Children's Music is teaching for children music and how music plays the biggest part in how they learn anything
Captain Bogg and Salty - Emphatical Piratical
Check out these lyrics, spoken by a native of Frogg Island (the pirate's hideaway) in a "native" accent:
"When we come to the Frogg Island, no-one was here.
Only the purple tiki was here.
We ask the purple tiki 'Where we build village?'
'What berry we eat no make us throw up?'
The purple tiki no answer.
The purple tiki never answer.
The purple tiki only listen."
Haha! It's one of the kids' favourites too.
I'll be putting this up for sale on the kids-tunes.com site soon, in the meantime click here to buy their previous album "Pegleg Tango" which is also great.
Children's Book Week
Kindermusik Playdates!
Madagascar soundtrack
Some hits you probably already have, like "Chariots of Fire" and "Boogie Wonderland", along with some pretty decent underscore tracks.
The reason I bought this though is Sacha Baron Cohen's version of "We like to move it move it", which is amazing. At a kids disco I did last summer I must have played it 5 times (because the kids kept demanding it).
Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles
Old English Nursery Rhymes - The Broadside Band
Buy it, and other classic kids music, now on www.kids-tunes.com
Oxbridge Baby Classical Music
Sesame St. Platinum All-Time Favorites
Isabelle claims that Heather likes Elmo so much that Elmo must be her husband.
Buy it now on kids-tunes.com
Carnival of the Animals, narrated by Johnny Morris
What do birds, monkeys, and gifted children have in common?
Gifted children have an insatiable appetite for new information. Therefore, they will often latch on to something that interests them and study it thoroughly. Once they have examined this area of interest to their satisfaction, you will likely see that they select something else. For example, one of my daughters was fascinated with birds. Every night for her bed time story she would want to read the Audubon Society identification book. By age 2, she could give the full name of about 40 birds just by seeing their picture. She is 8 now, and, even though she still likes birds, she no longer wants to read about them every day. We have graduated to monkeys! ;)
Here is my point. If you are trying to decide if your child is having trouble developmentally, the best rule of thumb is "Does the area of concern affect your child's daily activities or growth?" In other words:
- Can your child interact appropriately with their friends?
- Does it affect their learning ability in a class?
- Does it have a strong negative affect of their behavior at home and how they relate to their family?
If so, you should discuss your concerns with the appropriate professional.
Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever
While the music is very well-produced and very melodic, it's all a bit boring. I like the sound of the thing, but the songs just don't hold my interest all that much. The videos aren't very interesting either. Isabelle says "I like it a little bit".
My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record - Tim Hart and Friends
Nursery rhymes performed by Tim Hart and Maddy Prior of the English "electric folk" band Steeleye Span. It starts off great, but there's some dodgy 80s-sounding keyboards on here, and Maddy Prior's voice can be a little hard going at times.
Hmm. Undecided. So far Heather prefers The Broadside Band's nursery rhymes record.
Beethoven's Wig
Classical music with funny/silly lyrics sung over the top e.g.
"Franz Lizst/The famous pianist" (sung to the tune of Hungarian Rhapsody #2)
"Beethoven's wig/Was very big" (sung to the tune of the 5th symphony)
The words are hilarious and the performances are great. I love it! Isabelle loves it! Niamh loves it!
just listen to learn
So how does this relate to you and your family? I have often said here that early and varied exposure to music is an important part of a child's development. Music is such a powerful tool, because it is available to everyone, regardless of ability. In fact, it is one of the few activities I can think of that can enhance all areas of development at once. Whether that exposure is in a music class, at home, or in the car, it increases your child's development in the following ways:
- The varied rhythms and sounds will increase your child's analytical and sequencing skills.
- Listening to a variety genres increases your child's love of music as a whole.
- Music listening and singing are proven to increase language skills.
- Enjoying music as a family can strengthen emotional and social development through bonding and interaction.
- Dancing and playing instruments increases your child's gross and fine motor development.
So go ahead and enjoy listening to some great music with your child today!
Freebies and upcoming events
- April is "bring-a-friend" month! Any student who brings a friend to class will receive a free children's CD. Please check with your teacher to ensure there is space for the visitor before attending. If your friend chooses to enroll after their visit, you will also earn a $10 credit towards your next Kindermusik semester!
- April 2 - Kindermusik Military Playdate at MacDill Family Resource Center. 10:00 AM Come enjoy a free Kindermusik class with your child as a thank you for your family's service to our country!
- April 6 - Chick-fil-a Kid's Night with Delightful Sounds 5-8 PM. Stop by the Causeway Blvd. location in Brandon and enjoy some Kindermusik fun with your meal. You can also register to win a Kindermusik prize pack!
- April 22 - Parent's Night Out at Delightful Sounds 6:30 PM. Due to the overwhelming response to our previous class, we are offering another CPR training this night. Cost is $10 per family, and you must RSVP by April 10th to attend.
Read Across America
It isn't fair!
- Understand that their feelings are very real to them, no matter how petty it may seem to you as an adult.
- Take the time to openly discuss what they are feeling.
- Encourage them to come up with creative solutions to problems that bother them.
I've seen parents channel their children's energy in this area so well, that they raise some awesome, world-changing children. These are the types kids you see collecting food or clothes for the homeless or organizing something for the local animal shelter.
On the topic of parenting, don't be afraid to say your sorry if they call you on something. As a parent, I fail all the time. After all, we are only human, and it's not like they come with instructions! When my children point out something they don't think I've been fair about, I take the time to discuss it with them, and if an apology is necessary, then I say I'm sorry. Never underestimate the power of a good example!