Children's Work is to Play

All children play. Whether it's a child playing alone with an imaginary friend or groups of children playing favorite games such as 'hide and seek,' all children engage in some type of play every day. But play isn't purely for fun and entertainment-it serves numerous roles in the development of children.
Play involved diverse activity where a broad range of learning can thrive and flourish. Children use play to test ideas, discover relationships, extract information, express their feelings and ideas, define themselves and develop peer relationships.
Children are actively involved in play. A child internalizes his or her discoveries, which belongs to that child for the rest of their life. Therefore, it is essential that play be an important component of the educational process. For young children, curriculum should be child-centered with open-ended learning experiences with a broad range of developmental goals. This type of program puts more emphasis on motivation, learning by discovery, cognitive process, and the well being of the child from a whole child perspective. Kindermusik classes provide these important ingredients of play.
This is very evident in our Hello Weather Let's Play Together class on Tuesday mornings. We love to splash in pretend mud puddles, put on our goulashes and dance in the rain, and tip toes with the rain all around the town! There is never a shortage of giggles and fun, all while we are learning!

Music and movement are magical ingredients to learning for both parent and child. A baby's first communication is through movement. A toddler will respond immediately to lively music with what seems to be humorous, uncoordinated movements but to him are quite serious attempts to coordinate movement with rhythmic patterns. The young child seems to be moving constantly-leaping off couches, rolling down hills, and spinning around and around until she falls down in a giggling flop on the floor.

Our brains fully develop through movement activities such as crawling, rolling, turning, walking,s kipping, reaching, swinging and much more. The brain has a plan for development that involves specific and intensive motor activities to make full use of our complicate nervous system. The nervous system of each human being must go through a series of developmental stages before the brain can operate at its full potential. All children 'program' their motor and perceptual equipment, nerves and brain cells by using their whole body and all their senses.

Movement is fundamental for the development of the central nervous system but movement and rhythm are also essential for the development of the soul. When a parent moves with her infant, a special bonding takes place that is extremely important for social and emotional growth. When a parent sings to her child, not only are language skills being developed, but also a sense of love, comfort and harmony. The special touching, laughing and rhythmic moving that takes place in a music and movement class lays a very strong and much needed foundation for a happy, healthy and joyful life!

The Kindermusik curricula are specially designed to provide opportunities are for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and young children to learn through interactive music and movement activities. Kindermusik class provides parents and children a variety of stimulating experiences that will be beneficial for everyone.

http://play.kindermusik.com Is a great site offering free music for you to download and enjoy in our home, in the car, or on your MP3. Take a few minutes with your kids and find some music you like, turn it up and get moving together! Enjoy

Free Demonstration class

I'll be holding a few free classes coming up very soon so mark your calendars. Thursday September 16th at 11am and 2pm as well as Saturday September 25th at 11am and 2pm I'll be holding 30 minute free classes at the Dragons and Fairy Tales bookstore right on the corner of Pony Express and Ranches Parkway. I did a few in July and August and had a great turn out! Whether you've been before or are curious to see what it's all about, please bring your little ones and come join us!

Discovery-your child's path to learning

What would it be like to walk through a puddle for the first time? To not notice it coming up and then just hear the rhythm of your walk change from a tap tap tap to splish splish splash? . . . You look down and notice you are standing in water. You see it, consider it, feel it. What an adventure of the senses!

Parents know how lucky they are to see this happen right before their eyes: their child discovering something new – something that has a sound, or a feeling, or shines, or moves. Discovery can be an incredible gift.

By letting your child walk through that puddle, millions (maybe billions) of sensory connections are made. Thought patterns, optical pathways, auditory stimulation, and your child’s perception of the world are altered and strengthened.

Embrace what a difference you make for your child by taking those walks that last a long long time but cover very little ground. Remember, every stone, pine cone, ant, bird, leaf, and puddle holds a world of discovery. Don’t miss it! Don’t worry about the puddle – the shoes will dry and the pants can be cleaned. The work of the child is to experience something new every day, and that’s one of the best ways you can help your kids learn and grow.

Focused, one on one time with your child is the best gift you could give them. Kindermusik believes that parents are their children's best teachers, and home is the best classroom. Each week in my Kindermusik classes we go over a take home activity that will provide the opportunity for you to spend time with your child, watching them learn and discover the world around you. Today we had so much fun discovering our story telling abilities. We had stories about cats folding the clothes and goldfish taking baths. The giggles were so so cute!!

Fall Schedule

It's hard to believe that school will start in only a few weeks. It's hard to believe it's time to start thinking of your child's extra-curricular activities for after school. It shouldn't be hard however to.....sign up for Kindermusik!!

I will be offering a Young Child (5-7 year old) class on Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 beginning September 7th. The Young Child curriculum prepares children who are eager for their first experiences with musical symbols and instrument discovery but may not yet be ready for formal lessons and traditional music reading with an instrument.
* Singing and vocal development. It may sound like a foreign language when your child sings “ta” and “ti-ti,” but he’s using the language of professional musicians and composers and getting ready to read and write simple rhythm patterns.
* Movement. You’ll see your child dance expressively to music, giving him the practice he needs to coordinate his body movements to the sound of music. This kind of musical play not only improves musicianship, but his physical coordination as well.
* Reading and writing. He’ll learn melodic notation and identify pitches such as the C, A, and D notes on the treble clef, plus rhythmic notation. Eventually he’ll even compose his own music.
* Focused listening. Your child will learn to identify a range of orchestra instruments and their sound qualities, while also gaining an early awareness and knowledge of composers and masterworks in Western arts tradition.
* Exploring and playing musical instruments. Authentic percussion, string, pre-keyboard, and woodwind instruments expose your child to the many choices for future musical study, and at the same time provide your child with the opportunity to musically succeed before taking on more formal instruction.
I've taught private and group piano lessons for over 5 years now and love, love, love this foundational musical education that Kindermusik provides for our budding musicians. This class is $225-I know the sticker shock on that is bad but let me explain a little. There are 15 1-hour classes for $10 each (this is cheaper than a private 30 minute instrument lesson). The remaining costs are supplies. Your child will recieve a few books, folders, stickers, musical games, CD's, and a high quality instrument (semester 1 is a glockenspiel).

I will also have an Imagine That! (3-5 year old) class on Tuesdays at 10:15 and 1:15 for 45 minutes beginning September 7th. Imagine That! classes encourage socialization, sharing, and participating in group activities. Using the power of music, Kindermusik’s Imagine That! taps into your preschooler’s creative spirit and boundless energy and focuses on developing his learning strengths and self-confidence so he’ll be ready for school, prepared for future music lessons…or able to leap tall buildings.
* Pretend Play. Pretend play activities are integrated with music, vocal development, storytelling, listening, movement and literacy aspects of each class. When based upon a child’s real life experiences, pretend play helps develop language, sensory, motor and cognitive skills.
* Musical Variety and Singing. Activities include a mixture of musical genres and styles and provide a setting for your child to explore his many voices and to use a “singing voice.” Singing helps with memory and recall, physical development, creativity and socialization.
* Storytelling and Literacy. Each class is built on the development of a story, so you’ll hear preschoolers search for the word to say what they mean and try to keep up with their busy minds, emerging wants, needs, likes, and dislikes.
* Parent Involvement. Preschoolers are learning to be self-sufficient in a group setting of peers, while many times still needing the emotional security provided by a parent. He’ll experience both in Imagine That! Caregivers participate in the last 10-15 minutes of class. Plus the At Home Materials ensures the learning continues at home with your child’s best teacher—you! You will receive a book, CD's, 2 instruments, a pretend play component, and a family activty book. This course is 14 1-hour classes and is $175 for the materials and class.

Last but not least, I'll have a Family Time (newborn-7 years old) class on Friday mornings at 10:15 for 45 minutes beginning September 10th. Family Time brings adults and children of all ages together, providing a dynamic and integrated musical learning experience for everyone.
* Singing. From the first “Hello” song to the last “Goodbye,” exploring a variety of musical styles and genres leads children to find their own voice. Plus singing helps with memory and recall, physical development, creativity, and socialization.
* Assorted Movement. Whether moving as a family, as a class, or as individuals, Family Time movement activities enhance coordination skills, create opportunities for imitation and exploration, and give everyone something to smile, rock, bounce, or dance about.
* Story Time. Reading aloud to children stimulates their curiosity, expands their knowledge, and broadens their understanding of language.
Family Jam Children (and adults) will love selecting a unique instrument and joining in one big class jam session each week.
* Musical Concepts. Fun engaging activities bring out the musicality in everyone, from the youngest member of the family to the oldest. Together you’ll learn more about music as you learn more about each other.
* Expert advice. A Kindermusik educator explains how our musically based activities enhance your child’s complete development.
Learning continues at home. With the home materials, the learning continues at home with your child’s best teacher—you! This class is 10 1-hour classes with At Home Materials including 2 books, 2 CD's, and 2 instruments for $150.

There is a $5 discount for signing up before August 14th so take advantage! Please feel free to call or email me with questions. I look forward to seeing you and your kiddos soon.

Mark your Calendars!

I will be doing 4 free classes at the local bookstore Dragons & FairyTales to try and get the word out about my fall schedule. They will be on

Friday July 30th & Friday August 6th at 11am and 2pm.

If you have been a part of Kindermusik I'd love to have you and your kids come and help me share the fun and learning of this great program.

If your new to Kindermusik and want to see what it's all about I'd love to have you and your kids come and have fun learning and singing with us.

And the winner is.......

Amelia Baker!

Thanks for everyone's cute comments. Please check back often for other opportunities to share and learn from Kindermusik.