Link to a great site for teaching methods

Here is a fun site for parents and for music teachers. Learn a little more about solfege here and music and movement - go to
http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/training/handsigns.asp

Sweet Potato Ocarina is Fun to Play

Looking for something fun for your elementary-age child to play? Try the ocarina, or the sweet potato. You'll find it on amazon. It may be easier to learn than the recorder. Here is the definition from wikipedia...

The ocarina (pronounced /ɒkəˈriːnə/) is an ancient flute-like wind instrument.[1] While several variations exist, an ocarina is typified by an oval-shaped enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouth tube projecting out from the body. It is often ceramic, but many other materials, such as plastic, wood, glass and metal may also be used. http://wikipedia.com

I got one from a music store, and the directions on the back appeared to make learning this easy (I hope). I sent it to a nephew for Christmas, so now I'm hunting for another one. I may just get this from amazon today!

Recipe for Swine Flu Protection

Recipe to protect yourself from the swine flu - or to use if you get it to speed recovery!

2,000 units of vitamin D a day
12 caplets of probiotics such as "Garden of Life" Primal Defense - daily - (if you use another brand, you'll need to calculate the safe dosage)
2 to 4 TBSP pure coconut oil
12 drops of oil of oregano
Use as a mouthwash twice a day – 2 TBSP colloidal silver solution (do not swallow)

A friend of mine - his teenage daughter got the swine flu, and he says this recipe helped her to get over the flu fast. A couple of months ago, a report on www.cbn.com stated that there is scientific evidence that vitamin D and probiotics boost the immune system, helping to ward off any flu.

Circle dances and singing create a sense of community

Even the very young begin to enjoy the pleasure of the circle, and listening and moving together. Rhythm, melody, and form are experienced directly in singing games. Because they are so joyous, the group will often want to repeat the games frequently. The repetitions of song combined with movement/dance are helpful in aiding auditory, muscular, and kinesthetic memory in a positive way. Forming a circle is an age-old way of playing together. Circle dances are tied to the tradition of folk dance, and both the songs and dances learned in that context are children's treasured memories. They are shared and passed on from generation to generation.

How to learn musical intervals

Musical intervals are easy when you use these mnemonics (memory aides) - the beginning(s) of "Oh When the Saints" is a perfect third, "Here Comes the Bride" is a fourth, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is a fifth, and "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" is a sixth! - Thank you Allen Webber of Palm Beach Community College!

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.