by Suzanne Hadley

Memorizing and recording nearly half a dozen songs ranging from country to calypso is all in a day’s work for Callie Cryar, 11, and Travis Franklin, 12. Callie and Travis are members of Kidz Tunz, a musical group based in Nashville, Tennessee. Their siblings— Sophie Cryar, 15; Tilly Cryar, 14; and Trevor Franklin, 14—complete the group.

The Cryars have known the Franklins since childhood. When producer Steve Silar told the Cryars about Kidz Tunz, they recommended the Franklins as additional singers. Both sets of siblings come from musical families and have been singing most of their lives. All the kids are home-schooled, which keeps their schedules flexible to work on Kidz Tunz.

Since Kidz Tunz started in 1999, the group has produced nine albums—about three each year.

Callie, the third oldest of seven siblings, is quiet and reserved until she gets behind a mike—then she comes alive. Even though she’s the youngest in the group, she doesn’t hesitate to give suggestions that will improve the recording. Callie loves to sing around the house. "When I say something, I usually end up singing it," she says.

Travis is a world traveler with a quick wit. He and Trevor have traveled to all 50 states, as well as France, Peru, Russia, Switzerland and the Ukraine. They travel and give concerts with their parents’ ministry, Heart For the World, Inc. Travis enjoys swimming, hanging out with friends and reading J.R.R. Tolkien books.

Record-Breaking Day

On a typical recording day, the kids arrive at the studio at 9 a.m. Steve hands out song lyrics, pulls out his guitar and teaches the kids the first song.

An hour later they head into "the cave," what they’ve nicknamed the recording studio, where they put on headphones and sing the song a couple of times with the track. Once mikes have been adjusted and the kids know the song, they start with the chorus or verses. They sing them separately because it’s easier to get it right. They record the verses and the chorus three times each.

On the first two recordings, they sing in their natural voices. They call the third track the "kiddie pass." The kids sing this pass in lighter, airier voices to sound younger. Later the three tracks are layered on top of each other so in the finished album it sounds like 15 kids are singing instead of five.

The Kidz Tunz kids can usually record five songs a day. Steve says the kids’ ability to learn and record music is phenomenal. Even though they all read music, they learn the songs just by listening.

While recording, high energy is a must. "You can hear low energy," Steve says. To ensure the kids stay enthusiastic, producer John Mandeville uses silly antics to keep them smiling.

During one recording session, John glued an enormous paper smile onto a Popsicle stick. "Every time we were losing energy, he put that smile up in front of his mouth. It was so funny!" Sophie remembers, laughing.

The kids find a lot to laugh about while recording. "Someone will sneeze and it sounds really weird," Travis says. "When we get to that same part in the song, everyone remembers it and starts laughing. And then there was the time Sophie got her lip stuck in a water bottle. . . ."

"That really hurt!" Sophie says. "I had to take some medicine so I could sing for the rest of the day. I could barely open my mouth."

Recording isn’t all fun and games. It’s also hard work. "It’s never fun when you get stuff wrong," Trevor says.

Mixed Up

After the group’s recorded both the verses and chorus of a song, the kids rush out of the studio to the soundboard to hear the rough mix. This gives them an idea of what the finished song will sound like.

When the vocal recordings are finished, John uses computers to make the songs sound just right. He mixes the voices with the instrumental track. His equipment can delete breaths and lip smacks.

It takes the group two to three days to record one album. They record on consecutive days to "stay in the groove," Steve says.

John and Steve want to expose children to different styles of music, so Kidz Tunz songs incorporate big band, reggae and doo-wop sounds. More importantly, the songs teach kids about God’s Word. They cover stories of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

After a day in the studio, the kids are ready to go home. Travis says he likes the funny memories the group makes together. "It’s cool to know you’re doing something that not many kids get to do," he says.

	Q: Where do bees go after they get married? A: On a honeymoon. Abby B., 10, Massachusetts Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe