30 Sep 2025 Artist of the Month: Julie Coburn and Riff’s Notes

Posted at 9:14 PMh in Neighbors by

By KD Reep

When Little Rock native Julie Coburn set out to create something that would help children grow into kinder, more resilient people, she didn’t realize the idea had been in her back pocket for years. What began as a simple classroom song about the five senses has blossomed into Riff’s Notes, a creative venture that uses music to teach children essential life skills like empathy, gratitude and perseverance.

“I had no idea where this was headed when I first wrote that little song for a college assignment,” Coburn recalled with a laugh. “But when I heard a classroom of kindergartners singing it years later, something clicked. I thought maybe I could write more songs, only this time about lessons that would shape their character.”

Coburn, a former fourth-grade teacher at Baker Elementary in the Pulaski County School District, has always loved education. But she also knew that her heart was tugging her toward something more. “Academic content is important,” she explained. “But social and emotional learning feels urgent. Kids need tools to navigate their emotions and relationships. That’s where Riff’s Notes comes in.”

Riff’s Notes, which is named after a playful, music-note-shaped dog character, features songs set to familiar public domain tunes. The lyrics, written by Coburn, are crafted to reinforce positive values and affirmations. By repeating these catchy, uplifting songs, children internalize messages that help them believe in themselves and treat others with kindness.

“It’s like planting seeds,” Coburn said. “Even if some of the words are beyond a child’s understanding right now, they take root. Over time, they grow into a harvest of healthy relationships and strong self-worth.”

Though she once shied away from technology and social media, Coburn knew she had to embrace the digital world to get her message out. In 2022, she launched the Riff’s Notes YouTube channel, which now features original songs and animated videos designed to make learning fun and accessible.

“This was all new territory for me,” she said. “I’d never even had a Facebook account. But I knew if I wanted to reach children and teachers, I had to learn.” She taught herself video creation through Canva, hired local production company See Spot Run to help create her first animated video, and worked with illustrator Noel Clark of Washington State to bring Riff the dog to life. 

Left: A.J. Kirk records the “Good Sportsmanship” song and chants about responsibility. Top right: Julie Coburn, the founder of Riff’s Notes and the heart behind the harmony. Bottom right: Shae Kirk gives life to Riff the dog by singing, whistling and playing guitar for all the songs.

Music is at the heart of Riff’s Notes, and family friend Shae Kirk lends his warm, friendly voice to many of the songs. His wife and daughter have also joined in on recordings, making the project a true community effort.

Behind the songs and the business plan is a woman who deeply values family. Coburn and her husband raised two sons together. Today, they’re the proud grandparents of twin boys who will celebrate their second birthday this month.

“My grandbabies love Riff’s Notes,” Coburn said. “They clap along to the songs, and it’s such a joy to see them light up. That’s when I know I’m doing something meaningful.”

Her family’s support has been essential. From helping care for her grandchildren to cheering her on as she navigates entrepreneurship, she said her loved ones keep her motivated. “The values I sing about — kindness, empathy, perseverance — are the very ones that have carried me through 33 years of marriage and parenting. I want to share those with the next generation.”

While Riff’s Notes is still young, Coburn has big dreams. She hopes to grow her YouTube following enough to remove the advertisements that interrupt her videos. Longer term, she envisions building a robust online community where parents, teachers and children can all access resources to encourage positive character development.

“I want this to be something people talk about at the dinner table,” she said. “I want character traits like empathy, kindness and resilience to become part of everyday language in homes and classrooms.”

She’s also developing a new website, riffsnotes.com, which will include teacher resources like weekly affirmations and character-building activities. 

“We can’t stop negative thoughts just by wishing them away,” Coburn said. “We must replace them with something positive. That’s what these songs are about — repetition, positivity, planting seeds. They’re little reminders that can grow into something life-changing.”