Minds On Music – The Kindermusik Blog - Page 17 of 105 - For three generations, Kindermusik has helped millions of children around the world build a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Educator Spotlight: Stefanie Jamison

It’s a beautiful focus on family and an abundant love for music that makes Stefanie Jamison and her studio, The Musik Box, stand out. When you meet Stefanie – which usually also means you get to meet her incredible family, you can’t help but notice the overflow of enthusiasm, energy, and passion for all things family and all things Kindermusik. Stefanie teaches with a lot of heart, and she runs her business with a lot of heart too! Lovingly known as “Mrs. Jamison,” Stefanie has been a studio owner and Kindermusik educator in the Phoenix, Arizona area for over 6 years now, and we are delighted to feature her very inspiring story. Oh and by the way, when she’s not homeschooling or teaching Kindermusik, you’ll probably find Stefanie hand-knitting baby blankets to welcome the newest babies in her Kindermusik family.

TC: I understand that there’s a very special story about how you became a Kindermusik educator.

SJ: Yes, I have a very unique story in how I came to teach Kindermusik. I had a child with serious developmental delays due to a life-threatening infection and intensive surgical intervention in his life when he was a toddler. I knew the power of music therapy from my background of study and research in child development at the University of California, Berkeley. So I took him to Kindermusik, and he learned to sing before he regained his speech. Our experience at Kindermusik was life-changing as a family. We then were blessed with two more children, but we struggled to find a consistent Kindermusik experience for them. With the economy changes in our state we had 10 teachers in less than 5 years. So our last Kindermusik teacher recommended that I become licensed. It was an outrageous thought because at that time I was bedridden from a serious illness. But I thought it would be a way to help my own kids out of the isolation that my illness brought inadvertently to them. It was also a reason for me to get out of bed and get dressed each day. I started with one class a week. Now I teach over 30 classes a week, and I can move without any restrictions. The miracle of sharing music with others is that I feel better than ever. I will always have pain – that’s my reality – and yet singing and dancing helps me to function. Based on what I do on a daily basis as a Kindermusik teacher, no one would ever guess that the prognosis given to me by doctors years ago was that I would never walk again.

TC: How do your Kindermusik kids (or families) describe you?

SJ: The words that people most often share about me are “passionate” and “encouraging.” My goal in all my classes from Village to Young Child is to encourage parents in their most important job – parenting! So often our culture judges moms and dads and I want them to come to a place where they can be loved, served and encouraged right alongside their children. I want to help them to see the gift that is their child.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

TC: If you had to name just one secret to success in the Kindermusik classroom, what would it be?

SJ: Enthusiastic celebration! I love to celebrate parents and children. My goal is to help each parent to see the gift that is their child and to find great delight in them. To be a force for encouragement in this world is my purpose!

TC: What makes your studio such a special place?

SJ: We provide more than a music class. For example, when I realized how many of my parents were worn out and not getting all-important time alone with each other, we started an outreach on the weekends called “Music Camp Out.” Parents could leave their children in our family’s care for three hours while they enjoyed a night out together. As a family we pick a theme and then build a music class around that theme, incorporating games, crafts and a kid-friendly movie. The funny thing is that the kids that attend could care less about the movie. They are more interested in the social activities and music. It’s a way for our family to share some of our favorite songs and activities from across all the different curricula. Kids look forward to these nights just as much as parents. We are able to give respite to the weary and help them to carry on in their most important role as parents. We do this in part because our belief is that strong families are made by strong marriages.

TC: What’s your favorite part of teaching Kindermusik?

SJ: I love teaching Kindermusik for many reasons. I delight in seeing young children’s faces light up during different activities in class. It is particularly touching to see parents connect with their children and tell me how their kids go home and enjoy music class at home with their parents.

TC: What’s your favorite Kindermusik song to sing?

SJ: “We’re a Musical Family” – because that is our family theme song. We truly are a Kindermusik family! And my kids changed the lyrics to “I Love My Family” to say “they’re the best for me!”

TC: What’s the most touching thing that’s ever happened to you as a Kindermusik teacher?

SJ: The most touching is that I have provided a place for special needs kids and families to feel loved and welcomed. They know that I will do whatever it takes to make it possible for their children to succeed in class. One little girl that will graduate into Young Child next year has been with me since she was a baby. She was born without an optic nerve, so her gross motor skills were impacted, her speech was delayed, and fine motor development completely non-existent. She attended classes for four years with a parent. The big leap for her to come on her own was a challenge. Who would help her navigate the classroom? So my daughter became her shadow in class. My student refers now to my daughter as her sister, and she adores having a “helper.”

TC: What are some of the goals you have for your business?

SJ: Right now, I am a one-woman teaching staff. I hired an administrator last year which has helped saved my sanity. However, I am looking to hire teachers to expand my program and provide back-up for me in part because we are about to realize our greatest goal and dream – opening up our first designated studio space. No longer will I be traveling all over our city to provide music classes. Best of all, my family will be able to retire from their “roadie” duties of helping mom load and unload our minivan affectionately called “The Musik Box.”

TC: What’s one thing that has significantly impacted the direction of your business?

SJ: The best thing I ever did for my business was to join the Studio Expansion Program. Going through the program helped realize that I am a business woman. Before I acted like teaching was more of a hobby and so I tried to accommodate everyone’s needs – something that was to my own detriment. The SEP has helped me to identify and embrace my values, what I offer, who my ideal client is, and how to expand my business to reach more families with Kindermusik.[/vc_column_text][blockquote cite=”Stefanie Jamison”]”I have a student in Young Child and her little sister is in Sing and Play. Their mom told me that one day she found her older daughter teaching her younger daughter everything she learned in her Young Child class, pretending to be Mrs. Jamison.”

TC: What do you feel has made your studio business a success?

SJ: Personal attention. I first started with four families in 2011 and I did it for my own children to meet other kids. At that point I was still struggling with my health, so teaching in my home was the reason to get out of bed and get dressed. It is amazing to see how it has grown and how my health has improved alongside that growth. My doctors marvel that I discontinued all my medicine. I attribute that to the power of music. Teaching really does make me feel better! Truly this business is a family affair as my husband and kids serve our families right alongside me. God has certainly blessed us beyond what we ever expected or imagined when we started.

TC: What’s something new and exciting that’s happening with your business?

SJ: Since I started my business, I have taught in both Arizona (my home state) and in Oregon while my husband was on a long-term training assignment with his company. I have taught at my house, a friend’s house, a community center, and even a toy store. Now my business has expanded to the point where I can sustain teaching in my own studio. I will be moving to my own studio within the month! It’s a wonderful teaching space near my house. Best of all, my husband will be my neighbor, as his business is in the adjoining suite! We are even eyeing the next city that we want to open our next studio in! So we see growth as a serious possibility!

TC: What is one of your own favorite Kindermusik memories?

SJ: I have a student in Young Child and her little sister is in Sing and Play. Their mom told me that one day she found her older daughter teaching her younger daughter everything she learned in her Young Child class, pretending to be Mrs. Jamison. I love hearing stories like that! It shows that the Kindermusik tag line is so true: “A good beginning never ends.”

Interested in learning more about Kindermusik University, starting a new Kindermusik business, or adding Kindermusik to your existing business? Just fill out the quick form below. We look forward to seeing you in our next training class!

Planting Seeds that Grow: Music for a Lifetime

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve listed the endless benefits of an early childhood saturated in musical experiences before (and we’ll keep doing it, too!). The science is in: music is good for the brain. It’s good for the body. It helps build all types of intelligence. Music making positively impacts language development, creativity, and coordination. When you make music with others, it increases empathy and trust. The list of music’s benefits, particularly for our young ones, seems to constantly grow.

But there’s a benefit that we haven’t really talked about too much: regularly enriching the young life with music leads to a lifetime of music appreciation. It’s really an investment, right? By planting the seeds early, we see beautiful green shoots poke through the surface that will lead to fully-bloomed musical flowers, flowers that will add dazzling colors to the entirety of life’s journey.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here’s the truth friends. Every child is born a natural musician. Every child is born a natural artist. From the first sounds we hear from them, there’s music present. We are musical beings at heart. Don’t you hear music in your baby’s babbling? I know I did. Watch this short video of a mother and child exploring different tones – to the great amusement of both.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3v-H6xGtU”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]That little girl was composing! She was exploring different pitches as her mother interacted with her. She was exploring her musical voice.

What about this little one mimicking her mother’s song? Friends – this is magic. You can see her going back and forth from listening and copying.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ58BW_xlcc”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The Next Steps

These attempts to copy what they hear, lead to music-making on their own. How many times did you hear your baby over the monitor singing in the crib? Making music often becomes a method to self-soothe. Remember? Making music releases endorphins which lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the body.

These parents caught their daughter singing Darth Vader’s Imperial March in her crib.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX_kKA6gXCg”][vc_column_text]Every child’s a singer. Every child’s a drummer. But as we move through our young lives, without regular musical activity and encouragement, we lose a little of that sense of endless possibility. There’s a wonderful story about a group of kids that were studied over the course of several years. In kindergarten, they were asked, “How many of you can sing?” EVERYBODY’S hand shot up. A chorus of “Me! Me! I can!” rang through the room.

Four years later, that group was asked the same question. “How many of you can sing?” There was still a largely positive response, but certainly fewer hands went up.

In middle school, they were asked again. “Who here is a singer?”

Less than half of the room responded affirmatively.

By the time this group of kids was in high school, the number of kids that thought of themselves as possessing the capacity to sing well dropped to 10%.

Somewhere along the way, they forgot that in infancy, each of them was a singing, drumming, dancing artist who brought musical beauty into the world.

So what do we do? How do we keep them engaged?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Give Them Experiences!

It’s simple, really. Constantly bring music into your kids’ lives. Start while they’re in the womb. Have music playing when they are born. Sing to them every day. Play music for them. Bring them to kid appropriate concerts. As they get older, make daily activities like cleaning up or making the bed musical activities. Make up silly songs for everything.

Make music their second language. These are the seeds that lead to those shoots of green that lead to a garden of life full of musical flowers. The more experiences you give them, like our wonderful Kindermusik classes, will get them addicted to something that will only enhance the quality of their lives.

Music feeds the mind…music feeds the body…music feeds the soul.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Baby Speech Development? They Learn with their Mouths…

Yes, “baby speech development” really is critical in that first year. According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found evidence that babies—long known to explore their world with their mouths—actually use their tongues, lips, and other articulators to unravel the mysteries of the speech and language they hear on a constant basis. Let’s start with articulators… Continue reading “Baby Speech Development? They Learn with their Mouths…”

Kids Need to be Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Author and early childhood education expert Nancy Carlsson-Paige makes the case for authentic educational experiences, less concerned with assessment and more concerned with experiences that give kids what they need – opportunities to be kids.

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Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige knows a thing or two about childhood development. For 30 years, she trained teachers at Lesley University and is critical of educational models that focus on standardized tests. Dr. Carlsson-Paige’s focus can be found right in the subtitle of her book: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids. But how do we do this? In her acceptance speech upon receiving the Deborah Meier Award by the nonprofit National Center for Fair and Open Testing, she said the following, published in the Washington Post:

I have loved my life’s work – teaching teachers about how young children think, how they learn, how they develop socially, emotionally, morally. I’ve been fascinated with the theories and science of my field and seeing it expressed in the actions and the play of children.

So never in my wildest dreams could I have foreseen the situation we find ourselves in today.

Where education policies that do not reflect what we know about how young children learn could be mandated and followed. We have decades of research in child development and neuroscience that tell us that young children learn actively — they have to move, use their senses, get their hands on things, interact with other kids and teachers, create, invent. But in this twisted time, young children starting public pre-K at the age of 4 are expected to learn through “rigorous instruction.”

And never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that we would have to defend children’s right to play.

Play is the primary engine of human growth; it’s universal – as much as walking and talking. Play is the way children build ideas and how they make sense of their experience and feel safe. Just look at all the math concepts at work in the intricate buildings of kindergartners. Or watch a 4-year-old put on a cape and pretend to be a superhero after witnessing some scary event.

But play is disappearing from classrooms. Even though we know play is learning for young kids, we are seeing it shoved aside to make room for academic instruction and “rigor.”

– Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige

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Play: Let Kids Be Kids

Dr. Carlsson-Paige reminds us that some of the most important competencies can’t be tested.[/vc_column_text][blockquote cite=”Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige”]”Self-regulation, problem solving ability, social and emotional competence, imagination, initiative, curiosity, original thinking — these capacities make or break success in school and life and they can’t be reduced to numbers.”[/blockquote][vc_column_text]Letting kids be kids, letting them experience the world through interaction with peers in a safe environment, supervised by caring, trained educators is incredibly beneficial as children develop. Where can we find these opportunities? Often, in many districts, even at the kindergarten level, the school day is rigidly structured, with little time for creative play, and that, as Dr. Carlsson-Paige points out, is one of the three things young children need:

Time and Space for Creative Play

Feeling of Security

Strong Meaningful Relationships with Adults and other Children

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Love Above All

This is key. I know – it sounds like a line, but love is empathy and caring in action. Kids learn how to interact with others by actually interacting with others. And in those interactions, especially starting from age two, they begin to understand empathy and caring. Social and emotional coaching from trusted adults guides kids through this development. When you see one child sharing with another…when you see one child helping another up after he tripped, you are seeing love in action.

If young children don’t receive these experiences that positively shape their developmental progress in school, where can they find them? Where can they experience all three of Dr. Carlsson-Paige’s legs that support the table of childhood? Kindermusik fits the bill. Here are 10 benefits of enrolling:

Benefit #1: Kindermusik gives your child that unique head start you’ve been looking for – musically, cognitively, and academically.

Benefit#2: Kindermusik inspires a love of music from an early age with songs, instruments, and activities that are just right for each age and every stage.

Benefit #3: Kindermusik enhances every area of your child’s development – we are so much more than just music!

Benefit #4: Kindermusik gives you the time and the tools to enjoy quality time with your child – in class and at home.

Benefit #5: Kindermusik Home Materials let you take the music, fun, and learning with you all week long, wherever you go.

Benefit #6: Kindermusik classes provide a happy social outlet for your child and a valuable support network for you.

Benefit #7: All Kindermusik activities are research-proven and giggle-approved, and all are supported by a developmental and musical focus.

Benefit #8: Kindermusik lays a strong foundation for future success in school and in formal music lessons later on.

Benefit #9: Kindermusik is something you and your child will use every day – at home or on the go!

Benefit #10: Kindermusik offers a comprehensive program with the potential for positively impacting your child from newborn all the way to 7 years of age.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Check out Dr. Carlsson-Paige’s book. It is a research-based, compassionate approach to guiding the development of children, written by a veteran collegiate educator who is also the mother of two successful, artist sons.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

For the Love of Musik: Starting a Kindermusik Studio

I became a member of the Kindermusik family over 20 years ago now, thanks to a dear college professor who encouraged me to pursue my love of music and young children by becoming a licensed Kindermusik educator. Little did either of us know that the first step of enrolling in Kindermusik training would lead to so many years of doing something I love with all of my heart – teaching and owning a Kindermusik studio!

So what does it take to start a studio? Well, you can get all of the practical logistics from the Kindermusik International site, and I highly suggest starting there. You’ll find lots of great information that will not only answer your questions, but will also help guide and confirm your decision.

But if you want to know what it REALLY takes to start a Kindermusik studio and join the incredible community of Kindermusik educators and programs all around the world… read on!

It takes a heart that never stops expanding…

The best Kindermusik teachers have the capacity for boundless love for children AND their adults. With love comes connection, and with connection comes families who adore you and stay with your program.

It takes a commitment to always be learning…

I’m talking about more than just learning the lesson activities – it’s about learning and growing as a professional. If you are always growing, your teaching will always be fresh.

It takes persistence and dedication…

Starting a business isn’t easy, but it has huge rewards. Those rewards come in all shapes and forms, and they are definitely worth working for.

It takes a willingness to continually strive for excellence…

It’s about both doing your best and also giving the best. The Kindermusik curriculum is the best on the planet, and as Kindermusik educators, it’s our job to deliver an incredible experience.

It takes connecting with other Kindermusik educators…

One of the absolute BEST benefits of being a Kindermusik educator has been meeting and getting to know – and love – other Kindermusik educators around the world. Some of my most cherished friendships are with Kindermusik educators!

It takes creativity, planned and spontaneous…

A Kindermusik lesson plan absolutely comes alive in the hands of a creative educator. Much of that creativity is carefully planned in advance, and the rest happens in the moment.

Theresa Case, uses her Masters of Music Education to teach students of all ages to appreciate music in Kindermusik.

Hear what inspired Mary Pratt to become a licensed Kindermusik Educator:

It takes an understanding of child development…

You’ll learn so much by studying the Benefit Statements in the curriculum and by observing the children in your classes. But doing some extra reading and study will really enhance your ability to relate to the children and affirm the parents.

It takes an absolute love of music…

Singing, dancing, making music, and leading and inspiring others to do the same – you have to love it with all your heart so they will too.

It takes an unshakeable belief in the power of music…

This is what will motivate you, what will keep you going – knowing that music has the power to make such a difference in the lives of children and their families. When you see it firsthand, over and over, you’ll want to teach Kindermusik until you are no longer able to sing and move. Starting a Kindermusik studio is worth everything you will invest in it…and then some.

Join a World-Class Music Education Community!

The heart and soul of Kindermusik is our highly passionate community of educators and business owners around the world. They’re musical, business-minded, enthusiastic, and extremely committed. Does this sound like you? If so, become part of the world’s most carefully researched, developmentally-appropriate early childhood music program! I promise…teaching Kindermusik will make as much of a difference in YOUR life as it does in the lives of the children and families you will be privileged to love and teach.

Shared by Theresa Case who’s kept at it for the love of “musik” for over 20 years now… and hopes to be at for at least 20+ years more! Theresa’s award-winning Kindermusik program is part of the program at Piano Central Studios in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina.

Want to learn more? Follow us this way!

Educator Spotlight: Beth Anspach

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Beth Anspach has a heart for children and families and bringing them together, as evidenced by her studio business, Pathways to Learning, which began in 2000 and now offers both Kindermusik classes as well as Conscious Discipline® workshops and coaching. Beth’s business serves families in the Red Hook, New York area, with three studio locations. Among her families, Beth is known for her patience, calm, and upbeat attitude. Some of her hobbies including spending time with her kids and reading. Beth can hardly believe that the year 2017 marks her 20th year of being a licensed Kindermusik educator. Time flies when you love what you do and when you are making such a big difference in your little corner of the world!

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]TC: First things first. What do your Kindermusik kids call you?

BA: Miss Beth

TC: What do you love most about being a Kindermusik educator?

BA: I love having an opportunity to work closely with parents and their children. The Kindermusik tenet that the parent is the child best and primary teacher provides opportunity for contact with parents at all levels of the studio curricula. Supporting parents in the understanding of their child’s development and helping adult and child connect through music and movement is the most rewarding part of what I do, well that and the loads of love that children extend to me throughout the day.

TC: What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you as a Kindermusik teacher?

BA: There have been so many touching experiences over the years, but here’s a funny one. I was putting stamps on hands after class and one child was uncertain so I reassured her saying that the stamp would wash off really easily if she decided she didn’t like it. Out of the blue another 3-year old in the waiting area piped up, “My mommy has a stamp of a butterfly on her butt that doesn’t ever wash off.” I’m not sure if mom wanted everyone to know she had a butterfly tattoo on her bottom or not but everyone got a chuckle.

TC: What’s your favorite Kindermusik song to sing?

BA: There are so many favorites. We have such a rich and diverse collection. Some of the lullabies are my favorites because of the emotional connection to having sung them with my own babies. “Sulla Lulla” and “Armenian Lullaby” are two that hold a special spot in my heart.

TC: What’s your favorite Kindermusik dance to lead?

BA: Again, so many great dances to choose from. I guess “Mama Paquita” is one on the top of my list. I especially love the circle dances we do in Cuddle & Bounce. These dances not only impact the babies as they watch the other adults and babies move around the circle but you can really see the adults connecting through moving and dancing together in synchrony. The smiles and giggles from adults and babies alike as well as the nonverbal connections that are made in these moments are priceless.

It’s also fun to watch the progression of circle dances throughout the Kindermusik 7-year continuum. From babes in arms being carried around the circle, to young toddlers holding on (just to their own parent’s hand) to older toddlers feeling safe enough to hold hands with other adults, to preschoolers having enough control to hold hands with their peers, and on up to school aged kiddos ready to take on the dances without the adults present.

TC: Describe a teaching experience or favorite Kindermusik family that has impacted you as a teacher.

BA: There was a class of toddlers once where one little boy was really having difficulty being gentle with the other children (typical of many toddlers) and mom was struggling with what to do, feeling like a failure. It was a challenging time as everyone was concerned for safety and you could feel the tension in the classroom. I remember, after an incident, simply putting my hand on mom’s shoulder and confirming for her that we all cared deeply for her and her little boy and that we recognized her effort in trying to help her child and help keep the other children safe. I asked her permission to let us help her and her sweet boy and gave her and the other parents some ideas on what they could do to be helpful. It was an amazing moment as the class came together in support of, instead of in judgement of, a fellow parent. It was at that moment I realized that as a teacher I often have the power to set the tone and lead by example for the adults as much as for the children. We were able to help this little boy and keep the other children safe and the parents from this particular class are one of the closest knit groups to this day.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/203920315″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]TC: If you had to name just one secret to success in the Kindermusik classroom, what would it be?

BA: Being prepared. It is only when we are well prepared to teach a lesson that we can adjust that lesson to meet the needs of the group and tailor the class experience to the specific children in front of you. Once you know and understand where a lesson is going you can follow the child and families and lead the way at the same time.

TC: If you could share one tip with a new Kindermusik educator, what would it be?

AB: Slow down and lean in (is that two?!). The reality is it’s not about getting through the lesson plan (although they are amazing) or getting to all the activities (although they are fun and valuable); it’s about taking the time to help everyone lean in to the experience. Everything happens so fast in our world that adults and children (and teachers!) have grown accustomed to the fast pace. When I was a new educator I often moved on from an activity too fast. The moment I thought an activity wasn’t going to work for a class, I was on it with something new to do or a prop to add pizzazz. Quite by accident I realized that if I went a little bit beyond my comfort zone and instead slowed down, allowing time for observation, giving adults and children time to figure things out and supporting them by coaching (rather than changing things up) amazing things happened. Connections are made in those moments. Now don’t get me wrong, there is a time to move on and add pizzazz. Paying attention to the needs of your class is a must but going just a bit beyond where you’re comfortable is where the magic happens.

TC: Why did you open your own studio business?

BA: I had stopped working full time as a Music Therapist after my first child was born and needed an outlet as a mom and as a professional. Opening a Kindermusik business just made sense and met both of those needs.

TC: What are some of the goals you have for your business?

BA: I would like to continue to expand our reach by adding more classes in other locations. My goal is to impact more children and families. I have one great teacher working with me now and in the future hope to have enough demand for classes to add more teachers and more locations to the team.

TC: What’s something new and exciting that’s happening with your business?

BA: Well, after nearly 20 years of being licensed, I hired my first educator last year. That’s really exciting for me and for my studio families. Having Alissa on the team has been such a relief, especially after being a one woman show for so long. It’s also great for our community as we are able to offer more classes and have a greater reach with two of us teaching. It’s also nice to have another educator right here to bounce ideas off of. I’m just as excited to learn from her as I am to share what I know with her.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]TC: What do you feel has made your studio business a success?

BA: Honestly, prayer. Ultimately, I give all glory to God for any success I have achieved. In addition to that, lots of hard work and openness to adapt and change as needed. My focus is creating the best studio experience. It can be easy to put energy into what else is going on, who my competition is, what they’re doing and so on. Instead I choose to focus on the studio offering the best class experience we can. That means being willing to change things and adapt to what will help us offer the best. This past year it meant hiring another teacher. Additional training is a big part of offering the best.

Six years ago, I chose to pursue training in Conscious Discipline ® and became a Conscious Discipline ® Certified Instructor in 2015. That training allows me to offer something very unique to my studio families. In addition to what it adds to the class experience, I’m also able to offer adult classes to further equip parents.

Another training that didn’t help as much inside the classroom but helped with a lot of the work outside the classroom was the Studio Expansion Program training. It really helped me organize myself, make a plan for growth, and see it through. The business part of being a business owner was never a strength, and the SEP has given me skills I desperately needed to create growth. We have seen a 10-15% growth as a result of putting into place what I learned doing the SEP. Finally, staying connected to the educator community through face to face events and conferences has had a huge impact on my motivation and success. The opportunity to learn from others and share with like-minded educators always puts a zip in my step and drives me a little bit more.

What makes your studio such a special place? Our studio is a place where each family, adult, and child is welcomed, accepted, and supported. Our goal is to equip parents with the skills that will allow them to understand their child and help them develop while we also equip children with the skills they will need for lifetime success and joyful living. Lastly, we strive to facilitate connections. These connections between children and their parents/caregivers, families and other families, children to children, and adults to adults allow us to create a community where each member is celebrated and valued.

What is your favorite inspirational quote?

“Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you.” – Zig Ziglar[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Love and Music: A Magical Connection

“It is the special province of music to move the heart.” – Johann Sebastian Bach

I’ve said it before: music is magic. It’s the strangest thing…something you can’t physically touch can have such a tremendous impact on your emotional state. And it’s pervasive. Marketing folks and film producers know this magic. They effectively use music to tug at your heart strings when the mom in the insurance commercial opens up a letter from her son, who’s been away at college. Music, in situations such as this, increases emotional response. It’s as if music is an emotional lubricant – think of Dorothy freeing the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz with the oil can – music can sometimes free emotions that have been stuck in gear.

Music, Love, and the Brain

Dr. Cortney S. Warren, a professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas states it quite clearly – “Music is what feelings sound like.” This is true, especially for composers and performers in many cases. They are expressing emotions through their music. We often get a tonal representation of an emotional state. But what about how the music impacts the listener? Well, part of this comes from association. Hearing is a sense and is tied to memory just like the other senses. When you eat that favorite childhood dish, you are taken back to pleasant days, sharing a meal with the family. When you smell a specific flower – let’s say a daisy – you are reminded of your baby shower because the room was full of daisies that day. Music has the same associative impact. When you hear the song to which you danced your first dance at your wedding, it most likely will bring forth positive emotions (as long as no one’s feet got stepped on!). The music becomes a cue for the brain to recall a memory associated with that tune.

Makes sense. But when you’ve never heard a piece of music before and it causes certain feelings, what’s going on there?

Words Matter…But So Do Notes

If the music has words, this can have an obvious impact. A song that talks about the one that got away might make you think of the one that got away. If you are expecting and a song talks about babies, you might respond with strong emotions. If you have no connection to the words, you might not feel much. But music doesn’t need words to evoke feeling. Therein lies its magic – and it’s based on science.

The amygdalae are deep, central brain structures that receive some of the first projections from the lower brain centers. Music stimulates the amygdalae in a similar way to faces, smells and other sounds, most likely because all these stimuli are perceived as having social significance due to their communicative properties.

– Dr Victoria Williamson

So music has a physical effect on the part of the brain that is partially responsible for processing emotional reaction and memory.

Let’s try something. Take a listen to the first few minutes of this piece by Arvo Pärt, an Estonian composer of minimalist music. This is his Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror of Mirrors) for piano and cello. It is very, very simple. No words. No flashy rhythms. No driving drum beat. No singer crooning about that special night. Close your eyes and listen. As you listen, think of a loved one for whom you care very deeply, whom you haven’t seen in a while. Press play, close your eyes, think of that person, and listen.

Music Waters the Emotional Tree of the Soul

What happened? What did you think of? What did you see in your mind? What did you feel? I bet you felt something. Did you cry? Did you smile? Did the music take you to an emotional place you weren’t expecting? It’s almost as if the music gives us permission to feel, to emote, to let the inward become the outward.

Music, in its infinite wonder, feeds the emotional tree of the soul. It allows buds to form, flowers to bloom, and green leaves to spread like a crown, turning toward the light of the sun and collecting dew in the morning and rain drops in the afternoon.

Music connects us emotionally. When you make music with others, you develop a sense of trust, of empathy, of compassion. Sure, there’s science to back this up, but we can feel it when it happens. When there’s a song in your heart, let it out.

I’ll say it again: music is magic. And with respect to Shakespeare’s original line from Twelfth Night, I think Col. Henry Heveningham got it right when he said, “If music be the food of love, sing on!”

Sing and Dance that Stress Away

Stress. We all deal with it from time to time….and friends, so do our kids. Don’t forget – we have a lifetime of experience in managing stress – and even then we can have a hard time with it. Our kids deal with stress, too…and they are stress novices. It’s up to us to help them develop the skills and methods to cope with stress in their young lives. As it turns out, and this is in no way by accident, music and movement, the very things at which we are experts, are fantastic ways to alleviate stress. Science lights the way. Let’s check it out!

Continue reading “Sing and Dance that Stress Away”

Simple DIY Crafts that Let Kids Be Creative and Expressive

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here at Kindermusik, we love sharing tips that help make parenting a little easier and also help bring out the best in your kids – including their creativity and self-expressiveness! After all, one of the gifts of learning music and participating in a weekly music class is the beautiful way in which self-expression and creativity are both fostered and encouraged.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we thought you’d be inspired to enjoy some of these simple Valentine’s themed, DIY crafts with your children. And by the way, we’d love for you to share pictures of your results on the Kindermusik Facebook page. #KindermusikCreativity[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

DIY Valentine’s Day Necklace

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Valentine’s Day Stamps

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A Heart Sun Catcher

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Our friends over at The Artful Parent always have such great ideas. Check out this beautiful heart-shaped sun catcher and their great idea for a Do-it-Yourself light table!

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Modern Valentine’s T-Shirt

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Artful Parent does it again! Take a look at their fresh take on the homemade shirt. It’s cool, hip, and fashion forward!

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Handprint Hearts

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]From across the pond, Activity Village brings us the cutest heart-inspired idea – the handprint heart! It’s fast, easy, and fun. Check it out!

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Tissue Paper Valentine’s Wreath

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Need some extra decorations around the house? How about a wreath made from Valentine’s Day colored tissue paper? The folks at Happy Hooligans provide the instructions – you provide the fun!

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Heart-Shaped Binoculars

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Want to look at the world a little differently? Maybe with a little more heart? Then take a look at Happily Ever Mom’s heart-shaped binoculars. – yet another use for used toilet paper rolls!

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Modeling Clay Love Bugs

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Toddler Approved brings us adorable little DIY love bugs. Remember, a bug with a heart-shaped face and a smile is cute…not creepy!

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Bouquet of Love

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This is a favorite – also from Toddler Approved. The Bouquet of Love lets your little one have a blast making free designs with paint or any other medium, and in the end, produces a beautiful finished product, filled with the unique artistic expressions of your child. Take a peek!

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Have fun with your little love bug as you make a few Valentine’s crafts – and lots of special memories – together!![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Music Therapy for Babies

What has been one of the most effective treatments for babies born prematurely? You guessed it – music!

In fact, Shanghai’s Children’s Hospital of Fudan University regularly uses music therapy “…to help premature babies to speed up nerve cell repairing and development…“, more proof of the power of music to activate and enhance brain activity and development.

Various clinical trials have recently revealed that the sound of mom or dad singing can stabilize the breathing and heart rates of babies born prematurely. And there’s benefit for mom and dad too who report that their own stress levels were lowered as they sang to their little ones, promoting greater bonding and attachment between parents and preemies.

Other music therapy interventions, specifically the use of live music, have been found to “…increase a premature infant’s capacity to feed, sleep, and self-regulate…”, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

If music has this kind of power to affect premature babies who are at their most vulnerable, think of the impact music can have on a little one who is not facing the challenges that come with being born prematurely!

Your child doesn’t have to be a preemie to benefit from music, and you don’t have to go to music therapy to benefit either. You can just enroll in Kindermusik classes! It’s all about opening the window of opportunity early, when the brain is most receptive to learning and growing and when little hearts can be most affected by the powerful combination of music, movement, and a whole lot of love from some really special people – engaged parents and a nurturing Kindermusik educator.

– Shared by Theresa Case, Kindermusik Educator & director of Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC