Thankful for being a part of my extended Kindermusik Family

I have been involved with Kindermusik since 1991. It was a decision that I will never regret.

My Daughter Bree went through Young Child many years (this was before Growing, Beginnings, Our Time, Imagine That and Village) she grew each time, increased her knowledge of music, and this weekend just competed in an East Coast Music Event where her team came in 1st place with a Superior rating, and she herself did very well on piccolo and flute. She's 18 now, and a Senior. This was her last competition as a highschool student.

I was reminiscing earlier this week, of where I first started the program, how HUGE it was those first few years when there was nothing else musical for young children to do in the area. How recessions hit (twice!) and new businesses were created to compete for the Kindermusik students......Yet Kindermusik with Sandie is still here!

But that's not what this is blog post is about. It's about continuation. Continuation not just of my Kindermusik program, but continuation of family connections. Of my connection to all of the children who's lives I have musically touched.

I have Kindermusik students who study privately now, with others or myself. Some are in HIGHSCHOOL! I just this week had an old private student bring in her children to join a Kindermusik class. I have had the cousins of some of my graduating students start their own Kindermusik adventure in the last few years.

Currently, out of 64 Kindermusik families...........I have been there to see new children born; once, twice, even three times with 63 of these families. I have been a musical part of their worlds, have even done Kindermusik Parties, Kindermusik Christenings and Kindermusik Hayrides for some of these families.

I have been connected to these families through happy times, and sad times. Just this last year, I heard of the loss of a father, who was taken so suddenly from his family. He himself had contributed many times to Kindermusik events that I had held in the past.

I am so honored, that these families, over these years have wanted Kindermusik with Sandie to be a continuing part of their lives. That sisters tell sisters and brothers what a rewarding experience it is or was for their own children, and I get a renewed attachement to old families. That grandparents tell friends children how it improved their own grandchildrens skills, and I get to know new families.

I know that all of my families have many choices for their children. I cannot thank them enough that they chose me, to share in their childs growth and learning.

Sing with you soon! Ms. Sandie

Why music is good for YOUR child....

Why music is good for YOUR child……

Yes, we’ve all heard it before. Bach for Babies, Mozart for Mommies, you name it, it’s out there. Music makes children smarter, Music helps with grades, Music helps with math skills. It’s almost overload. You see the studies, you glance over the titles….but do you really contemplate it for YOUR child?

A new Kindermusik Dad really got me thinking this week. Dad & Charlie came to visit an Our Time class. Charlie was a happy young man (26 months old). He was exploring every space, every nook and cranny of the living room (waiting area) the great room (class area) and the minds in motion area (aka my eclectic and not child proofed office, forgot to put the gate up!)

I continued to reassure Dad that this exploration was normal. That is was OK for Charlie to touch all of my bins out for the class. That I was happy he felt comfortable enough to go over to the kid sized table and chairs and sit and watch. He always rejoined when something new was brought out to explore. I gradually watched Dad relax, and not follow around so much. He sat on the floor, leaning back and watching his son. The more Dad relaxed, the more Charlie stayed in the class area. The more fun they both began to have….and before we knew it, class was over!

In talking with Dad later, his main purpose to join (and he did join!) was to give his son more social time with other children and families (OH YES!) to learn more about sharing and taking turns (YES AGAIN!) and to have a great time. I loved that this Dad was so ‘in tune’ to what his son needed.

So, what light bulb went off in my musical brain after this great start to a Kindermusik day?

I’m going to work even harder to get to know new families better. To find ways that Kindermusik (or music in general) will help each individual family and child. A child might have recently had a Birth to Three evaluation for fine or gross motor skills, or language delays. Music can help with that. A child might really need guidance processing sequences or routines. Music can help with that. A child might have been recently diagnosed as on the Autistic Spectrum. Music can help with that. A child might be recently adopted and or an only child and not know how to interact with other young people. Music can help with that. A family might be overstressed and just need a way to bond with each other in a fun yet educational way. Music can help with that too.

THIS….is why music is GREAT for YOUR child/children AND family.

Sing with you soon!

Sandie

It's all about the beat!

In all Kindermusik classes, there is always emphasis on hearing, feeling, moving, and even “seeing” a steady beat. It may seem very elementary, but it is essentially the cornerstone of music.

More importantly, steady beat plays a huge importance in our speech patterns, movement, thoughts and verbal organisation. From a baby’s first hesitant steps, he slowly finds his pace and soon starts to walk steadily and confidently. Our preschoolers who have a strong sense of beat would be able to use the scissors more skillfully. Ever watch a basketball game? The steady dribble of the ball before it is tossed smack into the basket require an acute sense of beat and timing. A master chef needs to have a command of steady beat in his knife skills. Even writers rely on a sense of steady beat and rhythm in their prose to produce a good read.

Because it is such a fundamental element, parents and teachers often do not give sufficient attention to the development of this very important underlying skill – a strong sense of beat. The consequence of insufficient steady beat experiences in early years can result in poor physical coordination, halting speech (in some cases, stuttering), and even weakness in thought flow. Would you have imagined that something so apparently a strictly musical characteristic can have such bearing on so many areas of our functioning?!

Here are some simple and fun activities that you can do with your child at home to reinforce the concept sense of steady beat:

Movement – Turn on the music and pretend to be a marching band. March, stomp or jump to the music. For younger babies, put them on your lap and bounce to a steady beat or dance with them around the room to the steady beat of the music.

Instrument play – Use the instruments from your home materials or make your own. An old pot and spoon will make a very fun ( and loud!) drum. Practice keeping a steady beat along with the music.

Reading – Nursery rhymes are a great way to introduce steady beat. Clap or tap along as you recite your child’s favourite rhymes.

Originally on the Kindermusik Asia Blog by Chiat Goh. Chiat is the Founding Director and Educator Mentor of Kindermusik Asia.

ASL Classes at Keys & Strings Music Studio/ Kindermusik with Sandie

Sign & Sing offers a uniquely different approach from other sign language programs. Through songs, toys, and loving playtime between you and your child, Kindermusik Sign & Sing shows you more than 50 signs your child can use to communicate with you. Using research-proven methods shown to speed language development in hearing children, you'll see how sign language can ease frustration and enhance long-term learning abilities for your child. Visit www.musicboxwithsandie.com and click Kindermusik logo for more information