Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Spring Semester is right around the corner!

Yeah! We're moving into our new studio in January! Help us celebrate by attending an Open House - stay tuned for exact dates and times - and bring your friends to share a demo class with us! Drawing and giveaways, too! Help us spread the word!


As for the spring semester, NOW is the time to enroll. Classes begin the 1st week of February.

Please tell all your friends about our classes, and remember, when you refer a friend you BOTH will save $15. There are no limits!


I LOVE the units coming up:

Village (babies): Hickory Dickory, Tickle & Bounce .... and The Rhythm of My Day
Our Time (toddlers): Fiddle Dee Dee
Imagine That (preschoolers): Cities: Busy Place, Friendly Faces
Young Child (5-7 years old): Semester 2

Scroll down for detailed descriptions.
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Ages birth - 1.5
Hickory, Dickory, Tickle & Bounce & Rhythm of My Day

Some of our favorite activities and songs in The Rhythm of My Day and Hickory, Dickory Dock include Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Golden Slumbers, Walk All Around, Ally Bally, Peek-a-boo, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Beat the Drum, Roll That Ball, Sulla Lulla, The Blackbird, Shoe a Little Horse, Ninna Nanna, Ride-O, and All the Pretty Little Horses. The lessons focus on the key concepts of the diversity of sound, stop and go, syncopation, Sol-Mi, steady beat, up and down, and Major, Minor and Modal tonalities.

Parents can incorporate music into many of the regular routines and rituals of their daily lives. A new feature will be the incorporation of simple American sign language into the curriculum. Signing offers families a way to communicate with their babies before the infants are ready to verbally talk. Research has shown that signing among “hearing” children can actually enhance their verbal communication skills. Dr. Marilyn Daniels, a signing consultant for Kindermusik International, has said, “from early in infancy, it is evident that baby is aware of his environment and has the desire to communicate. Introducing sign language to hearing babies has the benefit of allowing adult and baby to communicate before the baby’s vocal chords are developed enough to speak. This silent communication raises self-esteem, eliminates the frustration of not being able to communicate and engages the baby as an active participant in the learning environment.”



Discover the joy of interacting with your baby and the support and nurture you will receive from being with other parents and babies at this unique stage in your lives!

Each semester you will receive two sets of At Home materials.

Each set of Kindermusik Village At Home Materials includes:

  • Baby’s Literature Book with specially commissioned art will aid in visual tracking, shape and color recognition and language development.
  • a specially designed instrument for baby
  • Home CD of the highest quality.
  • Art Banners with pictures for baby’s vocal exploration.
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Ages 1.5 - 3.5

Fiddle-dee-dee Creatures of the animal kingdom, whether furry, web-footed, hoofed, winged or whiskered, are the subject matter for Fiddle-dee-dee. Fiddle-dee-dee takes its name from the beloved folk song about the fly who married the bumblebee. The theme of “fiddling around” is present all semester long. Included are recordings featuring a range of “fiddle” playing styles from classical violin to folk style fiddling and other relatives of fiddles, such as the sitar of India.

On the At Home CDs, you’ll hear a an emphasis on the stringed instrument family, with instruments such as the mandolin, banjo, lute, classical and folk guitar, harp, string quartet and double bass. The Home CDs include music representing many cultures. Bangara Dance is a traditional Punjabi folk dance of north India. The Japanese selections for rocking—Komoriuta (lullaby) and Usagi, Usagi (Rabbit, Rabbit) –are presented in Japanese as sung by a Japanese mother and child. French is heard in two songs—the French Canadian Ah! Les jolis papillons (Oh, The Pretty Butterflies). Alle Meine Entlein (All My Little Ducklings) is a favorite German folk song. There also are three classical recordings (including a comic operatic cat duet) and many Anglo- and Afro-American traditional folk songs and rhymes.

And, of course, there is the original home instrument, a pair of Fiddlesticks! Sporting the bright stripes of a bumblebee, the one-of-a kind Fiddlesticks can be rattled, rolled, tapped and otherwise fiddled with to create fun sounds and play possibilities. The animal theme of Fiddle-dee-dee ties in nicely with musical themes. Animal sounds, which are so appealing to children, naturally prompt imitation and provide abundant active listening and vocal play material. And in the context of moving like animals we are easily able to focus on movement concepts such as high and low, smooth & bumpy, fast and slow.

The songs are chosen for their singability to aid young singers in finding their singing voices. A favorite animal song is Sweetly Sings the Donkey. Simple rhymes such as Bazoo, Bazoo, Butz are a fun part of this curricula.

Two literature books feature adorable, whimsical artwork. Animal Serenade features the cut paper art of Andrea Everbok and snippets of familiar folk songs. This Little Piggy Played the Fiddle is a new version of the familiar toe-tickle rhyme and features music- and movement-oriented little piggies delightfully illustrated by Carol Dee Jung.

Fiddle-dee-dee Home Materials

Included in your home materials is a pop-up box in the shape of a dog house for carrying your home materials, a home activity book with songs to sing and activities for home, two literature books, two CDs, and a pair of Fiddlesticks.

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Ages 3 - 5


Cities! Busy Places~Friendly Faces

People on the go, rushing everywhere – in the city! Meet the Busy Places and Friendly Faces of Cities!, the Imagine That! unit in which we will create a city that’s familiar, yet like no other. Imagine a city of music and imagination, where ordinary sounds and sights on the street make a musical ensemble. People shuffle their feet to a 4/4 beat. Street musicians serenade and sing. Clock towers boom, bellow and ring. While 3 and 4 year old children build this city of imagination, they explore a mini-city of skills developing so rapidly in their minds and bodies. The games, music, and pretend play were written specifically to expand this age groups’ learning in the following areas: pre-ensemble development, mathematics, music, social interactions and critical listening.

There’s a city of music—based in songs, recorded works and city sounds. There’s a city of the imagination—of three and four year olds being whoever they imagine themselves to be today, perhaps a broom man today or an opera singer tomorrow. There’s a city of stories—of lost dogs and found dogs and of a globe-trotting photographer. Everyone involved will enjoy rolling all these cities up into one musical, grand adventure.

Along the way, we’ll explore movement-sweeping movement, up and down the elevator movement, dance and freeze like a statue movement. We’ll make music with our Kindermusik Resonator Bars, steadily playing along to the Israeli song, “Zum Gali Gali,” and learning new musical terms and using mallets to create ringing and damped sounds. We’ll build a city out of handcrafted “buildings” brought from home. Then dance around your city together – being careful not to step on skyscrapers! Check the mail and “write” a real letter to share with parents. Play games: a shoe passing game; a street vendor game, and a movement and matching game involving three artists, math, a drum and the Puerto Rican children’s game song, “San Sereni.” We’ll walk down “sidewalks” made of masking tape and freezer paper. We’ll stop and draw our footprints. We’ll take pictures of all that we “see!” We’ll read two Kindermusik literature books, one about a “snappy, zippy” photographer and the other about rhythmically busy shopkeepers.

Enjoy jazz, opera, barbershop quartets, Irish jigs, and Indian recordings by bamboo flutist Shashank in class and on your Home CD. The Home CD also includes a Chinese folk song, “Kang Ding City”; and “Bonjour, mes amis”; and “Sorida,” a greeting song in the Shona language of Zimbabwe; and finally, storytelling and dramatic play in “The Tales of Eddie and Bandit.”
Musical highlights of this unit include learning about the musical terms of glissando, dynamics, tempo and accelerando. Some favorite songs are “I Got a Letter This Morning,” “Walk All Around,” “1,2,3 Click” and “Pretzels for Sale.”

Best of all, in “Cities! Busy Places ~ Friendly Faces,” children from all kinds of communities will find commonalities with their life. We at Kindermusik in Wake Forest hope that you and your child will join families all over the world in turning off the television, turning on the music and welcoming the many adventures that Cities! Can bring to your days together.

Cities Home Materials

In the home materials, each child will receive:

  • an Imagine That! Backpack
  • a Family Activity Book
  • two literature books, Razupazu Toto and Down Our Street
  • two CDs
  • two Resonator Bars and Mallets
  • a Cities Game Board Set. This game board fits together like pieces of a puzzle and includes four decks of 25 cards, setting up over 12 possible games for families.
  • A mini City Scene poster, depicting busy city life is included and is used with the Game Board set.
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ages 5 - 7

Class Length: 60 Minutes
Parent/Caregiver participates in last 10 minutes


Year 1, Semester 2 (Spring Semester) New students welcome!
At this age, the young child learns music best when he is actively engaged in making music! Songs and activities that encourage solo singing are "We Sing Hello," "Ten in the Bed," "We Are Dancing" and "Good-bye." Songs and activities that reinforce tonal or rhythmic concepts for music reading and writing are "Lucy Locket," "Mouse Mousie," "Ten in the Bed," "Go to Sleep" and "Sing and Celebrate." Songs that encourage echoing or a response are "Che Che Koolay," "I Have a Little Melody" and "We Are Dancing." Songs that are playful or familiar and call the children into joyful participation are "Jingle Bells," "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," "Happy Birthday, "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmitt," and "If You're Happy and You Know It." Songs used in singing games are "Lucy Locket," "Mouse, Mousie" and "Circle Round the Zero." Beethoven is our featured composer as we listen to "Symphony No. 6." Other listening selections include "The William Tell Overture" by Rossini, "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi, "The Elephant" from "Carnival of the Animals" by Saint-Saens, "Peter and the Wolf" by Prokofiev and "The Young Perons's Guide to the Orchestra" by Britten. Other listening repertoire includes listening to the woodwind and string families and their individual instruments. Children delight in moving to original compositions for learning concepts, "Piano and Forte Dance" and "Dancing Staccato and Legato." Two highlights are the instrumental ensembles, "The Elephant and the Waterfall" where children make sounds to express the story and "Sing and Celebrate," an ensemble for singing and playing different parts. Concepts in Semester 2 are piano/forte, crescendo/decrescendo, staccato/legato, graphic notation and reading the traditional rhythms of quarter and eighth notes and quarter rest and staff reading of f, g, a, c and d.


We can't wait to see you in class!!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Let's Celebrate

We have a lot to celebrate! The fall semester has been fabulous, and....drumroll...we are anticipating an even better spring semester in our very own, new, shiny studio! More on this later.

Meanwhile, last week we wrapped up our classes for the month of December. We'll finish out the 3 remaining weeks of classes for the current semester in January.

I took my camera into last week to capture a bit of the fun we had! Here's what I saw...Enjoy!

Maypole dance to Gavotte in G

















Our "Winter Wonderland" of thousands of tiny, catchable bubbles!

















"Jingle Bells....Jingle Bells..."






















"....Jingle all the way!"






















Everyone in Our Time enjoyed going on a "Sleigh Ride" - Kindermusik style!

















































We had a couple of older siblings visit class due to school schedules, and what a great time they had pushing the sleighs!






















Playalong to "Jingle Bell Rock" - what awesome drummers these little ones are!




























































And last, but not least, in honor of our theme in Our Time this semester... "Mmmm, Milk & Cookies! Yummy in my tummy! Oh, and look at the little dribble of milk on Celeste's chin!






















Unforgettable!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Young Child - authentic music class for 5 and 6 year olds!

I'm starting a new cycle of Young Child and am so excited I can hardly contain it! With having a 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter, I have looked extensively for quality music class and lesson opportunities. I've learned that I wish more children had access to Young Child and that formal piano lessons can and usually should wait until 7 years old - which is where my son is now - and he's doing great! Before now, a private lesson wouldn't have been nearly as good a use of investment of your valuable time and money.

Here's a good video clip of what to expect in Young Child class!


Young Child is an outstanding choice for all children, including gifted children. It allows children to be children and not rush them along, while at the same time they get a solid foundation and learn to play exciting instruments, read music, understand the written and non-written language of music. It's a very developmentally appropriate, age-honoring class that focuses on teaching music through all avenues of a child's development - musical, social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and language.

Spaces are limited to keep the classes smaller. A few spaces remain Thursdays at 4:30. I hope to see you and your child in class!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Enroll Rewards in August

For the 1st time ever, enroll with a new-to-Kindermusik friend, and you BOTH save 10% off tuition and materials. Bring 5 new friends, and your semester is FREE!
This offer is valid through 8/15/08. Think of all those friends you've told how much your child loves Kindermusik and pass the word along. Ready to enroll? Call Kathy at 919-761-4290 or enroll online.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

DEMO DAYS IN AUGUST

We would love to have you and your child join us for a trial class during August! Reservations are required, so just give me a call or send an email to schedule your day and time. Register on the day of your trial class and we will take $10 off your total!

Scroll down to read the posts below, where you'll find detailed descriptions of classes for all age groups. It's going to be an exciting semester and we'd love to share Kindermusik with your family!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Calling all Lap Babies, Crawlers & Walkers through 18 months!

Relish in the fleeting moments of your baby's 1st year and a half. They don't stay little for long. Village class is a place where you can celebrate these moments. The tender curriculum of Dream Pillow is about Baby's bedtime. The loving interaction that defines the rituals of rocking, nursing, cuddling and singing is the essence of Dream Pillow. You are invited to enjoy bedtime closeness with Baby at any time of day by listening more closely, sharing the gifts of singing and talking with Baby, and exploring and extending the musicality of Baby's environment. Our Kindermusik class activities are easily woven into your family's daily routines.


You will find many upbeat and playful activities as well as an array of stimulating and age-appropriate things and instruments for Baby to explore. There is a swirling dream cloud dance, on the one hand ("Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland"), but there is also a dance to the exuberant and humorous recording of "Tants, Tants, Yidelekh!" Other favorite dances include, "Skinnamarink," "Sur le pont d'Avignon" and "Maypole Dance." You will enjoy quiet play with chime balls to "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and you will revel in the clatter of drums while singing "Sarasponda." Baby will handle humongous scarves, drums, hair curlers, drums, clackers, egg shakers, chime balls, mirrors and baby bells. In addition, he will hear the sound of the slide whistle and resonator bars. Favorite lullabies are "May There Always Be Sunshine," "O, How Lovely Is the Evening," "Rock-a-bye, Baby," "Manx Lullaby" and "Latvian Lullaby." Each of the musical activities in Dream Pillow was carefully planned and stimulates development in every area of Baby's growing brain, promoting Baby's physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and language development.


Zoom Baby! Zoom Buggy! How many ways can Baby zoom? Hop in the Zoom Buggy! And find out. Through a variety of songs, chants, and instrumental selections you will discover that Baby can enjoy rumbling, squeaking, chugging, bumping, vrooming, swooshing, and more. Familiar tunes and old favorites such as "Little Red Caboose," "Lightly Row" and "Canoe Song" are interspersed with new songs used in activities designed to help Baby move down that fascinating road of development. Baby's board book, Zoom Buggy! focuses on six ways to "go zoom" such as the baby buggy, stroller, wagon, train, rocket ship and canoe. The "zoom vehicles" are also featured on the art banner. Favorite songs related to this theme are "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," "Travlin' Round," "This Little Light of Mine," "I Have a Wagon," "Little Red Caboose," "Riding in the Buggy" and "Zoom-e-oh!" Baby will enjoy exploring scarves, chime balls, baby bells, slide whistles, egg shakers, resonator bars, triangles, woodblocks and drums clackers while learning about fast and slow, stop and start and long and short. We will rock baby while singing favorite lullabies such as "May There Always Be Sunshine," "Drifting," "Rocking Horse" and "Suliram." Dancing to "Pretty Baby," "Travlin' Round," "Zoom-e-oh!" and "The Keel Row" brings smiles to all. Relaxation and listening to beautiful classics such as "Polovtsian Dance," "Reverie" and "Lightly Row" are included in every class. Learn about the latest research with babies with Foundations of Learning Statements.

Discover the joy of interacting with your baby and the support and nurture you will receive from being with other parents and babies at this unique stage in your lives!

Our Time for toddlers 18 months - 3 years old: Time for Milk & Cookies! Mmmmm!

Imagine the aroma of baking cookies, the coziness of the family kitchen, the chatter among sisters, brothers and grandmas, granddads, mom and dad, and the anticipation and excitement of having friends come to visit. These moments at home are times to be shared and treasured. These special moments are captured in Milk & Cookies.

We'll celebrate that time of year when we return to the home and hearth. The aromas of the kitchen, sounds of laughter, thrill of preparing the house for special occasions this fall, the joy family and friends. Relish the holidays from October to December where we find ourselves longing to connect with those we love.

As in the previous units of Our Time, the central focus of Milk & Cookies is the toddler's need for security balanced with his need for independence. Milk & Cookies songs and activities promote interaction between parent and child where the parent gently guides their child's learning and the process of scaffolding takes place. Capturing the security, excitement and familiarity of "at home" moments is the ideal theme for empowering the parent to act as teacher through scaffolding. What better way for parents to lead their child than with familiar, everyday home activities such as cooking in the kitchen, dusting and washing clothes?!

Milk and Cookies Home Materials

The child's at home materials are packaged in their own distinctive kit. The Milk & Cookies At Home kit consists of a Home Activity book, 2 CDs, 2 literature books and a stir xylophone. These items are packaged together in a high quality, deep purple insulated lunch bag.

There's no better way for your toddler to learn and grow with the joy of music & movement during this special time of year! See ya in class!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Kindermusik Class for Preschoolers 3 - 5 years old!

We've mixed it up a little this semester! This music enrichment class is designed specifically for children 3 - 5 years old, and includes keyboard time. The program consists of 12 weeks of classes this fall. Classes are 40 minutes long, with the last 5 minutes given to family time with parents/siblings/caregivers.

12:40 p.m. class: OPTIONAL LUNCH BUNCH: For children who do not eat lunch at preschool. This is a great way for your child to enjoy eating with his/her friends prior to music class and enables parents to pick up after music, therefore, fewer transitions for your child and a later pickup time for the parent/caregiver. Children enrolled at Hope Lutheran Preschool who have not had lunch during preschool may join the lunch bunch for an extra fee. Send a nutritious lunch on music class day. Kindermusik teacher will sign out your child at dismissal time (note: this will require parent to authorize teacher to pickup on designated day.) Lunch bunch is an additional $40 per semester to cover supervision and assistance.

Children coming from other preschools are welcome to come eat with their friends at no extra charge, provided that the parent stays until class time begins, or may be dropped off for the lunch bunch fee.

Each lesson emphasizes a different area of a child's development: confidence, coordination, vocal expressiveness, careful listening, and early exposure to reading skills.

Your child will receive a new kit approximately every 4 weeks.

JUMPING BEANS:
Memory and sequence skills will strengthen with stop-and-go activitiesall set to the music of Latin America. Tucked into stories and pretend play activities, stop-and-go games help children learn to control their bodies and follow directions on the go.

JOIN THE PARADE: You can watch this month’s theme play out in Wake Forest or downtown Raleigh with the season’s upcoming holiday parades. In class listen to marching music, play pretend parades, and help preschoolers develop rhythm and coordination skills.

Marching to the beat of his own drum—in class and at home—helps children make a vital rhythm and body connection, one that’s necessary to help master any number of movement activities such as writing, dribbling and shooting a basketball, dancing, and skipping.

ALL KEYED UP: A piano and a composer, J.S. Bach, helps preschoolers get ready for school this month. The answer is right at the tip of your fingers. The same fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination children need in order to hold a pencil are developed through the special keyboard-playing activities we’ll be playing in class. Learn from the best “hand-eye” coordination composers with music penned from world famous composers, such as J.S. Bach.


See ya at 12:40 or 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays this fall!

I am very excited to start a new cycle of Kindermusik for the Young Child!

This class for rising kindergarten & 1st graders will be held on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.

Young Child is a rare gem to which most children don't have access. After teaching this curricula before, and knowing what I know about the Young Child program, I have not yet identified a child who I would say should go ahead with private lessons when I know what they will gain from Kindermusik. Young Child curricula is amazing in the way that it respects children's developmental needs while providing an exceptionally sound music education. Lay the foundation now with Young Child and watch your child reap the benefits now AND after graduating from the program and commencing formal private lessons. Many parents feel pressured to go ahead with private lessons to try and give their child a head start. Unfortunately, children often move at a snail's pace and often become frustration or lose interest. If you want to give your child a head start, then Kindermusik is actually the perfect choice!

Fall Semester (1 of 4)
What could be more natural than the child who explores his world through music? Children love singing favorite songs such as "Come and Follow Me," "Star Light, Star Bright," "Train Is A-Comin" and "Bell Horses," echoing vocal patterns and singing games like "Farmer, Farmer". This semester, Mozart is the featured composer and we listen to many of his compositions, including "A Little Night Music" and selections from "The Magic Flute." Other listening repertoire includes "The Clock" by Haydn, "Cloudburst from "Grand Canyon Suite," by Grofe, "The Aviary" from "Carnival of the Animals" by Saint-Saens and the percussion and brass families and their individual instruments. The children's favorite activity is playing various percussion instruments for ensembles such as "A Weather Story," "The Birds" and a barred instrument called a glockenspiel for playing melodies. Children love to move to newly composed music for stories like "Into the Woods" and "Magical Dancing Clocks." Other singing games are "Dr. Foster," "Tideo," "Here Comes a Bluebird" and "Wild Bird." Parents will love the musical concepts that the children learn as we lay the foundation for future instrumental study. Concepts in Semester 1 are quiet/loud, steady beat, fast/slow, long/short, high/low, singing/speaking, melodic direction and actual reading and writing non-traditional and traditional rhythm and staff notation.

I hope to see you in Young Child!

Saturday, May 31, 2008

reflections on the 2007-2008 year


I am in awe. Feelings of joy, love, amazement bubble up at the thought of these precious little ones I taught during the 2007-2008 year. I had the joy and privilege of watching the miracle of each child growing week after week through dancing, singing, playing drums, waving the parachute, rocking, bonding with mom or grandma...and lots of dads this year, too! And the list goes on. My heart is overflowing just thinking about this time and place where parents brought their little babies, many still scrunched up and wrinkled, some taking their first steps in class to reach the bells or scarves. How lucky I am to have been there! The toddlers...some exuberant and others more reserved--both equally valid personalities and learning styles. I stand amazed at the preschoolers who taught ME so much about life. I thank them for reminding me to see life through a child's eyes a little more often. Their looking glass often makes things look crystal clear! The Young Child students moving into piano and string lessons. I'm fulfilled. Life is good! Thank you families for your amazing support of your children, lovingly guiding them, gently encouraging them to grow at their unique pace and make the most of this special time together. This experience simply cannot be replicated anywhere else. Thank you for bringing your children. I'm humbled to be a part of these fleeting days of their childhood.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Summer Programs

Many wonderful opportunities are available this summer for newborns to seven year olds.

Weekly classes, KAMPs (Kids-Art-Music-Play) and mini-KAMPs.

Village (BABIES 0 - 1 ½ & caregiver) Peek-a-Boo, I Love You!
Play peek-a-boo with your baby as s/he hides under a scarf! Learn Mother Goose rhymes and expose your baby to rich language. Learn new ways to say "I love you" using American Sign Language, soap bubbles, and more. Dance with your baby to Skinamarink. Learn exercises, infant massage, and games to play with your baby at home. Explore musical instruments, fascinating props & lively music. You will love connecting with other families with babies in the community and your baby will learn his/her first social skills, too! Home Materials include: Hardcover Book, CD, Duck Wash Mitt, Baby Duck Gertie Ball, and Poster.
Sessions 1 & 2: Tuesdays 9:15, Thursdays 11:15

Summer Sampler Series
Here's a delightful opportunity to sample the Village curricula on tap for fall 08 and spring 09. Enjoy the music, dancing, bouncing, giggling, rocking, and swaying found in each unique unit...Zoom Buggy, Dream Pillow, Hickory Dickory Tickle & Bounce, and The Rhythm of My Day. A great way to get out of the house, meet new friends or stay in touch with your Kindermusik friends over the summer, and get a sneak peek at what's in store for your little one in the upcoming semesters. Home Materials include: CD & booklet
Session 1: Saturdays 9:15 ~ Session 2: TBA

Our Time (TODDLERS 1½ to 3½ & caregiver) Zoo Train
Everyone sing, “Hurray, hurray! We’re going to the zoo today!” Your toddler and the train make a natural match—always on the move. Tag along this summer with a traveling zoo train. Learn American Sign Language for the zoo animals. Bring your own stuffed animal 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 include: Book, CD, Funky Chunky Animal Shaker, and Poster. Sessions 1 & 2: Tuesdays 10:15, 11:15, Thursdays 9:15. 10:15, Sat 10:15

Imagine That! (PRESCHOOLERS 3 to 5; Caregiver attends the last 10-15 min.)
Keep the routine and structure going with Weekly classes:
June: "Drums, Drums, Drums"
Your child will experience the concept of fractions through hearing and playing quarter and eighth notes. In class we’ll do “call and response” activities to the rhythmic sounds of African music. Meanwhile, your child will sharpen listening and attention skills, as well as fine tune you’re her ear to finding patterns. Play together the activities in your Home Kit, and you’ll help your child develop a strong foundation in math, rhythm and coordination, and critical listening, all designed to help your children get ready for kindergarten. Home kit includes CD, parent/child magazine.
Session 1: Thursdays 11:15 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.

July/Aug:

"Giggles" - All about the sense of humor that your children are beginning to develop. Get ready to laugh, be silly and hear lots of knock-knock jokes in "Giggles." In class use word plays, word puns, and all-around word silliness to boost vocabulary, develop conversational skills, and nurture happy learners. Use music to strengthen the learning taking place while adding a musical twist to the humor! Take the learning home and share with family. FUN! Home kit includes CD, parent/child magazine. Session 2: Thursdays 11:15 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.

Morning KAMPs (Kids – Art – Music – Play) (ages 3 – 5 & 5 – 7)

Session 1: Jumpin’ Beans (Music & culture of Latin America) Each day of KAMP will include time given to music & movement, arts/crafts, snack & play time. In Jumping Beans KAMP, your child's memory and sequencing skills will strengthen with stop-and-go. Tucked into stories and pretend play activities, stop-and-go games help children learn to control their bodies and follow directions on the go - two great assets for school & social readiness. Integrated arts & crafts time will teach children about Latin American culture. A delightful, cultural experience. Small setting, educational, and hands on fun! Parent provides a nutritious snack daily. Grand finale & fiesta on Friday showcasing art/crafts, music, and yummy food! June 23-27, 9 a.m. – 12 noon.

Session 2: Jazz Kitchen - Your child won't feel lost in the crowd in our K.A.M.P! Children will be divided into smaller groups based on age. Low ratios, individual attention! In Jazz Kitchen, get an extra helping of learning to share with some jazz music in the mix. In class young children will use this story and other activities to learn to observe and accept others' ideas, how to be a leader and a follower, as well as how to watch, listen, and speak to friends and teachers. We’ll combine cool jazz and kitchen fun in this adorable KAMP! Parent provides a nutritious snack daily. Grand finale on Friday showcasing art/crafts, music, and yummy food! July 14-18, 9 a.m. – 12 noon.


Mini-KAMPs (ages 3 – 7)
Musical Princess mini-K.A.M.P. (2 hours/3 days) Join us for a musical adventure with princesses of land and sea! Dress up, puppets, stories, glamour, singing, folk dances, crafts, and so much more! July 21, 22, 23, 4-6 p.m.

Musical Pirates mini-K.A.M.P. (2 hours/3 days) Yo ho ho! A Pirate's (and pirate princess) life for me! Meet our friendly crocodile (puppet), play echo games with our parrot (puppet). Walk the plank. Sail the gallant ship, dance, dress up, stories, crafts & more! Aug 4, 5, 6, 4-6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

free preview classes now being added to the schedule

Interested parents can now check the online schedule for preview classes.

The next opportunity is Thursday, April 3rd.

Our Time (toddlers): 10:30 a.m.
Village (babies): 11:15 a.m.

Expectant moms are welcome and encouraged to attend the Village preview! We have dolls to use for practice!

Speaking of...did you know that this semester, our 3 youngest babies were 3 weeks old, 8 weeks old, and 3
months old when they joined!

But I digress! Everyone in attendance at the preview will be entered into a drawing for a prize, such as $15 off tuition or a Kindermusik CD!

Come with a friend and you both will be entered into the drawing twice!

In addition, all names will go into the grand prize drawing for a tuition-free semester. This grand prize is valued between $175 and $200 and does not include materials/registration. This drawing will be held in May.

You may also enter the grand prize drawing by sending an email with your name, mailing address and age of your child/ren to
Kathy Bailey.

Because spaces are limited at the preview classes, please call or email to register. There is a minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 spaces for children. To register, please call 761-4290 or email Kathy Bailey .

Check the online schedule often for future opportunities. More preview classes will be scheduled for May.

Friday, March 14, 2008

summer schedule is up!


There is something for everyone this summer!
- Weekly classes for babies & toddlers
- Morning KAMPs (Kids - Art - Music - Play) for 3 1/2 - 5 and 5 - 7 year olds
- NEW this summer! mini-KAMPS. Mini-KAMPs (ages 4-7) are 2 hours long for 3 consecutive afternoons/evenings in July. Your little pirate and/or princess will enjoy this splash of FUN!

Two sessions are offered this summer. Sign up for one or both. Sign up for both and take 1/4 off second session. To do this, you'll need to register for both classes individually. Once you've registered or at least created an account, I'll modify your account to reflect the discount. Or simply call or email and I'll take care of it all for you!

Your child won't feel lost in the crowd at our KAMPs! Check out the schedule!

FLEXIBILITY is the word of the season. Vacations and last minute get-aways are bound to happen, and I completely understand that need. So we are very flexible with makeups and special circumstances. Don't hesitate to get in touch about your scheduling needs.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

my secret crush

We Love Dan Zanes at our house! He's part bluegrass, folk, rock, blues, and definitely ZANE-y. Parents find him appealing too (and I happen to think he's just so darn cute!). A little bit of nonsense, yet perfect sense for a day in the life of a family with young kids. In Village class we're enjoying the Farm in Cock-a-doodle-MOO. Here's to the fun we're having in Kindermusik....ENJOY, and grab your little one and dance around the kitchen!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Kindermusik Birthday Party!

I've been getting more and more requests for Kindermusik birthday parties lately. It's been 3 years since I started doing music and movement parties, but suddenly in the last couple of months, there's been a surge. Some happy little children have been having awesome Kindermusik birthday parties with themes such as John Deere, Little Einsteins, Butterflies, Princess, and Safari. Every party has been unique and all have been a blast!

Now that my baby is 16 months old and my husband's schedule has changed a little, therefore freeing me up more on the weekends, there's room in the schedule for 2-3 weekend parties per month, either on Saturdays or Sunday afternoons/early evenings. Weekday parties are also a possibility.

Each child's party is unique and personalized, and if your child is enrolled in Kindermusik, then he or she probably has an affinity for a particular instrument or prop (drums, parachute, etc.). I'll weave your child's favorites into the activities and really make the day very special for your child!

I'll consult you with regard to a suitable theme tailored specially for your child. At a Kindermusik birthday party, you'll see puppets, instruments, circle dances, storytime, instruments exploration, instrument play-alongs, singing, creative movements and lots more activities to give everyone a delightful time!

Read more here and
Send me an email or call 761-4290 today schedule your child's Kindermusik birthday party. I would LOVE to do it!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

The secret language of babies

I'm always interested in learning about and sharing information that brings parents and children together in meaningful ways. My now 15 month old benefited tremendously as a little baby from my knew-found knowledge of Patricia Dunstan's Baby Language. The payoff? A more relaxed, content, and secure baby.

When my baby was a newborn, Priscilla Dunstan from Australia was receiving nationwide publicity over her insight into the 5 unique and distinguishable sounds babies make to communicate their needs.

I was definitely interested in knowing more, so I scoured the information and applied it when my baby cried. To my astonishment, it worked! It's really quite simple. Just tune in to your baby's different cries. Newborns function physically and emotionally by reflex, so it makes perfect sense to learn that they also are born with vocal reflexes.

Dunstan tested her baby language theory on more than 1,000 infants around the world. She found a consistent pattern of five words that all babies 0–3 months old say regardless of race and culture:

Neh= "I’m hungry"
Owh= "I’m sleepy"
Heh= "I’m experiencing discomfort or change me"
Eair= "I have lower gas"
Eh= "I need to burp"


Those “words” are actually sound reflexes, Dunstan says. “Babies all around the world have the same reflexes, and they therefore make the same sounds,” she explains. If parents respond to those reflexes early, they may continue to hear those "words" after the 0-3 month age; however, if parents don’t respond to those reflexes, Dunstan says the baby will eventually stop using them.

It's important that parents listen for those words in a baby’s pre-cry, the window of opportunity when baby is communicating his or her need and before baby gets so upset and hysterical that the sound is lost.

The musical connection: (from www.dunstanbaby.com)
"Already an exceptional violinist by the age five, [Dunston] could hear a piece by Mozart once, then play it back in its entirety, note for note. Her father, Director of the Educational Testing Centre at the University of New South Wales, found that his young daughter had an eidetic memory - a rare photographic memory for sound.

"During her teenage years Priscilla toured throughout Europe and Australia as an accomplished concert violinist. Priscilla then spent more than 10 years exploring the world of opera, where her talent as a mezzo-soprano deepened her understanding of sound produced by the human voice.

"When Priscilla gave birth to her son Tomas, her instincts as a mother and musician led her to believe that a baby’s cries had to be something more than just random sounds. Noting combinations of sounds in a journal, Priscilla explored various settling techniques and observed Tom’s reactions. Eventually she was able to recognize patterns, and identify how specific cries had a distinct need attached to them."

Priscilla says, "Because of my gift for sound, I was able to pick out certain patterns in his cries and then remember what those patterns were later on when he cried again. I realized that other babies were saying the same words.”



Saturday, January 19, 2008

How to PREVIEW a Kindermusik Class for FREE!

Our spring semester is just around the corner and this is a great time to bring your child to a preview class!

There is no charge, of course. Just come and enjoy and see for yourself just what is so special about Kindermusik.

If you missed the demo days and friend days, it's okay! Send me an email or call me today at 919-761-4290 to schedule your FREE class!

Sign up on the day you preview, and you'll receive a Best Of Kindermusik CD for FREE!

View the schedule and enrollment options here.