The Benefits of Expressive Reading with Your Baby

One of the most important elements of the Kindermusik home materials is the literature that comes with each curriculum set. Creative and colorfully constructed, each book is merely a visual guide to the many distinct variations you will want to explore while sharing storytime with your little one. Reading to your baby in a creative, expressive manner helps your baby develop a solid emotional foundation. Exploring a variety of sounds and variations between vocal pitches exposes your baby to a stimulating environment which fosters communication and social development. This becomes evident when your baby starts to point, touch and ask questions about the book you are sharing together.  Babies develop thinking skills by repetition and imitation. These are two basic components we see again and again in musical forms as well. It is only natural, therefore that we make a conscious effort to enhance and stimulate the young child's environment by the combination of these two elements. This is further enhanced when your baby starts to recognize images and mimic the rhythms of your voice. It is important to remember that you are helping to make a learning connection between the two things your baby loves the most...the sound of the mother's voice and a feeling of closeness, togetherness. When reading to baby,  remember to read expressively, read beyond the words...including vocal play and time for discovery. It is a mother's treasure to hear her child's first words and feelings. Storytime provides young children with a good foundation for a healthy emotional development. Take the time... make the time to read with your baby!

Kindermusik Concepts and Learning Theories for the Preschool Age Child

Kindermusik for the preschool-age child is a combination of three major concepts and learning theories, which are 1)Pretend play experienced through play, 2)Valuing music through the social functions of musical communities , and  3)Constructivism, a theory based on the philosophies of Piage and Vygotsky. We see these applications at work in the Kindermusik classroom with the Imagine That! curriculum as well as the Kindermusik Adventures series for this age group, Confetti Days! Part of building a successful, world-wide program is the research and feedback that stands as the ultimate foundation for learning. Each of these topics covers the broad spectrum of imagination & creativity your preschooler is experiencing right now!
Pretend play is based upon a child's real life experiences and s a bridge to the creative thinking strategies that develop language, sensory, motor and cognitive skills. Children construct their understandings of the world and themselves through play. In the Kindermusik classroom, pretend play activities are strategically integrated with the music, vocal development, storytelling, listening, movement and literacy aspects of each lesson plan.
Valuing music is best described through the words of Douglas R. Bartholomeww, "Music provides ambiances for times alone and with others. It can tap into our deepest emotions and extend our range of feelings. No words are needed to experience these feelings and sensations that can lead us to ponder mysteries and wonders, both great and small." The musical experiences in the Kindermusik classroom provide connections between people, identify people within a social framework, and coordinate social function. Through these connections, music fosters a sense of community among groups of people.
Constructivisn in the classroom is based on the philosphies of Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934), a Russian educator and psychologist and Jean Piaget (1896-1980), a Swiss reseracher and scholar in psychology and sociology. According to Vygotsky, a child constructs his own understanding of the world through social interaction and experience with others. Vygotsky stressed the adult's role in assisting children with collaborative learning and the use of language as a critical tool in this process. Piaget's study of children and cognitive development has greatly influenced education theory and practice. According to Piaget, a child's understanding of the world results from his interaction with the physical and social environment. The application of this theory results in the Kindermusik setting which is rich with opportunities to explore, experiment, create & have fun within a supportive network of family and friends.

Kindermusik Adventures Summer Camp Programs

Summer is almost here and Kindermusik with Crystal at the Craig Wich Studio of Performing Arts in Tequesta is getting ready for Summer Camp Programs! There are a variety of options parents can choose from the Kindermusik Adventures Curriculum Series.
The summer session will be kicking our shoes off the second week in June with Peek-A-Boo I Love You! This is a wonderful, creative bonding time for babies & mothers to connect within the community.  Rock and roll, tickle and hum with a fun and energetic music time with baby.
Traveling up the learning ladder, we have Creatures at the Ocean for the toddlers ages 18 months - 3 years. This is an exciting time of wonder & discovery as we travel through ocean songs, instrument play, creative stories & fun snacks together with friends!
One of my absolute favorite programs this summer involves the 3 - 5 year olds in the Confetti Days Class. This fabulous class centers around the big top circus adventure where we imagine & play five very special classes together. The Confetti Days will also be invited to join the Lunch Club every day we meet for some additional summer fun with Kindermusik.
This July we will be kicking off the Tell Me A Tale Class for 4 - 7 year olds. This camp is offered in a more traditional summer camp style, with early care & extended hours available for working parents. With a focus on creative storytelling & early instrumental skills, these young children will be guided through an amazing one-week summer journey that will provide an enriching & imaginative musical playground.

What Kindermusik has taught me

Today's topic encompasses a deeply personal subject. One of today's class inspirations for my Village Dewdrops class was "We learn by teaching." I stopped for a moment in my busy morning preparations to reflect upon that statement and what it means to me. For a moment it seemed backwards to me. Don't we teach to learn? And then I had a realization...children teach US!
As a Kindermusik educator, I am constantly surrounded by eager children, ready to learn & follow with joy and enthusiasm for music....most of the time. Sometimes, as with all things in life, something gets thrown my way that I'm not expecting. Wether it's a child who is having a bad day, a student who gets their feelings hurt, or even an unexpected illness or accident that befalls us all at certain times in life. Today I will share my own experience as a mother of a very active toddler & also as an educator. Last week my very active toddler threw an instrument at me & gave me quite a bruiser on my chin during classtime. Wow! That was unexpected!!! It was at that moment that I realized, while grasping on to my chin & trying to "maintain my cool, collected composure" , that I had the opportunity to redirect my own child in a positive manner for others to see. And that's what I did. And we all left class with a smile on our faces. She learned that was inappropriate. Did she mean to hurt me? Of course not! She was eager, excited & having fun. Our job as parents and teachers is to somehow bottle that energy, that whirlwind of excitement and eagerness, and make it useful. So, although it was difficult for me, I'm glad that I was able to "maintain my cool". This past week at home we have had several successes I am proud to share. From the potty to the playground....things are going well! And today I looked at my bruise on my chin and I smiled. I'm glad she was having fun & more than anything I'm so glad she has learned a safety lesson! I feel blessed to have a job I love and an environment where I can embrace my children, their trials and their troubles.
Sometimes life gives us bigger punches we have to handle. The way we react, particularly in the presence of young children, can have a powerful, lasting impression. When those unexpected trials come our way, it is merely a testament to the power of music. Think of all the many times in your life you have been touched by the presence of music....your first dance, a favorite movie scene, a favorite inspirational hymn, a special song at a wedding or funeral....all of these musical elements enhance our lives and turn these moments into memories. That's what Kindermusik has taught me. Life isn't always what we expect...but if we listen closely with our hearts through the bumpy spots, smooth sailing is just around the corner!

A Mother's Gift of Song

As we celebrate Mother's Day this week, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on some of the joys being surrounded by such a wonderful group of mothers has brought me. As a Kindermusik educator, I am frequently surrounded by the laughter of children and all the many happy sounds of a musical classroom. This past week something wonderful happened in my classroom...all the mothers started singing! I sometimes find myself singing alone or with one brave soul from the group, but this week I really noticed all the moms in all my classes really singing...and singing beautifully! What a wonderful gift of song we can give to our children.
Children are naturally in tune with the sound of the mother's voice. Even while still in the womb a baby can recognize the mother's voice. Through music we are able to reach a new and very satisfying level of communication with our children. Lullabies remain the number one tool to calm a restless child, seasonal songs enhance life's celebrations of joy and remembrance, hymns inspire us, and music surrounds our daily activities in all walks of life. Wether it's your first ABC song, a special lullaby, your first birthday song or something that's just plain hokey-pokey.....
Congratulations all you Kindermusik mothers on a job well sung!

Baby's First Instrument

The human voice is perhaps one of the most fascinating instruments around. With a background in piano performance, I have had to bear the burden of a tremendously heavy instrument that just does not travel well at all! How lucky we are to have a mobile, rechargeable, fully custom personalized instrument whenever we need it...the human voice! Aside from the convenience factor, what's even more amazing is that a child will sing often before his first words are ever formed. Music realized through the human voice is one of the purest forms of expression. Even in the womb, a growing child can recognize and find comfort in the sound of his mother's voice. As a newborn baby begins to grow & develop the vocal chords and lungs are constantly exercised by the baby's cries and coos.
As a Kindermusik educator, I often have people wonder about the appropriateness of putting a very young baby (say....under 6 months) into a music class. This is a common question I encounter & one that first-time parents will often question their own judgement on this matter. The answer is quite clear. Babies cannot walk at a young age, however that does not prevent them from the need to move around. How do they do this? We help them! Babies cannot feed themselves at a young age, however that certainly does not eliminate the need to feed them. Once again, we must help them reach all their needs. Developmental milestones are facilitated through the Kindermusik method, and as parents we must help these babies fine tune their inner rhythms.
One final point, and one that should definitely not be overlooked, is that young children find so much joy through music. Their ability to find a beat pattern through natural rocking movements and first large muscle movements proves the appropriateness and readiness of young children for the music classroom. Babies, even at a very early age (under 6 months) build confidence in their own abilities with the support of a loving family member and a friendly, supportive group of peers. All of these factors speak clearly as to the obvious benefits of an early childhood music program...and the many smiles I see in class everyday are the living proof!

What will my child be doing in a Kindermusik Class?

• SINGING fosters the development of your child's first and most important instrument - the voice - through vocal exploration, songs, and chants
• MOVEMENT activities develop body awareness and coordination through synchronized movement, creative movement, drama, and dance
• PLAYING introduces a variety of musical timbres with various percussion instruments such as the glockenspiel, tambourine, cymbal, wood block, triangle, and drum
• CREATING stimulates your child's imagination with new sounds and joyful expressions
• LISTENING cultivates your child's attentiveness to sound discrimination with exposure to music from a wide variety of styles and cultures