A songwriter, Maring has performed for the Dalai Lama in India and at coffeehouses and schools in the District. With a master’s in education and training as an early childhood music educator, he has also studied tabla in India, flamenco guitar in Spain, and music artistry and composition with Pierre Bensusan in France. He has five recordings, including “Holy Guacamole” and “Penguins Rock the World.”
What are your favorite traditional kids songs?
There are so many! “She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain,” “Five Little Ducks,” “Apples and Bananas.” I also love sharing songs of the civil rights era, “We Shall Overcome” and “If I Had a Hammer.”
Can all children learn to play an instrument or is it a gift?
All kids can learn to be musical just like all kids can learn to read; it’s just a matter of exposure. That said, as with anything else, some kids are more inclined to being very musical than others.
How do you keep kids interested in music with short attention spans?
Kids are often way more open and responsive to music than adults. If it gives them an emotional rise, they’ll respond, and for long stretches. I like getting kids up and moving, so I teach a lot of different dances that involve singing and being on your feet.
What was it like to perform in front of the Dalai Lama?
It was a real highlight of my musical life. My group, Jawbone, was lucky to be part of the Festival of Sacred Chanting and Singing in Delhi. We performed sacred songs of African origin, got to meet and receive a blessing from the Dalai Lama, and jammed with musicians from all over the world. – Scott McCabe
