Go Steelers!

Today is "Black and Gold Day" around the city of Pittsburgh and our Kindermusik classrooms were no exception.  Despite the crazy weather that went from "we expect 1 inch of accumulation" to "snow dumping from the sky for several hours," many families ventured out to our Kindermusik studio in Mt. Lebanon where we danced to the Steeler Polka, waved our Terrible Towels, and cheered our Steelers on to victory for Superbowl 43!  Thanks to all who came and celebrated.  We really missed our other friends who couldn't make it this week.

Cinderella and Steady Beat

Many of you have heard me say over and over again that Steady Beat plays a big role in developing your child's Physical Coordination.  Case in point.  Watch this video of the Mt. Lebanon High School Winterguard in their very first competition last weekend.  Yes, that's my daughter, Lyndsey, and I'm SO proud.  But more importantly - notice how steady beat competency plays such an important role in the ability for these girls to move together.  And they look pretty, too!  The song is Steven Curtis Chapman's "Cinderella."

Coffee and Connection!

Yesterday many of our local Pittsburgh Kindermusik Educators gathered over coffee to catch up with each other!  It's always great when we can be together even for an hour on a Tuesday afternoon.  We're all part of our local chapter of the Partnership for Kindermusik Educators (PKE).

We spent time sharing ideas about adding value in the classroom, comparing classrom policies, and reviewing all the new and exciting changes at Kindermusik International - including online enrollment and licensing requirements for 2009-2010.

Our next meeting with be a training event in August where we plan to focus on curricula and preparing for our Fall classes.  For those of you that could not join us, you were GREATLY missed!

See our group above from left to right: Uta, Carrie, Christa, Lynda, Lisa, Samantha, Beth, Katie, Carrie, and me (not shown as I'm taking the picture!)

Free To Be Me...

Ever feel like you are falling short of the mark?  As a woman, wife, and a mom, I feel that way several times a week!  You know what I mean....The laundry isn't done, you've not made your daughter's orthodontist appointment yet, a bill is past due, you're behind on a deadline at work, and you lost your patience this morning before 9 AM.  Sound familiar? But thanks to coaching from my dear friend and mentor, Carol Penney, I'm learning that Perfection is the Enemy of Excellence! 

Recently this has come up in conversation with my 14 year old daughter.  We've talked several times lately about making mistakes and falling short, but that perfection is NOT the goal.  Excellence is the goal - to be good at what you do and to be the person God has made us to be and just letting the rest go.  (Just let it go and feel a weight lifted!)

A new song, "Free To Be Me", by Francesca Battistelli speaks to this whole idea.  I just bought it on iTunes for 99 cents.  I'm convinced it's the best 99 cents I'm going to spend for the next month because of the encouragement it brings! Listen to a clip on iTunes or buy it and invest in yourself this week! Here are a few lyrics:

Sometimes I believe that I can do anything

Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring

But You look at my heart and you tell me 

That I've got all You seek

And it's easy to believe, even though...

I got a couple dents in my fender

Got a couple of rips of my jeans

Try to fit the pieces together

But Perfection is my Enemy

And on my own I'm so clumsy

But on Your shoulders I can see

I'm free to be me

And you're free to be you

Flowers sweet, Flowers sweet

Yesterday, the parents from one of my Kindermusik classes brightened my day by sending flowers. What a sweet and unexpected gesture! Thank you for thinking of me. I'll be thinking of you for the rest of the week!

And because most things in life remind me of a Kindermusik song, here's one from our "Dew Drops" unit for babies:

"Flowers sweet, flowers sweet, smell the flowers sweet."

"Flowers sweet, flowers sweet, drop them to your feet."

Anyone remember smelling the carnations in class with their babies? Or rubbing the soft flower petals on cheeks, hands, and feet? Yet, another great activity that is full of multi-sensory learning.

Snow Day!

"It's cold outside, it's cold outside, it's cold outside today.  So get your coat, get your hat, and we'll go out and play."

We finally had enough snow to play.  Check out my girls, Lyndsey and Sara, and a friend, Drew, from next door as they pose in the backyard.  They spent several hours sledding, tubing, and playing with bilibos.  Check out the snow fort in the 2nd picture.  The kids constructed it by packing snow into the bilibos and then stacking it like bricks.  Cute, cute!

So much more than just music....

Click this link to learn what a circle dance can do for a child and a mom.  Kindermusik celebrates and nurtures independence.  It's not about conformity, it's about process.  Kindermusik class is child-centered learning at its best!

Music Makes Kids Smarter....

Check out a a recent article on FoxNews, "Music Makes Kids Smarter".  Isn't it great when your life's best work turns out to be so beneficial to the families in your community??

One Mother's Story - Kindermusik & Ella

Kindermusik changed my daughter's personality in an instant.  Ella was a very attached child straight from birth. As soon as someone would even look in her direction she would bury her head in my neck.  Even getting her to accept attention from her own father was a task!

That all changed when we joined Kathy Morrison's Kindermusik class when she was 2 years old.  In an instant Ella became outgoing, giggly and free.  She actually turned into "that child".  You know the one...the one that's running all around the room having a blast while her mother sits shaking her head with her cheeks a bit pink?  Yep - that was me.

We've been in Kathy's Kindermusik class for almost 2 full semesters now and the change in Ella is amazing.  She chitter chatters like crazy now, is fully open to others showing her attention and is just simply an open and fun child.  We play our Kindermusik CDs all the time.  Watching Ella jump, dance, and twirl is such a fantastic sight to see.

Through Kathy's Music, Ella was able to find a part of herself that now allows her to really enjoy her own sense of creativity, musicality and movement.  You can't imagine how happy that makes me as a mother.  I'm so overjoyed to be a part of something I can share with Ella, and in the end create some really fun memories.

Thanks Kathy!!

Elizabeth Craig

Inclement Weather? Are we having Class today?

Parents - Just a reminder about our inclement weather policy at Kathy's Music.

If the local schools start 2 hours late, then we will cancel classes that start before 10:00 AM and we WILL have classes for the rest of the day that start after 10:00 AM.

If the local school cancel classes, then our Kindermusik classes will be cancelled, too.  

All cancelled classes will be rescheduled - stay tune for details!

As of 10 PM this evening (1/14/09), schools have already announced delays.  Therefore our 9:15 AM Our Time class in Mt. Lebanon is cancelled and will be rescheduled for 1/29/09.  All other classes will be held for the rest of the day in Mt. Lebanon, McMurray, Washington, and Squirrel Hill. 

In addition, Kathy's Music announces delays and cancellations on the KDKA website and local broadcast.

Stay warm and enjoy the snow whenever possible!

Family Time = Bonding Time!

Dear Family Time Parents - It's been a wonderful experience to spend time together for the last 10 weeks.  Our musical trips to a friend's house, the park, the city, the aquarium, and the farm are coming to a close as we wrap up our semester this week.  As you sing and play at home, enjoy our Farm activities, both old and new.  Singing and playing "Old MacDonald" is so much fun!

You can enhance baby's experience with this song by turning her around so she can see your face. This will allow you to better engage your baby in a game of vocal play with animal sounds.  After making an animal sound, such as baa, wait a moment to give your baby time to imitate.

Your toddler will love to imitate moving with you to "Old MacDonald." Have fun galloping like a horse, rolling like a pig and crawling like a cat.  Your preschooler will love including puppets or stuffed animals to this familiar song.  Have fun creating silly voices and sounds for all your animals.  Vocal play boost language development!

As we come to the end of our ten weeks together, I'd lik eto thank you all for sharing your family with me.  If you've not yet re-enrolled in Family Time for the next semester, call or email today so that you can your family can enroll in the next class.

And again, thank you for sharing your family with me!

Nutcracker Ballet - This week in Class!

This week in our Young Child 3 class for ages 5-7, we will be focusing on The Nutcracker Ballet.  It's a wonderful way to introduce our new unit on "dance" where we feature ballet, tap, and jazz.  We will share the story of the Nutcracker in class (with the help of puppets and some props) and then we'll take time to dance through some of the favorite selections.  (Plus, we'll even introduce a few basic ballet positions, too.)

Children are invited to bring any "Nutcracker" show and tell item to class on Tuesday at 4:30 PM, 1/13.  We will finish out our dance unit on 1/20 (Jazz) and 1/27 (Tap).  

For more fun and learning about the Nutcracker at home (including a word search, picture find, maze, coloring page, and color by rhythm), check out this link:

Nutcracker Activities

Special thanks to Beth Tivoli, a Kindermusik Educator in NY, for sharing this find!