Minds On Music – The Kindermusik Blog - Page 24 of 105 - For three generations, Kindermusik has helped millions of children around the world build a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Why Songs Stick in our Heads

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ever wake up with a song running around in your head? Or how about the song that you sing or hear one time…then stays in your head the rest of the day? (Disclaimer: Yes, this can happen after attending a Kindermusik class with your child, but it’s probably because he’s singing the same song out loud!)[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Why is it that songs stick in our heads? Well, as annoying as it can be when it happens, there are actually some very positive reasons why those songs stick and you might be happy – in some ways! – that they stay stuck.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

A Foundational Skill

For those who claim not to have a musical bone in your body, you should feel musically accomplished when such a thing occurs. On a very basic level, the ability to hear a song in your head is called audiation (the aural equivalent of imagination), a foundational musical skill. One author refers to the songs that get stuck as “ear-worms.” An apt description, but somehow thinking of it as audiating sounds more musically sophisticated.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We as humans come hard-wired to enjoy and respond to music.

We see it in Kindermusik class all the time – a little baby’s eyes widen with delight when she hears her mama singing her a lullaby, or that toddler immediately stops wandering around the room and starts bouncing when the music comes on. Or your preschooler asks for his favorite song every time you get in the car to go somewhere.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Repetition is a Sign of Enjoyment

We repeat songs multiple times in a single Kindermusik class and again for several weeks in a row because repetition is such an important tool for learning and strengthening the brain. But outside of class, repeating a song over and over – even when it pops into one’s head uninvited or when your child sings the same song for the one-hundredth time – signals that a particular song brings much joy.

Your brain is using those songs.

Researchers continue to uncover the power of music and how it impacts cognitive development in the early years and cognitive retention in our later years. So tucking all of those songs into your memory now could have benefit later on if indeed some of the theories about music and memory prove correct.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]So the next time that song in your head won’t go away, maybe you won’t feel quite as annoyed when you remember some of the good reasons why it happens.

And by the way, if you regularly attend Kindermusik classes, we promise to make sure that we’re always teaching you and your child lots of lots of new songs that yes, might get stuck in your head, but will also wind their way into your heart.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Shared by Theresa Case, who as director of Piano Central Studios in Greenville, South Carolina, since 1995, has had a lot of songs get stuck in her head over the years![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Anchors Aweigh and Rolling Caissons: Music of the Military

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here in the United States it’s Memorial Day, a time to remember those that have served and sacrificed for freedom. Music has always been an important part of the military, from herald trumpets announcing an army’s approach, to regimental drummers aiding in keeping soldiers in step. The US has a proud tradition of military music ensembles, stationed all over the world. Each of the five uniformed branches of the US military has an official song, loved and cherished by its members. Let’s learn a bit about each.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

THE UNITED STATES NAVY

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As it happens, your editor is a Navy veteran, so that’s where we’ll start! Most of us are familiar with the US Navy’s march, Anchors Aweigh. It was written in 1907 by Charles Zimmerman and dedicated to that year’s Naval Academy class. It speaks of bidding farewell to foreign shores and returning home to American waters. Not a stranger to change, the lyrics have shifted over the years. One notable adjustment was replacing the line “Farewell to college joys” with “Farewell to foreign shores.” This line is, perhaps, a bit more inclusive. “Aweigh” means that the anchor is to be brought on board in preparation for departure. It’s often confused for “away.”[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SucjKAt608″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

THE UNITED STATES ARMY

US Army — Flag of the United States Army

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]What is a caisson? Well…it must have wheels as it rolls over hill and dale. The Army Goes Rolling Along, which uses John Philip Sousa’s tune, the U.S. Field Artillery March, doesn’t mention caissons (a device designed to carry – you guessed it – field artillery ammunition) as the original lyric was a bit too specific to represent the entire Army. The current official lyrics were approved in 1956. The tune has been used a great deal in popular culture – GI Joe, The Jetsons, and the big purple dinosaur, Barney all used Sousa’s music.

Enjoy the West Point Cadet Glee Club, conducted by Constance Chase, performing The Army Goes Rolling Along.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtafPMq3lFg&feature=youtu.be&t=57s”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The youngest of the military services obviously has the newest official song. When the USAF separated from the US Army in 1947, becoming its own branch, the song Army Air Corps was retitled the Air Force Song. I know I said I was a Navy vet, but I’ve always loved the imagery found in this song’s lyrics:

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder
At ’em boys, Give ‘er the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

These words are a slightly altered version of Robert Crawford’s original 1939 lyrics. The final word of each chorus was “Corps.” When this was changed to “Force,” an attempt was made to change the rhyming words. The changes were never popular and sometime after 1972, the USAF reverted back to Crawford’s initial lyrics, save that all important last word shift. Sometimes change just doesn’t stick!

Here’s a surprise flash performance by the Washington, DC USAF Band and Singing Sergeants.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYwj7BmJk8I&feature=youtu.be&t=52s”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The USMC’s official song, the Marine’s Hymn (aka From the Halls of Montezuma) holds a unique place in this collection of American military songs. Jacques Offenbach, a French composer who was born in Germany, composed the tune used for the Marine’s music. It’s also the oldest of the military songs. The text, legend tells us, was penned by a Marine on duty in Mexico after storming Chapultepec Castle.

Good natured, interservice ribbing has occurred consistently over the years. A jab at the Army and Navy is found right in the Marine’s official song:

If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

It’s all in good fun. When it counts, we all stand side by side.

Here’s none other than The President’s Own – United States Marine Band performing this stirring march.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

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THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

USCG — Flag of the United States Coast Guard

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Coast Guard has a tremendously important mission – patrolling our shores and performing search and rescue operations are just part of it. Founded by Alexander Hamilton, its official march, Semper Paratus (Latin for always ready) is probably the least known of the five official marches. The music and lyrics, much like the Marine’s Hymn, were written at different times and in different places, but in this case by the same person – Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck. As time passed, the words changed slightly, but have retained the idea that the Coast Guard is ever ready to perform its mission.

Here’s a recording of the US Coast Guard Band playing Semper Paratus.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Memorial Day finds its roots in communities gathering to place flowers on the graves of the Civil War fallen. It brought people together when flowers were in full bloom. They spent time together as an extended family, honoring those that paid the ultimate price for freedom. It’s partially why we still come together for cookouts and good springtime fun on this holiday – but don’t forget to remember what the day stands for – this powerful music certainly reminds us.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Science Spotlight: How Music Impacts our Mood

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Music is magic. I bet we can all share stories…coming home after a stressful day, putting on that Bruce Springsteen tune, and immediately feeling better. We sink into that favorite chair and let out a sigh. Music can change our mood or reinforce a current one. But how? What is going on inside the brain? How does something that hits us through the air as invisible sound waves have such a tremendous impact on our mental and emotional states? Let’s check it out…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

SCIENCE WARNING!

The complexity of what’s going on inside our heads when music hits our ears is staggering. Amazingly, we really didn’t have a fleshed out picture of this intricate process until the early 1990s. Sound waves are converted to electrical impulses in the inner ear and sent to the auditory cortex via the auditory nerve. Basically, our ears are microphones; the function is identical – changing sound waves to electrical impulses – a nerve and the auditory cortex – a wire and an amplifier. That’s just the initial doings. The interesting stuff happens in the amygdalae – partially responsible for emotional learning and response, as well as aspects of memory formation.

I love science-types and how they name things. This part of the brain consists of two almond-shaped groupings of tightly packed cells – so naturally scientists chose the Greek word for almond as the name. These little almonds connect to many other parts of the brain; no wonder we are so often moved by music! It can cause the pulse to speed up, the face to flush, and the pupils to dilate. If the amygdalae are damaged, our ability to read emotional cues in the faces of others becomes compromised. But why does music make us feel?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

DOPAMINE

That’s a big part of the answer: dopamine. Basically, dopamine is a chemical messenger that allows nerve cells in the brain to send messages to other nerve cells. Music stimulates the release of this chemical in the striatum, another part of the brain associated with reward, reinforcement, and even motor control. Because of this dopamine release, you may form new and recall old memories, and it’s been known for a while that musicians tend to perform better on standardized tests. This may be due to what’s happening here.

Recently, I attended one of my wife’s elementary school choral concerts. While the chorus sang, the gentleman seated next to me was completely engrossed in his smart phone – but – his foot was tapping to the music. Sometimes music makes us move and we don’t even realize it. This was dopamine in action. His mind responded to the music and he became involved.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

TENSION AND RELEASE | HOME AND AWAY

There are concepts in music that seem highly complex but are actually rather straightforward that impact how we perceive music, particularly tuneful music. The contrast between crunchy (or dissonant) sounding musical moments and sweet (or consonant) counterparts causes us to feel some degree of tension and then release. Think of Nadia’s Theme, the title music from The Young and the Restless. The lower notes constantly shift from crunchy to sweet and that contrast can cause an emotional response. This contrast, and in most cases the resolution of tension causes our brains to respond physically by releasing chemicals. This, in turn, impacts our emotions. Dissonance can make us feel uneasy; the resolution to consonance can relieve that state.

We have been conditioned to anticipate that resolution of crunchy to sweet sounds. We expect it to occur. The dopamine release can actually happen before that peak moment, heightening the sensation of anticipation and increasing the impact of the resolution.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1_xDytEB1Q”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here’s another musical concept – home and away. Do you remember Do Re Mi? Do is home. It’s where most music starts and almost all music ends. Contrast also occurs when the music moves away from home (Do), goes somewhere else, and then returns. Home is stable…away is often uneasy in comparison. When the music returns home, one can feel a sense of ease or comfort. It’s rewarding when the music returns home. Here’s a really simple example – Frère Jacques.

Home and Away — The French folk tune, Freré Jacques

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]At its most basic, this is a song that goes away from Do (F – the note on the first syllable of the the first word) and then returns. It is this going away and coming back that speaks to us emotionally – we relate to the feeling of coming home.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]The arts and emotion – they are intrinsically linked. Composers write with an intent to affect how we feel. It doesn’t matter what the genre is – good music will stir us up inside. So…the next time your little one is feeling a little down, play that favorite song. Better yet, sing it with her. Better still…sing it with the whole family and dance around the den. Remember friends, music is magic![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][class_finder_form css=”.vc_custom_1464230496234{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Music Can do THAT? – Learning Languages Through Music

Music enriches our lives in so many ways, but for young children, music is also a very powerful tool for learning. Kindermusik’s English language learning program for young children, Kindermusik English & Me, has been an outstandingly successful and beautifully delightful of teaching children a second language through music, music, stories, rhymes, and more.

Here are just a few of the amazing ways that music and a music class help children learn another language:

Music and movement literally wake up the brain, making it easy to take in, absorb, and remember even more new information.
A music class is an immersive environment like no other. The entire class time is filled with English vocabulary, phrases, and patterns of speaking.
Music activates more parts of the brain than just speaking can. In fact, music activates both the left and right sides of the brain and gets those neurons firing!
Songs and rhymes “stick” in the memory longer than anything else. Kindermusik classes are filled with repetition in class, and the @Home Materials allow parents to review, reinforce, and enjoy those same songs and rhymes at home throughout the week for an even more powerful learning experience.
Music acts like a glue that causes all the pieces of learning another language to not just stick, but also stay, together.
A music class like Kindermusik gives rich and varied opportunities for children to listen, listen, listen – which sets them up for greater success when they begin speaking the new language.
The combination of listening, speaking, and singing in the Kindermusik classroom increases fluency.
The joy and delight of an interactive children’s music class fosters a happy motivation to learn, therefore making learning the English language so much easier and more natural.

So whether your little one is just learning to speak or you have a young child who is an English language learner, one of the very best and most effective tools for learning is music. And here’s a little secret… YOU as the parent will love your Kindermusik too!

Yes, music – and especially Kindermusik! – can do all that!

Educator Spotlight: Jenn Horak-Hult

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Jenn Horak-Hult found something special when she discovered Kindermusik in 2003 and then went on to start her own business, Pied Piper Studios in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2006. She is a vibrant educator, talented musician, and brilliant business owner. Jenn has served on the PKE (Partnership for Kindermusik Educators) board and has contributed in countless other ways to the Kindermusik educator community over the years. She is the beloved “Miss Jenn” to her Kindermusik kids, and lovingly referred to as “Zen Jenn” by Kindermusik mamas who admire her calm ability not to get rattled.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_column_text]TC: What makes Pied Piper Studios such a special place?

JHH: We believe active listening isn’t just part of the curriculum we teach. We listen with our hearts and we strive to respond in the way that helps every family thrive. Every person, big and little, that comes through our doors has a story to tell, and we are continually challenging ourselves to engineer an experience that meets families where they are and then comes alongside to celebrate their own unique journey.

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

JHH: I have many favorites for lots of reasons. It’s difficult to choose just one. But perhaps the song that holds one of the most special places in my heart is Manx Lullaby. I was teaching Dream Pillow while pregnant with our oldest child over 10 years ago and that lullaby quickly became “his” lullaby. I sang it to him as I waited for his arrival and I painted the lyrics on his nursery walls. I’ve sung it hundreds and hundreds of times to him, and it still remains something special we share all these years later.

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

JHH: Tants Tants Yidelekh! I’ve always loved this dance. Bouncing babies along with the tuba is a hit every time.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”“I treasure most…the connection and community created in our classroom“” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%235fd60a”][vc_column_text]TC: What do you love most about teaching Kindermusik?

JHH: There are so many things to love, but one piece I treasure most is the connection and community created in our classroom. It is a tremendous gift to see families meet and form friendships that go on to last for years and years. Parenting is brave and beautiful work, and it is blessing that we are able to provide the time, space, and type of environment where families feel welcomed, nurtured, and loved. Seeing those relationships blossom into support systems that go beyond our walls is incredibly gratifying.

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

JHH: I once split the backside of my pants wide open while riding the pretend Elevator and Escalator up and down in an Imagine That! class. With no change of clothes available, I spent the rest of class (including Sharing Time) with a makeshift humongous scarf skirt draped around my waist.

TC: How about the most touching thing?

JHH: The most touching things I’ve experienced while teaching Kindermusik have been the first steps, first words, and other precious milestones reached with so many witnesses to celebrate together.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Passionate People + a Shared Vision = Success” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2359d600″][vc_column_text]TC: What do you feel has made your studio business a success?

JHH: I have an incredible team and I am very lucky to work with a group of women whom I adore and admire. They inspire me and I do my best to create an environment that feeds their passion, nurtures their skills, encourages their curiosity, and affirms their gifts. Their hearts share my vision, and our success as a studio is very much tied to our desire collectively and individually to make that vision a reality one day, one song, and one dance at a time.

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

JHH: If you could share one tip with a new Kindermusik educator, what would it be? Surround yourself with people who inspire you. My Kindermusik buddies have taught me more than I could ever have hoped to learn on my own. They challenge me to be my best self and there is nothing more fun than being brave in our dreaming together.

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

JHH: We are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year so we have lots of surprises up our sleeves for our families![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]TC: What are some of your hobbies outside of teaching Kindermusik?

JHH: My children would say napping! And it’s a little bit true. I am a night owl and am at my creative working best in the wee hours. I’m typically up until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. So, when I have the opportunity, there is nothing more heavenly than the chance to crawl back under the covers for a little afternoon snooze…especially with the windows open on a warm day. I also love working in the kitchen and making yummy food for our family to enjoy together around the table. I’m a vegan and I particularly love figuring out how to vegan-ize the Midwestern comfort food I grew up eating. I make a mean vegan mac and cheese.

TC: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

JHH: I find that a deep breath is always my best medicine and the most effective catalyst for connection. So it doesn’t surprise me that many of my favorite quotes center on the idea of breath. One of my favorites is on an art print I keep near my desk: “The trick is to keep breathing.” Another painted on our studio wall is “Breathe it all in. Love it all out.”

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

JHH: Laughter. Joy is never far away and children are our best teachers. If we are present enough, they will always lead us there.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Enjoying Spring with Music!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In some parts of the world, it’s spring. Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and mamas everywhere are happy that kids can be outside, playing and enjoying the warmer weather. Unlike other times of year when music and the season are synonymous, you may not make a connection between music (or musical activities) and spring, so we’ve come up with a few to brighten your day![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Featured blogger Theresa Case brings us some music and activities for spring. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Watch and Listen: Vivaldi’s “Spring” from the Four Seasons

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycl2ADg5Mto “][vc_column_text]

Craft Idea: How to Make a Paper Plate Sun and Pipecleaner Windcatcher

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://kindermusik.wistia.com/medias/euzwum7d5v”][vc_column_text]

Get Outside: How to Make a Seed Grow

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://kindermusik.wistia.com/medias/1a47x80bgt”][vc_column_text]

Listen and Play: Bird Sounds Vocal Play

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Watch the babies’ faces in this video. For very young children, “vocal play” isn’t about call-and-response or sound-and-echo; it’s about watching and listening, absorbing all that’s going on around them, and working hard to match up what they see with what they hear and feel. You can see the deep focus on some babies’ faces as they watch the mouths making the sounds. Remember: Patience, always beautiful patience with babies, as every sense receptor is “on,” and sifting through all that input takes time.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_column_text]There’s nothing like a little music – and a little together time – to make every day a little brighter!

For more ideas and inspiration to make everyday parenting just a little bit easier and a whole lot more musical, discover Kindermusik, the world’s leading music and movement program for parents and children.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Kindermusik and the Music City: Betsy Flanagan Speaks at the National Head Start Conference and Expo

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Next week, Kindermusik International’s Director of Professional Development, Betsy Flanagan, will present two sessions at the 43rd Annual National Head Start Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee – the Music City. Think about that nickname – it’s quite appropriate that she’ll be speaking about the benefits of music in learning and reducing stress in the classroom. In addition, Betsy will address music’s power in daily transitional moments, like leaving home for school. Click here to let us know you are coming![/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”mulled_wine”][vc_column_text]For the better part of a year, Betsy Flanagan has headed professional development for Kindermusik, but for the past 14 years, she’s guided the direction of Musical Pathways Foundation as founder and director, a non-profit organization that offers Kindermusik curricula to families just north of Madison, Wisconsin. A seasoned speaker, she brings her considerable education, knowledge, and experience in the musical education of young children to the NHSA conference attendees.

Betsy Flanagan Speaking — Betsy Flanagan providing professional development for Kindermusik Educators

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Music + Movement = Monumental Impact” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%238224e3″][vc_column_text]Betsy shares that different aspects of music and movement activities has a positive impact on all domains of learning – physical, social, adaptive, and cognitive. Beyond this, it reduces stress in just about all situations. But how? Betsy tells us, “Music helps children learn to keep their emotions in check: as music is filled with transitional movements from verse to refrain, Self-Regulation skills are practiced, and when young children are allowed to practice through play, learning soars.”

It seems to be that magic combination of group music making, coupled with physical movement, that builds a sense of safety. “Using music activities on a daily or weekly basis, helps children feel the security of a playfully structured environment,” says Betsy.

Music and movement – it’s a powerful combination.

“I have not found another teaching tool like music that
-captures a group of children’s brains for extended periods of time
-while also firing their brains on all cylinders,
-all domains,
-while being easily repeatable
-literally lowering the stress in the environment
-and simultaneously speaking to all learning styles at the same time.”

– Betsy Flanagan[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”The Magic of Music” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%238224e3″][vc_column_text]Because music allows children to increase skill acquisition speed, learning goals are reached faster. And as we have discussed in previous posts, when young children have moments with caring adults – parents, educators, caregivers – the lasting impact is increased.

Have you ever had a challenging time getting your little one to school or picking them up – maybe because he didn’t want to leave a given situation? Well…Betsy has just the prescription for that! Music Rituals, songs coupled with short activities, can ease these moments. “Hello Song is the easiest tool to incorporate for pick-up time at school and for when family members return home. Hello songs that include verses with touch, smiling, and hugging are most effective for refilling the child’s love tank after having missed the parent/family during the school day, or missing the parent who has been gone to work all day. Music is important in this function, as music not only fires the entire brain, but it is also inherently easily repeatable with built-in verses and refrains…and fun of course!”
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As you might imagine, these rituals help build positive connections between parent/child and teacher/child. “The connectedness, the synchrony that children feel when engaging with others in music activities, is priceless for relationship development. Trust and a feeling of safety between two people is required to develop a relationship, and music activities supply those elements,” says Betsy. [/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=” Conference Session Takeaway” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%238224e3″][vc_column_text]What does Betsy for hope those who attend her sessions as learning outcomes?

1. Attendees will learn to integrate impactful music & movement activities into their lesson plans and home visits to accelerate learning, increase joy, and reduce stress.

2. Attendees will receive all songs presented to allow for immediate application in their programs.

3. Attendees will understand each activity’s developmental benefits as related to the Head Start Five Domains.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]So…if you are at the National Head Start Conference and Expo next week, join Betsy for these exciting sessions! Click here and we’ll save you a seat! If you are unable to attend the conference, contact us about how the Kindermusik curricula and our highly rated professional development can benefit you, your students, and your school.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Betsy Flanagan obtained her Bachelor’s in Music Education (summa cum laude), Kindergarten thru 12th Master’s degree from Illinois State University in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance, and has completed her Doctoral coursework in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana where she was awarded a Fellowship on staff. Betsy has taught children of all ages and backgrounds in public grade schools, high schools, universities, summer camps and also privately in her home studio for over 30 years, providing her students high quality instruction together with passionate motivation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Music and Mothers: Songs that Celebrate that Special Someone

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s coming! That special day when we celebrate our moms is right around the corner. How will you celebrate? The musical legacy of mothers is long and varied; you can find a song about mom in just about every genre. Many of us had moms who would sing a special song just to us. Let’s take a look at musical ways we pay tribute to moms – I promise – we’ll try and hit as many genres as possible…[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_custom_heading text=”The Backstreet Boys” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333″][vc_column_text]Ok. We start by going old school – at least for me. This term is pretty relative. But we’re talking 17 years ago when the boy band released Millennium. One of their songs is really a beautiful tribute to moms – The Perfect Fan. Just take a look at the lyrics (for those that might not remember them):[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You showed me
When I was young just how to grow
You showed me
Everything that I should know
You showed me
Just how to walk without your hands
‘Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Come on, now. Admit it. That pulls at the heart strings and perhaps takes you back to 1999. Let’s take a listen to a “live” performance. We didn’t even care that they were lip-synching…just look at those suits![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od3e3x87y-U”][vc_custom_heading text=”M-O-T-H-E-R: A Word that Means a lot to Me” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333″][vc_column_text]Now this is a serious throw back – back all the way to 1915. Howard Johnson (no, not the restaurant/ice-cream guy), was a lyricist, Navy vet, and a native of my home state, Connecticut. I like this guy. His classic, which has been around since dirt was invented, has been the go-to poem for little kids celebrating their moms – or perhaps the inspiration behind their own acrostic poetry. You know…

M is for the million things she gave me,
O means only that she’s growing old.

We get how this works. Each letter stands for a word that represents mom perfectly. Sure, it’s a little outdated, but still, charming with a sweet candy shell of nostalgia. Let’s listen to a recording from 1916…[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Somebody’s Hero – Jamie O’Neal” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333″][vc_column_text]So far, we’ve hit pop and early 19th century schmaltz. How about Country? This genre is full of sweet songs; it’s hard to pick just one. Jamie O’Neal’s 2005 hit, Somebody’s Hero, fits the bill quite beautifully. This song reminds us that just by being mom, doing all the important mom things like fixing skinned knees and serving up Cheerios, she’s a superhero to us.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_uMQTw7v2g”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Story Goes on – Baby” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333″][vc_column_text]Here’s a gem from a largely unknown 1983 musical, Baby (it was up against some heavy hitters that year – La Cage and Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George). While more about being pregnant, it certainly plays to our theme. Lizzie feels her baby kick for the first time, and she finally realizes what her mother had always told her about the beauty of motherhood and the endless connection of mother to child, in both directions in time.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhi4xNxL-Pk”][vc_custom_heading text=”Lady Madonna – The Beatles” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333″][vc_column_text]I think I’d be drummed out of the music world if I ignored The Beatles. A couple of my students would pretend they didn’t know me. Don’t let fancy professors fool you – one of the most important, most influential things to happen in any musical genre during the 60s was the work of the Fab Four. Lady Madonna poses the question – how on earth does she do it all? Jamie O’Neal was right…she’s a superhero, indeed.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LJp39-lDE”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”What about you?” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333″][vc_column_text]What songs do you associate with mom? Did she sing a song to you as a child? Let us know in the comments section below. Share your stories – maybe you have a special song you sing to your kids. Heck…I’m 42 (shhhh…don’t tell anyone) and I can still hear my mom singing I’ve Got a Crush on You (thanks, Mom!). I suppose it helps that she still does it. Happy Mother’s Day everyone![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

La música del Primero de Mayo!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kindermusik has Educators across the globe. In recognition of our international presence, we present Monday’s post on the music of May Day in Spanish, translated by a member of our Marketing team, Mariana Dominguez de Bonilla. Muchas gracias, Mariana![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Feliz primavera, a los amantes Kindermusik! Ayer fue el primero de mayo, día en que se celebra el festival de primavera en muchos países con cantos, bailes, juegos y mucho más. En algún punto del siglo 19, el Primero de Mayo también se convirtió en una celebración del trabajador, muy similar al “Labor Day” pero a mitad de año. Vamos a explorar algunas de las tradiciones de este día, y la música asociada a ella. Alisten sus postes de mayo![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Flora

Este festival de primavera tiene sus raíces en Floralia, una antigua celebración romana a Flora, la diosa de las flores. Su imagen se asociaba con la renovación y la fertilidad. Hacían juegos en su honor y los coloridos entretenedores incluían, según el poeta romano Ovidio, hasta un elefante que caminaba sobre la cuerda fina!

May Day — *La Diosa Romana Flora, por el famoso pintor Botticelli – el mismo artista que pinto El Nacimiento de Venus.*

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El “May Pole”

Una de las tradiciones mas antiguas del Primero de Mayo es el “May Pole” y sus bailes. Si usted está interesado en aprender a bailarlo puede ver este enlace. Aquí está la premisa básica: un poste grande, normalmente ubicado en el centro de la ciudad o parque, en torno al cual la gente baila y canta, y a menudo envuelven cintas de colores. La música asociada a esta tradición es folclórica y representa la cultura de la que surgió. En el Reino Unido, Come Lassies and Lads invita a todos al “Pole” a una danza enérgica que dura todo el día.

En este video pueden ver el baile en Glastonbury, England con todo y tambores y campanas.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxcIqMmlVOs”][vc_column_text]

España y Los Mayos

Si bien el Día del Trabajador también se celebra el primero de mayo, España y muchos países hispanoamericanos celebran festivales de la primavera en este dia con música, bailes y desfiles. En España, los jóvenes suben a un poste para recuperar una bandera mientras que las niñas bailan abajo.

Diferentes “mayos” se cantan a diferentes personas, desde la Virgen María hasta las niñas de la ciudad o pueblo. La música es siempre festiva y acogedora del tiempo cálido de la primavera. Aquí, vemos los tradicionales Palos de Mayo, y las mujeres vestidas con traje tradicional bailando en las calles durante Los Mayos en Madrid, España.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52bD7UJRb6Y”][vc_column_text]

Hawai y “Lei Day”

En la primera parte del siglo 20, Hawai comenzó una tradición el primero de mayo llamada Lei Day. Cada isla tiene sus propias flores que representan la singularidad de cada una. Lei Day se ha convertido en una celebración de la cultura Hawaiana mezclada con elementos tradicionalmente americanos y europeos. Y como la cultura es tan a menudo definida por la música, la danza y la comida, el festival incluye el canto y el baile del hula, con flores por todas partes! Los romanos podrían llegar a pensar que es Floralia … Y no se olvide del Lei como tal, símbolo de acogida y afecto tácito de Hawai. Aquí está una grabación clásica de King Bennie Nawahi cantando la canción tradicional de este día, el Primero de Mayo es el Lei Day en Hawai.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Así que salga y huela las flores, cante una canción, y baile al rededor de un árbol! O mejor aun, busque una clase de Kindermusik y cante y baile con sus pequeñines. Celebre el día![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Music of May Day!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To read this post in Spanish, click here![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Happy Spring, Kindermusik lovers! Yesterday was May 1st, which is historically celebrated as a springtime festival in many countries, with singing, dancing, games, and much more. Sometime in the 19th century, May Day also became a celebration of the worker, a sort of mid-year version of Labor Day. Today, we’ll explore some of the traditions of this day, and the music associated with it. Get your May Poles ready![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Flora

The springtime festival finds its roots in Floralia, an ancient Roman celebration of Flora, the goddess of flowers. Her image was associated with renewal and fertility. Games occurred in her honor and the various and colorful entertainments even included, according to the Roman poet Ovid, a tightrope walking elephant!

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The May Pole

One of the longest standing traditions of May Day is the May Pole and May Pole dancing. If you are interested in learning how to dance around the May Pole, check out this link. Here’s the basic premise: a large pole, usually located in the center of town or in a park, around which people dance and sing, often wrapping colorful ribbons around the pole. The music associated is pure folk and represents the culture from which it arose. In the UK, Come Lassies and Lads calls all to the May Pole for an energetic, day-long dance.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Here is a video from Glastonbury, England, showing the May Pole Dance, complete with drumming and jingling bells.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxcIqMmlVOs”][vc_column_text]

Spain and Los Mayos

While Labor Day is also celebrated at the beginning of May, Spain, and many Hispanic America countries celebrate springtime festivals at this time as well, complete with music, dancing, and parades. In Spain, young boys would climb up the Maypole to retrieve a flag while girls would dance below.

Different “Mays” are sung to different people, from the Virgin Mary to girls of the town or village. The music is always celebratory and welcoming of warm springtime weather. Here, we see the traditional Maypole, and women, dressed in traditional attire, dancing in the streets during Los Mayos in Madrid, Spain.

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Hawai’i and Lei Day

In the early part of the 20th century, Hawai’i began a tradition on the first of May called Lei Day. The islands have their own representative flowers, displaying the uniqueness of each. Lei Day has become a celebration of Hawa’ian culture mixed with traditionally American/European elements, and culture is so often defined by music, dance and food! The festival includes singing and hula dancing, with flowers everywhere! The Romans might think it was Floralia…

And don’t forget the lei itself, Hawai’i’s unspoken symbol of welcome and affection. Here is a classic recording of King Bennie Nawahi singing the traditional song of the day, May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So get out today and smell the flowers, sing a song, and dance around a tree! Better yet, find a Kindermusik class and dance and sing with your young ones. Celebrate the day![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][class_finder_form css=”.vc_custom_1462192779194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row]