alumniartists A round ten years ago, when Charity Kahn `87 was first pregnant, she began to think that her career as a professional musician was over before she’d even recorded a first album. “I thought having a baby would mean I would never ever have a chance,” said Kahn. “How could I be a devoted mother and an artist? I thought: I have to do something because in two months this is all going to be over!” CHARITY Jams Kahn 6
What seemed like a pre-emptive conclusion to a musical career turned out to be its surprising origin. A software engineer at the time, Charity Kahn has now released five albums of music for children, performs live as Charity and the JAMband, teaches music and movement classes and camps for kids, and also trains educators. Kahn lives in San Francisco where she produces her music. Looking back, one can clearly see her roots in music from her childhood and education in Beaver Dam. When both of your parents work at <strong>Wayland</strong>, there is obviously going to be some expectation that you attend the <strong>Academy</strong>. Charity Kahn was no exception, but thankfully she recalls her enrollment in <strong>Wayland</strong> as “one of the best choices of my life.” “My dad was my piano teacher, my parents had a studio in town, and I was immersed in that. I did a lot of different types of music at the time.” At <strong>Wayland</strong> she and some friends created their own swing choir, and overall she describes her musical experience at <strong>Wayland</strong> as a good time. It’s interesting to note, though, that she was at least as interested in math, which she majored in at Stanford University. When she talks about the early inspiration she gained as a songwriter, though, she remembers the English Department fondly. “My English teachers were just so amazing. I was going to love math no matter what, but it was my English teachers who blew my mind. When I think about my roots as a song writer, I owe a lot to them, especially Mr. Patterson and Mr. Schlicker,” said Kahn. These days Charity is fully immersed in life as a mother, musician, and educator. She incorporates all three of these aspects into her Music and Movement classes. “In my experience, watching my two boys and watching other kids, the way that they learn during that first year is through total absorption,” Kahn said. “If they’re in a safe environment with their caregiver there are all these benefits to brain development. There are certain movements that are important to the development of their neurons and their brains. In a class environment, a slightly structured dance party, there’s this tribal environment. There’s bonding with the parent, and they’re getting that exposure to rhythm that grows that musical part of the brain.” Charity Kahn will be releasing a new album in the fall, her first in four years. “All this music has been waiting to be born. It must be the longest gestation period for any album of children’s music.” After that, she plans to assemble an album of some of the more grown-up songs she has written over the years. “I have probably 80 songs in that vein waiting to be recorded,” said Kahn, “but the reality is that I’m not getting any younger. I don’t just have things to say about children and family. I have a lot of other things as a songwriter I want to say.” Listen to samplings of Charity Kahn’s music at her Web site www.jamjamjam.com. Or visit the <strong>Greetings</strong> Web site at www.wayland.org/alumni/publications.cfm where you can watch a few short videos. Photo credit Image © Aaron D. Anderson, 2009 www.wayland.org 7 ALUMNI ARTISTS
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