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ABC Music and Me for 4 to 6 year olds

ABC Music & Me supports the early childhood standards and requirements for “high quality programs” as defined by the National Institute for Early Education and aligns with pre-K national and state standards. ABC Music & Me has won the Teacher's Choice Award and was a finalist for the AEP Golden Lamp Award.

ABC Music and Me is one of my favorite classes to teach. We are offering ABC Music and Me for kids 4 to 6 years old on Thursdays at 10:00am and Thursdays at 4:00pm. For this class, we are offering a shorter term length for busy families. We are having our first 8 week session starting in January and ending before spring break. Our second session will begin after spring break and go through May.


Each month of the curriculum has a different theme. One of my favorite themes is brass instruments. Each week during that theme we would talk about a different brass instrument. Since I play the trumpet, I particularly enjoy this unit because I get to bring my trumpet in and play for the class! Each month is a different theme and each week during the month builds upon the last week.

We learn about different instruments, music from other cultures, study major composers, sing, explore different instruments, learn circle dances and study musical notation. We also have a unit on dance where we learn about jazz, tap, ballet and hip-hop as well as a unit about opera.

One other aspect of this class that I like is the introduction to piano. Each week we work on correct piano technique and learn a new aspect about keyboard geography. At the Cherubs Clubhouse, I will use my keyboard lab for this part of class so that each child will have a little longer at the keyboard to explore. This is a great way for kids to get a feel for the piano and see if they might be interested in lessons before making the investment in a piano at home.

I also love the home materials for this class. One of my favorite things is when a student comes into class and I can tell they have been listening to their CD. The literature in the family guide contains a clever story that is not only interesting to the student, but also discusses the theme for the month. One of my classes last year loved to read the stories from the family guide by themselves. They were so proud of themselves for being able to read part of the book all by themselves. Kids 4 to 6 years old are drawn to the written word and love being in the Kindermusik classroom which is saturated with literature.

Why piano ensemble?

Piano ensemble can be a fun way for beginners to start formal study of the instrument. Group piano ensemble can also be a valuable supplement for private students as well. Piano classes begin for children as young as 4.

In piano ensemble, we utilize 6 electronic keyboards, midi-technology, hands on theory materials, and games to facilitate the learning of new concepts. From the very beginning, we work towards good technique and posture at our touch sensitive keyboards. In our classes, the students play together as an ensemble in order to develop a strong steady beat and solid understanding of rhythm. Instead of rushing through several rhythmic values, we focus on reading and understanding each one. But playing together as an ensemble, the students develop the valuable skill of "keeping going" and listening to the other ensemble members. Solo piano students often have the "stop-start" mentality. Often, if they make a mistake, they immediately stop time to fix it(and sometimes even comment about it) or even slow down for the more difficult parts. While we do want to practice difficult passages individually (with a metronome at an appropriate tempo) as pianists we do need to learn to continue playing past mistakes on recital.

Another aspect of the piano ensemble class that I like is the approach to staff notation. Instead of beginning in a pre-reading notation for the first 2 months and then switching to the staff; we focus solely on rhythm, steady beat and keyboard geography at first. Then when we have a firm foundation we start our work on the staff. Sometimes, by learning a "pre-staff" notation, students learn to guess the correct notes by the fingering and hand position. In our group classes, we do not teach by hand position but by the location of the notes on the staff. We thoroughly learn each note on the staff before adding a new note.

An important aspect of group piano is the social aspect. Many students are intimidated by private lessons. By participating in a class, piano changes from being a solo activity to a team activity. The children are self motivated to practice because of the influence of their peers. They more readily participate in games and activities simply because it is more fun to participate in a group. The younger children learn from the older children and the older children learn by being teachers and leaders.

Check out my website for a list of piano classes starting at the Cherubs Clubhouse this spring. For students already studying privately, we will also be having piano camps during the summer as well as summer ensemble classes. For more information on the Mayron Cole Method for group piano, click here.

Is my child too young for a music class?

Is my child old enough for a music class? What can they really get out of a music class at such a young age?

Our Village class, for ages 0 to 18 months, is our youngest Kindermusik class. Often parents are interested in participating in a class with their child but wonder what the benefit can be at such a young age. Kindermusik is not about making "little Mozarts" but about facilitating total child development through the magic of music and movement. Studies are showing the correlation between active participation in an early music class and cognitive, social, verbal, musical, emotional and motor development. Kindermusik is about so much more than just music. The babies in a Village class are learning object permanence, working on aural skills, having social interactions and are moving to the beat with their caregivers in an environment that is saturated with literary, verbal and multi-sensory stimulation. Village class provides opportunity for bonding between parent and child as we dance and rock together as well as engaging in intentional touch activities that encourage relaxation. The babies in a Village class are using fine motor skills by learning to grasp our simple age appropriate instruments, pass instruments from hand to hand, and learn cause and effect by playing the instrument in a variety of ways. Every activity in a Kindermusik class is not only enjoyable for that parent and child, but has a purpose and prepares the child for life in many different ways.

If you are looking for an activity for your baby, our Kindermusik Village class has a little bit of everything. From movement, circle dances, singing, reading, instrument exploration, exposure to fine music as well as art, to intentional touch, social interaction and early school skills, Village class has it all! Come to a free Kindermusik class, January 6 at 10:00 at the Cherubs Clubhouse in Pelham and experience it for yourself!

Read more about the benefits of early exposure to music

Do I really need a piano at home?

Do I really need a piano at home to take lessons? Can we just try out lessons for a few months before purchasing a piano? I'm not sure I have space for a piano!

These are some common concerns from parents. Purchasing a piano is a major investment for parents who are unsure if their child will continue with the instrument. I wish I could say that practice at home was not needed but in order for your child to feel successful and enjoy their lessons or classes, they need access to a piano between lessons. Many students who are unable to practice feel frustrated after the first few months because they are not able to properly progress.

I do understand that pianos are very expensive and many homes do not have the space for one. Many of my students practice at another location like a grandparent's house or friend's house. A portable keyboard is also an option for beginning students. If you choose a keyboard, be sure that it has at least 61 full sized keys. It will also need an adapter and a stand so that your child will not be huddled on the floor to practice. Touch sensitive keys are also preferable so that your child can practice playing loud and soft dynamics. Your keyboard does not need to have a lot of buttons or be able to "teach" your child a song. The most important aspect of a keyboard is the size of keys, touch sensitivity and the number of keys (the more the better.) A full sized digital piano is the best option other than an acoustic piano. They feel and sound like a "real" piano but are more portable and affordable than a new piano. They also never need to be tuned. Costco, Best Buy and even Toysrus sometimes have great deals on keyboards and digital pianos.

A used piano is also an option. Ellis piano in Hoover usually has a good selection of used pianos for not much more than an electric keyboard. View Ellis piano websiteYou can always resell a piano if your child eventually moves on to another activity.

If you are interested in music classes for your child but not ready to make the commitment to piano, consider ABC Music and Me for 4 to 6 year olds. ABC Music and Me is a music enrichment program created by Kindermusik International that incorporates an introduction to piano, exposure to music from other cultures, music history and movement activities. ABC Music and Me is perfect for a family with a child who is just starting to show interest in piano but not ready to make the commitment to piano classes or lessons. The most important thing to consider, is your child's enjoyment and success. Be sure that you set your child up for success in whatever activity in which they show interest.

Be sure to come to our free Kindermusik and piano classes to try out a class and see what is a good fit for your child. More demo class info on my website

Make a rainy day rain stick!

Take a used wrapping paper roll or even a toilet paper roll. If you have a shipping tube, that's even better. The firmer the cardboard, the better. The longer the tube, the better. A short tube makes more of a shaker than a continuous rain sound.
1. Fill the tube with rice, beans, sand, or beads. Allow the child to use a funnel or spoon the material into the tube. This is also good for their hand eye coordination. From personal experience, I have noticed that it works better if you use all of the same type of material for the "rain." For example, use all rice or all beads and don't mix them. Different materials make different sounds. If you want, you can make different rain sticks with different materials and notice the difference in sound.
2. Seal the end with cloth or something that won't tear. The last thing you want is sand or beans all over your floor. I use a strong glue to attach the fabric and seal it all around the ends of the tube. A rubber band will pull off and make a mess. I like the shipping tubes because they come with the hard plastic caps. I then glue the plastic caps in place.
3. Ok, so most of us have made this before so here is a more advance twist to it. To make your rain stick sound more like the actual percussion instrument, the "rain" needs something to "bump" into on the way down the tube. This addition works best with the hard cardboard tubes. Draw a line that swirls around the circumference of the tube from the top of the tube to the bottom. Take a hand full of nails and either push the nails through or hammer the nails about one inch apart along the swirled line that you drew (be sure to do this part for your child.) Then, take some masking tape, duct tape or packing tape and tape the nails in place along the line that you drew. You don't want the nails to come out.
4. Then you want to take some strong glue and glue paper around the entire tube. Let your kids decorate it with stickers, colors, or stamps. For a more permenant instrument, I glue fabric around the tube.

January Demos!

Give your snowman a break! Come celebrate the kickoff of our spring music classes at the Cherubs Clubhouse in Pelham! We will have a FREE Kindermusik session on January 6 at 10:00 for kids 4 and under as well as a free piano session on Wednesday at 4:00. On Thursday, January 7 at 4:00, weather permitting, we will have a another FREE demonstration of our group piano class for kids 4 and up. Come see what music classes we have to offer at the Cherubs Clubhouse. There are still spots left in most of our classes so come try out a class and see what you think! We have students coming from all over the Birmingham area to our classes so be sure to come see for yourself what all the buzz is about!

Come play on our WARM indoor play gym for 15 minutes after our 30 minute class. Check our website for a complete list of our classes! Our January term will start on January 13.

Merry Christmas

We didn't get a card sent out this year,
but we wanted to send out some holiday cheer.
We were way too busy and ran out of time,
so we decided to do it all online.
Merry Christmas

Musical Solutions to parenting dilemmas

Many parents first consider Kindermusik because of the developmental and educational benefits to their child. In class, they quickly see that Kindermusik offers something for the grownups, too.

Kindermusik helps to make parenting a little bit easier through in-class tips, child development insights and activities in our weekly emails, not to mention the community of other parents and caregivers who attend class together.

We invite you to join in the conversation yourself. See how other parents use Kindermusik to help with potty training, toddler tantrums, getting a preschooler out of bed in the morning, and more on the Kindermusik Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kindermusik/24135466916

For 30 years, Kindermusik has remained constant as the single best choice you can make for your child today.

Contact us to schedule a class visit and to learn about our payment plans. Classes start at $9 per week plus materials.

New piano classes for home schooling families

We are opening up a few new classes at the Cherubs Clubhouse for homeschooling families! These will be on Thursday mornings starting in January.
Thursday, 9:00 group piano class for 7 to 9 year olds
Thursday, 10:00 ABC Music and Me for 4 to 6 year olds
Thursday, 10:45 group piano fo 5 and 6 year olds.

Check out what Birmingham Mom online has to say about our classes, Birmingham Mom Online

See my website for further details regarding our new classes! View website

Space is limited- especially in the piano classes, so please reserve your spot soon! They are already filling up.

Our January schedule:
Wed. 9:00 Village class-- kids 0 to 18 months
Wed. 10:00 Our time-- kids 18 months to 3 years
Wed. 11:00 ABC Music and Me-- Kids 2 to 4 years olds

Thursday 9:00 Piano-- kids 7 to 9
Thursday 10:00 ABC Music and Me kids 4 to 6
Thursday 10:45 Piano for 5 and 6 year olds

Thursday 4:00 pm ABC Music and Me 4 to 6 year olds
Thursday 5:00 pm piano for 4 and 5 year olds

Cute Christmas performance!

What should I buy my child as a first instrument?

Someone at one of my classes today asked me my opinion on good first instruments for young children. I thought I might be able to elaborate a little better on my blog.

For preschoolers and toddlers, there are three things important in an instrument 1. Safety and durability 2. the instrument should be developmentally appropriate 3. the instrument should have a pleasing sound to the child

1. First and foremost, be sure that any instrument you purchase is safe. Some cheaper instruments tear up and pose a choking hazard for your child. I have tried out many different kinds of instruments and more often than not, the cheaper instruments do not last long at all. Read customer reviews on any instruments you find online. Kindermusik international sells durable instruments that are specifically made for children and made to take a beating. I also love Remo drums. They are beautiful instruments and durable as well.

2. Make sure that the instrument is developmentally appropriate. Before rushing out to by a 2 year old a guitar or a piano consider the attention span and fine motor skills of your child. You want your child to like music right? Then buy them an instrument that they can feel successful at. They may enjoy banging away at a glockenspiel or keyboard but it probably will not last long. The simple instruments like rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and drums can provide hours or imaginative play as as well as working on steady beat and motor skills. These instruments can be played in so many ways which not only provides your child with a creative outlet but also works different sets of fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. The simple instruments prepare them for success at the more advance instruments later on.

3. Be sure that the instrument you choose has a pleasing sound to you and the child. One thing I like about Kindermusik instruments is that they have a good sound. Some of the cheaper instruments that you might find have a loud brash sound that grates on the nerves after a while! The Kindermusik egg shakers in particular have a nice pleasant sound as well as the Remo drums. For drums, you can also vary your drumsticks. I prefer using paintbrushes, paper towels rolls, and wooden spoons over the loud drumsticks that come with more drums.

Sometimes, the best instruments can be found for free! Tupperware containers, coffee cans, pots and pans and cardboard boxes make great drums. Water bottles with beans inside make good shakers. Body percussion is even cheaper than homemade instruments. Put on your favorite CD and find different ways to tap and move your body. Put hand motions or sign language to your child's favorite song. There is so much that can be done at home for free. Also remember, if you take a Kindermusik class at the Cherubs Clubhouse, you will get a quality, developmentally instrument and a CD as part of you materials for you to continue the music at home.

Recital at the Cherubs Clubhouse

Many thanks to the Cherubs Clubhouse for helping me put on my piano recital tonight! I think it was a big success. I would like to thank Kathy and Sharon at the Cherubs Clubhouse for helping with the set up and behind the scenes work. I would like to thank my mother and husband for helping with the food and watching my son during and after the recital. I would also like to thank the parents of all my students for helping them practice at home and for bringing them out on such a rainy night.

All the students performed well and had a great time. I was very proud of how prepared and poised they all were. It looked like they were all pros at performance! The younger kids had a blast on the play equipment after they played while the older kids enjoyed playing games on the Wii. This was a first recital for many of my students and the relaxed atmosphere at the Cherubs Clubhouse was perfect. This was definitely a one of a kind recital experience that I hope all the students will remember in a positive way. We made a recording of the recital which I hope to be able to put on a CD for my students to take home next week.

We have a busy week this week at the Cherubs Clubhouse. This Thursday, Dec. 3 we have our first group piano class at 4:00. Please call and book your spot so we will know how many materials are needed. Classes are $8.00 per child. We are also going to have our Kindermusik Christmas parties at 5:00 on Thursday and 10:00 this Friday, Dec. 4. Please call to reserve your spot at the Kindermusik parties as well. Check out my website for more info on our group classes starting a January. Imaginations Music Studio

Group piano
Imaginations Music Studio presents group piano lessons using the Mayron Cole Piano Method which is a unique, innovative and enjoyable way for students of all ages to learn to play the piano. Hallmarks of the program include teaching the student to think for him/herself and developing musicality in each student. To achieve these goals, the program emphasizes note reading, consistent counting, and creative thought in each lesson. The method currently contains nine levels, from Pre-Primer to Early Advanced, plus three Older Beginner levels. In this method students concentrate on learning to read notes-not hand positions and finger numbers. Typically, students taught by this method are very proficient at sight-reading, counting rhythms, and keeping a steady beat. It is an excellent method for presenting and constantly reviewing theory concepts. It presents analyzing theory with each composition while constantly reviewing "old" concepts. When students have friends their own age in a class, they are usually more motivated to learn, form a cohesive group, and have a lower dropout rate. Practice and performance levels are usually raised due to each student striving for greater correctness on scales and pieces. Students seem to work harder at pleasing their friends in group piano lessons than they would work for a teacher at a private lesson. Group games make learning theory fun and improve socialization skills. Students usually have a strong peer motivated desire to practice. The kids enjoy weekly low-pressure performance opportunities. In addition, longer class periods permit the incorporation of ear training, solfege, rhythm drills, and ensemble skills which are essential to developing skilled musicians. This method helps the student develop not only skills but a life-long love of music. The group method is an excellent method for beginners and continues through nine-levels. This method provides a solid basis for those students who transition into private lessons as they become more advanced.