Kindermusik International

Kids Sing the Cutest Things

We’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!

Does 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

Let Music Draw Out Your Emotions. (Literally!)

Research continues to show that academic success relies heavily on social and emotional well-being, right from the start. Helping young children to recognize and label feelings supports healthy social-emotional growth and is a vital skill in early childhood education. Emotional awareness includes:

self-awareness
self-regulation
social competence
social awareness

The Arts can be a tool to help children recognize and express emotions. Music inspires a variety of feelings in the listener and sometimes those feelings can be expressed through yet another art form, such as art, dance, drama, or writing. Try this game at home or in the classroom to support social-emotional development.

Music Game: “See the Music”

Listen to six different pieces of music, each paired with a piece of art. Then, can you match them back up again?

Here are some fun ways to extend the learning of this game:

After playing the game a few times, point to some of the paintings and ask children to verbally describe the type of music that each painting represents. (Would the music be loud/soft? Fast/slow? What kinds of instruments might make the music?)
Play the musical samples from this game, without the visuals. Encourage children to be inspired, and away from the screen, to draw, write, paint, dance, or enjoy any other art form while listening! How does their artistic expression change if the music changes?
Talk with children about how they feel when they listen to each piece of music. Can they use feeling words (not just sound words or visual words) to describe what they’re hearing?
Put on some brand-new music, of your choice, and create art in response to them.

All Kindermusik classes include activities and resources to extend the learning outside the classroom. Learn more about the educational activities created specifically for families to do together outside of the classroom.

Helmets and Music Training Both Protect Kids’ Brains

Researchers continue to find more and more connections between music training and cognitive function. In a recent study, scientists determined that music training in the early years prevented the decline of speech listening comprehension, or speech recognition, in the later years of life.

What may seem like a hearing problem in older adults may actually be a decline in the brain’s ability to parse, sequence, and identify sounds. However, the Bidelman study found that older adults who had at least 10 years of musical training as children did not experience the same declines as older adults who had not had musical training.

“The latest findings add to mounting evidence that musical training not only gives young developing brains a cognitive boost, but those neural enhancements extend across the lifespan into old age when the brain needs it most to counteract cognitive decline.”

We couldn’t agree more. In Kindermusik, we start musical “training” with children as young as newborns and continue through age 7, after which Kindermusik graduates are more than ready and excited to take the next step into success with traditional music lessons. Our early childhood music training in Kindermusik takes the form of happy singing, creative movement, listening, instrument play and exploration, and fun activities that teach foundational music concepts and skills.

You wouldn’t dream of letting your child ride a bike unprotected and without a helmet. So don’t forget another kind of protection… the lifelong protection of your child’s cognitive functioning that can come from music training, especially in the early years. We promise, they won’t fuss about putting on their music “helmet,” especially not with Kindermusik!

3 Favorite Musical Activities that Support Cognitive Development

Focused Listening

Whenever your child’s attention is focused in on one sound, he or she learns to compare the differences between sounds and how they are produced. And unlike the physical act of hearing, listening is an intellectual and emotional process that involves listening “between the lines” to understand what is NOT said as well as what IS said. What better time to get started listening to music than at the very youngest ages, during those critical early years when the brain is developing the most rapidly!

Movement

Movement is the key to learning! A young child’s brain NEEDS movement in order to develop fully. Crawling, rolling, walking, skipping, swinging, jumping… When you observe and encourage your child to move in lots of different ways, you are helping to ensure your child’s healthy brain development. That’s because our brains fully develop through all kinds of movement activities – the more variety, the better the capacity for learning.

Instrument Exploration & Play

Exploring instruments may seem like just fun and games, but it is actually a very crucial part of early learning. For example, when children are given an egg shaker to explore, they will likely use several of the five senses because the senses are their basis of discovery. This kind of sensory learning develops long-lasting cognitive skills… AND if you add in an egg shaker play-along, also develops a wonderful sense of rhythm and steady beat!

Learn more about more of the wonderful benefits of early music training.

Contributed by Theresa Case whose award-winning Kindermusik program is located at Piano Central Studios in beautiful upstate South Carolina.

Educators Love Kindermusik Because…

“I love Kindermusik because it settles the perfect conditions for grownups and children, strangers and friends, to play together as a bunch of friends!” ~ Miss Vane

“It brings together my two greatest loves; music and children.” ~ Johanna Clancy

“I love Kindermusik because they treat each educator like family! One of my teachers passed away and I received a sympathy card signed by the entire corporate office!!!!!! So grateful to be a Kindermusik business owner.” ~Stayc Sharrow Simpson

“I love Kindermusik because it is fulfilling to share my passion for music with children and their families! To play a part in providing a strong foundation to a child’s overall development, and a place where family bonds can be nurtured and strengthened brings me great JOY!” ~ Corrie Horn Rose

“I LOVE Kindermusik because it allows me to share with my students adventures around the farm, up in the sky, to the beach or even to the carnival… Each smile and hug and look of wonder makes it all worth it!” ~ Kindermusik with Miro

“From the day I stepped into the training room 17 years ago to just last week, Kindermusik has given me joy, purpose and friendships that have defined much of my life. I tell my Kindermusik trainees that the side benefit of becoming a Kindermusik educator are the wonderful friendships that are created among colleagues and parents – and the children, of course! Thank you for being a part of my life forever!” ~Julee Kowallis

“My students love kindermusik, the day is not complete without music and movement in the classroom.” ~ Tess Mari Poblador

[youtube]http://youtu.be/c_Q0ncbc0uw[/youtube]

Schools love Kindermusik because…

“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

“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

You Make My Heart Sing DIY Valentine’s Day Frame

As a parent or an early childhood teacher, we encounter so many moments we want to hold in our hearts forever. We hope to always remember the way our baby felt snuggled in our arms or those chunky little toddler legs or the sounds of a roomful of little music makers.

At Kindermusik, we are in the memory-making business and we want to capture them all! Like this #KindermusikMovesMe moment of music-making on the stairs:

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

Capture the Memories in a “You Make My Heart Sing” Frame

During We Love Kindermusik Week, our hearts seem to overflow with love and memory-making moments. So, go ahead. Download, print, cut, and place this frame over your favorite picture. While this day will never come again, you can indeed hold it in your heart forever…and maybe even on your refrigerator, too!

Kids & Parents Love Kindermusik Because…

“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.

“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.

“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 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

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.
Post the video on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube with the hashtag #KindermusikMovesMe
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

We Love Kindermusik – Free Music & Coloring Page Giveaway

What’s the best way to start off “We Love Kindermusik” week? With free music, an audio book, and a coloring sheet, of course!

We Love Kindermusik – Album Download (with audio story!)

To help celebrate We Love Kindermusik week, we are giving away a free download of the entire album “TLC: Grow with Me” at play.Kindermusik.com. To download, click the link and then select the orange download button. If you’re new to the site, you may need to register to receive the free album, as all our song downloads do require a login. (Don’t worry, we don’t use your information on anything. This login feature is designed for those enrolled in Kindermusik classes to access their digital materials). Upon login, you should be able to quickly download the album to your computer. Extra bonus: The album also includes an audio story!

#KindermusikMovesMe – Coloring Page and Traceable

After you download the “TLC: Grow with Me” album, download the #KindermusikMovesMe coloring page and traceable. Then, listen to the music together while creating some art!

Download Kindermusik Makes My Heart Sing Coloring Sheet

Download the Kindermusik Makes My Heart Sing Traceable Sheet.

Check with your local Kindermusik Educator to see if they are hosting a coloring page giveaway or contest. You can also post to social media with the hashtag #KindermusikMovesMe!

Announcing WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK Week!

It was a simple concept, really, this idea for a WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK Week. It was born out of an increasing recognition of just how many of us – educators, children, and families – have been touched by being a part of something that’s more than just a curriculum or a weekly activity. The idea came to life as we reflected on just how much love there is for Kindermusik and how meaningful it would be to set aside a week to come together and purposefully delight in all that Kindermusik is and means to all of us.

With this one annual specially designated week, we will be able to publicly and corporately give voice to that light in a child’s eye, that song in her heart, that little person just waiting to blossom – to acknowledge all those precious, miraculous moments we as Kindermusik educators are privileged to nurture and celebrate with our Kindermusik families each and every week. Simply put, WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK WEEK is a small way we can raise up together to celebrate the wonder and magic that is uniquely Kindermusik.

And so, with much joyful delight and anticipation, Kindermusik International and the Partnership for Kindermusik Educators invite you to join us in celebrating WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK Week during Valentine’s week, the week of February 8–14, 2015, when Kindermusik educators and families around the world will join together to show – and tell! – how much we all love Kindermusik and what Kindermusik means to each of us.

As a little background, you might find it interesting to know that WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK Week, to be held annually in February of each year, was designed to:

raise awareness and generate good will for the Kindermusik brand
unite families and educators around a common cause
give educators a way to show families how much we love Kindermusik and how much we love them!
encourage families to share why they love Kindermusik
highlight ways we can all do some good and spread the joy of Kindermusik
remind all of us of the magic that is uniquely Kindermusik.

Keep an eye on KI’s blog Minds on Music and Kindermusik International’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages this week for ways that you can celebrate and share what Kindermusik means to you.

Start WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK Week with free music!

Kindermusik International is getting the love started by giving away a free download of the entire album “TLC: Grow with Me” at play.Kindermusik.com. To download, click the link and then select the orange download button. If you’re new to the site, you may need to register to receive the free album, as all our song downloads do require a login. (Don’t worry, we don’t use your information on anything. This login feature is designed for those enrolled in Kindermusik classes to access their digital materials). Upon login, you should be able to quickly download the album to your computer. Extra bonus: The album also includes an audio story!

WE LOVE KINDERMUSIK week is truly intended to be a week of happy reminders of why we all love Kindermusik and most importantly, of all the special people – educators, families, and children – who come together every week to change the world through music…. one child and one song at a time.

9 Kids + 9 Hula Hoops = Math Lesson

Take a look at this video. What do you see?

If you answered, “a room full of children and adults ‘driving’ around with hula hoops,” you would be right. But, if you said an early childhood music and movement activity teaching spatial awareness you would also be right! Children are using their whole bodies—and the whole room—to learn a vital math skill, the skill of spatial awareness. (Although they think they are just having fun driving around!)

So what is spatial awareness and why does it matter?

Spatial awareness is the knowledge of where you are in relationship to other people and objects in your environment. To develop spatial awareness, children must be introduced to concepts such as direction, distance and location.

Studies have found a link between a well-developed sense of spatial awareness and artistic creativity, success in math, and the development of abstract thought. But it’s that music-movement-math connection that many scientists and researchers are really starting to explore.

As highlighted in this study by Florian Krause at Radford University, there is a vital connection between the body and the brain. This provides educators and parents with a powerful tool for helping children learn by giving them opportunities to make a connection from experiencing to understanding.

For over 30 years now, Kindermusik educators have been helping children jumpstart their growth and learning through the compelling combination of music and movement. The research confirms… it simply adds up!

Learn more about using music and movement to support a young child’s early math development at http://www.kindermusik.com/about/benefits-of-music-for-children/.