Kindermusik Demo Days

We are now taking enrollment for the Fall Kindermusik semester here at Delightful Sounds. It includes a variety music classes for children up to seven years old, as well as our "mommy and me" sign language class, Sign and Sing, for children between 6 and 24 months. You can view our schedule here. If you enroll and pay half of your total balance by August 10th, you will receive a FREE gift!

As part of the Kindermusik Demo Days, we will be hosting an Open House at Delightful Sounds on August 10 from 6-8 PM. It is a drop in event that will allow families to stop by and meet our staff as well as enjoy some Kindermusik activities that will be scattered throughout the evening. Feel free to invite a friend and drop by for some fun!

What in the world?

We haven't had a post for "What in the World" in a while. Thought I'd start back with a fairly easy one if your children spend any time in my Kindermusik classroom. Enjoy and don't forget to post your guesses as a comment!

Life in the bubble.

I recently read the excerpt below on the Kindermusik blog. It caught my attention, because we are living in a time where ideals are being re-thought and pillars, once thought unbreakable, are cracking and crumbling. Yet, each week, I meet with the most wonderful families. They check they're cares and stress at the door and for an hour they are free to just enjoy- enjoy time well spent, laughter, making music and joining in the silliness of children. Need a little bubble therapy? Click here to download a coupon for a free Kindermusik class.

"We have learned the hard way in this recession that things are not always as they seem. Banks are not as solvent, General Motors is not as mighty, real estate is not as valuable. In fact, it seems as though we are in an epidemic of inauthenticity: character, genuineness, good faith, and sincerity are under siege. It’s no fun to read the paper anymore.

But from within the Kindermusik bubble, the world looks like it always has. The Kindermusik classroom bursts with authenticity: tender teachers, proven curricula, friendship, music, smiles. Perhaps what Kindermusik can teach all of us at times like these is that some things are truly timeless. Just as a playground swing still brings delight to a child as it did before iPhones, Twitter, and debit cards, Kindermusik wraps parent and child in bona fide warmth. Provides a true, joyful, and nurturing place where we can come together, share our children, and sing.

Nothing fancy, mighty, solvent, or newfangled.

But valuable? Authentic? Genuine? Sincere?

In a room full of children? Always."



contributed by Michael G. Dougherty (CEO, Kindermusik International)

Summer Breeze, Makes Me Feel Fine...

A few weeks ago over at About.com, I mentioned the Summer Playlist that HYP Radio's Amy Trulock created for Small Magazine. Her compilation inspired me ... oh, who am I kidding ... I totally yoinked her idea and came up with my own list of Summer Songs for Kids, tunes about sun and surf, good books and good food, and laid-back days in the shade.

My 12-song list highlights children's performers exclusively, bands like Dog On Fleas, The Dreamtree Shakers, and The Baby Grands, so this is a great way to shine the spotlight on the huge amount of talent out there in the Kids' Music world. Here's my list of Summer Songs for Kids.

Music is math

We talk about music study and the effects it has on the math and science skills of young children. Exploring music from the earliest ages of childhood only helps to enhance that effect. Check this video out to see how Glenn Marshall used his skills to create computerized "living" art based upon the music it hears.

Music Is Math from Glenn Marshall on Vimeo.

This.Kid.Rocks.

Going Over the Sea

We've been singing a song in our toddler music class called "Going Over the Sea". The refrain of the song says, "Going over, going under, stand at attention like a sailor with a 1,2,3". We usually grab some scarves and shake them over or under our bodies as we sing and march around. Songs like this are a great way to work on "positional" words like over, under, through, between, or beside. Your child will need a solid understanding of these types of words to be ready for success in Kindergarten. If you are not familiar with this particular song, you could create a similar experience at home by moving according to the words of other songs you may know with "positional" words or join a local Kindermusik class with your child to learn lots of great songs and activity ideas that will increase your child's development! Be sure to ask about your free preview!

No Nap Happy Hour Rocks the Iron Horse

Hey, live music lovers: the newest "gotta see" kids' concert series is Northampton, Massachusetts' No Nap Happy Hour, produced by Spare the Rock's Bill Childs. Kids' bands and performers, from the legendary Bill Harley to new-stars-on-the-block Lunch Money, will be rockin' the reknowned Iron Horse Music Hall once a month 'till the end of the year, beginning this Sunday.

For at least some of the dates (including Lunch Money), it's the only New England appearance for the band, so fans should check into making the trip to western Massachusetts. Northampton is less than an hour from Hartford and a couple of hours from Boston.

All shows will be held at the Iron Horse Music Hall at 2:00pm. Tickets are $10 in advance, $13 at the door, and are available through the Iron Horse website.

Here's the 2009 No Nap Happy Hour lineup:

July 26 - Lunch Money
August 23 - Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Trio
September 20 - Deedle Deedle Dees
October 18 - Uncle Rock & the Playthings
November 8 - Brady Rymer & the Little Band That Could
December 6 - Bill Harley