What a Fab Week

After such a long summer break I was wondering how I was going to feel about starting all my music-making up again.

Funny enough when people ask me if I work I hesitate a little. I often just don't think of what I do as a job. "It's not a proper job!" Surely I can't call having so much fun a job.

My Dad always taught me that we can't expect to enjoy our work - we do it because we have to! Well I think I've finally proved him wrong and I am sure he would be overjoyed to know that.

I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two weeks. Seeing old friends making new ones and once again realising the immense joy music brings, and not just to the children. I am sure all the participants in the Virginia Reel in Village this week would agree that it was such excellent fun, even if I did mess up the steps.

Most of you should have your packs by now I will email all Village people a copy of the home book in the next few days.

Just have a look through your resources this week, listen to the CD and come prepared to just be yourself next week in class.

Kate

The Rhythm of my Day Week 6

The Rhythm of my Day Week 6
In class this week we continued our pursuit of Stop and Go games. Your Home Activity sheet this week encourages you to play more Stop and Go games at home. Inhibitory control is the beginning of understanding self control.

You may notice that we often play with sounds. Singing certain songs to la, ba or do, may feel silly but is a great way to encourage emerging language skills. Singing nonsense syllables in songs assists children with auditory discrimination of different sounds. By using nonsense sounds that incorporate vowels you are giving your child an opportunity to develop her pre-language skills because she can imitate these sounds.

Inspiration
“ The greatest gift that you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention.”
A J D’Angelo

Village week 5

In some of our activities this week we experienced the physical and musical sensation of stopping and going. By participating in activities that move and stop, Baby is developing the awareness of inhibitory control. Inhibitory control is one’s ability to stop his body on a given cue. “Stop” and “Go” are reinforced in class with the use of sign language.

You may have noticed that we do a lot of bouncing games in Village classes. In Allee Galloo our bouncing stimulates the vestibular system. The Vestibular system is our centre of balance situated in the inner ear. This intricate system needs constant stimulation for baby to learn to coordinate movement and balance. Bouncing also increases muscle tone as baby has to adjust his posture to stay upright while being bounced. At the end of the rhyme the surprising lift into the air or fall backwards on the whee, Provides immediate feedback to the vestibular system so that baby just has to smile or giggle.

“Baby, I lie and gaze on thee
All other things forgot –
In dreams the things of earth pass by,
But awake I heed them not.
I hear thy soft breath come and go,
Thy breath so lately given,
And watch the blue unconscious eyes
Whose light is pure from heaven.” Anon 1860

The Rhythm of my Day Week 4

This week we heard music from England, Scotland, The Virgin Islands, Jamaica, and many regions of the United States. By exposing your baby to a variety of music from many cultures, you’re helping her build a large library of musical tastes and appreciation from which to choose.
Not only is this important for her musical development, but it helps her to learn to listen more carefully and be more open to new experiences.
Baby is first exposed to rhythm in the womb. She hears her mother’s heartbeat and then, after birth, her own. African and Indian music traditions have brought syncopation and other rhythmic complexities to our ears, weaving these rhythms into current Western culture. Exposing Baby to this variety will help her develop her abilities to listen and produce these rhythms more easily.
“People and rubber bands have one thing in common; they must be stretched to be effective.” John Maxwell

See you next week!

Village Week 3

The Rhythm of my Day Week 3

Much of this week’s music contains syncopation, where a strong beat shifts and is less emphasized. Syncopation is often used in jazz music, and in much of the Caribbean music you hear in The Rhythm of My Day.

When you move to this music, you may feel yourself getting a little off-balanced.
As you dance with your baby, he will also feel these patterns in the music. Moving to these different rhythms will help your baby make new neural connections and challenge his sense of balance and coordination—essential for learning to sit, crawl, and walk.

This week take some time at home to move together; it’s the perfect way to learn with love!

‘Baby needs to move his: arms, legs and all body parts in order to gain control over them and make movements deliberate. Move your baby to learn, so he can learn to move.’
How to have a Smarter Baby. Dr S Ludington-Hoe

So many babies

Village for babies 0 - 18 months, has become so popular that we are now over subscribed. This week I have had to turn people away. As a response to this we are putting on a new session on Monday afternoons at 2.45pm. We realise this is not a convenient time for those who have older children at school, or those who work, but hopefully it will suit some. If you are new to Kindermusik Village and would like to come and try a class for free please let us know.

A typical Village class includes singing, instrument exploration and play, baby massage, sign language, dances, rocking and lots of lovely cuddles.

Village Week 3

Learning something new is challenging. How did you feel as you learned the new dance, Sonata for Flute? We all react to new experiences in different ways. A challenge can be fun, frightening, or a bit uncomfortable.

Challenges are part of your baby’s life several times every day. She is presented with new people, toys, foods, and more. By providing her with secure places to explore, being by her side, and giving her love and care, she will be more confident in how she faces the world.

As she masters new skills, she will realise that she is a powerful little person. And your experience in class today is a great reminder of what it feels like to be a learner once again.

By next week you’ll both feel like Sonata for Flute is an old friend! See you then.

Come On Dads

Our Saturday morning classes have been very popular with Dads. Dads often find it difficult to attend classes during the week, but that doesn't mean they don't want to come along as our classes have proved.

If you are a Dad or know a Dad who you think might enjoy trying our fun music and movement classes for toddlers please let them know about our classes.

Other family members are of course invited too, infact why not make it a date for the whole family to enjoy together.

Our Saturday baby classes are resuming soon too. So why not send Dad for some one on one time with Baby.

Physical Benefits of Massage and Touch

In addition to facilitating emotional bonding, massage has many physical benefits. It stimulates and regulates internal organs and promotes nerve myelination, making for a better mind-body communictaion.