Zinghoppers facts for kids

The Zinghoppers are a fun children's group that creates music and shows for young kids and their families. They feature three animal characters and are known for their catchy songs and exciting live performances. The Zinghoppers have released many CDs and DVDs, and they travel all over the world to perform.

The ideas for their characters and songs came from a team of experts. These experts were Early Childhood Educators from the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic. They made sure the content was perfect for young children.

How the Zinghoppers Started

The Zinghoppers began performing professionally in 2007. Their first big shows were at popular places like the Mall of America and the Minnesota State Fair. In the same year, they released their first music CD, called "Hop, Hop, Hop". Later in 2007, the group moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Phoenix, Arizona. There, they filmed a season of The Zinghoppers Show for a local Public Broadcasting Service station. This early TV series was made on a small budget and is not shown anymore.

Zinghoppers in Nashville

In 2009, the Zinghoppers moved to Nashville, Tennessee. They quickly became very popular with families and even some famous people in the area. Celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley were seen enjoying their shows. In 2012, the group had two sold-out shows at the historic Franklin Theatre. Even Mike Wolfe, the star of the TV show American Pickers, brought his family to see them.

The readers of Parent Magazine voted the Zinghoppers "Nashville's Best Kids Entertainers" for four years in a row. This was a big achievement, showing how much families loved their performances.

Touring the World and TV Success

In 2011, the Zinghoppers went on a special world tour for the US Pentagon. They visited 19 countries, performing for US military families stationed in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. That same year, they hosted the first-ever online concert for families from the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington DC. They are also the only children's group ever asked to play at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

Their music video for "Tooty Ta" became very popular on YouTube. This success, along with their local fame, led to their own TV series called "Totally, Zinghoppers!" The show started in late 2011 on Nashville Public Television. The Zinghoppers team creates, produces, and funds the series themselves. It's known for being unique and having funny lyrics and visuals inspired by many pop culture icons. These include shows like Soul Train and music videos from artists like Taylor Swift and Bob Dylan.

The first season of "Totally, Zinghoppers!" was a big hit. It received three EMMY Award nominations, and the team won the award for "Best Children's Program". More than 100 PBS stations across the country started broadcasting the series. Channels like AFN Family, KidzBop On Demand, and Trinity Broadcasting Network also show the series. This means the Zinghoppers reach nearly 1 million viewers in over 195 countries every day!

During the filming of their first season, the group also created extra online content. They filmed backstage at the Bridgestone Arena during Justin Bieber's "My World Tour". They even re-filmed their viral hit "Tooty Ta" with the popular Radio Disney band Allstar Weekend. Another fun collaboration was a viral video with the group Mindless Behavior.

In late 2012, the series earned two more EMMY Award nominations. These were for "Best Children's Program" and "Best Interstitial Series". It was announced that Season 2 would begin filming in early 2013.

Zinghoppers Music and Shows

The Zinghoppers have released many albums and home videos. They also have two TV series that have been enjoyed by kids and families around the world.

Albums

• Snowflakes (2007)
• Hop, Hop, Hop (2007)
• Toot! Toot! All Aboard! (2008)
• A Zinghoppy Concert (2009)
• Be Creative At Your Library (2009)
• Sing Your Way Through The Day (2009)
• Splish Splash (2010)
• One World, Many Stories (2010)
• One World, Many Songs (2011)
• You Are Special! (2011)
• Meet The Zinghoppers - EP (2011)
• Songs From The Hit TV Show! (2012)

Home Videos

• A Dance Party Concert! (2010)
• Rock, Bop & Zinghop! (2012)

TV Series

• Hop With The Zinghoppers (2007) - 13 short episodes
• Totally, Zinghoppers (2011/2012) - 26 short episodes