MonkeyWorks is a side project for Chris Cowan at RED DOT Media in Ottawa, Ontario Canada.

Started by chance in November 2006 I began playing professionally for children in day cares and playgroups. As a musician and a parent I feel that children in today's environment tend to play too many video games and never really see anyone actually PLAYING a musical instrument.

My focus is entertainment, of course, but I also strive to educate and expose children to the instruments by letting them try them out after the performance.

I play all the favorites but as someone emulating an organ-grinder/one-man band act I of course have to have a monkey puppet to get a couple of laughs and help the kids do "clean up, clean up" before circle-time.

Some of the songs I would start out with would include:

• Wheels on the bus

• Happy and you know it

• ABC, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

• The Green grass grows all around

  I work with you, the organizer to make sure the kids have a great time, one-time, or once a month. 
  My fees are not exorbitant; luckily the monkey works for peanuts.