Forgot My Oars is a collection of songs I sing with my students at Milldam Nursery School in Concord, MA. Some songs were written in recent years while others have been part of my school repertoire for over a decade. All have found their way into the classroom where they compliment the work being done by the preschool teachers.

The title track evolved from the traditional song Row Your Boat. Instead of rowing "gently down the stream" we rowed to all sorts of places. Then instead of "Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily" I sang - "I forgot my pair of oars." Finally I ended the verse with some object that rhymed with the new place. As the song continued to progress I changed the tune and played around with the structure to get to the version I recorded for the CD.

The other tunes on the album each have their own stories. The common factor is that each song has been played in the classroom and changed over time as I have figured out what works with different age groups, different teachers, and different individual children. Ultimately, I recorded these songs in my living room with just my voice and my guitar. The goal of the album is that each listener gets the feel of joining me for a private concert.

The artwork of the album cover is a modified photo taken at sunset in Maine where I go each summer to be with family, relax, and take a rowboat out on the lake. Even if I do forget the oars, I can always jump in for a swim.

Forgot My Oars will be available on all platforms on Friday, October 7th, 2022. Lyrics and “Behind the Scenes” notes can be found on individual song pages in the links below. With a little searching you can also find these songs on my YouTube and Facebook pages. For an advanced copy (limited edition CD - I only made 100) or booking information contact Tim at tim@frompagetoplay.com

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