My husband Jay is making slide shows to accompany some of my original tunes (search for “Susan Salidor” on YouTube and you can view Give Me a Little Beso and a live clip from my 2007 Hanukah show) and needs pictures of people (preferably you and your family members) kissing!   Please send your pictures to me at  with your permission to use them and Jay will continue to create new versions of Beso.  Thanks!

  Kristen & Andrew

Hello friends and happy new year to all.  February has just begun and brought with it piles of snow and warmer temperatures.  My family and I are safe and warm and busy with many creative projects.  Jay is working on a new book, has just produced a compilation recording for the Chicago-based folk group, Voices, and recently had a play accepted at the Inspirato Festival in Toronto for the spring.  Hope visited an old friend at the University of Edinburgh for two weeks and has only just returned to Oberlin College in Ohio to begin the spring semester of her freshwoman year.   She will use her trip to produce a travelogue and poetry to be submitted for January term credit.  Hannah auditioned for and got into the choir at her high school and  is writing a new song she hopes to videotape and post on YouTube in the very near future.   She also painted a version of Keith Haring’s “Radiant Baby” on a wall in her bedroom this weekend!  Ali is living in Lakeview and has begun an exciting new job at Devry — congratulations, Ali! 

 I have also been writing.  A new song revealed itself to me last week called ”Three Dresses” based on the three dresses Hope wore most of her fourth year.   I mean three dresses at the same time.  I hope to record it and post it to my website for downloading very soon.  I have been teaching daily music classes and giving concerts, most recently at the Fremont Public Library in Mundelein.  Today I received a lovely letter from the Youth Services Manager that she has permitted me to reprint below.  Letters like this make my work even more satisfying and let me know I should continue writing and performing for young children and their families, even though my own children are no longer toddlers.  Thanks, Becky!

 I wish you health and happiness in 2008.  I will be traveling to downstate Illinois, Memphis, and Grand Rapids for performances over the next few months, but I’d love to make music in YOUR neighborhood this year.  Give me a call or drop me an email and let’s make it happen.

 Susan S.xo

Dear Susan,

On behalf of the patrons of Fremont Public Library I would like to thank you for your wonderful presentation on January 20.  Everyone had a wonderful time.  My staff member, Holly, was very impressed and has been telling everyone what a great job you did!

This was the best turnout we have had all year with our Family Concert series.  You should be proud you drew such a nice crowd.

On a personal note, my daughters and I have been listening to one of your CDs on the way to and from school this week and they love to sing along, particularly to the African songs.

I will definitely be recommending you again at the next librarian networking group, and hope to have you perform again at our library soon!

Thank you very much!

Becky Ingram, Youth Services Manager

For many years, I taught first grade, and we would sing the songs on your “By Heart” CD over and over again! My all time favorite song on that CD is “What Is Peace to You?” Each year our class would make a wonderful class book on “What is Peace to You?” with the children writing about their personal ideas on peace. We’d sing along with your CD and incorporate the children’s ideas into your song just as those little voices sing out on your recorded version. Since 2001, I have faithfully sung your song of peace with many, many children. Your song is like a promise that brings hope to all of our lives! Thank you for your great gifts and for touching so many lives with such meaningful messages! May every child’s heart, mind, and spirit be blessed with a Susan Salidor song!

—Norma O.B., Connecticut teacher
October 2007

Fall 2007

Dear friends,

It’s not every day that I receive a letter like the one above, but in the world of music, young children and the people who love them, sentiments like these are a happy part of my job. I am grateful every day for my work and the children who gift me with their innocence, intelligence, and eagerness to sing, dance and make a joyful sound.

It’s not me, of course, that makes these children wonderful to be around. It’s the nature of childhood and all things sweet and loving. I recently returned from a Children’s Music Network conference in Albany, NY and it turns out that all of the 150+ participants shared similar experiences. We all receive hugs and sloppy kisses on a daily basis from our young students. Parents often credit us with making their children “musical” — a complete fiction, but it’s nice to hear anyway. Children are born singers and dancers and experimenters. Those of us who teach, entertain and record for young children are mere conduits between the children and the music.

The Children’s Music Network, for those of you who don’t know, is a national organization of teachers, performers, and composers who share songs, compare teaching strategies, offer up all sorts of advice from writing material to performing material to recording it to promoting it—you get the picture.

The highlight of the annual conference is the Round Robin during which anybody who wishes to may share a song, traditional or original. This event goes on for hours and hours (no kidding) and is a complete joy to be a part of. If you are in any way involved in the world of children’s music, you’ll want to find out more about the Children’s Music Network. Check out the website at CMNonline.org. Membership is affordable and admits you to the always entertaining and informative list serve.

This fall we saw our firstborn, Hope, off to Oberlin College in Ohio. Her father, sister and I are doing well, but we all miss her a lot. Hope seems happy, and I think she has found a good match for her academic and creative talents.

The 2007-2008 year has me teaching in many private and public venues in and around Chicago with trips to Springfield (IL), Grand Rapids (MI), Memphis (TN), and downstate Illinois for various concerts and teacher music workshops. I hope to return to Nantucket (MA) in the summer for my 11th year to make music with my dear friend Mollie Glazer, now director of the Nantucket School of Music (NCMC)—congratulations, Mollie!

I’d love to come and make music in your neighborhood, so drop me an email () or give me a call (773)271-5568 and let’s work something out.

Thanks for visiting my website. If there is a way to improve it, don’t hesitate to write me.

Look for a new children’s CD in 2008 with lots of new original songs and a few covers of traditional favorites, too.

July 5th: FREE Dinnertime family concert with Matt Yanny-Tillar at Fellger Park, corner of Diversey and Racine.

Week of July 9-13, 2007

If you’re going to be in Nantucket the week of July 9th, it’s not too late to sign up for my toddler music classes and to come see me in concert with island musician (and dear friend) Mollie Glazer. For classes, call NCMC at 508-228-3352 or visit NCMC on the internet at . 9:00-9:40 for 2 and 3 year olds; 10:00-10:40 for 4 and 5 year olds. Mollie and I will give two FREE family concerts this year: 6:00pm at Children’s Beach on Thursday, July 12th and 3:00pm at the Atheneum on Friday, July 13th. TEACHERS: Ask NCMC for information about a teacher music workshop sponsored that week, possibly on Tuesday (July 10th) or Wednesday (July 11th).

Tuesday, July 17th: FREE Family solo concert at the Arlington Heights Park District at 11:30.

The first 100 people who order CDs from my website will receive a brand new CD produced by members of the Children’s Music Network entitled “Free Prize Inside.” This CD features 15 children’s music artists and is not for sale anywhere. The Children’s Music Network is an organization devoted to all things involving children, music, social justice and education. Check it out at www.cmnonline.org.

Come and Make a Circle 2 is a Parents’ Choice Award Winner for 2006! Read the review and see all the winners of this prestigious award at the Parents’ Choice website. CMC2 has also won a NAPPA award.

Got XM? Sirius? Did you know you can request a Susan Salidor song from your satellite radio station’s website? Isn’t the web a better place all of a sudden? Click a link below to request a song!

XM Kids

Sirius Kids Stuff

The Songbook is a collection of piano/vocal arrangements of original songs from Susan’s previously-released recordings, along with a compilation CD! “The Susan Salidor Songbook” contains the sheet music and recordings for over 25 songs and is a perfect gift for families, children, and teachers who wish to play and sing along with Susan. (Songbook/CD: $25.00, including shipping. Available only through this website.) Click here to order now!

This is the place to catch up with the latest news about Susan Salidor’s recordings, performances and workshops.If you haven’t met Susan yet, she’s a Chicago-based singer and songwriter of music for children and their families. Her heartfelt original music has entertained and inspired scores of appreciative listeners around the world, and has earned Susan admiration and numerous awards from critics, educators and her industry peers.