Kindergarten readiness skills: Part III: Steady Beat

Why is steady beat a Kindergarten readiness skill? What does steady beat have to do with academics?

First of all, working to develop a steady beat has more than just musical benefits. Of course if your child becomes a musician steady beat is an essential on any instrument. But did you ever think about the other benefits of steady beat?

Any repeated action in our everyday lives requires steady beat from the simplest activities such as walking with coordination, dribbling a ball, cutting with scissors, to more complex actions such as typing. This is why we emphasize steady beat activities in each Kindermusik class and provide you with the materials to work on this skill at home.

Steady beat activities also help the child's brain to learn to organize and sets the foundation for pre-math skills. Studies show that elementary students who are taught basic rhythmic notation score higher on fraction tests than students who were simply taught fractions in the traditional way. I think this is because music turns mathematics into a multi-sensory activity. It all starts with steady beat.

Here are some steady beat activities for home:
1. Steady beat movement Turn on the music and pretend to be a marching band. March, stomp, or jump to the music. See how many different actions can be done to a steady beat. If you have them, use scarves, steamers, hoops or a parachute like we would use in Kindermusik class.

Listen to sounds around the house and determine if that particular sound has a steady beat, IE. a dripping faucet, windshield wipers, a ticking clock or beeping microwave. Move to the beat to these sounds. Use the music in your Kindermusik home CD to move to the steady beat. The Kindermusik songs are developmentally chosen to provide the best opportunities for movement and development of steady beat.

Babies who are not yet mobile can begin to learn about steady beat as well. Put them on your lap and bounce to the steady beat. Move them around the room to the steady beat of the music.

Movement to a steady beat allows them to feel and see the steady beat. This is especially true in Kindermusik class where the kids see their peers making a steady beat. In class the children also learn new ways to move to a steady beat by watching each other. In our class we also include circle and line dances where the children actually interact with each other while keeping a steady beat. Making steady beat a social activity helps to solidify the concept in their developing minds

2. Instrument play Pull out the instruments from your Kindermusik home materials or make your own. Using your Kindermusik CD or another CD, use the instruments to keep a steady beat along with the music. This works steady beat with the fine motor skills and allows them to hear the beat that they are making. In Kindermusik class, they can also see the steady beat made by the instruments of their friends.

3. Ball Toss This is one of my favorite activities to do with my beginning piano students. This is a little trick I learned many years ago when I was completing my training for Orff certification. For this preschool activity we use a large, soft ball. I stand across from the student. The object of the game is to pass the ball back and forth to a steady beat. If you pass too quickly, the other person will not be able to anticipate when to catch the ball. If you hold on to the ball too long, the partner has to wait for the ball. First, I demonstrate how to pass the ball to a steady beat while I hold the ball. Then I explain to the preschooler how we have to keep our beat steady or we will not be able to catch the ball. Then we pass the ball back and forth counting "one" for quarter notes. With my older students who are in piano classes or lessons, we eventually create rhythms and pass according to the rhythm. This is a fun steady beat activity that explains the concept of keeping the beat going, allows the student to use gross motor muscles to feel the beat, works for teamwork, allows the student to see the stead beat as it is passed back and forth, and lays the groundwork for counting rhythm. Students ask for this activity again and again in classes.

Kindergarten readiness skills: Part II: Listening Skills

Did you know that listening is something that can be practiced? Here are three ways to work on listening skills at home.

1. Active Listening: In Kindermusik classes each week we have a short, focused listening example. Many times, this example is nothing more than a sound made by an instrument, sounds around the house, or an animal sound. These examples are not just fun for the kids, but they provide them with an active listening experience. This can be done very easily at home with one of your Kindermusik CDs or with sounds around the house. Have the child listen to a short sound and ask them to imitate it. Ask them to move like the sound or music they heard. Ask them questions about the sound. Keep it short. They don't have to sit and actively listen to an entire symphony- just a short part. Gradually lengthen the listening example.

2. Following multi step directions We all want our kids to listen and follow directions. Board games and simple dances are two fun ways to learn to follow directions. In Kindermusik class we do circle and line dances. The object is not to learn to dance, but to follow mulit-step directions that are given verbally. There are many ways to do this at home such as the Hokey Pokey or by playing twister. Board games and card games are a great way to work on following directions as well. Some of your Kindermusik home kits come with board games to use at home.

3. Story Time We all know that reading to your child has many benefits. This is why we include it in every Kindermusik class and in the home materials for Kindermusik classes. As you are reading, be sure to make the sounds along with the book. Be sure to ask questions about the pictures. Alternatively, listen to a recording of the book. Your Kindermusik CDs have a recording of your class book. Or make your own recording of your child's favorite book. Your child can listen on their own and follow along with the book. Have your child "read" the story to you. Draw pictures about the story after reading. Put together a play or puppet show using your Kindermusik Family Time puppets after reading the book. At the end of the reading, ask questions about the content of the story. The possibilities for reading with your child are endless.

One of the most important aspects is repetition. Did you ever think that there may be a developmental reason that your child asks to be read the same book over and over? Children thrive on repetition. Once your child has heard the same book several times, leave out certain words to see if your child can fill in the blanks as you are reading. Many of our Kindermusik CDs include an example of doing this. During this break we have in our Kindermusik routine, be sure to use the home materials from previous units. That is what is so great about the Kindermusik home materials- they extend the learning year round.

Open House

August 5 fom 5:30 to 7:00 pm will be our back to school open house at the Cherubs Clubhouse. Come meet the Imaginations Music Studio and learn more about the classes and lessons we have to offer for kids aged 0 to adult.

We will have short demonstrations of several of Kindermusik, piano and violin so that you can make the best choice for your child this fall. We will be taking fall registrations that night as well. Many of our classes are small in size to allow a low student to teacher ratio so they will fill up fast. Be sure to register in advance! Call 437-3478 if you have any questions about the classes.

Return to the Imaginations Music website

Demo Class

Today we had one of the biggest demo classes that we have had so far!! Thanks to everyone who came out this morning!! If you missed the class, we will still be enrolling for summer classes through next Thursday. Click here to register for classes. This summer we are offering Sign and Sing for kids 0 to 18 months as well as ABC Music and Me for kids 2 to 4 years over the summer. There are only 10 spots per class, so please register online to be sure that you will have a spot. Today in our classes we saw a variety of learning styles. Some children sat quietly and observed the other children and parents. Some moved around the room absorbing the sounds around them, watching other children and learning by moving. Others actively participated in the class and were always excited about each new activity. Each learning style is unique and respected in the Kindermusik classroom. Even in today's demo class, we saw some shy students begin to open up as the classes progressed. By starting each class out with the same welcome song each week, those students who tend to always be on the move during class begin to settle in and learn the routine. One activity that helps the kids to learn how to respond in the classroom setting was the inhibitory control activity we did in the first class. We played our egg shakers along with the song and stopped whenever the song stopped. Learning to follow aural and visual cues through these types of activities helps to prepare children for preschool and Kindergarten. The movement activities that we did in both classes allow the children to explore different types of movement, change their perspective of the classroom, and learn to control their bodies to follow the directions. Each class includes movement activities with scarves, marching, circle dances, puppets, hoops or even a parachute. Older children love to be given the freedom to move on their own and the younger children love to be held close by their caregivers as they experience the sensations that movement provides. When your child is moving along with music, their brains light up with stimulation. The simple instruments used in classes are developmentally designed to help the child to be successful at their first attempts at music. For most of the instruments we use, there is no wrong way to play them. This leaves the child with a world of kinesthetic and aural exploration. The development of a steady beat by using these instruments help the child with physical coordination, learning to cut with scissors, bouncing a ball, and even with learning to walk fluidly. Developing a steady beat is essential to learning to play any instrument or learning to sing. Kindermusik provides a strong foundation for any future formal music study, develops school readiness skills, and prepares the child for other future interests as well.

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.

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

Kindermusik at the Cherubs Clubhouse

Frequently asked questions about Kindermusik class.
Is my child too young for music lessons?
When can my child start piano?
Are the home materials required for Kindermusik classes?

Our demo class November 3 at the Cherubs Clubhouse

Every activity in a Kindermusik class has a developmental purpose in the areas of verbal, social, emotional, cognitive, musical and gross motor development.
We start each class with our welcome song. Everyone’s comfort level rises with the familiar. Knowing what to expect with each class helps the child to feel emotionally secure. The CD included in the home materials helps the child to become fammilliar with all the songs from class. This helps them to feel confident and secure in class.
Two Little Apples created a visual representation of the words up, down, and shake with the parachute strengthening verbal development. It also provided a visual representation of the melody as we lifted the parachute up when we sang high and down when we sang low.
In “Shake, Shake the Apple Tree”, the children used egg shakers as apples. Listening to the cause and effect of shaking the eggs, tapping the eggs, and rolling the eggs strengthens cognitive development.

For “In My House,” we put an everyday part of your routine to a song. Using the dusting and scrubbing motions help to increase gross motor cooridnation and balance for the walkers. The babies felt their mothers preform the “scrubbing” motion on their bodies which made this a multi-sensory experience.
Our circle dance for “Go into the Kitchen,” taught the children simple dance steps in response to verbal instructions. The babies are carried through the motions- they see, feel and hear the instructions being carried out. The toddlers learn from watching the preschoolers follow the instructions. The preschoolers learn from watching the adults and listening to the instructions.
In every class, we have focused listening examples. These examples help the children to actively listen and lengthen attention span. Today, we listened to the washing machine sounds in a bottle.
Story time: Kindermusik is about much more than just music. We include a literary component to each class to encourage verbal and literary development. Our books always include a song, dance or talk about sounds. In the older classes, our books tell funny stories about composers and instruments. These books are included in your home materials.
Demonstration on the trumpet: Particularly in the older classes, we talk about different instruments. I often bring some of these instruments to class for a demo. This sparks an interest in future lessons. In the ABC Music and Me class for 4 to 6 year olds, we include an introduction to the piano.
Family Jam: We don’t want to only empasize gross motor development in our classes through dance and movement; we want to inspire fine motor develoment. Experimenting with the instruments provides an opportunity for fine motor development that can help your child learn to eat with a spoon, write, play a more complicated instrument, or type on a computer keyboard. An instrument is included in your home materials which allow your child to have this experience at home as well.
Relaxation is a learned skill. We used the song “Simple Gifts” in our class to practice relaxation and to promote parent child bonding time. Rocking your child is not only important for bonding but also stimulated the vestibular system in the ear which helps regulate balance and coordination.
We ended our class with a good bye song. We use this song as a signal to them that our time is over for now. We also incorporated sign language into our closing song to promote verbal and cognitive development.

FREE Kindermusik Demo in Pelham Al!

The Cherubs Clubhouse opening this past weekend! Everyone who came to the Grand Opening had a great time and many went home with prizes.

Come to our official ribbon cutting with the Shelby County chamber of commerce on Thursday at 10:00. We are also having a Halloween Party at the Clubhouse on Thursday from 6 to 8. Admission is $8.00. Clubhouse members are free.

On Tuesday, November 3 at 10:00 am, we will be hosting a Free Kindermusik playgroup. Come by for 15 minutes of free instrument exploration, a 30 minute Kindermusik demo class, and 15 minutes of free play gym time. Our class will include singing, movement, instrument play, instrument demonstration, story time, bubbles, and puppets. Kids aged 0 and up are invited. Please bring a blanket or towel for each family and a pair of socks (non skid is best for the kids).

Hope to see you there! We will give away door prizes, goody bags, and discounts for membership and Kindermusik classes!

GRAND OPENING

Its today! I am so excited about the grand opening at the clubhouse. Having the opportunity to teach Kindermusik there is so exciting to me! I cannot think of a better place to teach with the play gym, the beautiful room and all the kids who are so excited to join the "club". Come by anytime today to meet us. Don't forget to get a membership to the clubhouse for free parties, discounts on birthday parties, and paly time. Also, pick up some information on our Kindermusik classes that will be held there.

Don't forget to book your child's birthday party! Come check out our birthday room! (it will also be the room where I teach Kindermusik) It is perfect for any occasion. Unlike some birthday places, you can come in a do whatever them your child wants. Boys, girls, even adults will feel at home there. There is even seating for adults!! Kindermusik birthday parties are becoming popular so book yours in advance!!!

We are located conveiently off of highway 31 in Pelham-- close to the Alabaster line. We are in the Keystone Plaza shopping center-- close to Staples and Big Lots. Our address is 3548 Pelham Parkway, Pelham. Directions are on my website!

Musical Halloween Activities

A few rhythmic bewitching poems to share with your little ones!

Miss White-- always gets a laugh!

Miss White,
had a fright,
in the middle of the night!
Saw a ghost!
Eating toast!
Halfway up the lamp post!

(Say the poem and clap along with each syllable of each word. The children will copy and internalize the rhythm.)

Hey! How! For Halloween!

Hey! How! For Halloween! When all the witches can be seen! Some in black and some in green! Hey! How! For Halloween!

(whisper this one as if it were a secret and softly clap each syllable)

Grow a pumpkin, grow a pumpkin, fat and round. (make round arms)
Cut a pumpkin, cut a pumpkin, smile or frown. (pretend to carve pumpkin)
Cook a pumpkin, cook a pumpkin, make a pie. (stir the bowl)
Eat a pumpkin, eat a pumpkin, my oh my! (pretend to eat and pat tummy when done!)

So, if you are tired of "trick or treat, smell my feet" you can try some of these! Your kids will be the only ones in the neighborhood to say these rhymes at the door! Or come up with your own ideas and post them in the comments!

Take Kindermusik and get 15 minutes of FREE Play Gym time!

Join us for Kindermusik at the Cherubs Clubhouse, and enjoy 15 free minutes of play gym time after class. What a great way to get to know some of the other families from our class!

The Cherubs Clubhouse, LLC in Pelham, Al: A unique place to play party and learn

Kathy Sciarrotta, the managing partner of the Cherubs Clubhouse, LLC was born in North Miami and lived most of her life in Florida. In July of 2005, she and her husband Joe moved to the Birmingham area when he took an executive chef position at a hotel and resort in the area. Kathy was pregnant with her first child and knew no one in the city. After her son was born, she began to look for activities within her community. She discovered a true need in the Shelby and Jeffereson county area for a way for new moms to get togther and support each other. To meet this need, she started the Chubby Cherubs meet up group. It started with 5 members in 2006 and has grown to over 70 members in three years. Kathy has been interviewed by ABC 33/40, The City of Helena news, and has been seen on shelbyspotted.com. From this, she decided to start the Cherubs Clubhouse which is opening in mid October in the Pelham area. The Cherubs Clubhouse will provide a magical and unique, family-focused, fun learning environment based on mind and motion. Kathy’s love of dancing, drama, gymnastics, music and people-especially children- led her and her family to create the Cherubs Clubhouse, LLC.
The clubhouse, located off of highway 31 in Pelham, will provide a unique offering of enrichment classes, activities and events for children and families. Some of these classes will include, mind and motion development classes, dance and movement, arts and crafts, fitness and fun, drama and imaginative role play, Kindermusik and private music lessons, tutoring and reading readiness classes. Some of the services provided will be birthday parties, private parties (with sitting service), daily sitting services, sitting services for parent’s night out, and open gym play time. There will also be a game room for older kids. The sitting service will particularly useful to parents who have moved to this area and do not have family in town to babysit, those homeschooling children, or parents who simply do not have any daytime childcare options. The Cherubs Clubhouse will provide a safe and fun atmosphere for kids so mom or dad can go to a doctor’s appointment, an event or even just to run errands.
The Cherubs Clubhouse, LLC will also provide activities for a wide age range of children. From infants in the Kindermusik classes to school aged kids coming for tutoring, all ages will have a place at the Cherubs Clubhouse. Sharron Hughes, managing partner and education director of the Cherubs Cluhouse, has an AA in early childhood development from Miama Dade College, a BS in English from St. Thomas Univeristy, and a Master’s degree in reading from Barry University. Sharron, who has been a teaching for almost all of her life, has been featured in Who’s Who American teachers two times. From tutoring to enrichment classes, the clubhouse will have a wide variety of educational opportunities for kids of all ages. Classes will be taught by highly trained and experienced experts in various fields of study.
In addition to the sitting services and the enrichment classes, the Cherubs Clubhouse will also be the events hosted there. Some upcoming events will begin in mid October and continue through the beginning of November. The clubhouse will be hosting Halloween parties for kids of all ages as well as free Kindermusik demonstrations. Birthday parties will be unique at the Cherubs Clubhouse. The birthday party room will be have a “homey kitchen” feel. There is also a wide variety of entertainment options for the birthday events. In addition to children’s birthday parties, the clubhouse will also be a location to host other events. Joe Sciarrotta, the managing partner and private parties coordinator, will be able to provide superior advice for these events due to his extensive background in catering. Joe has an associate’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America and is the executive chef of a major hotel and resort in the Birmingham area. His expertise will make the Cherubs Clubhouse a unique place for hosting parties and events.
The Cherubs Clubhouse, LLC in Pelham will have the most unique gathering of children’s services and enrichment. Please visit www.cherubsclubhouse.com for more information!

A new week

We are starting a new week tomorrow! I am excited about my piano lessons coming up. I am starting a new student at my Inverness studio this week and trying a new series of books with her. I am so excited! I am also moving a student to the next level in her books either this week or the next and I am so excited to start her on some new things.

Friday, I was sight reading through a new Chopin piece I decided to start. I was thinking of my students and my recent lessons as I read through it a couple of times. I was thinking about how all the time we spend working on scales, fingering, and theory really pays off. It may take a while to get to this point, but when you want to sit down and learn something new, it makes such a difference to be able to spot a scale, an inversion of a chord, or to write your own fingering right away and not have to decipher each note.

The final goal with piano lessons is to put me out of a job. I strive in each lesson to teach my students to be able to teach themselves. I often ask the question, "why?" Why are we practicing this particular piece? Why do you think the music was written this way? What do you think you could improve about your performance? How do you think you need to practice this at home? Sometime the best thing you can do as a teacher or parent is to sit back and let them make a mistake that you see coming. Give the child the opportunity to notice and correct the mistake on their own before swooping in to the rescue. That can be a major challenge because as teachers and parents we always want to fix everything, but it gives the child the chance to do it on their own and the sense of self accomplishment when they know that they figured it out.

The goal of piano lessons is to get to a point where the student can sit down and enjoy their music. Spending time in lessons on scales, technique and written theory assignments help the student to progress to that point. I cannot express this enough to the child and to the parents. Constistant practice is the key to progressing to a point where playing becomes more about experiencing the joy of practicing a new piece rather than the burden of having to practice.

Updates to our website!

The website for my Kindermusik classes is really coming along. I could not be happier with the work done on the site! We are almost done-- the only thing we lack is adding a few more pictures here and there as well as a link to enroll.

Check out the new videos link on there-- I have several fabulous Kindermusik videos! Also, we added a list of links related to music and child development. There are so many articles about the importance of music in a child's education. We have only listed a few but hopefully will add some more later.

We are also in the process of uploading photos. Check the photos out-- they show the different instruments that the children explore in each Kindermusik class. There are also beautiful pictures of some of our movement activities with scarves, streamers and the parachute. My favorite pictures, show the wind and string instruments that I bring into our preschool music classes from time to time. The kids love to see and hear a real trumpet, mandolin, guitar, and violin.
http://www.imaginationsmusic.com

FREE Kindermusik Demo in Pelham Al!

Things are moving along this fall. Piano on Mondays began at Bruno last week and got to a good start. I have been working about 14 hours a day for the last several days to prepare for the upcoming Kindermusik classes in the Pelham location. I have a proposed schedule for a few free Kindermusik demo classes:
ABC Music and Me 2 to 4 year olds October 17 at 12:00
ABC Music and Me 4 to 6 year olds October 17 at 1:00

Kindermusik Village class 0 to 18 months October 24 at 9:00
Kindermusik Family Time 0 to 7 years October 24 at 10:00

We will also try to have a few other free Kindermusik demo classes that week. Let me know if you are interested but cannot attend on those days. For more updates, follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/imaginemusik, "fan" me on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pelham-AL/Imaginations-Music-Studio/131965409670?ref=ts#/pages/Pelham-AL/Imaginations-Music-Studio/131965409670?v=wall&ref=ts and check out my website, http://imaginationsmusic.com