When my children grow up I want them to be:
Happy
Healthy
Intelligent
Compassionate
Hard working
Creative and imaginative
Kind
Trustworthy
Confident



Courageous
Forgiving
Joyful
Worldly
Striving
Connected
Appreciative
Story Tellers

Our list grows. Please add your hopes for your children to the "comments".

More Music on the Brain

Daniel J. Levitin, Ph.D. Associate Professor, James McGill University, was a keynote speaker at the October Kindermusik Convention. We enjoyed his talk about music and the brain and his pop music quizzes where we could identify a piece of music and artist by hearing less than a second of the recording. Today I found an article written by Scott LaFee for the Union-Tribune, which sourced Levitin. This is what caught my eye:

Music does appear to improve brain function, according to scientists. "Early exposure to and learning of music and instruments seems to have clear benefits," Levitin said. "Such children often have improved visual perception, analytical thinking skills and physical coordination. Music helps them focus their attention."

Singing in the Brain .
The Union-Tribune , November 15, 2007


I am also noticing how the students in my classes have shown such growth in their self control and social skills. Taking turns, trading instruments, responding to auditory cues, stopping their excited fast and slow horse trotting and galloping....

I've heard more children using their singing voices, seen more amazing creativity in movement ideas....So many times I wished for my camera!

And sequencing and predicting....memory work....(I'm thinking of the 2 year olds who can tell me what's next in the Watch Me! story book.

Parents, you are doing great work. Keep up the steady beat....keep singing...keep dancing....
Love,
Yvette

Being able to keep a steady beat with a group is an important skill evident in good readers:



In Village we help them feel the beat.






In Our Time we help them play the beat.






In Imagine That! We help them vary the beat.









In Young Child we help them read and write the beat.









Enroll now for summer classes and fall semester: holland.kindermusik.net
Classes are for newborn to 7+ year olds. (ask me about the 5 weeks for free for under 5 months old.)

Email this blog to your friends! http://www.kindermusikofholland.blogspot.com/

Thanks! (Your friends will thank you too!)
and thanks to Kindermusik Loopers for this FOL!
Yvette