Sunday, December 23, 2007

Happy holidays to you and your family





Gingerbread people, little zip-loc baggies of icing with a tiny hole in one corner, and the industry of many children resulted in great parties and beautiful cookies in both of my children's classrooms on Friday.


Merry, merry, merry, to you and your family. I'll post again in a few days.


Friday, December 21, 2007

Angry Chicken clears up all that gift-giving ambiguity


Amy Karol, writer of the book Bend-the-Rules Sewing (which, ahem, is on my Christmas wish list), also has an addictive blog right here:
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/

Right now she has a free downloadable of gift tags that, really, right now, you must go look at.

I'm in love with the gift tags, with her artwork, with her creativity--hey, with her!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

I smell ginger







Merry, merry, merry.
Didn't she do a great job?

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

A little crafting therapy


Perhaps my post yesterday was a bit grumpy. I don't think it was as grumpy as I felt, I must say. So last night I got out some foam and buttons and pins, and a few minutes later I had this sweet little tree. I felt much better. (Pictured here next to one of the Father Christmas statues my grandmother fired and painted by hand.) Even a small craft is so good for my soul. Must make more time for this. But off to the grocery store right now....

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Dreaming about handmade goodness


I seek out creative people. What I want to know is, how do they find the time to fit it all in? Especially those who are mamas as well as artists, as well as business people, as well as humans who needs to eat and sleep.


I wish very much I had more time to craft, both on my own and with my children. I dream projects all the time, most of which never cross that boundary from vision to reality.


I go to this blog http://soulemama.typepad.com/ from time to time, where Amanda Soule is cranking out beautiful things at a volume I both admire and scratch my head about. And she homeschools, and she just wrote this book (pictured) that's coming out in April. How does she do it?


I, for one, must clean up around here before I can do the Christmas crafting I have in mind. Sigh.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Where creativity is always green


I'm the organizer for my second grade son's holiday party on Friday, and I'm very excited about the craft we'll be doing: "Gingerbread" people, made out of industrial leftovers that were on their way to a landfill. A wonderful nonprofit org called Arts and Scraps, in Michigan, finds interesting odds and ends, and puts them together in fun kits for classrooms like ours. Last year we made snowmen. They were fabulous, and the gingerbread people look to be equally fabulous.


Here's their website: http://artsandscraps.org/

Thanks to Kimberly Cody for this one.

Merry recycling!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Horizontal Christmas tree

Our Christmas tree fell over today. The kids were setting up a train track around the base, and they were doing a great job and being careful, but the tree toppled anyway. Three ornaments were broken, which didn't strike me as too bad, considering how they flew. It was quite a mess. The kids felt terrible, but then we ended up having a good time put it all back to rights.

One year when I was about 10, when we lived in a house with a very tall ceiling (we moved a lot), we decided to fill up as much of that space as we could, and we got a rediculously tall Christmas tree. I mean, it was TALL. Too tall, as it turned out, for our stressed little tree holder, and that tree fell over TWICE that year. Once in the middle of the night, the sound of which I still remember--sounded a lot like it did in my living room this afternoon.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Welcome, Yule!


My family went with me to the Christmas Revels today. That's the way it was with my children: they rolled their eyes and dragged their feet and said, I don't wanna...until I said, look, you don't have to pretend you like it, but if you go with me and be reasonably pleasant, that would be a great Christmas present to me. So, they both agreed in that spirit, and surprise, they ended up having a nice time. Check out their website: http://www.revelsdc.org/


I absolutely loved it. The Revels, with their emphasis on well-researched, time-heralded songs and tunes that people have been singing to mark the winter solstice for centuries, speaks to me. I feel that I am tapping into traditions that my soul is thirsty for. I wish it spoke more to my children, but hey, I guess I can't have everything.


So, merry Christmas to me. And welcome, Yule!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Did you say Mauritius? Why yes, I did


You ever have that feeling that everyone, absolutely everyone including your Aunt Marge, has heard about something before you did? Someone mentioned this: http://www.uptoten.com/

website to me, and then suddenly it seemed to pop up everywhere, a staple among online resources for children, and yet, mysteriously, I'd never heard of it before.


Anyway, I just had a look at it, and it's a very interesting place to surf around, mostly featuring these two guys: Boowa and Kwala. They speak both English and French, just as the residents of Mauritius do, the island nation off the east coast of Africa, from where this website is administered. Up To Ten is unbelievably dense with activities, including some basic music activities, and it has an international flavor that feels very distinct from the usual vanilla, commercial, north American websites for children. Definitely worth a look, and vast amounts of it are accessible for free, free, free.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

An independent bookstore in your neighborhood--one more reason you love it here


Click here to link to Book Sense, the network of Independent Book Sellers. http://www.booksense.com/index.jsp


Wondering who our most local member fo Book Sense is?


Aladdin's Lamp Books! Right across the hall from Perfect Pointe Dance Studio, in the Lee Harrison Center.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

If it's made by hand then I'm interested


Click right here to bathe in an absolutely sumptuous website: http://www.etsy.com/index.php

Not only is there a boundless amount of gorgeous, made-by-hand, one-of-a-kind items for sale, but the the website itself is a work of art.

I learned on Etsy.com about something called the Hand Made Pledge. Read about it at buyhandmade.org.

Really. I'm in love.

My paternal grandmother made gifts by hand every year. She was constantly making things by hand, all year, for a big, disorderly family of six children and many, many grandchildren. She created paintings, made ceramics, made dolls (and their clothes), and countless other projects big and small. And she was good at it: she taught others how to do these things, and she sold many paintings and dolls over the years. This is the part I am sad to tell you: I did not appreciate these handmade gifts at the time. I didn't get it. If I could talk to her now, and on a certain level I believe I can, I would not only revel in her handmade gifts, I would hop on a plane with my children and play in her wild, disorderly studio with her near the beach in southern California, where my father was raised. Some lessons take a while to learn, but I learned what you taught, Grandma. I get it now, and thank you.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Vote for Wiggles and Giggles Favorites!


Wiggles and Giggles families, here's your chance to vote for you and your child's favorite activities, as next week (our last for this session!) we'll do a "greatest hits" class. Would you prefer:


Lukey's Boat, Golden Ring, or Jig Jog, Jig Jog?


Rhythm sticks, egg shakers, or jingle bells?


I See You (with scarves) or Down in the Meadow (with hoops)?


Above the Sea, or Peep Squirrel?


For our rocking song: Shalom Haverim, or You are my Sunshine?


I Can Wiggle my Fingers, Johnny and Katie, or Little Fish/Big Fish?


Ring Around the Rosey, Clapping Land, All the Day Long, or Love Somebody?


Or?

Monday, December 10, 2007

Great children's website!


Oh my goodness, if you haven't found this website yet, take a look! I can't believe I hadn't found it before!

http://www.janbrett.com/

If you love Jan Brett's books, you're going to flip over this website, packed with activities for children. Enjoy!

Sunday, December 9, 2007

global trend, local provider



Did you know you can receive excellent midwifery care right here in north Arlington? Tammy McKinley, a neighbor and friend of mine, is a practicing midwife. If you were from the Seattle area, where I'm from, this wouldn't seem especially unusual, since there are so many midwives in practice in that area. But here on the east coast, the trend is much smaller but growing, so I'm delighted to let you know that a wonderful midwife is really, really nearby. Midwife-attended births are growing in number world-wide, as more and more people learn the huge benefits of evidence-based, natural maternal and infant care.

You can contact Tammi at tammi@naturalbeginnings.org

My daughter, Leah, was born with attending midwife and doula, and I'm a huge advocate of giving birth this way. If you'd like to learn more, here's a good place to start: http://cfmidwifery.org/index.aspx

And a great book to read is Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, a terrific overview by legendary midwife Ina May Gaskin.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Something shiny, perhaps?


If you're thinking of something dazzling, beautiful, and locally made for a holiday gift, please check out my friend Julie's website: http://www.julesjewelsjewelry.com/


Her work is lovely, and she is an incredibly generous person in our school and in our community. She once brought in a huge supply of her beads, etc, into our first grade class at McKinley, and helped all the kids make Mother's Day bracelets. The results were gorgeous--the kids were so proud and I'm still wearing my bracelet.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Guitar lessons extraordinaire


I've just recently begun taking guitar lessons with a terrific teacher--Hope Linzer, here in north Arlington. Love her! I'm not completely sure she's taking new students now (she has LOTS), but she teaches both adults and young people, and she's an AMAZING player herself so she knows what she's talking about. Her approach is to talk with you about what you're interested in playing and then helping you get there. So relaxed, most fun I've had in a while.
You can contact her at [hlinzer@earthlink.net].

And the guitar, I mean, what a gorgeous and versitile instrument. Love it. Excuse me, I need to go practice my chords now....


Thursday, December 6, 2007

Happy Birthday, Jacob








Today is my son Jacob's 8th birthday. He's at school right now (after the delayed start), passing out the cupcakes on which he carefully sprinkled rainbow sugar crystals. He's got sushi in his lunch box, which is one of his favorites. When I pick him and Leah up from school, we're going downtown to see the National Tree Lighting Ceremony--Justin snagged four tickets from a guy at work, so we get to go and we didn't even stand all night in line to get them. AND, his beloved grandparents, my mom and dad, are flying in tonight so they can be here for his birthday party on Saturday. Overall, I'd say, a pretty wonderful day!





Happy birthday to my wonderful, exquisitly beautiful, amazing son. It's a joy to watch you grow.






Thurs, 6 Dec 07, MORNING CLASSES CANCELLED due to snow delay

My morning classes (Our Time and Village) are cancelled today due to Arlington Public Schools 2 hour delay opening. I will reschedule make-up classes.

I follow Arlington Public Schools. If they are closed, then all of my classes are canceled. If they delay 2 hours, then all my morning classes are canceled. If they delay 1 hour, then any classes meeting before 10:30am are cancelled.

Enjoy playing in the snow! See you soon!

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Local source for fun Holiday cards


I hope it's not too late in the season to tell you about....Tara Claeys and her notecard company, TLC by TARA. Her illustrations are delightful, and her rates for holiday cards (and lots of other kinds of cards) are very reasonable--in fact, no higher than Winkflash or Snapfish, yet you've got something personalized and you supported a local, independent business. Now that's good shopping.


Check out her company at http://www.tlcbytara.com/index.html


Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Children's books--an online resource


Love this website! Preview children's books, page by page, before you buy them.
Have fun!
for this one!

Monday, December 3, 2007

Reasons to hate Pachabel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

This one really made me laugh! One to watch after the kids are in bed, I think, as there a couple of mild explitives toward the end.

Thanks to Hope Linzer, my friend and guitar teacher, for this one!

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Puppet masters perform The Nutcracker

Justin and I took our two children to the Puppet Company Playhouse in Glen Echo Park, MD (only took 20 minutes to get there). We saw The Nutcracker, and all four of us are completely in love with it. Wonderful! If you haven't yet gone to this puppet theatre, go right now. Please, take my car.

Lush costumes, stunning puppets, ingenious set design. Only 50 minutes long, and extremely friendly and accommodating to young audiences. If you'd like to introduce your little one to the story of the Nutcracker and the beauty of Tchaikovsky's music, but you're not sure he or she is ready to sit through a full ballet production, this is the perfect solution. Even if you go to a more traditional performance, this version is completely worth it for the puppet artistry.

More puppet shows throughout the year. Check it out at: http://www.thepuppetco.org/

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Clean Space, Clear Mind--Now that's a gift


My quest is ongoing to give my loved ones less stuff and more experiences or services. Perhaps you too. I offer this idea.

Get organized for the new year!
Sharlene Gin is a local professional organizer and mother. She'll help you work through your whole house, one room, or even just one troubling space.
Sharlene is a friend of mine, and I can tell you firsthand that she's NOT that organizer who'll come into your house, take a sweeping glance around, and give you the look that says, well, I guess you called me just in the nic of time, before you're buried in here....
No, Sharlene fully understands that our stuff has meaning to us, and that our homes are very personal. She doesn't aim to turn your house into a showroom, but a real, functioning, comfortable, full-of-life home. You know, your home, at its best.
Very reasonable rates: $40 per hour, $70 for the first two-hour session.
Happy Holidays!

Friday, November 30, 2007

Early registration ends tomorrow!


Tomorrow, December 1st, is the last day for early registration for the Spring 08 semester. Register at my website: http://launahall.kindermusik.net/, or call or e-mail.
Top 3 reasons to register early:
3. Great to get it done before the December rush really hits us.
2. Makes life easier for your friendly neighborhood Kindermusik educator.
1. Because you'll receive a free Kindermusik CD as my thanks!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

A Moveable Feast


It's hard to explain this one. Beautiful? Haunting? Click, watch, let me know your thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUDIoN-_Hxs

500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art.
This video progresses more or less chronologically through time from 12th c. through 1946.

Turn up your speakers and bathe to Bach’s Sarabande from Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, performed by none other than Yo-Yo Ma.

Want to know all about the paintings? I did, too. Click here for the artist, name of painting, and year painted. http://www.maysstuff.com/womenid.htm.
Now here's something interesting: 90 paintings of women, 2 painted by women. Discuss.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

local art of global quality


This guy is a fellow parent at McKinley Elementary School, an author, and, as you can see from this pic, an amazing mosaic artist. Check it out: http://www.bryanjernigan.com/
He does lovely framed prints and posters, as well as smaller offerings like calendars and greeting cards.
His spouse, Julie Jernigan, is a jewelry artist, frequent (and terrific) substitute teacher at McKinley. I'm so glad the two of them and their lovely daughter are at McKinley school.
Who knows, maybe their art forms will work their way into your holiday gift-giving plans. I'll try to highlight some more local artists, teachers, musicians, and entrepreneurs in the coming weeks.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Where the world wide web ends




Shel Silverstein fans, run don't walk to have a look at this website for children by the author of timeless children's books, songs, and poems: Shel Silverstein.
Of course there are his amazing literary works and drawings, but the web design alone is well worth the visit. Lots of stuff "for kids only"--downloadables and what not. Have fun.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Re-capturing our collective memory


"I have conducted interviews with many senior citizens who were asked to recall a song, rhyme, or game that could be played with a baby on their lap.1 Those citizens over 80 were able to offer a remarkably diverse repertoire. When other in the 60- to 80-year-old bracket were asked the same question, only some repertoire could be delivered. A third group between 40 and 60 recalled very little, and parents who were 40 years old and younger essentially "didn't know nothin'." What happened to this genre of literature that so perfectly fostered musical growth in infants and toddlers?"
- John M. Feierabend, Ph.D., Professor of Music, Hartt School

Kindermusik recaptures the songs, wiggles, bounces, and games that our great-grandparents knew, and they live again for a new generation.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Someone I'd like you to meet

Blog reader, this is John Feierabend, Ph.D., professor of music at the Hartt School, University of Connecticut at Hartford. I've just found this guy and some of his articles on-line. He's an excellent writer, and he makes compelling arguments for the absolute necessity of quality music education for young children. Check out the article "Music and Movement for Infants and Toddlers: Naturally Wonder-full" here:
"If we believe adults should be able to sing to their children and dance with their spouses and appreciate good quality music literature, then we must sing to our babies, and dance with our babies, and do both with quality children's music literature. Then when those babies become 30 years old, they will be musically sensitive and be able to provide an appropriate nurturing musical environment for their children."

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Irish theatre in Arlington




My husband and visiting college-age niece went to a play last night at the Keegan Theatre, right here in Arlington. They said the play, the American debut of the wildly popular Irish play, "Alone It Stands," was terrific. 6 actors play 62 roles, telling the true story of the legendary day when the scruffy home rugby team most unexpectedly beat the visiting undefeated team from New Zealand in 1978. The reviews said that you don't have to know or care anything about rugby to enjoy this play, and it's true--Justin and I saw this performed years ago in York, England, and while I can only tell you that rugby uses a ball of some kind and looks rough and violent, the play was fast-paced, engaging, character-driven, and quite wonderful. Everything the Keegan does looks pretty good--emphasis on acting in "grey space" (with minimal props, sets, and costumes). Check them out at http://www.keegantheatre.com/.

Friday, November 23, 2007

My favorite turkeys



Love these guys. Love their crafts. I've kept pretty much everything they've ever made, which, of course, is unsustainable. I have to figure that one out. My friend Sharlene, a very talented professional organizer, talks about honoring the craft item for a while in a place of prestige in the house, and then moving it out. I almost do that. I honor a piece of art for a while, and then move it to the basement. Which is getting a bit crowded.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Cornucopia o' Thanks



May there be pie in your day today. May there only be football if you like football. May there be family. May there be lots of dirty dishes, but then lots of cheerful helpers to wash them. May there be leftovers for sandwiches tomorrow. May the cranberry sauce remind someone of Grandma, and may everyone raise their glasses to family members no longer with you. May you and your kids strut around the dining room table, with your elbows out and your knees up high, singing,

"Who's That struttin' round, lookin' mighty perky?

Looks like it might be old Mr. Turkey!

Gobble, Mister Turkey, that's a fancy way to talk,

Strut, Mister Turkey, that's a fancy way to walk!"

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Reveling with the Revels


If you live in the greater DC area, you may very well have already heard of the REVELS. Just in case you haven't, I wanted to be sure you knew about this wonderful singing, dancing, reveling group.

They do several performances and community sings every year. They are both professionals and talented community members--they hold auditions every year for both adults and children. Their performances draw upon the folk music of many cultures: Celtic, Tudor and Victorian English, French, Russian, Scandinavian, American Appalachian, Italian Renaissance, African-American, Gypsy—and different time periods.

The Christmas show is pricey (eye, there's the rub), but worth it. There are other shows and informal events through the year that cost less or are even free, so check them out.

Notice the morris bells just below this guy's knees? If you were in my summer camp, do you remember being morris dancers, making and shaking our own bells?

I think the Revels are cultural anthropologists, keeping traditional music alive so that we can pass it on to another generation.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Bird joy

My Thanksgiving wish for you: May you feast with your family, and when your favorite song comes on, may you get up and dance like this bird.

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

Monday, November 19, 2007

What's your wake-up song, Astronaut?










I love this strange video clip. Have a look.







Reasons I like this clip:
1. I learned that NASA wakes their sleeping astronauts in the space shuttle each morning with music.
2. The astronaut, somewhere between her astrophysics classes, got to know and love that old English folk song.
3. Apparently, the astronaut's husband selected this song as a love note to her.
4. It made me think, hmm, what's my wake-up song on my first day in space?

What's yours?

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Feathers song lyrics!


This is especially for Village families (class for children ages newborn through 18 months)....I'm so pleased to show you this! Click on this link for tons of information about our current unit, FEATHERS. There's weekly home activities and information about your child's musical development, AND, best of all, the lyrics to the songs we sing in class! Enjoy!


Saturday, November 17, 2007

Story of the Little House, Part 3


Okay, I haven't googled Carmen Wilkenson yet, so stay tuned for that....

But something else happened in this story. My children and I were walking home, and something lying on the grass in our side yard caught my son Jacob's eye. I thought it was a leaf. It turned out to be a newspaper clipping, and there were several more, scattered all over the side yard, clearly blown from the wreckage of Carmen's old house across the street. We gathered them up.

They were recipes. Based on the dates of the greeting cards I'd picked up before, and the style of dishes, my guess is they're from the eighties, but they could be from any time in the last 50+ years. Perennial Pie, Kathy's Dried Beef Rolls, Trawler's Crab Dip, Superb Brandy Alexanders, Spinach Brownies, Irish Bread, Shrimp Egg Foo Yung, Great Northern Bean and Beef Stew, Fruit Calico, and Brown Rice Supper Dish.

In memory of Carmen, and her recipe collection that found its way into my yard, I offer you her clipping for Irish Bread.

1 cup raisins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons shortening

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

3 teaspoons caraway seeds

nuts and fruits (optional)

Boil raisins for 3 minutes; drain and dust lightly with a little of the flour. Sift together the remianing flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Rub in the shortening with hands. Add the milk, egg, caraway seeds, raisins, nuts and fruits if desired; stir to combine. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake in a preheated 350 oven for approximately 1 hour.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Enrollment week--let's talk philosophy

Here we are at Friday of our enrollment week (already!). Thanks to all who have already signed up! If you haven't yet, my offer of a free Kindermusik CD for early registration is good until Dec 1st.

Below, in case you haven't come across it before, is Kindermusik's philosophy. While I was at the Kindermusik International conference, among several hundred other Kindermusik Educators from all over the world, and dozens of employee/owners from KI headquarters in North Carolina, I could see for myself that this philosophy is in action. I love teaching early childhood music, and I'm especially fond of teaching the Kindermusik curriculum. They do rigorous research, they use tight quality controls on their at-home materials, and they are constantly offering learning opportunities for educators and parents. They are doing great work.

The Kindermusik philosophy:
Every parent is the child's most important teacher.
Every child is musical.
The home is the most important learning environment.
Music nurtures a child's cognitive, emotional, social, language, and physical development.
Every child should experience the joy, fun, and learning which music brings to life.

Story of the Little House, Part 2

They scooped up the big pile of trash that was once this house, dropped the scoops into the skippers, hauled them away, and now there is bare earth. I watched it happen, and yet it's hard to believe my eyes when I look across the street.
Before they began the scooping, I did a strange thing. I pulled on a sweater, walked across the street, and tip-toed to the edge of the mess. Bricks, mostly, and other things so shedded that I couldn't tell what they were. Also: a deeply dented metal pot, the remains of a piece of wooden furniture, a coil from a stove burner, a completely intact white ceramic mug. And, right near my feet, a small bundle of greeting cards bound with a rubber band. They were dirty, but perfectly sound. I picked them up and hurried home.
I didn't look at them for a while. They were a collection of Christmas cards, and as one was dated 1988, I presumed they all were. What I learned:
- My former neighbor's name was Carmen Wilkenson.
- She had been a teacher. I think a loved teacher, as many students (perhaps late elementary age?) gave her cards.
- She was close to retirement in '88, as her well-wishers wanted to know if this were the year or not.
- She had some health difficulties that were a worry to her friends.
- She had some family in Texas.
I told my friend, Paula Birkenstock, about all this. She asked if I'd googled the name, Carmen Wilkenson. I think that's a great idea. Tune in next time to find out what I find out....

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Enrollment week--let's talk price


At the big Kindermusik International conference in October, I heard a long-time Kindermusik educator speak on cost comparisons of common early childhood activities. She made the excellent point that with Kindermusik, all your costs are up-front. You pay once and you're done for the whole semester. Many other activities, she pointed out, sound less expensive than Kindermusik at first, but then other costs pop up: a special recital tutu or outfit, for example. Or a uniform. Or supplies fee. Or....If you compare Kindermusik against the total cost of many other activities, it starts looking like an even better value, especially when you consider the phenomenal benefits quality music education offers to each child.
And, if you register your child for Spring '08 semester by Dec 1st, you'll receive a free Kindermusik CD as my thanks!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The story of the little house


There is a ruined little house across the street from me. Well, there used to be until today. An old woman lived there, and she moved into hospice care just before we moved here 1 1/2 years ago. Soon after, she died.

Her children, caretakers of the house and all living far off, forgot to turn off the water in the house, and last winter a pipe burst. Thousands of gallons of water sat in the basement until someone noticed. The mold permeated the foundation, walls, etc, so completely, that the house couldn't be saved. The property was sold, and today the house was demolished. My children and I watched for a while from our living room window. With a wrecking crane, two enormous skippers, and about two hours, a solid little brick house that had stood there for more than fifty years became a trash heap. Note the tiered curtains still fastidiously draped on the window.

The old woman and her family, when they were young, had been the only people to ever live there.

I wish I had known the woman, or at least met her. A neighbor told me that she had been an author of children's books. I had a strong desire, as I watched the crane's arm push over the chimney like a stack of legos, to run over there and scream at them to stop. While I'm sure the new house will be fine, or at least I hope it will be and not obscenely huge on the small property, I just wanted us all to stop and consider the little house. The memories it must have held. The life that was lived there. Good bye, little house.

Enrollment week--Sweet Word of Mouth


Like me, for example. I was a Kindermusik mom before I became a Kindermusik Educator. I can't even count how many families I encouraged to come along with me and my kids to Kindermusik classes, and then they joined, too.
That's how I first found Kindermusik. A friend of mine, another mom in my first child's playgroup, said, hey, you need to come to this. You're going to like it.
Needless to say, I liked it. My son liked it. A whole, life-changing lot.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Enrollment week--Why Kindermusik?

Day two of Spring '08 enrollment week! Thanks to those who have already registered--and received their free Kindermusik CD! (You get one, too, if you register by Dec 1st!)


Why Kindermusik? This is why:

Kindermusik fosters growth in every aspect of your child's development. While I hope your child becomes a musician, I really do, Kindermusik isn't about producing child musicians. It's about helping children develop their innate musical skills, which lead directly to life skills. Like the little boy in this poster. The abstract thinking he's practicing in a Kindermusik class will serve him not just in school readiness, but in his whole life--like when he's President.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Hey, Kids, It's Spring 08 enrollment week!


Ready to enroll? Here's my lovely enrollment poster, sported by my favorite Kindermusik graduate and an all-around great kid, Jacob.

Does talking of Spring enrollment annoy you just a little bit, when there is still Halloween candy around your house, you've got a Thanksgiving meal to contend with, and don't even get me started on all the holiday hullabaloo lying ahead?

Well, I sympathize. Seems kinda early to me, too. I KNOW, trust me, that there's a lot going on, and that's exactly why I bring it up now, before December really hits.

Enroll for Spring Semester by December 1st for your FREE early enrollment gift: A professionally-produced, oft-asked-for, fun-for-everyone Kindermusik CD!

It is continuous re-enrollment, not just one semester, that really reveals Kindermusik's benefits to your child's growth.

Click here to enroll online: http://launahall.kindermusik.net/.


Sunday, November 11, 2007

Girl with long hair plays glockenspiel

May I share with you this chalk drawing, made by Leah, my daughter. When I asked her what she calls this drawing, she said, Girl with Long Hair Plays Glockenspiel. Note the floating musical notes and bass clef. Thank you, Leah!

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Interactive Music Website for Kids--check this out!


I just heard from my piano teacher from years gone by, the wonderful Linda Noland who now teaches music at an elementary school in Illinois. On her website there was a link to one of the coolest website I can remember seeing. It knocked my socks off! It's the New York Philharmonic's "Kidzone," absolutely packed with games, tons of information, sound clips, even directions for making wonderful homemade instruments. It knocked my socks off--come take a look! Especially for your Imagine That!, Young Child aged, or older children. The site: http://www.nyphilkids.org/main.phtml
Enjoy!
Thanks, Linda, for both the link and the cool piano icon with flying notes! So great to hear from you!

Friday, November 9, 2007

The Music to Reading Connection


Powerful links exist between quality music education and academic achievement, especially for pre-readers and emerging readers. In short, kids who take music learn skills that boost their abilities in all other subject areas.


Here, a few summaries (thanks to Molly McGinn for these, senior writer for Kindermusik International):


Preschoolers who were given music keyboard lessons improved their spatial-temporal reasoning. A peer group, who were given computer lessons, showed no improvement. Spatial-temporal reasoning is the abstract reasoning that is used for understanding relationships between objects such as calculating a proportion or playing chess. Spatial-temporal reasoning is important in subjects such as mathematics and science.
source: Educational Leadership, November, 1998, p.39Association for Supervision and Curriculum Developmentarticle: The Music in Our Minds Norman M. Weinberger, Professor of Psychobiology at the University of California, Irvine, referencing research of F.H. Rauscher, G.L. Shaw et al, 1997, Neurological Research , 19, 2-8

First graders who received instruction in music listening had significantly higher reading scores than those first graders who did not receive the instruction but were similar in age, IQ and socioeconomic status. The same teacher taught reading to all the students. Those given music instruction were taught for 40 minutes a day for 7 months and learned to recognize melodic and rhythmic elements in folk songs. They scored in the 88th percentile for reading performance and the non-instructed control group scored in the 72nd percentile.
source: Educational Leadership, November, 1998, p.38 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development article: The Music in Our Minds Norman M. Weinberger, Professor of Psychobiology at the University of California, Irvine, referencing research of Hurwitz et al, 1975, Journal of Learning Disabilities, 8, 45-51

Elements of music and reading are highly related in first graders. Students were tested on various elements of music and reading and a strong relationship was found between a student's awareness of pitch and their ability to sound out material in reading--material that included standard language and phonetic material.
source: Educational Leadership, November, 1998, p.39 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development article: The Music in Our Minds Norman M. Weinberger, Professor of Psychobiology at the University of California, Irvine, referencing research of S.J. Lamb and A.H. Gregory, 1993, Educational Psychology, 13, 19-26

For more, visit Americans for the Arts



Thursday, November 8, 2007

Laugh, Kookaburra


Over the weekend, my children and I and some good friends took in the National Zoo. Have you been lately, and have you stopped at the Bird House? It was wonderful, and I was especially pleased to see a Kookaburra there--just like we've been talking about and singing about in my Village class! We've also been talking about birds in Imagine That! and Young Child, and I think all will enjoy that Bird House. Owls, Birds of Paradise, great big spotted hens, ducks, a sweet little guy called a mousebird--and on and on. Definitely worth a visit.

Until you go, here's a recording of an Australian Kookaburra's famous laugh, just as we sing about in the well-known old folk song. http://home.iprimus.com.au/punkclown/Punkclown/Kooka.htm

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Have I got the holiday gift idea for you!


Looking for a gift that isn't "stuff"? Looking for a gift that won't only delight the receiving children immediately, but will benefit them for the rest of their lives?

A gift certificate for Kindermusik! Available for class tuition, tuition plus At Home Materials, or for specific dollar amounts.

Kindermusik--A Good Beginning Never Ends!

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Learning music early


Here's another quote from "This is your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession," by neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin. I really like this book and recommend it to you!

"We know that there are critical periods for acquiring new skills, such as language. If a child doesn't learn leanguage by the age of six or so (whether a first or a second language), the child will never learn to speak with the effortlessness that characterizes most native speaker of a language. Music and mathematics have an extended window, but not an unlimited one: If a student hasn't had music lessons or mathematical training prior to about age twenty, he can still learn these subjects, but only with great difficulty, and it's likely that he will never "speak" math or music like someone who learned them early. This is because of the biological course for synaptic growth. The brain's synapses are programmed to grow for a number of years, making new connections. After that time, there is a shirt toward pruning, to get rid of unneeded connections." [italics mine]

We help our children form new neurological connections every day in Kindermusik. Yahoo!