Feel the Music

In the last five weeks, we have been studying the link between emotions and music in our preschool music class, Feel the Music. It has been so interesting to watch the children explore this very important skill of understanding and expressing their emotions. From about two years old through young elementary school age, children begin to experience a wide range of emotions and need practice in identifying and understanding what they are feeling or what they may see others feeling.

Music is a great way to work on this at home. It can invoke a wide range of emotions. Choose a variety of musical styles and beats, then talk about how the music makes you feel. What sort of facial expressions would go with this song? You could even look for faces in a magazine or book that would match the mood. How does the music make you want to move? When using the whole body to explore the learning experience, you equip your child to be a better learner and encourage their ability to read body language, so go ahead and "feel the music"!

If Poison and KISS Started a Kids' Band...

Straight outta the C.C. DeVille/Paul Stanley book of theatrical stage presence, John Carlin and The Kids' Music Underground present "Air Guitar," their tribute to the budding rock star in everyone's family.

John Carlin and The Kids' Music Underground - "Air Guitar"

"Favorite Things" contest

Congratulations to the five finalists for the "Favorite Things" contest! You can read each story below and cast your vote for your favorite story. Look for the poll at the top left of the blog to vote. The winners will be annnounced the evening of June 5th. Good luck everyone!

Lavanya - "Favorite Things" contest

Here is entry number five for the "Favorite Things" contest.

Music has always been the soul of my life. I cannot recall a day that has gone by without the influence of music in my life. Although I received formal training in classical dance and playing classical stringed instrument from India called the “Veena”, I relish music in diverse identities. Coming to the topic of how my baby and I enjoy music, I must mention that we started on this journey very soon after I knew that I had conceived Manav. I dedicated a few hours every day when we would hear melodious music and literally tap toes. We decided to reap the benefits of music to the fullest extent possible. While in the womb, Manav identified a few songs when played over a period of time. He even responds to them now. Music has given us meaning to our “alone time” when we relax and unwind.
Knowing how music shapes cognitive skills and alters behavioral response, we wanted to add structure to this activity. So we started with our Kindermusik classes very soon after he turned 3 months old. We have come a very long way since our first class when Manav was a supported sitter. Now, attending the classes at Delightful sounds has become a part of our weekly routine where we explore and learn something new every day. Music has helped my son explore, understand and communicate better. It teaches him the sense of sequence and rhythm. There’s no better medicine than music when he just doesn’t feel so good. Happy or sad we share a tune. I sing to him during various activities including the usual bath and bed time routines and even during the times when we clean up and transition to the next activity. Watching us communicate with music has encouraged my husband to sing and express in a more uninhibited manner. He now realizes that neither does one have to be a skillful singer nor know all the words precisely to convey in the universal language of music; it’s really the thought and the effort that makes all the difference. Now dad and son have a dedicated “music time” even after a long day at work. Even the bluest of the spirits and the dullest of the days get refreshed when there’s music playing along.
All one’s baby knows is their immediate environment so teach them to appreciate life through music and you will give them a gift for their life.

Sally-Ann - "Favorite Things" contest

Here is entry number four for the "Favorite Things" contest.

I have been thinking long and hard about what to write. I have been blessed with children that are very talented musically, so it is hard to narrow down any one favorite musical experience with my children. As I have been sorting through the cobwebs of my mind to come up with the "one" experience to share, I started thinking about my first experiences with music. My Mum always sang me songs. I remember sitting on my Mum's lap in front of the fireplace in our kitchen while she sang.......
"There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good
She was very, very good
But when she was bad
She was horrid!"

Another favorite

"Sing a song of sixpence pocket full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie
When the pie was open the birds began to sing
Now wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden pegging out the clothes
When along came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!"

Now for my all time favorite!

"Goosey goosey gander where shall you wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
In the lady's chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers
So I grabbed him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs!!"

My mother had a beautiful singing voice and I can remember her singing these songs to me. I cry when I hear "How Great Thou Art" because in my mind I can still hear her singing that beautiful hymn.
I sang these silly songs to my older children and I still sing them to Samuel. I have always sung songs to my children.
"I love Mummy, she loves me.
We love Daddy, yes sirree;
He loves us, and so you see,
We are a happy family.
I love sister, she loves me.
We love brother, yes sirree;
He loves us, and so you see,
We are a happy family."

I usually change the words around in this song a little so we use the children's names. With Samuel I made up a silly little song and started to sing it to him in the hospital just after he was born. It calmed him down then and calms him down now! The lyrics aren't award winning, but the song has stuck!
"I love Sam
He's my man
I love Sam
I love Sam
He's my man
I love Sam"
All this leads me to the moment I want to share. Sam was held a lot when he was little. We had waited so long for him, I didn't want to put him down, I loved the feel of him in my arms. I would sing and sing and sing to him. One evening I was cradling him in front of me and singing his strange little song. Sam wasn't very old and definitely couldn't talk yet, but he started to sing with me cooing and aaahhing. He kept in tune perfectly. We sat there singing for the longest time.
Sam is a little boy of few words, but at home he sings all day. He sings songs from Kindermusik, songs from Sunday School and our families made up songs. We sing at night before going to bed......"Hush little baby, don't make a sound", or, "I am a child of God, and He has sent me here, has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear."
There is no "one" favorite musical moment, life is to full of them to choose.

Dorinda - "Favorite Things" contest

Here is entry number three for the "Favorite Things" contest.

For my son, David Benjamin Frye 33 months old.
Sometimes when everything seems to be going wrong, especially in today's economy it's easy to start feeling stressed, and overwhelmed. But I need only to look at my husband, teaching our beautiful son, how to make music on the guitar and, all is right with the world, and, in that moment, everything is put into perspective. Music has always been so important to my husband and I, but since we had our son, it has taken on a much bigger and more meaningful role in our lives. Kindermusik has shown us new and exciting ways to teach out child about music, and how to have fun in ways we never thought of! We will forever have music in our hearts, because our son is the music in our souls.

Ross - "Favorite Things" contest

Here's entry number two for the "Favorite Things" contest.

It’s our time to tell a story, our time to tell a story, our time
To tell a story, how music has influenced us…

From the time we found out that we were pregnant with our first child Maddy, my wife and I began a power struggle over whose music would dominate her early life.
My wife Jewell loves Barry Manilow and I love Rush. Growing up she had big hair and also listened to The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen, where I had long hair, wore a jean jacket covered with band pins and listened to heavy metal. How we ever got together is a story for another day.
After getting the good news that Maddy was on her way, we went to Babies R' Us to look for a speaker system to put against Jewell's belly so Maddy could hear music in the womb. After seeing that "in the womb culture" came at a very outrageous price, we decided to play music in the car and sing to her at night.
Maddy's first post-natal musical experience was Jewell singing "Hush Little Baby" to her. It would calm her down when she was fussy. Maddy remembered hearing that song so when Sam, our son, gets fussy Maddy will tell Jewell, "Hush little baby Momma, hush little baby". She sometimes sings along to help calm down her brother.
Barney also became an early musical influence. She took to it like a fish to water. In the car, hearing his sultry voice would calm her down and put her to sleep. She progressed from listening to Barney, to watching the purple dinosaur and Maddy began to sing along and also started to dance.
As she got older, more influences started presenting themselves to her. Another learning show, The Backyardigans, became her new favorite (as well as Daddy's) and Maddy really enjoyed dancing when she would hear the opening theme and also to some of her favorite episodes.
Maddy has several older cousins who are involved with dance and cheerleading. Maddy loves being around them especially when they show her their dance moves. They have also introduced her to dance and hip-hop music. Mom also likes this kind of music and since they spend more time together in the car, Maddy has begun to like the musical styling’s of Britney and Fergie. She has developed her own dance moves. We call it the chicken wing. She bends her arms and either flaps them like a bird or swings them as if she was singing a pirate song! Maddy has also introduced a couple twirls and a few sidesteps to her repertoire. We believe she will be ready for "So you think you can dance?" by 2014.
Maddy has really enjoyed going to music class with her Ya-Ya. When I come home from work Wednesday afternoons, I hear them singing the new song she has learned. From “Bow Wow Wow” to “We are clothes in a washing machine”, Maddy is using singing to really expand her language skills. Jewell and her often sing together around the house.
I love listening to music. I look forward to continuing Maddy’s music education and also teaching Sam the finer points of heavy metal!!

Tricia - "Favorite Things" contest

Here's entry number one for the "Favorite Things" contest.

One of my favorite moments with Landon that involves singing happened in a hotel bathroom. Yes, that's right, the bathroom. We had just gotten off the trolley in downtown Tampa and went into one of the hotels to use the bathroom. We were waiting for the handicap stall(we are potty training) and Landon started singing a song from Yo Gabba Gabba. It goes "Don't give up, don't give up, keep trying keep trying" We sang it about 5 times and and a little girl about three years old bounces out of the bathroom stall. She is cheering and she looks at Landon and says "I did it! Yeah!!" The mom explained that the little girl was also potty training and heard Landon singing and thought he was singing to her! It was a cute moment that involved music that I will always remember!