On November 20th 2011, Vietnam will celebrate throughout the country at many of its kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities for National Teacher’s Day.
Education and self-betterment are very much valued in Vietnamese culture and those who teach are treated with utmost respect throughout the community. Students choose to show their teacher appreciation and respect in a variety of ways – many of which relate to the national culture, lifestyle and heritage.
We’d like to celebrate our Vietnamese Kindermusik educators today!
Kindermusik Success in Northern Ireland
The Ballymena Times, of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, recently featured the newest Kindermusik program, which just got off the ground this summer. Congratulations to Kindermusik educator, Alicia Murphy, for the success she’s seeing in this area!
Here is the article in its entirety:
DURING the summer holidays a new music and movement programme with classes for newborns up to seven-year-olds began in the Ballymena area.
Kindermusik is an award winning programme that has had global success.
Kindermusik may be new to Ballymena but after a series of summer and autumn term classes the signs are that it is going to be just as popular here as it has been elsewhere.
Kindermusik has been brought to Ballymena by local musician and private music teacher, Alicia Murphy. She says: “With two children of my own I was keen to find music and arts activities which would aid their development. I was surprised by the lack of such programmes in the area for young children”. Continue reading “Kindermusik Success in Northern Ireland”
October: A Big Month for India!
October is a big festival season in India: This is when Dussehra is celebrated. In the months of Ashwin and Kartik, Hindus observe a 10 day ceremony of fast, rituals, celebrations, & feasts to honor the mother Goddess and triumph of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana. Dussehra also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the Buffalo Demon, Mahishasura. Thus, it is a celebration of victory of good over evil. This celebration starts from Navratri and ends with the tenth day festival of “Dussehra”. Navratri and Dussehra is celebrated throughout the country at the same time, with varying rituals, but with great enthusiasm and energy as it marks the end of scorching summer and the start of winter season.
This month, Kindermusik was also very active in India! Kusum Chawla, of Kindermusik India, conducted a Kindermusik training for the educators at Eurokids India. Eurokids is a franchise of preschools with close to 800 centers throughout India. We have partnered with Eurokids to bring Kindermusik to the children in India. Thanks to this partnership we are reaching 14,000 children in India with over 500 educators teaching Kindermusik! A special thank you to the educators at Eurokids and especially Kusum for your precious contribution!
Kindermusik International Teacher Feature: Maja Loncar, Croatia
The Republic of Croatia is a European country situated along the Adriatic Sea and its hinterland. It stretches from the slopes of the Alps and deep into the Pannonian Valley to the banks of the Danube and Drava rivers. Kindermusik in Croatia started two years ago with Kindermusik educator Maja Loncar who is a professional musician/percussionist.
Maja is working in music schools and at the Croatian National Opera House. To begin her Kindermusik journey, she first opened a small studio in a small town near Zagreb called Zapresić and then the next year she opened in three more locations. Now, she is currently working in six locations in the area. Three in Zagreb and three locations in small towns near Zagreb: Sesvete, Zapresić, & Sv. Kriz Začretje.
“We want every child in every city to have the possibility to have a head start and quality education”, says Maja. Kindermusik music lessons are held in private language schools, gym locations, in shopping centres and in areas for children.
Feedback from our Kindermusik Croatian families is excellent!
“Kindermusik lessons are nothing but pure pleasure, a whole new world for our family! After a hard day’s work and omnipresent problems in life, we never lack the will to make a stimulating musical environment! ” ~ Family Brusek from Sesvete, Croatia.
Meet a Kindermusik educator: Erika Ellis
Name:
Erika Ellis
Location:
Burbank, CA
Studio name and link:
Music and Friends Studio
www.musicandfriendsstudio.com
Number of years you’ve taught Kindermusik:
Less than one
Describe yourself in five words or less:
Caring, Fun-loving, Enthusiastic, Creative, Silly
Favorite Kindermusik song:
Wishy Washy Wee
Favorite Kindermusik activity, and why:
I love “Clever Cows” from Village Cock-a-doodle-MOO!, where we physically show a child what going up and down the musical scale FEELS like – early musical learning at its best! Babies love going way up in the air and hearing the sound of their caretaker singing high and low.
A proud moment in a Kindermusik classroom:
When I was playing some of our instrumental pieces for Gathering Time, the song I had once used for rocking came on. A little boy immediately lay down and pretended to sleep! A few of the other toddlers joined him and I knew they had been practicing relaxation at home!
Something your Kindermusik children or families have taught you (could be inspirational, humorous, practical, etc.):
Seeing parents and children in class has really reinforced the importance of special bonding time. There is something so magical about mothers and fathers singing lovingly to their babies or playing music enthusiastically with their toddlers. Kindermusik reminds me to treasure these moments with my own family.
Something funny a child has said or done in your classroom:
One walker in Village has a routine of coming to stand next to me when I am sharing information about the next activity. He puts his hand on my shoulder, like he’s supporting me while I sing and talk to the moms. It cracks me up every time!
The reason you teach:
I fell in love with the Kindermusik experience as a parent with my infant son. I was able to enrich our home life with what we learned in class. Since it was such a positive influence on our lives, I wanted to share it with others.
Why Steady Beat Matters + How to Assess It
You know that thing that makes you want to rock, sway, clap, or tap to the music? That’s steady beat—the ongoing, repetitive pulse that occurs in songs, chants, and rhymes.
But it’s more than just an ideal skill for dance or instrument lessons—steady beat is a critical aspect of early childhood development that affects everything from walking, to reading, to dribbling a basketball.
Continue reading “Why Steady Beat Matters + How to Assess It”
Meet a Kindermusik educator: Aimee Carter
Name:
Aimee Carter
Location:
Brandon, Florida
Studio name and link:
Delightful Sounds
www.delightfulsounds.com
Number of years you’ve taught Kindermusik:
7
Describe yourself in five words or less:
Creative, fun, energetic, and silly
Favorite Kindermusik song:
The Morning Song, because I like coming up with crazy animal sounds for the unexpected, animal choices like manatees or hippos.
Favorite Kindermusik activity, and why:
Anything with bilibos. I love all the ways we can play with them!
A proud moment in a Kindermusik classroom:
I love getting to see all the first steps and first words along with the parents. I get pretty excited about seeing the children grow and learn.
Something your Kindermusik children or families have taught you (could be inspirational, humorous, practical, etc.):
The children have really helped me become even more creative. They can really get outside of the box sometimes, and I LOVE that!
Something funny a child has said or done in your classroom:
The preschoolers crack me up. I never know what they will say or do next. Last week, one of the children stopped me in the middle of a song to ask “if I ever had fire come out of my butt?” LOL I never could figure out what it had to do with the train song???
The reason you teach:
I am passionate about music and the development of children. Kindermusik allows me to combine both of these as I work side by side with such wonderful families each week!
Meet a Kindermusik educator: Pam Carmagnola
Name:
Pam Carmagnola
Location:
Crozet, VA (outside of Charlottesville, in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains)
Studio name and link:
Kindermusik with Pam
www.kmusikwithpam.kindermusik.net
Number of years you’ve taught Kindermusik:
Eight
Describe yourself in five words or less:
Dedicated, child-centered, professional, enthusiastic
Favorite Kindermusik song:
“Giraffe and Zebra Move-Along,” from Zoo Train
Favorite Kindermusik activity, and why:
My current favorite activity is the circle dance from Zoo Train, to “Drover’s Dream.” It’s got a great beat and is very adaptable to different movements. Everyone loves to hear the unique sound of the didgeridoo!
A proud moment in a Kindermusik classroom:
After several years of classes, including Village and Our Time, a sweet preschooler now enrolled in ABC Music & Me is demonstrating his solid understanding of the concepts he has learned in Kindermusik. Steady beat, pitch, tempo – you name it! His good beginning truly will never end!
Something your Kindermusik children or families have taught you (could be inspirational, humorous, practical, etc.):
“Shiny stickers are special!” “Hand sanitizer is cold!” “An opened/flattened castanet makes a great pretend phone!” And finally, “Kindermusik is a place where I am accepted and loved for who I am, just the way I am right now!”
Something funny a child has said or done in your classroom:
One of my favorite, most memorable moments occurred during vocal play when we were making doorbell ringing sounds. “Ding, dong” said Abigail’s mom. “Pizza’s here!” said two-year old Abigail!
The reason you teach:
I teach Kindermusik for many reasons. The one closest to my heart is creating those special moments when parent and child really connect in class. These days, precious time to focus solely on our children is rare. It is a blessing to provide these opportunities for families in my community.
Meet a Kindermusik educator: Betsy Flanagan
Name:
Betsy Flanagan
Location:
Madison WI & Surrounding Communities
Studio name and link:
Musical Pathways Foundation
www.musicalpathways.net
Number of years you’ve taught Kindermusik:
7
Describe yourself in five words or less:
Passionate & Loving People Coach
Favorite Kindermusik song:
Skinnamarink
Favorite Kindermusik activity, and why:
Tants, Tants Yidelekh: Accesses all 6 regions as we dance and laugh as a community, while children enjoy and learn the timbres and tonality while feeling the structure, beat and sequence of the dance for cognitive, emotional, physical and language fun! It’s a BLAST!
A proud moment in a Kindermusik classroom:
A class had begun the semester disconnected, parents unengaged with their children, and at the end of the semester were completely engaged in scaffolded, joyful play with their children. Tears of joy came right then and there as I stepped back and watched this beauty in action.
Something your Kindermusik children or families have taught you (could be inspirational, humorous, practical, etc.):
Love has many different faces and we need to engage in relationships verses assumptions. I will never again assume that someone is not enjoying my class because of how they look, because when we originally participated in the Loyalty Surveys, I discovered that people could Love you and not appear or communicate as we might expect. Now I form relationships with all my families. My life is richer and there will be no surprises!
Something funny a child has said or done in your classroom:
Walked into the middle of the Hello circle in Our Time and proudly pulled down his pants to show us his new Batman Bigboy pants – got so excited he peed right there. Precious!
The reason you teach:
To change the world, one child, one family at a time.
Meet a Kindermusik educator: Jessica Solares
Name:
Jessica Rice Solares
Location:
Chicago, IL, USA
Studio name and link:
Bucktown Music
www.bucktownmusic.com
Number of years you’ve taught Kindermusik:
1.5
Describe yourself in five words or less:
From me: creative, passionate
From my customer loyalty surveys: talented, fun, clever
Favorite Kindermusik song:
So many great ones, but “Big Black Bear” really stands out. I love seeing the kids pretend to go on a walk and then the sleeping bear wake up and ROAR!
Favorite Kindermusik activity, and why:
Once again, really difficult to choose, but recently, “Snail & Grasshopper” from Village Dewdrops. I love that it teaches AB music form, fast/slow, major/minor, ASL, and incorporates so many senses: auditory, kinesthetic, visual. Plus the babies all crack up during the bouncing and anticipate the stopping.
A proud moment in a Kindermusik classroom:
When I looked around a Village class and saw most adults dancing with someone else’s child. What a wonderful community where everyone trusts each other with their children!
Something your Kindermusik children or families have taught you (could be inspirational, humorous, practical, etc.):
My families have taught me to be respectful and not to judge, and that there are unlimited ways to do something, or think about something. Everybody has their own way, and that’s good.
Something funny a child has said or done in your classroom:
One 3 year old boy wasn’t seeming to pay attention during a Family Time class, and then at the end, he grabbed his little sister’s hands, swung her around, and sang “Skinnamarinky Dinky Dink, Skinnamarinky Do, I LOVE YOU!!!” at the top of his lungs!
The reason you teach:
I love seeing the children and parents grow and learn, and am honored to be part of that experience. It is important to me to show the parents that THEY are their child’s most important teacher. I’ve also found that students who have completed the Kindermusik program have shown an increased ability for abstract musical concepts, have better rhythm and intonation, and better listening and attention skills.