Getting Smarter Day by Day

One child and two rhythm sticks can equal a great big bunch of improv! Especially when you have an excited cheering section, ready to encourage with modelling and expansion we call "scaffolding". Scaffolding happens when mom or dad observes what the child is already doing and encourages them to try those actions in expanded ways. For example, if your child likes to wiggle the sticks, you could suggest wiggling them as the "rabbit ears" or "kitty whiskers" that we've seen happen in class.

Or how about tickling your feet with them, or mom's feet, for that matter!

Hiding them in your pants is over-the-top funny when you are two! The more options, the better, really. Creativity is a learned concept. As we model out-of-the-box options for our children in pretend play, they are starting to gather ideas from which to draw on later. Stimulating new learning pathways in one area of interest actually makes physical connections in their brain, making new creative endeavors next time easier and faster. Even if the new creative option has nothing to do with the previous project.

Creativity is a skill that is built up through opportunity and practise. So if you don't have rhythm sticks at home, get out a couple of spoons to play along with your Kindermusik CD's.

And bring your new wild and crazy ideas to class to share with the rest of us!

Counting blessings

On Thanksgiving weekend, it seems appropriate to think of

things we are thankful for.

Without making it an exhaustive list, here are a few of mine...

and in no particular order : )

lilies - my favorite flower

warm fall weather

my dog sleeping by my side

children who tap my back during music play-along

dinner ready when I come home

a handy husband

extra hugs at the end of class

watching my daughter do ballet

friends who call

homemade pictures for the class bulletin board

pumpkin pie and real whipped cream

walks at night with my son

piano music

a job I LOVE and find SO meaningful

Kindermusik families who have become friends

family

God, who loves us all

Want to take the first step of starting your own list?

So Happy Together

Let's talk about bonding through music. My son, Colson, has a friend, Kent, who also really enjoys music. They have known each other for a lot of years and share a lot of interests. Making music is one of them. Above is a picture of the two of them at a band event last year where they got to enjoy some craziness together on the keyboard. (Colson is in the blue sweater)

Today was my turn. Not only do I teach music Monday to Saturday, but I'm involved in music at my church, too. On weeks when I'm not singing in the choir, I help out on the synthesizer - usually once a month. Got a call from one of our music pastors at church this past week asking if I'd play synth while Colson was on piano.

Well..."YES!"

It was so amazing to be playing together this morning with my son and some other fantastically talented musicians! The drummer this morning asked me while we were rehearsing if it was kind of like being Wayne Gretzky and his Dad on the ice...big smile...

Happy, happy day.

When we do our circle dances at Kindermusik,

or play instruments together,

or sing out the children's names during our Hello songs,

not only are we nurturing musical skills,

we are developing a musical community

where people feel like they belong

and are part of something bigger than ourselves.

A place to belong and matter. No wonder we like to hug at the end of class.

What's the big deal about "steady beat"?

We spend a lot of time in class playing with the steady beat.

We dance to it,

pat to it,

clap our hands to it,

step to it,

rock to it,

wave to it,

speak it,

sing it,

and we get out instruments and think of creative ways to play along to it.

It is one of the most foundational aspects of making music. Being able to keep a steady beat allows a person to play in ensemble with others and interpret music as it was intended.

Every baby is born with an awareness of steady beat (thanks to mom's heartbeat), but it takes some exposure and being able to practise it, to be able to keep a steady beat with, and without, an external sound source. A stong sense of steady beat helps your child co-ordinate their movements. As your baby internalizes the steady beat you will see it evidenced in their co-ordinated movements of rocking, patting, even walking.

Additionally, as your baby grows into toddlerhood, a growing sense of steady beat helps with co-ordinating movements with timing, such as bouncing and catching a ball. Beyond even the physical movements, steady beat helps with your child's communication as they learn the rhythm of language. Speaking in smooth cadence is a key factor in effective communication. Tests have shown, too, that children with steady beat internalization are better readers and more successfull in math skills.

So as you are tapping your rhythm sticks this week, remember that your modelling is going a loooong way today. Your child is building bridges to stronger communication skills, strengthening eye-hand co-ordination, increasing their sense of group belongingness, and ...having FUN!

Something I did right...

You do know that in addition to being your child's Kindermusik teacher, I am a mom of 3 children...but not so little anymore (sigh...)

I remember my first born (Evan) going off to his first day of Kindergarten and discovering that he had a different teacher than we had interviewed with at the spring preview. (She turned out to be the woman who has inspired much of my classroom style, by the way. Here's a shout out to Mrs Lerbekmo!)

I remember going to the first parent/teacher interview of my second born (Colson) and saying "Don't you just LOVE him?" (and they did!)

I was just talking with a friend of mine the other day about dropping our last born daughters off to grade one and having a celebratory breakfast that day (big smile).

They do grow up so fast. Now Evan is in second year university. Colson is in grade 12, and my baby, Olivia (or "Liv", as I call her) is in grade 10. When your kids are little and you are trying to imagine what their lives are going to look like when they are older, part of you just hopes that you are making the right decisions now,when they are younger...

no regrets...and wondering if that's even possible.

I'm sure it's no surprise that my 3 grew up in a musical home. We have always played lots of music, danced at home, sang in the van, gone to concerts, and promoted music lessons. No...promoted is not the right word...enforced is probably better. They all started out with a lot of enthusiasm, but the spark did dwindle for piano practise over time.

One of my favorite things to talk about in class is how music training is beneficial for your child. Reasons too many to go into here, but I will say that I determined as a young mother that I was not going to have my children regretting a decision to quit music lessons. Quitting was "off the table" of discussion.

All 3 of my kids play the piano - and play really well. They have all taken a different course of training, but all read music, all can play multiple styles, and all have a different reason to play. One of the best moments of anyday is when I hear my children playing the piano for pleasure, or preparing for a school concert or church function. They have gotten past the hurdle of "I don't want to practise!!" and the complaints of "none of my friends has to take lessons, why do I?!!"

There were lots of nights of helping them practise...years of listening to songs we had heard many times before. Managing the hours of practise that happened nightly by having a piano upstairs and a keyboard downstairs so that more than one could practise at a time. But there were also proud moments at recitals, and whispered encouragements at night of how amazing I thought they sounded.

Now they have opportunities that many others don't...and they love what music has done for them! They all moved on to playing instruments in the band (french horn, trumpet, bass clarinet) and have all done extensive extra-curricular music, as well. And all that being their choice and joy.

Moms get a lot of bad press. Moms get blamed for a lot. But tonight...this mom is taking some credit for doing the music thing right.

Special moments come unexpectedly

Those of you who know me know how my heart is knitted to the lives of those I teach. I literally wake up every day with a smile on my face waiting to see the special people I call MY Kindermusik students. We sing, we dance, we love...

Today, at the end of our class when children were coming in for hugs, I was in for a special treat...

"X" was coming in for a hug....and then another hug....when he stopped and pointed to my earrings and said "candy". ("X" is at the stage where he has things to say, but the words are still not said in a way that everyone understands right away. Mom was across our seated circle and providing some interpretation.)

So we had a little conversation about how they were "pretty", but not candy. And as he stood there and touched them, I said words like "pretty, gentle, nice".

Then out came the gift....he took his little pointer finger and touched the bottom of my neck and said "nice teacher". (Mom offered the interpretation). I was touched and I've carried it in my heart all day.

The joy of knowing that we bring kindness and "niceness" to others' lives...priceless!

A sweet reward!

Whoosshhhhhhhh. Filling a tub to the very top, although not exactly environmentally friendly, is a sweet, sweet experience. All the stresses of the day... all the tensions carried in my shoulders... all get washed away in the slow soak of a just-about-too-hot bath. Admin. week is done. One giant smile!

It's not just our kids who need to learn to relax like we do in our Village and Our Time classes. Moms and Dads do, too. And Kindermusik teachers...

Ready to pour your own spa experience?

And so it begins, again

Ready...

The paint is on, the carpet is in, the posters are up, the instruments are sorted and cleaned. All we need is the music on and the children to arrive. I hope you're all as excited as I am to start next week.

Set...

There are a few of you who like to call in at the last minute - don't miss out!! Research shows that children involved in childhood music education develop better co-ordination, better math skills, better organization, better diligence, better expressive language, better self-esteem....shall I go on?

Here we go...

You know you're going to LOVE it! Imagine - getting new CD's to enjoy (aren't your others now already known by heart (smile)...and connecting with your familiar and not-yet-known friends! Can hardly wait to see you all!!!

The Rhythm of Life

I know it has been way too long since my last post...but there is a reason. We had a family vacation planned. So for the last couple of weeks I have been enjoying the laid back "Aloha" spirit in Kaua'i and Maui.

Those of you who have been know, like I do now, that Hawaii has a different feel to it than other places. People aren't in a hurry. They are pleasant, and polite, and accommodating. The trade winds blow ever so wonderfully, and the surf rolls onto the beach in a consistent rhythm. It was a GREAT holiday!

As I was lying down one evening watching the local tourist channel about places to go and restaurants to eat in, I found myself falling asleep listening to the gentle Hawaiian music that accompanied the info. The music had been everywhere we had been, in the background, but definitely adding to the relaxed feel of the islands.

So what does all this have to do with music classes? It struck me the other day that it was much like a Kindermusik class in that when you are there, you get to enjoy the great energy and activity - both lively in some sections, and relaxing in others. But your children are making associations with the activity and the music they hear. When they hear the quiet rocking music we hear when snuggling with the "stuffies", their minds can remember the relaxation their bodies and minds felt in class,when later driving in the van, or in the comforts of home. Or they will recall the feeling of connectedness of the community dances we do. It is no coincidence that your child asks to hear the Kindermusik CD's again and again, as they are taken away to a very happy memory when hearing it.

In fact, I think I'd like to listen to some Hawiian music right now...

And follow that up with looking at the pictures we took of the enchanting Kaua'i chickens who wandered around everywhere!

Books - a little bit of perfect

I'm kind of bad for buying books thinking that "I should read that" and then put them on my bed-side table where they sit with about 6 other books that I try to read at the same time. I'm not kidding. In fact, 6 is probably an underestimation. There's probably 8 - 10 there right now. Two I've read but still have there because I think that if they are still there, I'll still be thinking about them. And then there are 2 or 3 that I'm actively reading, and a few more on hold for vacation reading.

As you can imagine, bookstores are some of my favorite stores. And my favorite section - my go-to-first section - the kids' books section. I love looking through the stacks of kids books - reminding myself of favorites I've shared with my own kids, or ones I remember from childhood. Or looking for new ones to share with the classes.

The colors of "Chickachicka Boomboom" grab me every time.
The lyrical lines of Robert Munsch's "Love You Forever" are music for the heart.
The spoken, hushed tones of Margaret Wise Brown's "Goodnight Moon", are relaxing as they slowly roll off your lips.
Who can forget the rhythm of Sandra Boynton's "Moo, Baa, LaLaLa", or the imaginative wonder of "The Velveteen Rabbit", by Marjorie Williams Bianco?

When I was putting a book away in the bookcase the otherday, I noticed a book I had found on the bookshelves of a clearance area one year when my son was very young - "Teddy Bear Tears". My son had a tender heart for all "stuffies" and seriously had a bed covered in them. When we read "Teddy Bear Tears" together that first time, you could tell that he totally related to the little boy in the story who had to have each of his four special teddy friends sleep right up close to his head so that they would not feel lonely at night. We read that book sooo many times together, and every time we read it we had special "stuffies" right there with us.

Books create a space where people can step into another person's world, only to see themselves more clearly. They give people an opportunity to give words to feelings that they never knew how to express. They let imaginations grow. They give parents and children an awe-filled, laugh-out-loud, snuggled-up-close, sleepy-eyed, perfect...moment.


What's your favorite children's book?