Big Idea: Singing Hello

Do you remember the first time you said hello to your baby? Perhaps you saw a shadowy, profile on a sonogram or maybe someone put a swaddled bundle in your arms when you first

whispered, “Hello, little one.” Somehow saying hello for the first time made your baby more than just a plus sign on a test. In that moment, your emotional connection became even stronger.
At Kindermusik, we believe in the power of hello. So, each week, we begin class by singing: “Hello, hello let’s sing together!” Using your child’s name helps him make an emotional connection with the song and activity right from the start. It also encourages social interaction by inviting him to respond with his own greeting, such as a smile, wave, laugh, or even a little peek-a-boo. As an added bonus, it helps you learn the names of the other grown-ups in class, too!

Everyday connection: Say hello to your little friends. Try singing hello to the people, animals, and objects you see around your house. Sing to Nanna…clap to doggie…wave to the bathtub, wave hello. Your child will love it and you will be encouraging social interaction, emotional connections, and even vocabulary development!!

We’re super excited here at Sing Music Studio about our upcoming Drum and Percussion Circles! Professional drummer Neal Burstyn will be leading these incredible workshops. Sponsored by SABIAN and Groove Factor Drums, Neal’s been drumming for over 35 years and in that time he’s built up a pretty impressive resume! Throughout his career, Neal has marched in drum corps, attended Humber College for Jazz Performance, recorded on numerous albums, had many TV appearances and has been instructing drum and rhythm for over 20 years. Neal’s also performed with Rough Trade, Carole Pope, Tom Barlow, Universal Honey” and many many more artists. Besides drumming, Neal is also a freelance commercial photographer (editorial and advertising) so don’t be surprised if you meet him around the studio snapping some shots of our Kindermusik classes in action! You can visit his website, www.ntbcreative.com to take a look at his amazing photos.

What to expect in these Drum and Percussion Circles? Firstly, lots of fun! Secondly, lots of learning! Thirdly, an opportunity to play lots of different drums and percussion!

For children from age 3.5 to 6, the main focus will be steady beat, simple rhythms and group work. All important for playing any musical instrument but these concepts also carry over into everyday life and learning. Mastery of steady beat also helps children to develop the ability to ride a bike, cut with scissors, dribble a ball, skate, dance, play sports - anything that takes organizing and coordinating the body in repetitive patterns.

For children from age 7 and up, the main focus will be steady beat, rhythm and ensemble work. This workshop is geared towards the student who is already taking lessons in order to improve time and rhythm and have more ensemble experience. Although non-lesson students of this age are also welcome. At Sing Music Studio, we run concerts twice a year where students have the opportunity to work together in duos/trios/quartets. Having a keen sense of time and working together is essential for ensemble success and also carries over into life and learning skills. There is a strong correlation between rhythm, mathematics and language and working in groups is definitely an ongoing school and life skill.

For more details on these great workshops, click here! Or contact Miss Mandi!

Ah, a new year - doesn’t it feel great?! I know I am feeling more inspired and excited about music than ever! New kindermusik classes are beginning this February and registration is now open. New spaces are open for a handful of private lessons in voice, piano and guitar. And, new workshops are happening right here at Sing Music Studio! In particular I’m excited to be bringing in professional drummer, Neal Burstyn, who will be leading some specialty Drum and Percussion Circle events throughout 2012. More to come on this soon!

There are plenty of great musical vibes happening this year! Keep on checking back for more new and fun events and activities at Sing Music Studio in 2012!

Music makes traveling with children easier…really!

Childbirth and parenting classes should include a section called “Packing for the littlest traveler.” Parents who travel with a young child often look like a mobile baby super store. Pack-n-play, stroller, nursing pillow, sippy cups, bottles, binkies, blankie (and backup blankie), case of diapers, case of wipes, baby food, toys, car seat, two or three outfits for each day, oh, and yes, the child! Are we there yet?!

At Kindermusik, we know a thing or two about traveling with the under 7 crowd. After all, we play Virtual Travel Agent each week in class. This semester in Village we booked excursions to go bird watching in Australia and Africa, learned infant massage in South Africa, sang songs in France, and even went dancing in Virginia and Charleston. In Our Time, we visited Clapping and Stomping Land, watched frogs in Sweden, hopped on Lukey’s Boat, and took a donkey ride in the West Indies. No packing required!

(Next semester in Village, we are headed to the farm! Reserve your spot now for the hayride! Ready for Our Time? Then buckle up for traveling by planes, trains, and automobiles.)

Everyday connection: Kindermusik for the Kindertraveler.  Few children enjoy being strapped in their car seats for long periods of time. Music makes it easier. Create a playlist of your child’s favorite Kindermusik songs for the trip or download these parent-child favorites: http://mindsonmusic.kindermusik.com/bringing-music-home/kindermusiks-favorite-road-trip-playlist/.

Happy Holidays from Sing Music Studio to you! Please enjoy this free “Winter Wonderland” song download. Click on the link and then the orange download button to download for free.http://play.kindermusik.com/en/tracks/3008-winter-wonderland/”> http://play.kindermusik.com/en/tracks/3008-winter-wonderland/.

Well, with recital number 3 under our belts, we are old pros! I couldn’t be more proud of the singing, piano and guitar students of Sing Music Studio for finding the courage within to put on yet another fantastic show! The staff and seniors at the Regency Retirement Home were pretty much blown away and adored every minute of the show! All of the hard work and dedication that all of our students had put in over the past couple of month has really paid off! Just take a look at these great videos of some of our students practising who played duets at the show.

Congratulations on a job well done from your musical guide, Miss Mandi!

Going to the grocery store can be routine. You make the same loop every week: milk, bread, diapers, caffeine-of-choice; milk, bread, diapers, caffeine-of-choice. What would happen if each time you went to the store, they moved it all around? Suddenly, a trip to the grocery store becomes an exercise in frustration as you try to make sense of your surroundings.

The value of routine works similarly in your child. Routine helps him make sense of his surroundings and know what happens next. In Kindermusik, we build familiar routines into the class to help your child become comfortable and anticipate what comes next. The Hello song signals that class is starting. The story blanket means ... well ... it’s story time. The Good-bye song brings the class to a close.

Everyday connection:
Establish a nighttime routine. Use music to signal to your child the start and end. “My Bonnie” and “You Are My Sunshine” are Kindermusik family favorites! Turning on lullabies or relaxing music after dinner will let your child know that the day is coming to a close. It is time for bath, books, snuggles, and bed. Plus, many children fall asleep faster (and sleep better!) with an established bedtime routine. Now that is a routine any parent can appreciate!

This year Sing Music Studio ran a draw with an amazing prize for the families that were registered in the Fall 2011 Kindermusik Semester to participate in. And the prize was… FREE TUITION! This is the first time Sing Music Studio has offered a chance to win free tuition. After a few years of working with dedicated clients and wonderful families becoming such an integral part of our Kindermusik family, it just seemed like the right time to give a little more back - because these dedicated families deserve a little break once in a while!

So, congratulations to Jana and Irina for winning the free tuition prize! Jana and Irina have been coming to Kindermusik at Sing Music Studio since 2010 beginning with our toddler program,  Our Time and also participating in most of the Sing & Play Dates. This fall, Irina graduated up to Imagine That for preschoolers. In the time they have been coming to Sing Music Studio I have already seen so much growth and change in Irina. She was barely speaking when she began Our Time, was a little quiet and shy and now Irina has so much to say and share, it’s hard to believe she’s the same girl! Irina’s beginning to develop a sweet little singing voice and now that’s she’s experienced the community togetherness and social skill development in the toddler class, she’s having no trouble adjusting to the new routines developing with her peers in the “big kid” class without mommy! I’m really looking forward to seeing the changes to come in Irina’s development and musical skill - but I hope it doesn’t happen too fast - you’re only young once!

Congratulations again Jana and Irina! You deserve it!

Sometimes parenting feels a bit like playing a game where the rules change constantly. Shortly after mastering the perfect origami-like swaddle, your child no longer needs it to sleep through the night. Or maybe you finally figured out how the straps on the stroller work but now your little one insists on crawling or walking everywhere. One rule will never change: You are your child’s first and best teacher.

Your child learns by building on what he already knows. You support that learning by watching him, asking questions, and encouraging him to try something new. In Kindermusik class, we call that “scaffolding.” So, while your child explores instruments, plays with scarves, or moves around the classroom in a jig or a jog or even a jiggity jog, you encourage his growing independence. Plus, each week you receive the built-in support system of other Kindermusik parents trying to keep one step ahead of their own child! We call that on-the-job training!

Everyday connection: Wishy-Washy-Me! Encourage your child to practice washing favorite bath toys singing the favourite tune from Kindermusik Our Time Wiggles & Giggles class, Wishy Washy Wee. Use the scaffolding technique. Ask questions like “Do you think he needs to wash his hands? Wishy washy, wishy washy, wishy washy WEE!” Make observations like “I see you wiped his mouth. Wishy washy, wishy washy, wishy washy WEE!” Give challenges: “What do you think is the best way to rinse him off? Wishy washy, wishy washy, wishy washy WEE!” Soon, those lessons will transfer to him bathing himself (with your supervision, of course!).

Learn more terrific techniques to help your toddler’s learning, skills and development in a Kindermusik Our Time class right here at Sing Music Studio.

Your little one learns by playing. Through play, she develops cognitive and language skills and practices a wide variety of abilities such as gross and fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and visual tracking. However, around the time we traded in our Barbies and Transformers for iTunes downloads and the latest fashion trends, we momentarily forget how to play like a child.

Each week in class, we help unlock those repressed memories and show you age-appropriate ways to play together that can easily be incorporated into your daily lives. In order to be a Kindermusik educator, we train and continue with professional development to make sure as teachers, we are the best. To your child, you are the best teacher and her favorite playmate. We know that, too. So, slip off those shoes (or leave them on!), and just press play.

Everyday connection: It’s Play-o’clock Somewhere. 2am feedings aside, any time is playtime to your child. Waiting in line at the store becomes the perfect time for a modified version of the Duck Dance. Try a little lap bounce at the doctor’s office as you wait. Even cleaning the house can be playtime when you change the lyrics to a favorite song: “Gee, but it’s great to pick up toys in your room.”

Visit us at Sing Music Studio for a free preview class to learn more on how Kindermusik Village can help you parent through music.

You’re invited! Join us for a free class to experience Kindermusik at Sing Music Studio firsthand.