I STOP for Peace

Why this music?  When it comes to learning important skills and placing that learning deep into the unconscious, there is nothing better than sing-along, memorable music!  But this album is much more than educational. It's transformational!  When you share this conflict resolution and anger management music you are giving a smart tool for life to the child who listens. Anger management and conflict resolution skills are critical in today's world.  If you could stop even one acting out behavior or one act of violence, wouldn't that be something to celebrate? 

The heartfelt way Julie Penshorn presents this music, and the diverse music styles, make this music a unique addition to a child's music library and surely a favorite!  Some of this music was originally created years ago with children from the Friends School of Minnesota and help from extremely gifted musicians (listed below), who were amazingly generous with their time and talents. Some is new in 2017.

 The "STOP for Peace Process includes: " Stop and breathe, Tell how you feel, Open your mind, and Plan a deal! Simple and to the point.  Each step has its own song. This music complements "The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace" children's book, also by Penshorn, and is designed to hold children’s interest and help them dialogue about conflict in a non-threatening way.  The book and music together form a complete educational system, and the parent or teacher doesn't have to do a thing except turn it on (repeatedly for best memorization), and read the book to the children! 

Help your child experience a safer, friendlier classroom environment by buying a copy of this music for your child's teacher. The music notation will soon be available as well so you won't miss a single word and classrooms and whole schools can create a musical play/concert/exhibition for parents.

This work is brought to you by the peace education specialists at the non-profit organization, Growing Communities for Peace, through its project, Children’s Peace Education Company: Smart Tools for Life.  Julie Penshorn, MBC and Rebecca Janke, M.Ed. are co-directors of the non-profit organization.  Rebecca Janke was the educational consultant on this work. Their current effort is the "I STOP for Peace" campaign.  Get involved!

Musicians and other key people:

Vocals, autoharp: Julie Penshorn

Keyboards, vocals: James Walsh

Keyboards, drums, bass: Andy Lacasse

Guitar, banjo, pedal steel, electric guitar: Kenny Wilson

Guitars, banjo, ukulele, mandolin, drums/percussion: Randy Gildersleeve

Bass: Bob Jones

Drums: Scott Dietsche

Kids Chorus: Nicholas Marsh, Rachel DeYoung, Shanti Pothapragada, Maribeth Skarie, Seth Dickey, Kate Abrams, Adrienne Brekhus, Monica Bicking, Jessica Brown, Jonah Sutton-Morse, Kathryn Monikowski, Arthur Daniels, Rachel Commerford, and others from the Friends School of Minnesota, and Gretta Newell, Grace Land, Sarah Land, Owen Dzurik, Alexis Aspen, and Kailyn Wittrock

Producers: Randy Gildersleeve, James Walsh, Julie Penshorn

Recording/Engineering: Randy Gildersleeve