Lomax: The Hound of Music on PBS

Sirius Thinking, Ltd, the award-winning creators of the acclaimed children's show Between the Lions® and writers of the award-winning Sesame Street®, have teamed up with renowned music educator Dr. John Feierabend to create "Lomax: The Hound of Music" (visit http://pbskids.org/lomax).

LOMAX: THE HOUND OF MUSIC

Lomax: The Hound of Music is a highly participatory, 13-part children's series airing nationwide on Public Television (check your local listings). Based on the curriculum of renowned music educator and author John Feierabend, the series features a good-natured, melody-obsessed puppet pooch named Lomax; his blues-singing (albeit fluffy) feline sidekick Delta, and their faithful human companion, Amy, on a tune-filled steam-train ride crisscrossing the musical landscape of America.

With the active help of a group of real kids (on the train, and on location around the country) and the viewers watching the show, Lomax and his friends ride the rails in the caboose they call home, as they doggedly pursue their mutual passion: tracking down -- and singing and moving along with -- the wonderful songs that form the heart of our nation's diverse musical heritage.

It doesn't hurt, of course, that Lomax is a "melody hound" -- a breed with a unique ability to hear tunes from vast distances, and to bark them on pitch. Indeed, our floppy-eared canine is so talented that the train our heroes travel on has been named, in Lomax's honor, the "Melody Hound Express." Delta’s tuneful meow (it's magnificently soulful, a fact she’s not above pointing out whenever the occasion presents itself) and Amy's top-notch singing voice and infectious enthusiasm for American musical history also serve to keep everything and everybody humming along and on track.

Accompanying Lomax, Delta, and Amy on their journey is Fred, the train's genial conductor, who, because he has a knack for making all kinds of "mouth sounds," also serves as the train’s whistle. And also on board are Louise and Clark -- a pair of adventurous fleas who have hitched a ride on Lomax in order to explore their musical heritage.

Along the way, our merry band meets a remarkable variety of singing animals, and musical celebrities and friends who introduce them -- and our viewers -- to the infectious melodies of American roots music, such as "Turkey in the Straw" (performed by a turkey, of course). "All the Pretty Little Horses," "The Green Grass Grew All Around," "Buffalo Gals" (guess what kind of animals appear to sing this one!), "Miss Mary Mack," and many more.

There are obstacles, to be sure: Lomax develops a case of the "wrongsong flu"; The Gooney Bird (a recurring character) repeatedly appears to demand an immediate performance of (what else?) "The Gooney Bird Song"; and, for a time, our whole crew gets "stuck" singing "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt," a song that goes 'round and 'round without ever reaching and end (try singing it, and you'll see the problem).  But always the allure, and the pure fun of the music win the day.

Produced by Sirius Thinking, Ltd. (BETWEEN THE LIONS) and presented by Connecticut Public Television (BARNEY & FRIENDS), this interactive series is designed to increase the musical intelligence of children ages 3 - 7. Each half-hour episode uses research-based techniques to teach music to young kids, helping them to become better able to hold tunes in their heads and repeat them; better able to feel and sustain a beat; and more receptive to the ideas and feelings expressed in music.

LOMAX: THE HOUND OF MUSIC is designed to help an entire generation grow up with a greater ability to perform and appreciate music. So hop aboard the "Melody Hound Express" and enjoy the ride!