Outdoor Music Classes Bridge COVID Socialization Gaps

Outdoor Music Classes Bridge COVID Socialization Gaps

When the pandemic forced families to social distance and quarantine, the negative effects of social isolation hit young children perhaps the hardest. The need for connection is pressing and real. And that’s where Kindermusik’s outdoor music classes come in.

Many Kindermusik families love our virtual class opportunities (they’re a huge hit!) and they’re here to stay. However, some of our educators found that children responded better to a physically distanced, outdoor environment.

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5 Ways Unstructured Play Boosts Learning (Plus Tips-By-Age Guide!)

Ways Unstructured Play Boosts Learning - Kindermusik

This is a brand new day.

Ev’rything is just fine.

Time to go outside and play

Ev’rything is just fine.

(from Kindermusik’s rhythmic chant, “Ev’rything Is Just Fine”) Listen below!

“Ev’rything Is Just Fine” is a Kindermusik track that gets stuck in your head. And if you have or care for young children, that’s a good thing!. “Time to go outside and play…” Exactly. We must never forget that young children NEED TO PLAY. For everything to be “just fine” for them, a key ingredient is regular, unstructured play. 

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6 Ways to Prevent Summer Slide

6 Ways to Prevent Summer Slide

Usually, family summer themes include vacation, festivals, summer camps, and more. This year is very different, with overtones of catch-up and preventing severe boredom in the midst of lingering closures. However, one thing hasn’t changed…the looming threat of “summer slide” which extends from babies to early elementary students. So, how do families combat learning loss while recovering from a pandemic?

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3 Things You Can Expect from Kindermusik Class

3 Things You Can Expect from Kindermusik Class

Do you create your own playlists? Maybe one to calm you when you feel stressed, one to pep you up when you feel down, one for a special holiday, or one for busting a move when no one else is around (those are the best!).

Music has incredible benefits, not just for our grownup moods, but for childhood development—from the womb on! That’s what we explore every day in Kindermusik studios around the globe. 

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4 Ways Music Helps Your Brain

It’s not a coincidence that some of the most brilliant minds in history were (and are!) also musicians. That list includes famous names like Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Galileo, and Steven Spielberg. Research study after research study continues to show that music education or to be more precise – actively engaging in musical activities on a consistent basis – significantly affects the cognitive development and abilities of participants.

Consider these four big ways music affects the brain.

How Music Affects the Brain

Improved Math Abilities

Long before research studies showed how music-making positively impacts a child’s math abilities and understanding, the great mathematician Pythagorus said, “Music is math made audible.” Now we know that children engaged in math show increased abilities in spatial awareness, pattern recognition, and numbers and measurement. As children grow and continue to participate through high school, music students even score 23 points above average on SAT tests.

Can you identify the pattern in this classic Kindermusik circle dance?

 

Improved Reading Abilities

We could write a whole book on the connections between music and reading. In fact, we have! (You can download our free ebooks from this page). Children who participate in music classes experience boosts in phonological awareness, auditory discrimination, auditory sequencing, and vocabulary. Plus, reading music even models for children how to read left to right and top to bottom.

Improved Memory

When compared to their peers, musicians have better memories. In addition, musicians show improvements in auditory verbal memory and auditory memory. Dr. Nina Kraus, a prominent brain researcher at Northwestern University, has likened the effects of music on the brain to the effects of exercise on the body. Increasing the working memory capacity of the brain improves thinking ability.

For fun, see how well you do in this Kindermusik Memory Game from our Kindermusik @Home Materials.

Kindermusik memory gameImproved IQ

Children who participate in music classes over time experience a boost in their IQ. In fact, the longer a child participates in a consistent weekly music class, the greater the effect.  But you don’t have to just take our word on it, here’s an interesting article recently put out by the American Psychology Association about this very correlation between music classes and IQ.

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Want to give your child access to the brain-changing power of music? Find a local Kindermusik Educator and visit a class today.

I Can’t Believe I Did THIS in Music Class

Young children tend to view the world with an abundance of imagination. They can easily envision living life as an astronaut, walking on lava, riding on a unicorn, or sailing on a pirate ship to the land of dinosaurs (Pirates of the Caribbean meets Jurassic Park). Of course, they have never actually done those things in real life, but it doesn’t stop them from imagining or pretending that they have. Take these kids. They imagined what it would be like to be in a band:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kSzf0Ojus4[/youtube]

Yes, they were a little bit right and a little bit not right, but they certainly had fun imagining what it would be like!

What about you? Have you ever imagined what happens in a music class? Well, if you think that there would be some singing, listening to music, playing instruments, and dancing, you would be partly right. (Okay, mostly right!) However, in music class, we do things that may surprise you—or to be more accurate, you may be surprised to find yourself doing them. Take a look at just a few things people have said that they are surprised to find themselves doing in a Kindermusik class.

6 Things I Can’t Believe I Did in Music Class

  1. I sang out loud where other people could hear me and I didn’t care. Yes, we sing in the shower, in our cars, or maybe at a place of worship or at a concert with thousands of other people; however, I never expected to sing out loud in a small group setting with a smile! My children loved hearing my voice and seeing me participate in class. In fact, it helped them love it even more!
  2. I pretended to be a peep squirrel (whatever that is!), a slithering snake, a hopping rabbit, and all sorts of other animals. Again, all of this happened in front of other people and I did not care. For one, they were pretending to be those animals, too. More importantly, my children reminded me just how fun it can be to give in to my imagination.
  3. I purposefully wore my super fuzzy cozy socks with multicolored toes to show the other parents. Then told the other parents where to buy them. In music class, we take off our shoes so it’s all about the socks…or the pedicure during those warmer months. So not only, did the other parents and I exchange parenting tips specific to the age of our children we also shared where to find the cutest socks—or where to get the best pedicure in town.
  4. I broke out in a sweat hoisting my child up in the air, swinging her in a blanket hammock, and bouncing my little one up and down in an imaginary little red wagon. It was a workout for me. The best part: Those “sweaty moments” tended to be full of giggles from my child.
  5. I learned new languages…sort of. Technically, I learned to sing different songs in other languages: Spanish, French, English, and more!
  6. I finally found a place to put to good use all those dance moves I collected in my younger years including the Sprinkler, the Cabbage Patch, the Electric Slide, and even the Macarena. And, while I never had moves like Jagger, my children loved dancing with me and trying out those moves, too.

YC boy with new logoShare your own “unbelievable” story on our Kindermusik Facebook Page by completing this phrase: I can’t believe I Did [BLANK] in Kindermusik class.

Contributed by Lisa Camino Rowell, a freelance writer in the Atlanta area. Her children, now 9 and 7, still request a ride on the little red wagon—and it is STILL a workout.

Kids Sing the Cutest Things

Wrong LyricsWe’ve all sung the wrong lyrics to a song. Pre-Internet days, we probably even engaged in some spirited dialogue with friends about the words to certain songs when the artist did not include the lyrics! (Hold me closer, Tony Danza, anyone?)

Somehow, though, when children mis-sing a song, our love for them grows and we run to get the camera to capture the cuteness! Take this sweet little nugget. He is singing a beautiful rendition of “Fifty Nifty United States,” including Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, and the newest state of the union: Massachusettsippigan.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol2yx162ydA[/youtube]

Mis-sung lyrics is one of the reasons we include lyrics in Kindermusik classes so we can read the words to an unfamiliar song. However, while Kindermusik certainly supports early literacy development, most Kindermusik students are not fluent readers so they can create some of their own interesting lyrics.

Here are 5 “mis-sung” lyrics heard in a Kindermusik classroom.

Floating Down the River:

  • Misheard lyric: “Two in the middle and ketchup juicy.”
  • Actual lyric: “Two in the middle and you can’t jump, Josie.”

Mama Paquita

  • Misheard lyric: “My mom buys pizza”
  • Actual lyric: “Mama Paquita”

Home on the Range

  • Misheard lyric: “Hold, hold on the reins.”
  • Actual lyric: “Home, home on the range.”

My Bonnie:

  • Misheard lyric: “Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my body to me, to meEEee….”
  • Misheard lyric: “Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my bunny to me!”
  • Actual lyric: Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my Bonnie to me!

YC boy with new logoDoes your child sing the cutest thing, too? Upload a video of your little one’s funny moments singing the incorrect lyrics on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram. Tag with #KidsSing

Schools love Kindermusik because…

Kindermusik_PreschoolClassroom_MusicAndSensoryLearning“We are LOVING it.The kids are doing great. We have done it three days a week and they are not tired of it at all. I may just be imagining things, but some of my quiet kids are talking more. They are engaged and busy and doing exactly what I am asking them to do. We started lessons 3 and 4 today and I was shocked at what they remembered from last week! They were saying the poem and remembered all of the hand gestures. It has been so exciting to watch.” Jan B. – Preschool Intervention Program Teacher, SC

“Students who are physically impaired are jamming to the music and using vocabulary that they haven’t used before. Some children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders and have been totally nonverbal are not only using phrases, but complete sentences as well.” ~ Sheryl Koscso, Director of ECE Curriculum Instruction, FL

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCBUn2kcoKc[/youtube]

“I’m excited to report the language learning gains [from using Kindermusik curricula] were above the 70% significance level.” ~Penny Collins, Director of Special Education, Osceola County, Florida

“I have a wide range of needs in my classroom from significant visual impairment to developmental delay. The ABC Music & Me program accommodates all my students and has engaging activities that are easy to adapt for students with special needs. I would recommend the ABC Music & Me program to any Pre-K teacher.” ~Rebekah K., Pre-K Teacher, NC

Special needs ABC classroom“Good morning!  I just wanted to tell you about something wonderful that happened in my last ABC Music & Me lesson.  I have a student who has lower cognitive functioning and limited speech. He does not follow directions or imitate movements during music, etc. He LOVES listening to music and instruments but will either stick the instrument in his mouth or throw it to the floor. He refuses to play it, even with hand-over-hand assistance. We have been working with him since August and have seen little progress in his participation skills. Last week when we were doing our ABC lesson, he played two different instruments appropriately AND independently during the whole song segment! And he was imitating some of the movements that were going on during other segments as well!  My aide and I almost cried!  What a breakthrough for him!” ~ Kimberly L., Early Childhood Teacher

We Love Kindermusik

Kids & Parents Love Kindermusik Because…

Music Class is the best

“Kindermusik started as a way for my daughter and I to spend an hour a week focused just on each other. Not only is it still that, it’s a chance for her to shine each week, have my undivided attention, and for me to experience the joy of childhood through her eyes.  We love our weekly Kindermusik classes!” ~Allie B.

“When I went to a trial of Kindermusik, I thought I was going to a singing class. It is so much more. Children learn to share, listen, express themselves and they don’t even know they are learning. They have so much fun and for my daughter, it increased her confidence 10 fold. Thank you Kindermusik.” ~Louise T.

“We love Kindermusik because it meets children where they are and embraces their individuality while also teaching them to create beautiful music.” ~Missy S.

“We love Kindermusik because it gives us a chance to sing dance and be silly all while bonding with our children and shaping their early childhood development and learning!” ~Deanna H.

Kindermusik Makes My Brain Bigger“My 3 year old is very shy but since we have started going to Kindermusik he is starting to open up and interact with others. I believe this will help him mentally, physically, and emotionally.” ~Jodi M.

“We started Kindermusik when my son was 2.  He has a speech problem and loved music. I wanted to help him grow in his love of music since language was going to be hard. Little did I know that music was the key to my son learning to speak. By summer, he was singing more words that he was speaking.  At age 4, we were working on growing sentence length. He was making only 2-3 word sentences and at the park one day he walked up to me and said “climb up ladder, slide down.” A song that we learned in Kindermusik made him learn to say that! I was so excited. Now age 5, he still loves to go every week. He has so must fun singing, dancing, and using his imagination.” ~Renee B.

“Kindermusik is amazing! I have been doing it for the past 7 years with my three kids. It’s wonderful for their language development, patience in taking turns, socialization, exposure and appreciation for different styles and types of music and instruments. I could go on an on… I recommend it to any mom/caregiver I meet. I believe in the power of Kindermusik 1000%!” ~ Christy B.

“I LOVE watching my child interact socially with other kids while singing and dancing her heart out.” ~Melissa B.

“We love Kindermusik because we have seen the difference it made with our kindergartener. In addition to music, she learned about math, nature, and other cultures. We take our three-year-old now and just love the bonding time with her and seeing her face light up when she is a part of the group!” ~Ricki S.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/jIBXvaJ3nSA[/youtube]

“We love Kindermusik because it is fun for every one of us, kids and parents alike. We also love it because it’s based on research and then translated into information parents can easily understand and use every day. The whole curriculum is very take-home-able!  Thank you, Kindermusik!” ~Julie Lee

“I love our Kindermusik class because as a working mom, it’s nice to have time carved out of our busy week to spend purely bonding with my baby, while he learns something new, spends some time with friends, and has a whole lot of fun dancing, singing, and playing!” ~ Tara M.

baby mom smile“It’s fun and very educational for the kids! The kids love the music and all the action involved. WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK!” ~Marisa H.

“We love Kindermusik because not only does it give us great musical experience, it also offers a real sense of community. That’s why, when we found out we are moving from Canada to the United States the first thing we did was look for a new Kindermusik family. I love that my son will have this sense of continuity even though we are moving countries!” ~Jasmine A.

“I have a rowdy little boy but since day one with Kindermusik he has completely connected with it. I come from a very musical family and I love that he can stop everything and really participate in the singing, dancing and instruments during class.  He can’t WAIT to show daddy when we get home. I love this program and have another baby on the way that will definitely be enrolled as well.” ~Hannah W.

“I love Kindermusik because it puts a huge smile on my son’s face every week! Nothing is better than seeing your child laugh, learn and grow at the same time! ” ~ Cheryl M.

“We love Kindermusik because it gives us HOPE that one day our daughter will see, hear and dance with us. Epilepsy, profound hearing loss, near blindness and Cerebral Palsy fade away whenever we are at Kindermusik. We witnessed with great joy her many ‘firsts’ in class – crawling, standing, assisted walking and we look forward to more. With Kindermusik we dare to dream again that we will one day hear her sing and see her dance all on her own, just like all her friends.” ~ Krissy O.

“My son is on the autism spectrum and I have found Kindermusik to be one of the best interventions we do. It incorporates language, brain development, social skills (to name a few!) in such a fun and relaxed manner. And what’s more the take home kits mean we continue the intervention at home.” ~ Beth M.

KindermusikMovesMe-Logo-Hashtag-2331x869-2331x869

 #KindermusikMovesMe Challenges

Share your own personal story and how music (or Kindermusik as your life’s work) has inspired you.

Challenge #1: How Has Kindermusik Moved Me:

Show the world how Kindermusik has helped and inspired you and your family in your everyday lives. From your morning wake-up call to music or dance class to nap time to clean-up time. Capture these beautiful moments on video with your phone and upload to Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube with the hashtag #KindermusikMovesMe. The most memorable videos will be edited into a “Best of” video that will be shared on social media the week of March 2.

Challenge #1: Sing Your Heart Out Virtual Performance

From the impromptu home performance to singing in Kindermusik class to the more formal concert, capture and upload a video of those oh so adorable moments to Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube with the hashtag #KindermusikMovesMe.

Challenge #2: Finish the Kindermusik Lyric Challenge

  1.  Take a video using your phone and sing or play the FIRST line or stanza of your favorite song. Bonus points if it’s a Kindermusik song. Here’s an example challenge.
  2. Post the video on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube with the hashtag #KindermusikMovesMe
  3. Tag your family or friends and challenge them to record a video of themselves singing the next line or stanza in the song. They then can upload and tag their friends to do the same until you have completed the entire song.

Prizes:

The Deadline is February 28, 2015. Prize winners for above three challenges will now be announced the first week in March.

  • Three (3) instrument packages worth $100 for each challenge winner
  • Kindermusik selects ONE grand prize winner to receive an iPad with a years’ worth of Kindermusik@Home materials
  • Educator/studio of grand prize winner will receive an iPad and speaker system for the classroom