Just a Thought...

“Hands-on parenting cannot be underestimated in its effect on young children and their brain development. As parents, we must provide numerous, ongoing, and enriching experiences that will nourish our children’s brains. Music is such an experience.”

By Ear

Have you ever heard the expression he or she 'plays by ear?' Basically this means the musician is playing from his or her musical memory. In recent years, we have come to realize that 'playing by ear' is an important skill that all musicians need to develop. Playing from musical memory or 'by ear' is an indicator of good audiation skills and helps the musical perform more expressively. We want to encourage your child to develop the ability to perform music by ear as well as by reading traditional notation.





I used to worry if students were playing too much by ear and not enough by reading music. But then I thought that is how we learn to read. We learn to speak, we learn the alphabet, we learn the letter sounds, and as we read to our kids when they are young we are building their vocabulary through audation. They learn words and the ability to speak 'by ear' and the better vocabulary they have the easier it is for them to read and recognize the letters and words on a page. The same goes for music. The more musical experience and memory they have the easier it will be for them to recognize patterns and intervals in music!

Let's Get the Beat

Simple percussion instruments such as rhythm sticks provide many opportunities for children to explore and refine their ability to keep a steady beat. The rhythm sticks also help to prepare children for other fine motor skills such as drawing and holding the mallets of a barred instrument.

The best thing is a pair of spoons or really any kitchen utensil is a great pair of rhythm sticks. Challenge your child to listen and find other steady beat rhythms around your house, like the phone, an alarm clock, the blinking of the microwave, it's all around us!

Music is Everywhere!

We live in a world of sound. As children develop their ability to perceive and respond to the sounds in their environment, they are developing important skills that can enhance all later learning .Good auditory perception skills facilitate the development of language as well as music.

Where do you hear music? This week, work with your kids and help them recognize music through out their day. In the grocery store, in the car, at school, even hum or sing or put on the radio at home during the day at different volumes and see when they recognize it. Then feel free to reward their auditory discrimination skills by asking more questions like 'what kind of music? happy/sad/fast/slow. Get specific with them then ask them to move their bodies to match the sound! It's sure to increase the giggles and grins as well as their listening skills.

Let the fun begin!!

We started this semesters classes off with a bang! Young Child 1 (5-6 yr olds) had a great time moving and dancing all around with their moms. When you are a first timer to Kindermusik you may feel a little silly dancing and flipping around a room with other adults, but I think you quickly learn how much it means to your child and how much fun they have! Just let loose and dance and sing with them! They were all saying 'this is so fun mom!' They were excited about their new bags and CD's and folders and books. We learned 'I like to play the sticks' and are working on feeling the beat.

Young Child 3 had so much fun building their very own dulcimers with their moms. There was so much excitement as they received new materials, CD's, songs, a cool bag for their dulcimer and even got to bring their instrument home on the very first day and decorate it!! I was so impressed with how much these kids actually remembered and retained over the summer break. We did a little rhythm and note review and they were right back on the bike. They even remembered quite a few of the songs too! Now they can't wait to play their new string instrument.

Love to have more of you :)