Journal of the Australian Association of Massage Therapists

CD Review, May / June 2004

Dancing in the Moonlight by Mary Jackson

As the title suggests, this CD is designed for quieter moments. It is a series of instrumental pieces including a flautist, pianist, cellist, and a little synthesizer. All are non-intrusive and subtle and the title itself evokes a promise of a peaceful journey.

The music is excellent for meditation, relaxation and general wellbeing which any therapist would appreciate is essential for their own self care and health maintenance, expecially as caring for others can be depleting at times.

As a remedial therapist I use music to relax the patient while the massage work is being done. I find this tactic to be very beneficial, expecially when people present with long standing injuries and the subsequent pain they suffer.

The general consensus from my patients (25 people) where one of a positive response, they enjoyed the way the music ‘floated in and out’ of their awareness throughout the massage session. I also found this to be the case as I worked.

Mary Jackson is a composer, music specialist and private piano teacher in New Zealand and the UK.

RRP $27.50 for CD, $20.00 tape (postage not included). For further details, go to http://www.starlightmelody.co.nz, or email marystarlight@hotmail.com.

— Reviewed by Tracey Newman, member of the western Australian Division Committee, and Immediate Past-President of AAMT Ltd.

Lifestyler Magazine

“Catch A Singing Star” drew out of Mary Jackson’s love of poetry. Today’s children today are often not introduced to traditional poems, so Mary, a music teacher collected poems that young children enjoy, like “The Swing”, by Robert L. Stevenson, “Someone”, by Walter de la Mare and “On the Ning Nang, Nong”, by Spike Milligan.

Having set the poems to music, Mary put together a tape with Brent Holt, a musical technician in Auckland. It enables children to dance, act and sing along. An accompanying book contains the words and the melody lines, so parents and teachers can sing the songs without the tape.

“Catch a Singing Star” encapsulates a sense of magic and fun. It recaptures childhood experiences like going up in a swing, gazing at the sky and wishing on a star, or going to the land where the bong trees grow.

The songs are sung by two vocalists. Lucy Patson’s lovely, light soprano voice takes the listener dancing with the stars, while Brian Clark, a retired National Radio personality, will make anyone laugh when he sings “The Ning Nang Nong” with great gusto, or terrifies listeners with With “Giant Thunderclouds”. The music is electronic.

“Angel Babies” is a collection of 35 lullabies, with eight male and female voices. All lullabies are either solo or duets. They are accompanied by flute, cello, guitar and piano.

If you don’t know what to sing to your baby, buy the book too — it transposes the music to lower keys to suit the average mom or dad’s voice.”

— Lifestyler Magazine, Volume 1

New Zealand Women’s WEEKLY

“For centuries, mothers have sung lullabies to soothe their children to sleep, but many of today’s parents don’t know the words or the tunes of traditional lullabies. Taranaki music specialist Mary Jackson wants to revive lullabies and has produced Angel Babies, a CD (or tape) of 31 of the best known ones. A book comes with the tape and includes the words, sheet music and also guitar chords for all the songs.

A lot of people have told me they want to sing to their babies, but don’t know what to sing or are too embarrassed. Every baby loves the sound of his or hers mother’s voice and lullabies are a wonderful way to soothe them.

Mary found the lullabies of her recording by advertising in a local newspaper. "The paper also did a story on me and people sent me songs with music and invited me to their homes to look at their music.

Now Mary’s company, Starlight Music is producing another CD called Catch a Singing Star, a collection of 15 songs using the words of traditional poems like The Owl and the Pussycat and well-known Robert Louis Stevenson poetry. “I want to introduce poetry to young children and the best way is though songs.”

NZ Woman’s WEEKLY, Nov. 9th, 1998

Courier

“People collect the strangest things — pens, rocks, old bottles and hubcaps to name a few — but Mary Jackson thinks she might be on to something. She’s collecting lullabies. A primary school teacher and music specialist, Mary Jackson is worried that some of our traditional lullabies may be disappearing, and she’s hoping to collect old and new ones including those from Maori, Pacific Island and other cultures.

The Elleslie mother and grandmother says there is a lack of lullabies available to parents in a Written or recorded form.

“It’s terribly important for mothers to sing to their children,” she says. “I think there are lots of people who would like to sing them, but don’t know what’s available.”

Mary Jackson is motivated by a belief in the soothing power of music. “I think there is so much pop and rock around, which I would call ‘speed-up’ music, " she says, “That’s fine, but I think there is a time and a place for slow gentle music — slow-down music.”

Most people know a few classic lullabies, such as Rock-a-bye Baby and Hush Little Baby, but Mary Jackson has stumbled across more unusual songs such as The Liverpool Lullaby, all about spanking. “Some of our best-know nursery rhymes have awful lyrics,” she says. “The most important thing is the music.” She says the combination of a gentle rhythm and soothing chords make a child feel safe and secure.

— East & Bays Courier, June 4, 1997

From Constance Tewsley

An elderly lover of children’s music

In “Catch a Singing Star” you have expressed something of the innocence of little children, while they are still unsullied from worldly influences. In “Angel Babies” you have expressed something of the peace & quiet so much needed in today’s world.”

Universal Children’s Audio Ltd. Jan 1999

“A beautiful collection of 35 lullabies, will relax adults as well as children.”