Halloween Safety Tips

A great alternative to Trick or Treating is for parents to organize parties at home, in schools, at a mall, community center, or places of worship.

If you do make the rounds in a neighborhood, here are some safety tips:
# Have adult supervision.
# There is safety in numbers. If they’re old enough to trick-or-treat without an adult, tell your kids to stay in a group.
# Map out your plan. Plan out a route before your kids begin trick-or-treating, and make sure they stick to it.
# Take the long way around. Have your kids trick-or-treat in areas where there are a lot of people around. They should also avoid taking short-cuts through alleys and parking lots.
# Try tick-or-treat-friendly homes. Ensure your kids only visit houses with lights on. And, you might also suggest the houses they visit have some sort of Halloween decoration on the porch.
# Stay outside. Make sure your kids don’t go inside someone’s house. They can get their candy from the porch.
# Remain visible. Dress your kids in a bright costume so others can see them. If their costume is dark, have your kids wear reflective strips or carry a glow stick or flashlight.
# Remember, shorter means safer. This goes without saying but just in case you forget, make sure your kids’ costumes aren’t so long that they can trip over them.
# Don't cover the face. Instead of masks, have your kids wear make-up so they can see better.
# Check your kids’ candy before they eat it. Throw out any candy that is not in its original wrapper or looks like it has been tampered with.
# Say "no" to strangers.

What to expect from a 2 year old in music class

For the first couple of weeks, children in this age group (18 months to 2 ½ yrs) tend to listen and absorb, and to watch and see if the parent is participating and enjoying the class. It's usually the 3rd week that we will see the child participating and responding, even singing. The more the parent sings and enjoys the simple instruments, the more the child will. And no one has to sing on pitch. Some parents "talk" the lyrics if they don't want to sing - that's OK. If you are listening to the CD on a regular basis, like in the car, you may hear your child singing along, or responding well to the tonal and rhythm patterns. We often observe a "delayed" response from them a couple of hours after class is over, such as the rhythm pattern, du-de-du-de. Music is a second language, and all children begin to learn a new language by simply listening.

Why "Call and Respond Songs" Build a Child's Self Esteem

Call-and-respond songs are especially valuable because they draw everyone into participation quickly.  They usually have a melody that is repeated in the response, or a short repetitive answer.  They are enjoyed by adults and children alike.
I use these  songs to give children oppotunities to respond individually.  After the children are secure in their musical environment, it is vital to encourage them to respond individually.  Each child has the opportunity to hear his or her own voice, and gradually learn to adjust it if they so choose.  Examples are:  Good Day, Hambone, and My Little Rooster

Why Gentle Bouncing is Beneficial in Music Classes for Children

With bouncing activities the adult can give the child a full-body experience of steady beat. This is especially important in our time, when adults and children alike spend a lot of time in a seated position (car, couch, etc). The rhythmic up-and-down movement on the parents' legs is very stimulating to the whole body of the child. The movement also enhances the vestibular function of the ear, which is to register body position, movement, balance, and speed.

The toddler feels confident holding the parents' hands and is free to enjoy a kinesthetic response to movement. Located in the muscles, joints, and tendons of the body, the kinesthetic system gives information on how the movement feels while it is happening. While in air momentarily, the child experiences a feeling of weightlessness that stimulates the brain's energy. The sound of the voice itself is pleasurable and energizing and heightens the delight of the rhythmic bouncing.

Movie about music and science - a must-see

Music teachers and music lovers, see this movie: Science and Song, The Music Instinct. We rented it from netflix. See reviews on amazon - http://www.amazon.ca/Music-Instinct-Science-Song/dp/product-description/B0028X6KYW

Why we use Name Songs in Musikgarten

A child's name is his/her identity. To greet a child by calling him/her by name is not only an especially pleasing personal greeting, but it is also an affirmation of the child's personhood. Singing a name identifies and calls attention to a particular child, acknowledging his/her presence in the beauty of the musical setting.

Not only do the children wait with rapt attention to hear their own name, they also want to hear the welcome extended to each other, many of whom are known as "my friend."
These "name" songs give the children an opportunity to respond individually. After the child is secure in his/her musical environment, the opportunity to respond individually is critical for vocal development.

All babies can sing

All babies are born with the ability to match pitch - scientists and neurologists say this is a proven fact. If this is not developed by age 5 or 6, this ability usually fades away, resulting in adults with poor self-musical-image. After all, music is a 2nd language, learned first through the ear.