Let's get rolling, and jumping and singing and twirling! The wide variety of SUMMER CLASSES
are online now and starting to fill. You won't want to miss this summer adventure that doesn't require car trips to far states, driving to the ocean, flying to easter Europe....it's all right here in Holland! Get the family involved and jump right in. This could be the most meaningful summer activity on your planner.

Get out your calendar. This is a great list of mostly free live music opportunities in Holland for you and your children.

What do street performers"do? Just about anything but mainly the make live music!
Musical, acrobatic and otherwise interesting performers are in downtown Holland on Thursday evenings 5:30pm to 8:00pm for your enjoyment! They put out their fiddle case for tips. The children can get pretty close to the musicians and they are usually wide eyed and try to dance while strapped in the stroller! You just gotta let them out! You might find street performers at other times on 8th street or at the Farmers' Market. Who knows...you might see and hear me! I've been out already once this season busking!

July 12, 2007, Noon - 2:00 p.m.
In cooperation with WOTV - 41, Priority Health, and Hudsonville Ice Cream, the City of Holland's Recreation Division is proud to present the eighth annual "Party In The Park". Look for Kindermusik of Holland at this event!!!

August 18 Holland Symphony Orchestra - Community Concert – Symphonic Circus
7:30 PM Kollen Park Bandshell Holland FREE
Come early with your picnic and enjoy the preconcert activities. Look for Miss Yvette, she'll be there in the thick of it!

I've tried to be pretty inclusive about this list. Do you know of something I've missed?
Won't you forward this link to your friends with young children?

Remember, singing to your children is live music too!
Yvette

Baby Einsteins or Baby Mozarts?

Here's what some say: You want to bog kids down with all this brain stuff and turn them into baby Einsteins or Mozarts....Let them be children!!! They are too overbooked! "TROPHY KIDS".

Here's my thought:

I want to make good citizens. If a child hears fine music from the day
of his birth and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline
and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart.
—Shin'ichi Suzuki

LIVE music used to be an everyday affair. Like breathing air. Live music in the parlor. Live music after dinner. Live music to fill the long winter. Live music and singing to work by. Everyone singing lullabies for babies. Adult models making and loving music everywhere you look. This was and is a part of our humaness. Part of how we develop our language skills, gracefulness, empathy, intellect, and our spirit (and more). Something has happened and we have cut off our air supply. We desparately need it.

If we put it back in some then say you are trying to create a genius or a "trophy kid".

I do agree that children need down time. I do agree children need time to be out side and play with NO STRUCTURE. I do believe childern need quiet time to hear their own thoughts and make up their own songs. And I do believe we humans need music. Choose your children's activities carefully parents.

Trying to create a genius? I say maybe genius is our right. Let's go dance and sing a little, shall we? All summer!
Peace,
Yvette