Sing Music Studio

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!
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/.

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!

Spotlight on Learning: Village
By exploring with sound, babies and young toddlers practice their visual thinking skills or spatial-reasoning skills. Good visual thinking skills are essential for a child to later excel in math, science, and geography. We spend time in Kindermusik Village doing this together by playing different instruments and experimenting with lots of sounds, such as the different bird calls we “sing” together. In fact, children participating in Kindermusik tripled spatial-reasoning skills during a recent research project.

Everyday connection:
Be a Sound Explorer with your child. How many different sounds can a bath book, baby spoon, and Kindermusik Chime Ball make? Does a sippy cup with milk make the same sound as a sippy cup filled with cereal? What items on your changing table make sounds that can entertain your baby during a diaper change?

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.”

Watch this short video to find out what to expect in a kindermusik class.

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

No? Well let me tell you about this fabulous monthly sign-up music program right here at Sing Music Studio! Watch this short video…

For more detailed information on our many upcoming ABC Music & Me classes, click here!

Here are some tips on how you can make the most out of your kindermusik class:

 

• Scaffold with your child.
  Instead of telling your child what to do, lead your child to discover what to do. When we are exploring egg shakers together in class, it’s so easy to say to your child, tap your egg shaker on your knees or tap on your shoulders. But your child isn’t getting the opportunity to problem solve when we give the answer so readily. Instead, try saying, I like how you are tapping on your knees, now can you find another body part to tap on? Or, how else can you make your egg shaker move across the floor?
• Model active listening.
  By modelling, you are helping to support your child’s learning by showing them how to listen. SInce listening is a learned behaviour, it is important that we begin by showing them how to do so. When we are quietly listening together and using our facial expressions to show our enthusiasm, we are actively engaging our children in listening along with us. An important step in listening skills.
• Be present during story time.
  Help your child’s focused attention on the story by focussing your attention on the story. Another great example of modelling behaviour. Join in closely around the story blanket and help create a beautiful, calm, story loving environment for nurturing our young readers.
• Become fully engaged in the classroom experience.
  The more you participate, the more your child will participate. Sometimes grown-ups are asked to do things in kindermusik that may be outside of their comfort zone as an adult, like crawling on their hands and knees or rolling on the floor. Did you know crawling increases the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain and that rolling actually helps your child develop balance and coordination as well as brain development? But some children hesitate to participate because their parents hesitate to participate. It’s definitely more likely that your child will feel emotionally supported and confident if you are fully engaged. Setting the stage for support, bonding, communication and confidence that will carry your child through childhood, the teenage years and into adulthood.
• Sing out, regardless of your ability.
  There is no vocal judgement in kindermusik class. We are all here to enjoy and appreciate music. Your baby/child loves you and your voice no matter what. So sing out, embrace the music and help your child develop a confident love of one of the most amazing and powerful gifts we can give our children – music.