay Teachers. There are lots more online or you can create your own.
12. Write a poem called "Once upon a time" or "Happily Ever After"
13. Change the word happily to another adverb and write a fairy tale with this ending.
14. My Favorite fairy tale is _________________ because. . . . .
15. Do you like fairy tales? Why/why not?
16. If you could be any fairy tale character, who would you choose to be and why?

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

YouTube playlist PBJamz Fractured Fairy Tales Remixed
YouTube playlist I used for my second grade program "Happily Ever AFter" -- full of fairy tale connections you could use in conjunction with stories and Tara's album for music lessons, programs or more.
​YouTube playlist I used for first grade's program "A Tale of Threes" -- these are songs about the number three, the Three Bears, the Three Billy Goats Gruff, 
​ The Three Little Pigs, Three Blind Mice, etc.
Pinterest Board:  PBJAMZ FRACTURED FAIRY TALES REMIXED
Pinterest Board: Fairy Tales
Pinterest Board:  Music Fairy Tales (songs and music activities related to fairy tales)

PBJamz Snack -- 

Well, if we're talking fairy tales, there's gotta be an apple, right?  Check out this tasty lower-in-carbs PBJ snack.  This one is for sure not poisonous! So you can enjoy it without worrying about being put into a glass case or being gawked at by seven dwarves. Get the recipe here or use your imagination ;-) Find lots more sweet (and savory) recipes at One Sweet Appetite (www.onesweetappetite.com).

Guest Links and Giveaways

Use the links below to follow and support Tara and her music.

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For her music:
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Shout-out on her socials if you love her music or send her a message via her website to let her know you are enjoying it.  Share it with friends who would love it too.  Check out all her other music at the music sites linked above. Listen and purchase from your favorite music site.

Tara is generously offering a pre-order of KABOOM: A VOLCANO ERUPTS  by Jessica Kulekjian and Zoe Si, for which Tara also wrote a song! To be eligible for the giveaway, leave a comment below by Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST A winner will be drawn at random from the comments, with winner receiving a free copy of KABOOM by mail when it is released on Sept. 5.