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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's The Roundtable with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:09] Robert Bannon: Okay, so listen, everybody. January 3rd of this year, a little one-year-old girl came into our lives, to me and my husband's life. I knew nothing. I teach seventh grade in Detroit, Michigan. I don't know anything about kids, but I had heard so much about Ms. Rachel and Mr. Aron, and everyone told me they were all the rage. So this little girl comes into our life, and we were told the only thing we were told is that she loves their show. So our next guest has been in our home. She's now with her grandparents and all is fine and well, but I have seen his face more than I've seen anybody else's face in my home. So much so that when we went to the Children's Emmy Awards, our next guest and his incredible wife sent the most beautiful message that lit up her world over and over again. We watched it over and over again. So I'm so happy, jump. I'm so happy, jump. I'm so happy. Jump, spin, clap, clap, stomp, stomp. The one and only Mr. Aron is here. Welcome to the show.

[1:05] Aron Accurso: Thank you, Robert. How wonderful. And I'm so glad that she liked that video. It moves me because I know for my one experience, there are millions of experiences of people who you've given so much joy. You've given a 15-minute break. You've taught words. You've taught the love of sounds, music, color across this entire world. It must be exciting, overwhelming, and insane.

[1:28] Aron Accurso: Yeah, I know. It's all of those things. And when you see our fans, your heart just bursts with joy. I mean, although the kids are so wonderful.

[1:33] Robert Bannon: Well, thank you for what you do. The album we're talking about is called I'm So Happy, co-produced by this gentleman right here, written, arranged. A lot of the music arranged, even the songs we know and love, like Old McDonald has a new spin on it that you've seen. And it just so happens to be a top 20, number one kids album, big giant billboard smash. How does it feel that it's out?

[2:02] Aron Accurso: Oh, it's so exciting that these songs are finally, that people are able to listen to the songs away from the screen and enjoy all these songs that they already know from the show, but can listen to them in other places, can have dance parties in the living room. And we took the songs, and I love our YouTube versions, but we thought about what we could, you know, I kept thinking about what else we could do with them. So, we re-recorded some of the songs with an orchestra and got orchestrations from amazing people like Michael Starobin and Michael Cosren, and I did some orchestrations too. And so anyway, it's all the songs families already know and love, but even with more sparkle.

[2:50] Robert Bannon: Is it true 19 vocalists, 42 instrumentalists, like you guys made this, this is the Miss Rachel and Mr. Aron big band orchestra album?

[3:01] Aron Accurso: Yeah, no, I mean, I couldn't help myself, I guess, you know, with my Broadway background, I love working with live musicians, so I wanted to have as many as I could for the album.

[3:12] Robert Bannon: Well, everybody stream it, it is a number one Spotify debut, it's a top 10 Billboard album sales, it's the number one kids album. And if you have kids, I'm sure you've heard it and stream it and send it to someone you love today. Before we get into some of the music and talk about how you come up with some of these incredible, catchy, beautiful melodies, you are from, if I'm correct, if the research is correct, you're from Denver, Colorado.

[3:34] Aron Accurso: That's right. Yeah, wait, there really is a St. Olaf College, not like we're Rose Island and the Golden Girls. I thought it was a joke on your website. It's real.

[3:41] Aron Accurso: It's real. Yeah, I think there's a rumor that somebody from our rival college, Carlton wrote for the Golden Girls, and kind of made it like an inside joke. So I that might that might be true. I don't know. But yeah, no, St. Olaf. It's a wonderful liberal arts college with a great music program. And I visited and I had a great time. That's where I went.

[4:04] Robert Bannon: And did you know you were going to go to New York? Was that always the dream?

[4:08] Aron Accurso: You know, it was and I knew I always knew I wanted to be involved in music and theater. And so yeah, I but I didn't take the directorate. I went to Minnesota first, but I it was it was just right for me. And it's funny, you mentioned Colorado, because that's where I'm from. And actually, Rachel and I spent a whole year during the pandemic in my parents basement, really creating the show in Colorado. So the show also has roots in Colorado.

[4:38] Robert Bannon: So when you moved to New York, I have a lot of friends who have played in pits, who accompany musicians, I do my own little shows in New York. And I call my yeah, hey, you have a violinist? Hey, do you have a violist? Hey, can you arrange something for me? There seems to be a hierarchy of theater and Broadway world, the seats, the chairs are hard to get.

[5:00] Aron Accurso: Oh, yeah. There's a people asked to shadow and then fill in and sub. What was your journey to be getting in the pit to work on Aladdin to work on Sister Act? It takes a lot of hard work and luck.

[5:12] Aron Accurso: Oh, for sure. Yeah, no, it absolutely does. And persistence and, and all of that. My particular journey. I, I was playing a lot of auditions. That was my bread and butter for a long time. And I was also writing musical theater. So I did the BMI workshop. And Little Mermaid was my first Broadway show. And at that time, I was playing the auditions, which is really how I got to know Michael Cosren, the music supervisor. And so that's the main reason. But it also helped that at the time I was working with Steve Flaherty and Lynn Aarons on a bit with writing craft. And they sent a note to Alan Menken. It was like, hey, there's this guy, he's really great, you know, wants to work on the show. And so it was like all of those things coming together that gave me that first break. And then it's just, you know, you and then you get to know more and more people and build a reputation.

[6:08] Robert Bannon: Oh, just a little note to Alan Menken, just like, hey, right? Yeah. Once you get that first credit and you get is does the door open? It kind of like if you keep persistent, once you get in the community and build roots, you build a career and a network.

[6:26] Aron Accurso: Yeah, I mean, I was definitely very lucky to, especially once I was connected with Cos and Alan Menken. A lot of my career came from that. I kept because I enjoyed working with them. They liked working with me. You know, I did go on to do Sister Act and other readings and eventually Aladdin. But there were other I did do some other shows like I did Nice Work If You Can Get It, for example. Yeah, it's really it's getting to know the community and then having those people wanting to work with you. And now, I'm so lucky to be using a lot of these people that I admired and that I learned craft from and having them help me with Miss Rachel. It's incredible.

[7:12] Robert Bannon: I mean, when you watch it, if you're a Broadway fan, if you if you watch the seasons, you know, a little Pentatonix moment will pop up a little Juwan Jackson moment will pop up. Yes. Some some Broadway superstars show up and hang out with the crew over there. Is it fun to be able to hire people you love and appreciate? And you've also created a cast of characters that now the whole entire world knows from your show.

[7:32] Aron Accurso: That's that's when you say that, it's just crazy. It still doesn't totally sink in because it feels similar to like you doing a cabaret like, hey, let me call my friend, you know, and have them be part of this. And yeah, no, it's just wonderful. It's just been wonderful. I mean, yeah, Kevin from Pentatonix reached out and I was like, yes, because I'm a big a cappella nerd. I was like, yes, I want to do this. Absolutely. And I was like, who should I ask to be bass? Oh, Juwan. That's why I called Juwan, you know, and it just it kind of works like that. It's like friends. And so yeah, I want to keep doing that. I want to involve as much of the Broadway community as I can going forward.

[8:10] Aron Accurso: And it gives me Broadway. It gives me the joy and the orchestrations, you're right. And it gives kids I think that students I used to I used to teach kindergarten. I think parents, teachers and kids like as much as we love classics and we love things that are done. We want new we want exciting and we want something that makes us want to sing along and have some joy. And that's what I find in your music.

[8:30] Aron Accurso: The music that is sad or a little melancholy and bitter. Yes, I love a rainbow can make me. Oh, that's sweet. You know, I do like to bring in a lot of emotional variety into the show and sort of create that journey for the families and the children. So you're right. It's not all just how much, you know, can we get the kids hopping? It's also exploring these other colors of emotion.

[8:59] Robert Bannon: I love it. So before we talk about how this kind of happened, I want to go through some of the songs, if you don't mind. What is your process? What is your process to write? Because it's one thing to write a score for a musical. It's one thing to write a pop song or a jazz arrangement. But it's another thing to teach somebody something and make it catchy enough that the parents won't be like, oh, please shut this. I know they were thrilled that we came out because we had all seen the farm. We had all watched that. Yeah, we had new material. So what is it like for you to sit down and write a song? Where does the inspiration come from?

[9:34] Aron Accurso: It can come from a lot of places. I mean, very often, the episode gives us an assignment. Okay, like right now, we're doing an episode on pets. So I wrote a song about dogs or the phonics episode. We were teaching phonics. We're like, oh, we're going to do a phonics song or a song about social skills. There's a song called I Could Be Your Friend, where it starts with... And so this one, Rachel and I wrote together. Sometimes I write the song. Sometimes Rachel and I write together. And there are a couple songs by Rachel by herself too. But I Could Be Your Friend, it starts with social stories or scripts for kids to say like, hello, friend, do you want to play? Let's go down the slide. Things that the kids can memorize for social interactions.

So that's where the song started. That was Rachel's idea. And she kind of had a melody for it. And then I sat down at the piano and I played that, figured out what the piano part was going to be. And then I wrote a chorus and a bridge to go along with it, figured out the arrangement. And then we recorded it.

[10:42] Aron Accurso: How did you know that was my jam? That's my song.

[10:49] Robert Bannon: Oh, that's sweet, Robert. I know. I can say, hello, friend. Hello, friend. What do you want to play? Yes, yes, that's it. That's it. That is my song. And I know it's amazing songs as well. So when these get done in the beginning, it looked like you guys were a green screen. It looked like you guys were making YouTube videos. And then as time went on, you noticed that something must have been happening. It went from views and sharing it with friends to a very scary, gigantic steamroller of a number. What is it? Many people don't understand what that is like. What is it like in your head? Is there a moment you looked at each other and said, what is going on? What is happening?

[11:29] Aron Accurso: I mean, a little bit. Yeah, a little bit. In some ways, we've kept the spirit of those early days alive. And the fact that we didn't know where this was going, I think, helped us be less precious with it. So you're right. It was so simple at the beginning.

[11:52] Aron Accurso: We didn't have a tripod, we just stacked up books, put a camera down, I pulled up the green screen. I just would go behind the green screen and play the piano. And then little by little, we're like, okay, let's try to add, let's add guitar, let's add drums, let's get a little bit, you know, I think our camera, I'm not even sure it was 1080. I mean, it was like a really old camera. And then, but yeah, we did see the numbers going up. We also saw like parents reaching out to us, and saying how it affected them. Nurses, families, you know, all kinds of people. And that really helped fuel us as well, like, like the idea that we could use our show, and our platform to help families to help children talk to model, inclusivity and kindness and love.

And so all of that got us really excited to keep making videos. And it was the pandemic when, when we were building this, there was, you know, the theater world was completely, there was no theater, we were doing zoom readings, and it was crazy. So it really gave us that opportunity to explore this and, and try and turn it into something.

[13:09] Robert Bannon: Well, I love it. And now everybody can go buy the books and listen to the music and buy Herbie and support the whole Miss Rachel, that's you. The rumor is that her behind the scenes. Is that your voice? Is that you? That plays Herbie?

[13:23] Aron Accurso: Yeah, that Yeah. So I play all the puppets. You know, right before we did the show, I was writing a show with puppets. And I like puppets as a kid. So it, it was kind of our combined experiences that somehow came together into what Miss Rachel is. But yes, I play Herbie. Yeah, I'm a Muppet Nista. So I love them. I live for a puppet. I love Muppets. I love I live for I have a stuffed Herbie in my house.

[13:49] Robert Bannon: Oh, I do. So amazing. So when you in 2010, this is what the story is. You were playing at a church, you were at a church, you met Miss Rachel, you met Rachel. And was it the music that brought you together? Was there? What was the initial moment that said, like, hey, this might be my person?

[14:08] Aron Accurso: Yeah, well, yeah, we, we both happened to go to a Unitarian church on the east side the same day. And it was at coffee hour. I just said, this is my perspective. I saw a cute girl and I was like, oh, I want to meet her. So I just I walked over to her and got introduced because somebody was standing there who I knew that was talking to her. And we started talking and then realized that we have a lot in common. And it was the music where I was like, oh, this is not just a cute girl, this is somebody I might want to date. So I said, I'll walk you out. And we just went on our first date right there in Central Park and kept dating and fell in love, got married, kids, Miss Rachel. And created an empire.

[14:52] Robert Bannon: And I'm here for all of it. Thank you, Robert. What I love about the story is I think I don't know you all at all. But I know that when my cousin was on the red carpet at the Emmys, when I see you all in public or speaking out, you guys put your money where your mouth is. You are exactly the way you guys seem to be online in real life. This is it. And I don't think, and I mean this in the most humble way, I don't think it's about fame. I don't think it's about money. I think it's about really showing the world some love, inclusivity and teaching people to read, write, sing and have joy. I think you guys would do it for nothing.

[15:29] Aron Accurso: Absolutely. I mean, we really didn't think this was going to turn into anything. I mean, you know, it was that's where it started. I think that people have asked me, what is the secret? What is the magic sauce or whatever, you know, behind Miss Rachel? And I really think it's that authenticity. I think that it comes across the screen how much Rachel cares about children and that we both care, you know, in making the show, that we give it a lot of love.

[16:03] Robert Bannon: I think you're right. And that's really sweet of you to say that. It jumps off the screen. And I think what people connect with is exactly what you said, that you didn't intend. You did it out of love. And when you do something out of love and pure, just joy, it just translates. And that's why kids love it. There's not a cynical bone in a baby's body. And that's why they love you all, because it's the same way. So has it changed your life? I'm sure tremendously. I'm sure you're very busy. Your guys are very public. That comes with a lot of scrutiny and changes. I'm sure sometimes you can't just go to the supermarket or things get weird. How's that part of it been?

[16:41] Aron Accurso: Yeah. You know, we do have a lot of people that recognize us now, but it's really a joy to connect with families and to meet people that are connected to a little one. So that part is mostly just wonderful.

[16:59] Robert Bannon: I love it. So for people out here who have children who want to, you're a dad and you're a musician. What advice do you have for people about, you know, you have a kid, they may want to listen to music. They may be excited about when they put your music on. What should kids start? Do you teach them music young? Do you encourage them to do a sing-along? Do you encourage car rides with the radio on? What did you do with your children or what do you suggest people do for all these kids who just love music?

[17:28] Aron Accurso: Yeah. Well, enjoying it, of course, is the most important and music is good for children in a lot of ways. My favorite is that it connects with the caregiver, like it's a really great way to connect and dance together and sing together. The repetition of music is also good for the kids. They can learn things like social scripts or words and predict what's coming next. Kids just, you know, at this age, just getting that like steady beat going, feeling it in their bodies, just developing a love for music. There were things from, you know, Rachel has a master's in, you know, in music education. So she definitely is thinking about that, especially with some of our earlier videos, she does some very specific music education things in those videos.

[18:32] Aron Accurso: Yeah, Apple is like we did that up and if you want to get kids who have trouble with speech, like as a teacher who teaches in a school that is alternative, that has a lot of kids who have issues with speech and reading, you know, things like icky, sticky, sticky bubble gum makes kids be able to pronunciate and it's so important in education to be able to understand sounds and what those things and those muscles, there's a method behind your madness is what I'm trying to say.

[19:01] Robert Bannon: Oh, absolutely. So since you mentioned phonics, so our phonics song started with a lot of research, Rachel did a lot of research in thinking about, are we going to do, you know, you shouldn't do I for ice or that's not how you usually introduce the letter I, it is the better and whether it's buh or buh, just the right way to say the letter B. And then she created these motions that go along with it that kind of, that help the children physicalize the sound. So like alligator, ah. And then, so she had this list and she said, can you, you know, can you put some music to it? And so we were filming very soon. So I took some time, kind of stayed up half the night and created what's called our phonics song basically, which has a chorus and then some music underneath saying the sounds and then we recorded it. And it's available. So you can, everyone, everyone is going to learn a alligator, ah, B, ball, buh, C, car, you know, you've got it.

[20:11] Aron Accurso: It's stuck in my head forever.

[20:12] Robert Bannon: That's great. Forever. I make when I do my show in New York and next year, I may do a whole evening of Miss Rachel because I love that. I at least know the lyrics to these songs.

[20:21] Aron Accurso: So I will come.

[20:22] Robert Bannon: Come on. I'm going to invite you to come. I'm going to make you get up and play a little. We're going to sing. I could be your friend. I, um, I want to say that, um, for you all, a lot of people ask you what's next. You have your third season is out. The album is out. I know you took a yes. When the Emmys happened, we brought up the album to you all and you guys said you was in the process. You took your time. You didn't just rip these off YouTube and throw them on to make the shoot. You created these and recorded them with these arrangements. What is the next chapter for you guys? What what are you? Is there something you're working on always?

[21:20] Robert Bannon: And I mean this. I'm like fanned out and I'm like a little starstruck by you all because I really have seen a lot of people have been here, but they are something that is as an educator. There's something very special. And as a foster dad, and I remember Miss Rachel saying her mother was a social worker and how important it is. You guys are family to people who don't have families. You make people feel comfortable. There are kids that get moved from home to home. They don't have consistency and what they have is you and they see you and that makes them feel safe. And that was so important and make me cry. That was so important in my house that I can't thank you all enough for being a safe place for these kids to land and for the love you show to everyone no matter where they're from, no matter if they have two dads, two moms, what color they are, what religion they are, that you guys are there for them and you guys support every single type of family and that is so beautiful. So thank you.

[21:53] Aron Accurso: Yeah, well, we're always working on the next episode. So we definitely like right now we're we're heavily into post-production doing the next episode, the next book, the next album. And then we'll see. I would love to do live performance someday. Maybe we can do a movie someday. You know, there's a lot. We have a lot planned. The best is yet to come. It's only just started.

[22:18] Aron Accurso: Oh, thank you. And I can tell you have such a big heart and such a big heart for children and it really comes through Robert. I adore you all. So much love to your wife and much love to your kids and everybody that's over there working with you. Thank you for making such incredible work and everybody needs to stream this album and follow Aaron on social media. The links will be below. Follow Miss Rachel. Go to the store. My niece was never allowed to watch television and then she got sick with COVID and she's in pre-K. So they put on Miss Rachel and the next week we call every Saturday we have a Zoom call. There was Miss Rachel dolls. There was a Miss Rachel. The Miss Rachel merch was throughout. It took one episode and we were hooked. We're fans here. So much love to you. Thank you for hanging out with me.

[23:09] Aron Accurso: Of course. I hope you have a great date night and I hope you can write music that's not Miss Rachel that fills your heart too and do it all. Let's make a big Mr. Aaron. Let's go. Let's make the Broadway show. Let's do it.

[23:21] Robert Bannon: I'm with I'm with you. Yes. Yes. I want to do that. Much love. My show is your show anytime. Thanks for being here.

[23:29] Aron Accurso: Okay. Bye.