Month: December 2011

Music can help you travel with kids… Read on for why and a free song download!

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!
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/.

Great Job on the Christmas Recital, Students of Sing Music Studio!

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!

More Parenting Through Music!

Spotlight on Parenting: Wiggles & Giggles

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!

Congratulations to our Free Tuition Winner!

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!