The Language of Music

Children instinctively understand the language of music. Music draws children in, inviting them to match its pitches, incorporate its lyrics, move to its beat, and explore its harmonic and emotional dimensions. Music’s physical vibrations, organized patterns, engaging rhythms, and subtle variations interact with the mind and body. Even as music delights, it helps mold children’s mental, emotional, social, and physical development (adapted from Campbell, 2000).

Ideas for parents: You may not have any musical background, but you can be a musical parent by the kind of environment, experiences, and encouragement you give to your child to foster and support a love of music. Playing music in the home and car and taking your child to Kindermusik classes and later, to music lessons, are important aspects of musical parenting. The best gift you can give your child is to instill a love of music in the early years and then support your child as she pursues and develops that interest throughout the rest of her life.

- Contributed by Theresa Case, whose Greenville, SC program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

A glimpse inside Kindermusik

Take a look inside the Kindermusik classroom. Kindermusik is the world's #1 music and movement program for children ages newborn to 7.

Why Kindermusik?

“Great art doesn’t just happen. It has to be produced by people whose talent and skill are recognized early, nurtured, and given room to grow. Art needs, too, educated audiences to view it, listen to it, and pay for it. But audiences are created only if we educate our children to understand, appreciate, and make art themselves. And that means arts education.”-Carol Sterling, Consultant, Arts Education

SUMMER SCHEDULE UP!

Summer is around the corner! This is the perfect opportunity to try a shorter Kindermusik unit. If you enroll by May 16th, you will receive an early enrollment gift of a set of egg shakers or a musical book. You can enroll at www.kindermusik.com or simply by contacting me! I can't wait to make some music this summer!

402.217.0808

kindermusikwithjenny@hotmail.com

www.kindermusik.com

www.kindermusikwithjenny.blogspot.com

SUMMER SCHEDULE

Our Time, Zoo Train (This class is for ages 18mo.--3years). Toddlers and trains make a natural match—always on the move. Tag along this summer with a traveling zoo train. Bring your own stuffed animals for the petting zoo. Wear long white socks on your hands for polar bear paws and learn about real animals in the zoo. Sing songs for clapping time, and use music to help toddlers regulate emotions.
Home Materials: Zoo Train book, Home CD, animal shaker instrument, and poster. 

• This is a 5 week unit, classes are 40 min. in length. Tuition + home materials = $75.00. Sibling discount = $20 per additional sibling.
• Wednesday (June 6-July 11 {no class on July 4}) @ 10:20am
• Friday (June 1-June 29) @9:50am

Imagine That, Confetti Days (This class is for ages 3-5). Throw a new party every day. Ride a carousel inside the classroom. Play a balancing game and walk on the web of ropes. Do a musical move and freeze. Learn colors and sing the Spanish song "De Colures," "Pop, Goes the Weasel," and "Looby Loo."
Home Materials: Home CD, pair of confetti bell instruments, story kit, and a set of 5 picture folders.
*Parents attend the last 10 minutes of class for sharing time.

• This is a 5 week unit, classes are 40 min. in length. Tuition + home materials = $85.00. (note price increase due to increased length of class). Sibling discount = $23 per additional sibling.
  
• Wednesday (June 6-July 11 {no class on July 4}) @ 9:30am
• Friday (June 1-June 29) @ 10:40am

Family Time, Zoo Train (This class is for multiple ages 0-7). Family Time brings adults and children of all ages together, providing a dynamic and integrated musical learning experience for everyone. Children and trains make a natural match—always on the move. Tag along this summer with a traveling zoo train. Bring your own stuffed animals for the petting zoo. Wear long white socks on your hands for polar bear paws and learn about real animals in the zoo. Sing songs for clapping time, and use music to help toddlers regulate emotions.
Home Materials: Zoo Train book, Home CD, animal shaker instrument, and poster. 

• This is a 5 week unit, classes are 40 min. in length. Tuition + home materials = $75.00. Sibling discount = $20 per additional sibling.
  
• Monday (June 4-July 2) @ 6:40pm

Sign & Sing, Session A (This class is for ages 6 mo.--3 years). Playtime and everyday items around the house—such as a ball, bubbles, and family members—are learning themes in this introduction to American Sign Language for a child and caregiver. Parents will benefit from the session's four, research-proven strategies shown to speed language development in hearing children, developed by the child development and sign language experts Signing Smart™. With the DVD's visual dictionary showing parents and children making over 60 signs, plus a pocket-sized set of flashcards of the pictures and the words of the signs, parents easily incorporate sign language into their daily routines, favorite nursery rhymes, and stories.Home Materials: Family Activity Guide, DVD Glossary, and clip-on flashcards

• This is a 5 week unit, classes are 40 min. in length. Tuition + home materials=$75.00. Sibling discount = $20 per additional sibling.
• Monday (June 4-July 2) @ 5:50pm

Village, Peek-A-Boo, I Love You! (This class is for ages 0-18mo.) More than just a curious story, Mother Goose games like peek-a-boo help babies understand language. In this special camp, uncover more ways to say "I love you" using American Sign Language, soap bubbles, and parent-baby dances. Plus, parents can meet with other newborns and families in the community and learn how music improves the child development process.
Home Materials: Peek-A-Boo! I Love You! board book, Home CD, duck wash mitt, baby duck Gertie ball, and poster.

• This is a 5 week unit, classes are 40 min. in length. Tuition + home materials = $75.00. Sibling discount = $20 per additional sibling.
• Friday (June 1-June 29) @ 9:00am

Play Time

As parents we feel the need to make sure our child is entertained. I know I sometimes find myself feeling guilty when I leave my 3 year old to his trains while I do the dishes, the laundry, the cleaning, etc etc etc. But truly, making sure our children have enough open play time is vital to their development. So if your child is happily playing, don't feel the need to swoop in and rescue them. Read the article below for more info on the benefits of unstructured play time.

"Play is a natural activity for children. The child a play is self-motivated and actively engaged. Whereas games are governed by rules, the value of play is that it provides freedom from evaluation and judgment. The freedom of a playful atmosphere fosters intellectual development as well as self-construction and the development of personality.

Tips for parents: There are many things we as parents can do to inspire play. Just making sure your child has lots of time for free play is an important first step. You might also want to look at the play areas – inside and outside – and ensure that they are safe and inviting. Finally, consider adding some very simple toys and props to the playroom – things like wooden blocks, cardboard boxes and tubes, blankets, dress-up clothes, etc. will all help your child make his imagination come alive through his play."

- Contributed by Theresa Case, whose Greenville, SC program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

looking into some class fun

What a fun place to learn and play! A great look inside a kindermusik class.

Spotlight on Learning: Early Literacy

Spotlight on Learning: Our Time Away We Go

Big idea: Early Literacy

At Kindermusik, we love the quote by Emilie Buchwald: "children are made readers on the laps of their parents." Reading picture books together with adults helps children internalize some skills that are crucial in the development of true literacy.

 

Reading together:

• Fosters reading enjoyment
• Provides predictability through repetition
• Introduces new vocabulary
• Expands understanding of story structures
• Promotes critical thinking
• Encourages language play and creative expression

Each week in class when we read Shiny Dinah or another favorite story, your child receives all these key early literacy benefits. Plus, children develop music literacy through the rhythm and movement elements of Kindermusik stories.

Everyday connection: Act on it! Read your child's favorite book together and then pretend to be the characters in the book. Is it Shiny Dinah? Be the train or a passenger. Where are you going today and what will you see and hear along the way?