Hap Palmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hap Palmer
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| Birth name | Harlan G. Palmer III |
| Born | October 28, 1942 |
| Origin | Woodland Hills, Los Angeles |
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| Years active | 1969–present |
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Harlan G. "Hap" Palmer III is an American musician and guitarist. He is famous for creating children's music. His songs help young kids learn about things like math, reading, and how to move their bodies. Hap Palmer started making music in 1969 and has written over 300 songs for children.
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Hap Palmer: Music for Learning
Hap Palmer's music focuses on helping children learn. He creates songs that teach important skills and ideas. His work is known for being both fun and educational.
Teaching and Education
From 1972, Hap Palmer taught at a school for children with special learning needs. He continued his own education as well. In 1983, he earned a master's degree in dance education. He studied at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Early Career and Popular Songs
Hap Palmer released his first recording in 1969. Some of his early albums were part of the Learning Basic Skills Through Music series. These albums were available in both English and Spanish.
Another popular album was Getting to Know Myself. This album features his well-known song "Sammy." He also released fun songs like "Sally the Swinging Snake" and "Walter the Waltzing Worm." In 1978, he released the Halloween song Witches' Brew. He wrote this song with his then-wife, Martha Cheney.
Hap Palmer also created a series of DVDs and videos called Baby Songs. These videos helped introduce music and movement to very young children.
Later Works and Math Fun
On January 15, 2009, Hap Palmer released the album Multiplication Mountain. This album helped kids learn multiplication through songs. In 2012, he released a DVD that featured musical picture books.
In 2013, Palmer released another math-focused album. It was called Count, Add, Subtract! Fun with Math, Music, and Movement. This album was designed to teach math ideas to preschoolers. Reviewers said it was a "fun way to teach early math concepts."
Awards and Recognition
Smithsonian Folkways is a famous record label. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution. This label has published over 30 of Hap Palmer's albums.
His music has won many awards. His 2016 album received the Parents' Choice Gold Award. The American Library Association also recognized his recordings. They called them "Best of the Best for Children."
Jill Jarlow, in her 1991 book All Ears, called Hap Palmer one of America's most productive children's songwriters. She noted that he makes creative and award-winning recordings. Sonia Taitz, in her 1992 book Mothering Heights, mentioned that he is "famous for his [song] videos."
