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Why Audio Adventures? Kids Listen Differently
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Albert Einstein
Audio adventures are different from audio books. They have full-cast voice
acting, sound effects and music like old-time radio drama. "Hoerspiele" have
been part of German childhoods since the '70s, the advent of audiotapes.
Audio CDs or downloads are the first medium kids can usually use freely without
interference or control from their parents. Audio adventures give them a
relatively open space to which they can retire to and dream. They listen to it as an
entertainment, to dispel bad moods, sadness or to boost good mood, well-being.
While listening kids usually do other things too like playing, painting, reading or
even their homework. Audio adventures are used more intensely than other
media in Germany. Kids listen to the same audio adventure over and over again
because they feel safe and secure when their expectations are met.
With little children sight is less developed than with teenagers or adults.
Perception of the world, adoption of their environment are happening much
more strongly through other senses, touching and hearing.
Exciting and funny audio adventures leave more to the imagination for kids than
TV. The reception of audio adventures and audio books is more associative.
Limited to sound kids can put themselves into the story more easily. They can
also participate easier emotionally. At the same time they can easier manage the
intensity of their emotions. They can dream themselves into exciting adventures,
but they can also easily take themselves out of such situations: Open their eyes
and stop the recording.
Kids listen to audio adventures over and over again, even specific scenes only,
often hundreds of times. The recognition of situations, reciting phrases and
dialogues, the anticipation of scenes, can give kids feelings of success, because
they are affirmed in their expectations and skills.
Kids listen differently: They hear more and what they hear should get more
attention!
By the way, on the covers Billy Brown’s audio adventures you will always only
find Billy himself. Leaving everybody else’s appearance – most importantly of
Billy’s best friend Emma – to your kids' own imagination!
"Children enjoy full cast audio adventures so much because they love the variety
and different sounds; it is almost like going on an adventure. And because the
audio is not all the same voice the kids can't wait for the next great sound or voice
to come up. Children love characters having different voices and try to imitate
those voices." iParenting Media Awards reviewer
About Us: From Hoerspiel To Audio Adventure
Inspired by the Hoerspiele (“Hear Plays”) stories of his youth in Germany, Giddio
founder and Top Kid Jens Hewerer is the first to launch a new concept in children’
s entertainment in the U.S. – audio adventures specifically for children on CD.
“When I was little, I would listen to my Hoerspiele with the lights out right before
I went to sleep every night,” said Jens Hewerer, founder of Giddio and “Top Kid”
at the company. “I liked the adventures and that I could listen to them anytime I
wanted,” he said. These memories and a brood of nieces and nephews led
Hewerer to search for similar fare in the U.S. “There was nothing like them,“
Hewerer said. He founded Giddio in 2005, locating talent, a creative team and a
production team entirely via Craigslist. The first two audio adventures of Billy
Brown were then launched in September 2006. Meant as a supplement to books
and to parents reading to their children, Giddio’s audio adventures offer a
relatively low-technology, user-friendly format that children can listen to
whenever they choose. “The episodes range between 30 – 45 minutes long, so the
format is particularly good for long car rides,” said Hewerer. Each episode is self
contained – no cliffhangers here – and star Billy Brown and his friend Emma, who
solve a puzzle or have an adventure in their hometown of Johnstown. Along the
way they meet people that a young listener might see, from mail carriers and
librarians to friends and neighbors.
Hewerer develops the concept and theme for each CD. He works closely with a
team of voice actors, creative and production people to insure high quality
production and entertainment in each Billy Brown adventure.
All talent - creative, production, and cast – was found entirely on Craigslist. They
include the cast (Billy Brown: Phillip Levi Kayalo; Emma: Mary Murphy;
Narrator Marlene O’Haire); and production (Script/Direction: Sharyn Rothstein;
Sound: John Dylan Keith) as well as creative (Billy Brown theme song written by
Sean Michael Flowers and performed by Brandon Cutrell. Illustrations: James L.
Barry).
Using a Yahoo! Store, we guarantee you service and security!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Albert Einstein
Audio adventures are different from audio books. They have full-cast voice
acting, sound effects and music like old-time radio drama. "Hoerspiele" have
been part of German childhoods since the '70s, the advent of audiotapes.
Audio CDs or downloads are the first medium kids can usually use freely without
interference or control from their parents. Audio adventures give them a
relatively open space to which they can retire to and dream. They listen to it as an
entertainment, to dispel bad moods, sadness or to boost good mood, well-being.
While listening kids usually do other things too like playing, painting, reading or
even their homework. Audio adventures are used more intensely than other
media in Germany. Kids listen to the same audio adventure over and over again
because they feel safe and secure when their expectations are met.
With little children sight is less developed than with teenagers or adults.
Perception of the world, adoption of their environment are happening much
more strongly through other senses, touching and hearing.
Exciting and funny audio adventures leave more to the imagination for kids than
TV. The reception of audio adventures and audio books is more associative.
Limited to sound kids can put themselves into the story more easily. They can
also participate easier emotionally. At the same time they can easier manage the
intensity of their emotions. They can dream themselves into exciting adventures,
but they can also easily take themselves out of such situations: Open their eyes
and stop the recording.
Kids listen to audio adventures over and over again, even specific scenes only,
often hundreds of times. The recognition of situations, reciting phrases and
dialogues, the anticipation of scenes, can give kids feelings of success, because
they are affirmed in their expectations and skills.
Kids listen differently: They hear more and what they hear should get more
attention!
By the way, on the covers Billy Brown’s audio adventures you will always only
find Billy himself. Leaving everybody else’s appearance – most importantly of
Billy’s best friend Emma – to your kids' own imagination!
"Children enjoy full cast audio adventures so much because they love the variety
and different sounds; it is almost like going on an adventure. And because the
audio is not all the same voice the kids can't wait for the next great sound or voice
to come up. Children love characters having different voices and try to imitate
those voices." iParenting Media Awards reviewer
About Us: From Hoerspiel To Audio Adventure
Inspired by the Hoerspiele (“Hear Plays”) stories of his youth in Germany, Giddio
founder and Top Kid Jens Hewerer is the first to launch a new concept in children’
s entertainment in the U.S. – audio adventures specifically for children on CD.
“When I was little, I would listen to my Hoerspiele with the lights out right before
I went to sleep every night,” said Jens Hewerer, founder of Giddio and “Top Kid”
at the company. “I liked the adventures and that I could listen to them anytime I
wanted,” he said. These memories and a brood of nieces and nephews led
Hewerer to search for similar fare in the U.S. “There was nothing like them,“
Hewerer said. He founded Giddio in 2005, locating talent, a creative team and a
production team entirely via Craigslist. The first two audio adventures of Billy
Brown were then launched in September 2006. Meant as a supplement to books
and to parents reading to their children, Giddio’s audio adventures offer a
relatively low-technology, user-friendly format that children can listen to
whenever they choose. “The episodes range between 30 – 45 minutes long, so the
format is particularly good for long car rides,” said Hewerer. Each episode is self
contained – no cliffhangers here – and star Billy Brown and his friend Emma, who
solve a puzzle or have an adventure in their hometown of Johnstown. Along the
way they meet people that a young listener might see, from mail carriers and
librarians to friends and neighbors.
Hewerer develops the concept and theme for each CD. He works closely with a
team of voice actors, creative and production people to insure high quality
production and entertainment in each Billy Brown adventure.
All talent - creative, production, and cast – was found entirely on Craigslist. They
include the cast (Billy Brown: Phillip Levi Kayalo; Emma: Mary Murphy;
Narrator Marlene O’Haire); and production (Script/Direction: Sharyn Rothstein;
Sound: John Dylan Keith) as well as creative (Billy Brown theme song written by
Sean Michael Flowers and performed by Brandon Cutrell. Illustrations: James L.
Barry).
Using a Yahoo! Store, we guarantee you service and security!
