• is curious
• smiles a lot, even when alone
• is confident in his or her own voice
• enjoys hearing other children sing and play
• can be calmed, excited, or centered by music
• has the emerging patience to try and figure things out
• enjoys – and is proud of – belonging to a group

Posted November 3, 2009

What better way to celebrate “Book Lovers Day” on November 7 than to read a book? We all know that reading to our children is an important part of their intellectual and emotional development. But why is that? Parent and Child Magazine addresses the issue with a terrific article by Susan B. Neuman, professor of childhood studies at the University of Michigan. The article can be found here: http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=8056

Reading is fun, stimulates the imagination, provides knowledge of the world and life, including problems and how to solve them. Language development is also strengthened by hearing words being read aloud. Children who read a variety of books on a daily basis also develop a sense of community, an understanding of “what it means to be human,” learning empathy as they are introduced to cultures and people that are different from their own.

Most parents instinctively recognize the value of reading to their child. What you may be surprised to discover is that learning to read can also help your child learn to play the piano or violin or even sing in a choir. The truth is that many of the same skills required to become a successful reader are the same skills a student must draw upon when learning to read music. Skills like tracking from left to right, recognizing that symbols have meaning, and eye-hand coordination are just a few of the common denominators in reading books and reading music.

So don’t just celebrate Book Lovers Day on November 7; celebrate reading and books every day! You’ll be doing something that will benefit your child in many ways for a long time to come.

Talk back! What’s your all-time favorite children’s book?

-by Kindermusik educator Theresa Case. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world.

Posted October 14, 2009

At Kindermusik, we always say, "The More, The Merrier!" It’s part of our mission to change the world through music, one child – and one family – at a time. Plus, children love being around children. You've seen how their eyes light up when another child is in the room.

In November, we are once again adding a little music, a few dance steps, some jingles and shakers, happy giggles, and lots of memories to our familiar mantra. How and when will this all be happening, you ask? At the World’s Biggest Playgroup in Minneapolis!

KI is again participating in the World’s Biggest Playgroup event sponsored by Babytalk. This event is being held on November 10th at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN. Kindermusik International is one of the featured partners at the event, and Maestro educator Helen Peterson (along with a few other Kindermusik educators) will be leading the four 20 minute Kindermusik segments during this half day event. If you live in the area, you just have to witness this. It is really something.

For more information, visit www.worldsbiggestplaygroup.com.

• You Are My Sunshine Music Collection
• National Geographic: Lullabies
• Lullabies from Potterfield Pond
• Flying Dreams

March is Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM)!
2009 MIOSM Theme: "Music! Just Imagine..."

1. Use these links to find out how to participate in MIOSM and promote support for school music.

Cardiovascular Benefits Of Music Similar To Those Found In Laughter

Link to article in Medical News Today

Listening to your favorite music may be good for your cardiovascular system. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have shown for the first time that the emotions aroused by joyful music have a healthy effect on blood vessel function.

Music, selected by study participants because it made them feel good and brought them a sense of joy, caused tissue in the inner lining of blood vessels to dilate (or expand) in order to increase blood flow.

This healthy response matches what the same researchers found in a 2005 study of laughter. On the other hand, when study volunteers listened to music they perceived as stressful, their blood vessels narrowed, producing a potentially unhealthy response that reduces blood flow. The results of the study, conducted at the University of Maryland Medical Center, were presented at the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, on November 11, 2008, in New Orleans.

"We had previously demonstrated that positive emotions, such as laughter, were good for vascular health. So, a logical question was whether other emotions, such as those evoked by music, have a similar effect," says principal investigator Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "We knew that individual people would react differently to different types of music, so in this study, we enabled participants to select music based upon their likes and dislikes."

Click here to read the rest of the article

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Dr. Miller's funding sources include the American Heart Association, Veterans Administration and the National Institutes of Health. "Positive Emotions and the Endothelium: Does Joyful Music Improve Vascular Health?" Miller M, Beach V, Mangano C, Vogel RA. Oral Presentation. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 11/11/2008.

Source: Bill Seiler University of Maryland Medical Center