Flip it

Music turns kids on, flip the switch.

Moon Magic

click on this moon to read about the colors you are seeing
(thank you Molly Greene for showing me this poem)

who knows if the moon's
a balloon,coming out of a keen city
in the sky--filled with pretty people?
(and if you and i should

get into it, if they
should take me and take you into their balloon
why then
we'd go up higher with all the pretty people

than houses and steeples and clouds:
go sailing
away and away sailing into a keen
city which nobody's ever visited, where

always
it's
Spring)and everyone's
in love and flowers pick themselves

ee cummings

Coloring.com

This is a cute website - either print out pictures to color or practice your mousing skills by choosing a crayon and filling in the color right on the screen. Save it, send it or print it. Coloring.com

Meet the Mozarts

Meet the Mozarts at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Family Concert on Saturday October 7.

Wildly talented and promoted by their father Wolfgang and his sister Nanrl performmed all over Europe while they were just children.

You will hear Stephene Costanza's book, Mozart Finds a Melody which is about an apparently true story of Mozart's pet bird whose chirping is said to have inspired the Piano Concerto No 17.

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra are dedicated to really great Family Programing. The Family Concerts are held at the Ordway on Saturdays at 10:30. Look for upcoming concert announcements for the EXPLORCHESTRA and START THE MUSIC designed with young (3-6) children in mind.

Spend now or later? Now.

As lawmakers look in to how to raise a more competitive, smarter workforce, they're asking, "Where will we get our biggest return on investment in education? Early in life, or later?" A new study suggests that spending more on a child's early childhood education yields a bigger return than money spent in the older years.

Admittedly, papers like this come out every once in a while, so how are these findings different?

"Although much research has been published on the value of positive early experiences, this paper pulls those strands together into an integrated message that the group hopes will help guide public policy in the future. They've already influenced legislation in Washington state and Nebraska and have begun working with lawmakers around the country with a nonpartisan partner, the National Conference of State Legislatures."

Here is a few ways to look at it in a concrete albeit futuristic way

• A child's eventual ability to learn calculus or a second language, he explained, starts with the neurons that are shaped by positive interactions with nurturing adults.
  
• As more and more unskilled jobs move overseas, the United States needs a well-educated work force to stay economically strong. Getting that work force means making sure more kids are able to benefit from their education; that means making sure their brains are well-prepared to learn.
  
• "The key issue is the nature of kids' relationships with the important people in their lives. It's not about the toys, it's about the human connection," Shonkoff said.

(thank you to Molly McGinn for referencing this exciting study)

Spread the Word

Kindermusik of the Valley Fall session number 15 is underway. Village babies are zooming around in Zoom Buggy. Our Time Toddlers are dusting the house, washing the clothes and stirring the peas! Imagine That children are telling stories, singing songs, counting and jumping. Young Child Level One kids can already play an ensemble starting and stopping at the same time! Young Child Level Three kids will soon be pickin and grinning on their dulcimers. We are excited to open a new chapter in our studio with Family Time which starts tomorrow! The beginning of every new year is a gift.

We have room to share the fun with more of your friends or neighbors, thank you for spreading the word about these outstanding musical experiences for all children and their families.

Happy Birthday Kindermusik of the Valley

1991

1997

2006

A good Beginning really never does end.
I love Kindermusik
Happy Birthday - 15 years

Hush Little Baby

Gather the kids around for a one song concert.

Sign & Sing

It is not too late to register for Sign & Sing classes. We have
pushed back the start date to October 16. Join us!
Here is just ONE reason Sign & Sing is a great idea.

Learning a second language is fun and has many developmental benefits. ASL stimulates learning through different senses. Sign language is a blessing for children that are "visual", "spatial" or "tactile learners." Learning a second language raises your child's IQ. One in ten Americans have some degree of hearing loss. Knowing a few signs can give your child the confidence to engage and interact with a deaf child rather than both children feeling awkward and helpless. (signing times)

Daddy look! Kittens!

The innocence of children

Follow Me To Kindermusik

First Day of School

The first day of school is the first day of school. Whether preschool, Kindegarten, elementary or college.

This is the first time my kids just couldn't get their schedules together for their traditional first day of school picture by the pine tree. (ouch, my heart.) Lorelei was off to school at 5:45! - for an early rehearsal with the drum line. Tucker's bus comes at 8:04 - he was not about to get up more than 2 hours early (who can blame him, I hardly made it in time for a good bye
myself).

So here they are, separate, but connected, grown, but children, independent, but ours.
The evening of the 2nd day of school.

Lorelei studying (world history, biology and english). Tucker practicing the bass with his new extreme sports helmet - just incase the urge to skateboard hits without warning.

The first day of school - the second day of school - and so we all take another step into the future.

Register Now

Look closely at the faces of the children and parents in this picture. These children are listening intently to a spinning top that makes the sound of a distant train whistle. Notice how we are all concentrating together on a single sound. We are patient, we are taking turns, we are anticipating, we are practicing inhibitory control, we are touching, we are watching, we are listening, we are smiling, -- we are happy.

Register now for a Kindermusik class for your child this fall. Classes begin on September 18. We promise this will be a truly special experience for your child. Not only does our outstanding staff each have a heart for sharing the gift of music and movement with children but are also child development specialists. We have all been trained and licensed by Kindermusik International. Collectively we have over 30 years experience with the Kindermusik curriculum. We are looking forward to meeting each new student in a few weeks. Learn more and register on line at our Kindermusik of the Valley website

Merry Music Maker

Try this Merry Music Maker.