What the Locals are Saying.....

We are big fans of Jamie's Kindermusik classes. My 2 year old loves them and wants every day to be 'music school' day. We have noticed many benefits from participating in the Kindermusik program. My personal favorites include the bonding time, the musical awareness, and how the structure helps my toddler transition to and from activities and errands better. The music int eh program is fun and provides opportunities for parent/child/family to have bonding time. It's really exciting to be able to all be singing together and playing instruments not just on the day we go to class, but throughout the week. The materials (cd's, books, and instruments )are a big hit with my toddler. We enjoy having music time everyday and I enjoy knowing that this is m y time where I don't answer the phone, check email, or do housework. It's our time to play and bond. Kindermusik makes it easy to schedule that time because I know I have invested it, that I don't have to prepare anything, and that it is proven to help her development. I feel like Kindermusik is an investment in my child's future. Not only is she having a blast but she is also learning skills that will help her in school and later in life. It's incredible to see the learning capacity of these little children. I admit to being ecstatic when I see that my daughter is playing on the beat, recognizing/naming a variety of instruments, and happily singing whether it's at home or in the car. We are so happy we found the Kindermusik program and know that you will be too.



Jen Morrison



When we started Kindermusik, my daughter was 18 months old and EXTREMELY shy. The first few classes were spent trying to get her comfortable with all the new faces, but honestly-it didn't take long. The songs and games were all so fun that she came around in no time! Whenever I so much as mentioned Kindermusik she would gallop around the room the way she learned to in class, to the beat of a drum. The songs are great for kids and my little girl still begs me to turn on the cd's every single day. It was definitely a growing experience for her and I can't wait to be back in another class with Miss Jamie-who is SO sweet and so wonderful to the kids.



Lindsey Eager

The man with the violin

My aunt sent me this story and I HAD to share. It really made me think about whether I am too busy to stop and enjoy...even if the musician may be my own kids with a rattle or pot.

In Washington DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Back pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head back the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent-without exception-forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while About 20 gave him money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played on of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

this experiment raised several questions:
*In a common place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

* If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

*Why do we not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with on of the most beautiful instruments ever made?

There's an App for that.....

Kindermusik Radio has Arrived, and we have an app for that! The Kindermusik Radio app offers a parent-child activity for every song, and each activity is designed to engage and entertain young listeners as well as stimulate early childhood development.

Research shows that music helps children become better learners. Toddlers love to dance, swing and sing as they develop their motor and aural skills. Preschoolers strengthen neural pathways by making up songs and rhymes as their imaginations run wild. With 5 stations to choose from, the Kindermusik app will give you access to over 100 tracks, the very finest and authentic reproductions of classic children's songs, nursery thymes, and stories as well as Kindermusik originals.

The Kindermusik Radio App is available for iPhones and iPd Touches for $1.99 in the iTunes store. Try out our App Today! You'll be glad you did. Get ready to sing, play, listen, move, dance ANYWHERE!

Do kids have jobs?

If you are a parent one of your many 'jobs' is being your child's teacher. Your child's job? Your child's job is to play. Play IS work for a child's brain. The brain is designed for the first seven years of life to simply organize things. And organizing play is how the brain does just that. Not organized play, that is something that adults do to children-telling them how and what to play.

The brain's job is to organize all the sensory input it is receiving. Take opportunities to sit down and play alongside your child. As well, give them room to play as they wish. Remember, there really is no wrong way to play with a toy. Your child will play with the toys the way the brain needs to in order to organize itself. There are many times through out the day when we can help stretch or guide or children through an activity, we call this 'scaffolding.' Just like the scaffolding on a building builds on top of each level, you can help build on what your child enjoys by asking them questions. If your child enjoys playing with race cars, sit with them for a few minutes and then ask 'How else can your race car move? What other sounds does your race car make?' Questions that expand their thinking and challenge their abilities will help them learn while playing at the same time! And you will have spent some quality bonding time playing, and probably learning, from your child as well.

Aesthetic Awareness through Music

Aesthetic awareness has been described as one of the defining qualities of being human. Becoming aware of the beauty of sound-a part of the aesthetic awareness-requires key listening skills.

Sometimes the most unusual sounds and beautiful sights can strike a chord within us, and even within a precocious young child! Learning to search for beauty, listen for beauty, and discuss beautiful sounds-these are the building blocks to developing an aesthetic awareness that lasts a lifetime.

As adults, it's up to us to model an appreciation for loveliness around us and also create environments to help awaken a child's aesthetic senses. In order for a child to become a truly creative, authentic learner and creator herself, this awareness must first be developed and fostered. Even simple Kindermusik activities like taking a pretend windy walk, reading about Michael Finnigan's antics with the wind, or making wind chimes, are part of helping a child seek out and understand the aesthetic beauty around us. A nature walk, singing, painting, drawing, playing an instrument-all these activities are effective.

here are a few ideas to help your child continue to build aesthetic awareness:

1. Expose your child to experiences that heighten his sense of the aesthetically pleasing-museums, concerts, nature walks, etc
2. Point out the beauty already around your child- in nature, art, music. Talk about what he likes, or doesn't like and why.
3. Play good quality music in the home and /or in the car , surrounding your child with a variety of musical genres and styles. Discuss what she is hearing and how it makes her feel.
4. Encourage your child to express himself musically and artistically. Let your child pick the music he listens to while doing a little project. Keep kid-friendly art supplies within reach for those moments when inspiration strikes.
5. Enroll your child in Kindermusik! From newborn up, Kindermusik is 7 musical and magical years of preparation for a lifetime of aesthetic awareness.

The Magic of Family Time

Do you ever wonder where the time has gone? Do you look at your children sometimes and think " I swear I was just rocking you on my lap for naptime last month...." and now they are off to school and friends houses and too many other things. I cherish my time with my kids. I've learned they grow up WAY too fast and while I enjoy watching them grow and learn and become great kids, I also miss the time to just be with them. I drop them off for school and Tai Kwon Do and then drive away. Kindermusik is a GREAT opportunity to do something with them. Free of emails, phone calls, the dryer beeping. There are no distractions! You get to spend 45 dedicated minutes with your kiddos every week, then take the learning home with you and continue to form bonds and memories together through music.

I remember when my oldest 2 boys and I were going to Kindermusik classes together years ago. We learned songs about bathtime and I was so excited when they jumped in the bath one night and started singing (and washing) all on their own! It was so cute and fun and it was something we where able to share together.

In our Family Time class, rhythms and rhymes bring the poetry of language to children's ears and are integral components of early language development. Family Time keeps children engaged by tapping into their love of rhymes and silly words. Through play, children practice new vocabularies and experiment with a wide range of vocal expression as they broaden tehir understanding of language.

In our Family Time class, movement and learning are intimately connected, and as you know, all children love to move-each in his or her own unique way! With growing coordination and interest in their peers, they observe, analyze, and imitate each other's movements and play. They also continue to develop locomotor skills, coordination, and balance, as well as expressive and creative movement. One of the benefits of this multi-age class is that young children observe the movements of older children. They see more advanced physical skills and begin trying to imitate what they see.

Each class is filled with a variety of songs for all to sing. When toddlers and preschoolers sing songs written in an appropriate vocal range, they begin to explore their voices and develop their emerging pitch accuracy. Singing also helps with memory and recall, physical development, creativity, and socialization. Each lesson contains suggestions for participation by babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Older children will get involved according to their own personalities-in many cases they may act as helpers or leaders in the class.

Think of it as a joyous music room filled to the brink with singing, moving, and instrument playing. Creating a foundation for musical growth and development, as well as an opportunity for family growth and learning. Kindermusik Family Time provides today's busy families with a place for quality time together mixed with loads of fun!

I have classes starting on Jan 20th and 21st. Thursdays and Fridays at 10am!

Imagine That! Busy 3-5 year olds

I have been studying a lot about the 3-5 year old child. This is a busy, busy group of kids! Not only physically but as parents we seem to want to get them involved so early in things. Preschool, Tball, dance, playgroups, all seem to start at this young age. I'm guilty of this too. I signed my oldest up for preschool 1 month after he turned 3. He wasn't even potty trained but I thought he 'needed to go to school.' In my personal experience I learned they grow up way to fast and so my second child did not start preschool until he was 4. I chose to spend those early years building brain cells instead of school experiences. They will have plenty of school (as my 1st grader already complains about), why not try something that will benefit and compliment them in their journey to learn?

Enter Kindermusik.....

Psychologists, neuroscientists, and experts in early childhood development have demonstrated that music does more for children than bring them joy, it helps their brain cells make the connections needed for virtually every kind of intelligence. Kindermusik's curriculum is built on this research. When young children are consistently engaged by music in an age-appropriate, socially accepting environment, they benefit at many levels:
* They gain the phonological processing, spoken language, and comprehension skills that are the foundation of reading. Just as the alphabet is made of individual letters and sounds, music is made of individual notes and rhythms. Being able to hear and distinguish between different tones and beats lays the foundation for learning to read and write.
*They build the spacial-temporal and reasoning skills required for math, science, and engineering.
*They develop social and emotional skills that are essential for school readiness-like the ability to regulate their responses and relate to others in complex ways.

By moving and dancing to music and playing simple instruments, children improve their gross and fine motor skills. Activities that encourage freedom within a fun and friendly structure spark their creativity and build their confidence. And of course they develop a lifelong love of music.

Research shows that experiences with music 'light up' a child's brain, including areas used in processing language. In a study of children ages 3-5, music training was proven to improve brain functioning related to listening. Amazingly, after only 7 weeks of music classes, brain scans showed frequencies associated with increased cognitive processing. Music also has a proven impact on a child's verbal memory. Having a good verbal memory means they can remember the beginning of the sentence by the time they get to the end of the sentence. This has a profound impact on them in school and their comprehension ability.

So, I could go on and on about the many things I have learned and the amazing impact of music on our kids growing and developing brains. So to sum it up.......Music is the single best gift you could give your child. If they are already in preschool, dance, sports I would say great! Come see what music can add to that, give them 1 semester of Kindermusik and I promise you will see them improve in every aspect of their lives. They will be learning and increasing their abilities to comprehend, listen, move, balance, and building a foundation for reading, math, and science skills, all while we are singing and dancing together!

My 5 year old has had Kindermusik classes for over 2 years of his life, and I can see a HUGE difference in him as he is learning to read. He picked up on the phonetic sounds of the alphabet almost over night, and is able to remember sight words very easily. He doesn't get quite as frustrated with the process either. I attribute this to the foundation of music and the building blocks it gave his brain.

This class starts next Tuesday Jan 11th at 1:00pm.

The Young Child

I've been trying to become an 'expert' in childhood development. While I am FAR from it I have learned a lot on my quest and have really enjoyed the reading and studying I've been able to do. Something I read about a year ago kind of bothered me, but after I've studied more about it and thought about it I've come to a better understanding, and now it makes great sense. Here is what I've learned.

I read that young children should not learn to read music, AND learn an instrument at the same time. It's too much for most little kids (under 7 or 8) brain to take in the information on the page and internalize it, then immediately perform an action like playing the piano. I've taught private piano for almost 6 years and I can totally see this. There are a lot of anxious 5 and 6 year olds that want to be grown up and just sit down and play the piano like an older sibling or a friend, but when faced with all the components of comprehending and interpreting music on a page, while then needed to play something can be very overwhelming. I'm not saying they can't do it or that we should only give our kids easy things to do. I am saying at such a young age music should be very enjoyable and lay a foundation of positive experiences and the desire to participate in music because it makes them happy, not frustrated because they can't yet 'perform'.

As I've done more research and just thought about this on my own, I came to understand it more easily and clearly when I think of it this way. I have a 6 year old son so the past year we have been learning to read. I LOVE to read and I want my children to LOVE to read but I've learned that this task can be somewhat frustrating for them when the words just don't come as smoothly or quickly as he wants them too. I've thought about the process of learning to read, as I have a 5 year old that is showing interest and will sit next to me and my older son as we are reading together. Here is how it relates to Kindermusik.

A child first learns their alphabet, usually through a song or a rhyme. For a few years they practice their alphabet, recognizing the letters in patterns and pictures. Then after plenty of practice with just letters, they learn the phonetic sounds of the letters, kind of like their value or meaning within the language. Finally, after these two things have been mastered they learn to put the letters and their sounds together to form words. So in music it goes like this......first we learn notes (like the letters) on the staff, we recognize them and the pattern of reading music on lines and spaces. Then we learn rhythm (like the phonetic sounds of letters) in music, kind of like their value or meaning within music. Then after these two components are learned we can put them together to make music, either on the piano, violin, or even simple instruments in class.

Once I thought of it this way it made sense and my Young Child classes took on a different direction. I love teaching this class (5-7 year olds) because they are like sponges! They love to learn and then see the results of what they have learned almost immediately. The last semester was so fun to see them almost surprise themselves after we had worked on a poem or rhyme,then we would put it to music and sing and dance, then we would transfer it to an instrument and they were so proud of themselves for making music!

So, if your child has a desire to be apart of music, either singing, dancing, or playing an instrument the Young Child class is the way to go!