Bev Meyer

'Music Lady' more than simple entertainment

By William Zilke, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: August 18, 2005

Bev Meyer, the Music Lady, returns for her annual shows at the Ypsilanti Music Festival.

The tireless performer released her latest music CD in July entitled "Hoppin' and Boppin' with the Music Lady."

The new CD contains traditional children's songs used in her sets, along with two Meyer originals.

Shelly Bergmooser and Geri Green also collaborated on two of the tracks.

Meyer has previously released four music CDs, Unplugged, Movin' and Groovin' with the Music Lady, the Music Lady and the Transition Tune Up Activity CD and Songbook.

Meyer's had played the nightclub circuit for 15 years, where she honed her stage and musical craft.

In the early 1990s she returned to school, studying Early Childhood Education, then later teaching preschool.
But music runs through the striking brunette like electricity. Meyer couldn't exist in a life without live performance or song and before long she was bringing her guitar to class with her.

It didn't take the irrepressible Meyer to realize her two loves, music and children, were calling her to take her own road.

And take her own road she did. There really is no pigeon-holing her into that of a children's performer. Those long years of struggling in nightclubs under every possible circumstance and hundreds and hundreds of performances as the Music Lady show all fuse together in her performance.

She is a veteran and consummate entertainer. There is no front person in any genre of music that can match her energy, natural charisma or talent.

To watch Meyer work her magic with kids is to see a performer with 20 years of experience somehow reach down deeper every show for something extra and keep her act fresh.

Meyer's natural flair for comedy and audience "reading" is so smooth and subtle, non-musicians who read this should take notice of how quickly she can assess a crowd and charm them into singing along.

It is when Meyer does do a song aimed more at the adults in the audience that you become aware of what a huge talent she really is.

The Music Lady is her persona and creation. Bev Meyer is a musician in every sense of the term.
But she is also an educator and positive influence in the classroom. She offers teacher training and keynote addresses for early childhood education conferences and on-site workshops.

Her experience as a teacher proved over and over again that a smooth transition time between activities was one of the hardest aspects of teaching.

Garnering her past first hand knowledge and the input of today's classroom teachers, Meyer recorded the aforementioned Transition Tune Up.

She entertains with plenty of music and dancing aimed at young children's already high energy level, as well as finger plays and Meyer's eclectic and creative twists on traditional songs and activities.

Bev Meyer, The Music Lady, will be at the Children's Entertainment Tent on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m.