PBS KIDS to Debut “Acoustic Rooster”

Both the shorts and special were created by Alexander and Kay Donmyer and directed by Rachel Stolberg and Ranjit Gill. The shorts and special are produced by GBH and animated by Global Mechanic Media, Inc. Alexander, Angel Tyree, Harper, Tina Ouellette, and Chris Brodie serve as Executive Producers.

Centered on the titular character, a guitar-strumming rooster who joins the Barnyard Band of Jazz Greats, the series and special feature 24 original tracks composed by Juno Award-winning jazz musician Mark McLean, as well as special guests, including jazz icon Herbie Hancock and renowned jazz bassist Amy Shook. The music-filled special, Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, premieres on May 1. In addition to today’s sneak peek, Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams will debut a second short on April 11, with the remaining rolling out weekly beginning May 9, 2025.

The multiplatform world of Acoustic Rooster and his friends will also include an interactive game, Groovin’ with Acoustic Rooster, which allows kids to create their own music and play along with their favorite songs from the show.

Art from the PBS KIDS special Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band will be featured in two new board books from Alexander. Acoustic Rooster and Friends tells Acoustic Rooster’s story through lyrical, jazzy text, and Acoustic Rooster Sings the Alphabet is packed full of jazz facts from A to Z. The books are published by Sleeping Bear Press and will be available on April 1, 2025.

Kwame Alexander said:

When my daughter was a baby, I was having a really hard time soothing her so I put on Ella Fitzgerald’s record ‘A Tisket-A Tasket,’ then I played Wynton’s Stardust, and she was captivated. Immediately stopped crying. Playing jazz for her inspired me to write Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band to share the history and the power of the music and the musicians with the world through a fictional barnyard band.

The one-hour special, Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, will teach kids about foundational music concepts and the importance of teamwork to inspire them to use their creativity as an outlet for self-expression as it opens their eyes—and ears—to the richness of jazz. The toe-tapping special follows the musical adventures of the precocious, young Acoustic Rooster, who dreams of joining a world-class jazz band alongside his talented friends, including Mules Davis, Lil’ Herdin, Ella Finchgerald, Duck Ellington, and the Chick-A-Dees (an adorable trio of preschool chicks), whose names are all playful nods to famous jazz greats.

Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager at PBS KIDS, stated:

Music has the unique ability to inspire creativity, foster connection, and help children express themselves in meaningful ways. ACOUSTIC ROOSTER uses the magic of jazz to spark a love for music as it supports personal growth, making it a truly inspiring and fun experience for young viewers.

Each 3-minute episode of Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams follows Rooster and his friends as they go on musical adventures about friendship, fun, and jazz. These short stories highlight styles of jazz, musical concepts, as well as kid-relatable everyday experiences, each featuring an original song. Whether they’re helping a friend overcome sadness with a blues song or jumpstarting the day with a jazzy tune, Rooster and his friends will help kids understand the importance of expressing their emotions and how music can be a meaningful part of their everyday lives.

Executive producer Julius Harper said:

At its core, jazz music is about collaboration and working together to create something magical and beautiful. Through the story of Rooster, kids will learn how self-expression and individuality can help everyone in a community work towards a shared goal and that music can influence everyday life.

The Acoustic Rooster library also explores universal themes for young children and their families, like bedtime routines, celebrating birthdays, and more through a jazz-infused lens. In addition, the series and special are designed to help kids grasp key jazz skills such as following the beat, call and response, and improvisation, as well as introducing them to various instruments and jazz styles (like ragtime), and more.

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Support for Acoustic Rooster is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American People; the GBH Kids Catalyst Fund; and by public television viewers. Produced with the participation of the Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit.

Catch a sneak peek of the first short “Rooster’s Old MacDonald Song” here.