KCSN’s ‘Song’ Aims to Teach With Music

KCSN-FM(88.5) has begun broadcasting a children’s radio show that public school administrators hope will become a part of the curriculum in San Fernando Valley classrooms.

“Here’s A Song” airs at 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The half-hour program--geared toward kindergarten and elementary grades--attempts to sugarcoat education by blending it with folk music.

On Tuesday, for example, host Jacki Breger played several songs about baseball, then talked about Jackie Robinson becoming the first black player in the major leagues in 1947. A brief lesson on segregation followed.

“The idea is great,” said Rubye Mills, a director of instruction for the Los Angeles Unified School District. “Kids need to have some sort of stimulus to get involved with learning.”

Breger has been giving music presentations in Los Angeles schools for 15 years. She decided to bring her melodic teaching to radio after being contacted by KCSN officials, who wanted to add a children’s show to their classical format. The program made its debut April 3.

“I’m really impressed with it so far,” said Ken Mills, general manager at KCSN, a public radio station licensed to Cal State Northridge.

Only a few classrooms have tuned in to the new show, school officials said. Breger is mailing a schedule of future topics to principals across the Valley (KCSN broadcasts to the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys). Mills said she hopes that teachers, given advance notice, can include “Here’s A Song” in their plans.