Music brings us closer to our emotions. You can do a little experiment by watching scary movie with no sound. It can almost become rediculous watching long drawn out scenes where nothing much happens! But with the music we are on the edge of our theater seat with hair standing on end. Sometimes the music sets us up and we get a long period of silence.....the BOOM!
Even the romantic parts...try it, turn off the sound (there's no words anyway!). The scenes just can't stand alone!
My great Uncle Charlie's profession was piano player for silent movies. He would improvise for the whole movie...2 or three shows on Saturday!
Hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving "silent" movie. Thank you Charlie Chaplin for showing us what to be thankful for.
I am grateful for children of all ages.
Love,
Yvette
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Charlie Chaplin's Thanksgiving meal
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Dear Kindermusik Families,
I am so grateful to have the priviledge of working with you and your children. Thank you for sharing your lives with me.
I truly love my time in the Kindermusik classroom.
I've left so many Kindermusik friends back in Michigan...I hold them in my heart...I miss them so much. But how much fun
I have had making new Kindermusik friends!!!
At the Kindermusik Convention in Raleigh I heard about wonderful research being done on the links between music and
literacy and music and math. They've posted it online for EVERYONE!!!
If you are interested follow this link: http://kindermusik.com/benefits to read even about some studies that were done
with actual Kindermusik classes.
I've been thinking about how the investments we've made in the market with our 401K plans etc. have dwindled. I've thought
about putting cash under the mattress! Then I wonder about the actual value of the dollar...I keep coming back to the
idea of investing in our children. That simply won't devalue. Their gains in academic, social, emotional and physical
intelligence just won't go away! The payback may be realized when our children are eligible for college scholarships...
when they score well on ACT and SAT tests, when they grow up to be happy well adjusted adults....
These are hard economic times for families with young children...and their are lots of activities to choose from when you
consider your child's education and extra curricular activities. Choose wisely!
Many families in my Michigan studio chose Kindermusik Imagine That! as their "pre-school"! This curriculum really does
address preschool academics as well as the creative, social, physical, and FUN elements! Adult visitors to my Kindermusik Imagine
That! class at the south location off Hendersonville Rd. have commented on all the school readiness skills we've covered
in our class! Let me know if you'd like to visit one of these classes with your child.
Is your child ready for a move up to Imagine That!? My curriculum guide suggests that at age 3 Imagine That! would be appropriate.
I wonder though. Consider the decision carefully in this world where we are in a hurry...trying to get an edge in the academic world.
Our Time classes even for the 3 year old child can be very appropriate. It's your last chance to have a mommy and me class together.
If your child is willing, allowing him or her another semester with their best teacher (YOU!!) will increase the dividends in your
relationship investment! It is by no means an action of "holding them back". In my own experience as a mother with a 12, 18 and 20
year old children I'd highly recommend taking advantage of the "together" class of Kindermusik Our Time.
Next time you are at the Asheville Arts Center please grab one of the priority registration slips. Oh, and by the way, keep
talking to your friends because I've heard a rumor that the Arts Center is preparing to offer you a cash deal on referrals!!!
This investment keeps getting better and better!
One more thing...Thanksgiving is this week! Only Monday's and Tuesday's classes will be held this week.
I try to share what I'm grateful for in the season of Thanksgiving. Holding the hand of your child while I stamp them goodbye
is one of the most precious moments for me. Thank you for that opportunity.
Peace and Love,
Yvette Odell
Kindermusik educator
Asheville Arts Center
www.ashevilleartscenter.com
www.yskindermusik.blogspot.com
I am so grateful to have the priviledge of working with you and your children. Thank you for sharing your lives with me.
I truly love my time in the Kindermusik classroom.
I've left so many Kindermusik friends back in Michigan...I hold them in my heart...I miss them so much. But how much fun
I have had making new Kindermusik friends!!!
At the Kindermusik Convention in Raleigh I heard about wonderful research being done on the links between music and
literacy and music and math. They've posted it online for EVERYONE!!!
If you are interested follow this link: http://kindermusik.com/benefits to read even about some studies that were done
with actual Kindermusik classes.
I've been thinking about how the investments we've made in the market with our 401K plans etc. have dwindled. I've thought
about putting cash under the mattress! Then I wonder about the actual value of the dollar...I keep coming back to the
idea of investing in our children. That simply won't devalue. Their gains in academic, social, emotional and physical
intelligence just won't go away! The payback may be realized when our children are eligible for college scholarships...
when they score well on ACT and SAT tests, when they grow up to be happy well adjusted adults....
These are hard economic times for families with young children...and their are lots of activities to choose from when you
consider your child's education and extra curricular activities. Choose wisely!
Many families in my Michigan studio chose Kindermusik Imagine That! as their "pre-school"! This curriculum really does
address preschool academics as well as the creative, social, physical, and FUN elements! Adult visitors to my Kindermusik Imagine
That! class at the south location off Hendersonville Rd. have commented on all the school readiness skills we've covered
in our class! Let me know if you'd like to visit one of these classes with your child.
Is your child ready for a move up to Imagine That!? My curriculum guide suggests that at age 3 Imagine That! would be appropriate.
I wonder though. Consider the decision carefully in this world where we are in a hurry...trying to get an edge in the academic world.
Our Time classes even for the 3 year old child can be very appropriate. It's your last chance to have a mommy and me class together.
If your child is willing, allowing him or her another semester with their best teacher (YOU!!) will increase the dividends in your
relationship investment! It is by no means an action of "holding them back". In my own experience as a mother with a 12, 18 and 20
year old children I'd highly recommend taking advantage of the "together" class of Kindermusik Our Time.
Next time you are at the Asheville Arts Center please grab one of the priority registration slips. Oh, and by the way, keep
talking to your friends because I've heard a rumor that the Arts Center is preparing to offer you a cash deal on referrals!!!
This investment keeps getting better and better!
One more thing...Thanksgiving is this week! Only Monday's and Tuesday's classes will be held this week.
I try to share what I'm grateful for in the season of Thanksgiving. Holding the hand of your child while I stamp them goodbye
is one of the most precious moments for me. Thank you for that opportunity.
Peace and Love,
Yvette Odell
Kindermusik educator
Asheville Arts Center
www.ashevilleartscenter.com
www.yskindermusik.blogspot.com
Monday, November 24, 2008
Along came the wind........
Look what the wind blew in!!!ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pretend play is a powerful tool for children. Compared to "games" that are governed by rules, pretend play follows its own form and brings out a child's imagination. Often children will be processing their own life dilemmas through pretend play. It's very important that we create space and time for the WORK of children: Play!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."A. Einstein
Kindermusik Imagine That! for children 3+ to 4 1/2 years. Call 253-4000 to register for the spring semester at the Asheville Arts Center!
Create the time and space.
Do it for them.
and Happy Thanksgiving....look out for pretend turkeys.....
Yvette
Monday, November 17, 2008
Music Boosts Reading Skills
Kindermusik International has posted on line some of the latest finding concerning music and the power of music when it comes to learning....Right now the link between music and reading (in the coming weeks you'll find music and math research).
Go!!!! to Kindermusik online to find out more.
And you know WHY I want you to know? Because I believe Kindermusik is an investment in your children that won't plunge like the stock market or devalue like cash under the mattress. This is a "Good Beginning That Never Ends..." You parents are investing in our country's greatest resource!
THE CHILDREN!!!
Go!!!! to Kindermusik online to find out more.
And you know WHY I want you to know? Because I believe Kindermusik is an investment in your children that won't plunge like the stock market or devalue like cash under the mattress. This is a "Good Beginning That Never Ends..." You parents are investing in our country's greatest resource!
THE CHILDREN!!!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thoughts on thinking.....
When babies are tiny we moms just do what we can. Sometimes our wise inner voice is strong enough to be heard and sometimes we just flail about, grappling for survival.
I remember my world as mom when Claire, my second baby was born. I was pretty fragile emotionally...and overwhelmed with two children! Ben was the two year old who obviously did not need as much sleep as I did! He gave up this only daytime nap on the day I brought Claire home from the hospital.
Filling my need for sleep was a challenge till I learned how to "talk" the two year old to sleep. It's a technique I developed by nearly figuring out how to talk in my sleep!
After the bedtime book was over I would turn out the light and begin the narrative...I would recite the story of Ben's day in very careful detail. I'd begin by describing what how his hair looked when he woke up and how he hopped down off the bed and his footie pyjamas would swish as he followed me down the hall...on and on and on until either he'd be sleeping or I'd end with the story about telling the story to a child who dreamed a dream....
The descriptions came from my point of view but I wove in his part of the conversations and likes and dislikes ...described the emotions (tantrums, laughter, frustrations with the new baby etc), I talked about everything because it took him so long to fall asleep.
So now I'm thinking...after reading articles on how children learn and how a vocabulary at 3 is a good predictor of a child's reading abilities in third grade, and how the brain lights up even more when THINKING words or music and how their brains light up more for "story telling" than reading a book....that my storytelling of Ben's day was creating pictures in his mind, giving him a vocabulary, and showing him an example of a stream of consciousness....maybe showing him HOW to think....
Do you think so?
In our Kindermusik classes we have the opportunity to think out loud with our children when we explore instruments. I remind parents: Label everything. Name the instrument, what's it made out of? It's shape, color, size...describe the sound it makes, name the action it takes to make the sound....Add the musical element of the day (fast, slow, high, low, loud, quiet...)Talk, talk, talk, talk......
We add "scaffolding": immitate the child's action with the instruments while doing all this talking (that's very affirming to the child) and making suggestions for extended music making (like "I see you shake your eggs. That's fast. I hear the chk, chk, chk....Can you shake them slowly, great big shakes? Yes, look at that, great big slow shakes. Your arms go up and down slowly. I hear the shakers make a steady beat. Maybe you can march your eggs......" etc.
I'd like to think they are getting an idea about how to think. After all how does a 2 year old figure out how to have "ideas"?
Interestingly I've noticed that as my children grow up through the teen years their interest in adult conversation becomes more intense. I've had 12 year old Anne at my elbow for a lot of lively political discussion lately. She's not tired of hearing me talk yet!
Your thoughts on this?
Leave a comment!
Yvette
I remember my world as mom when Claire, my second baby was born. I was pretty fragile emotionally...and overwhelmed with two children! Ben was the two year old who obviously did not need as much sleep as I did! He gave up this only daytime nap on the day I brought Claire home from the hospital.
Filling my need for sleep was a challenge till I learned how to "talk" the two year old to sleep. It's a technique I developed by nearly figuring out how to talk in my sleep!
After the bedtime book was over I would turn out the light and begin the narrative...I would recite the story of Ben's day in very careful detail. I'd begin by describing what how his hair looked when he woke up and how he hopped down off the bed and his footie pyjamas would swish as he followed me down the hall...on and on and on until either he'd be sleeping or I'd end with the story about telling the story to a child who dreamed a dream....
The descriptions came from my point of view but I wove in his part of the conversations and likes and dislikes ...described the emotions (tantrums, laughter, frustrations with the new baby etc), I talked about everything because it took him so long to fall asleep.
So now I'm thinking...after reading articles on how children learn and how a vocabulary at 3 is a good predictor of a child's reading abilities in third grade, and how the brain lights up even more when THINKING words or music and how their brains light up more for "story telling" than reading a book....that my storytelling of Ben's day was creating pictures in his mind, giving him a vocabulary, and showing him an example of a stream of consciousness....maybe showing him HOW to think....
Do you think so?
In our Kindermusik classes we have the opportunity to think out loud with our children when we explore instruments. I remind parents: Label everything. Name the instrument, what's it made out of? It's shape, color, size...describe the sound it makes, name the action it takes to make the sound....Add the musical element of the day (fast, slow, high, low, loud, quiet...)Talk, talk, talk, talk......
We add "scaffolding": immitate the child's action with the instruments while doing all this talking (that's very affirming to the child) and making suggestions for extended music making (like "I see you shake your eggs. That's fast. I hear the chk, chk, chk....Can you shake them slowly, great big shakes? Yes, look at that, great big slow shakes. Your arms go up and down slowly. I hear the shakers make a steady beat. Maybe you can march your eggs......" etc.
I'd like to think they are getting an idea about how to think. After all how does a 2 year old figure out how to have "ideas"?
Interestingly I've noticed that as my children grow up through the teen years their interest in adult conversation becomes more intense. I've had 12 year old Anne at my elbow for a lot of lively political discussion lately. She's not tired of hearing me talk yet!
Your thoughts on this?
Leave a comment!
Yvette
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thinking...How Children Think:
Young children think in pictures. You say "Dog" and they see an image of a dog in their mind. Some words just don't have pictures on their own and take time for children to develop a way to think these words. I remember the challenge Anne had with words like "yesterday", "before", and "no!".
Jill Molli spoke to Kindermusik educators last week at our international convention in Raleigh, NC. She is a dynamite speaker for Becky Bailey's Conscious Discipline approach to working with children. I was already a fan of Becky Bailey since she presented her ideas to us at last year's convention and I was so glad to hear Jill Molli... I'd listen all day for weeks...It's such good stuff.
So here's one tidbit about what she said for helping children learn when they still predominantly think in pictures. If you say "Don't run!" the only picture children will come up with is an image of their own feet running! There's no picture at all for "don't". What's so dangerous about saying "Don't run!" is that not only that they can't help but run, but mostly that we feel so strongly that they are disobeying the adult in charge. Things only escalate from there...and now we have a power struggle.
Let's head that tantrum off at the pass (my adult tantrum too!) and avoid expecting children to think more maturely than they are able.
Say:
"Eat your potatoes" instead of "Don't dawdle"
"Sit down" instead of "Quit bouncing around"
"Put your feet here" instead of "Stop fooling around"
Do you get the idea? It makes sense to me. Let me know what you think about this idea...I'd love to hear your comments.
Peace,
Yvette
Jill Molli spoke to Kindermusik educators last week at our international convention in Raleigh, NC. She is a dynamite speaker for Becky Bailey's Conscious Discipline approach to working with children. I was already a fan of Becky Bailey since she presented her ideas to us at last year's convention and I was so glad to hear Jill Molli... I'd listen all day for weeks...It's such good stuff.
So here's one tidbit about what she said for helping children learn when they still predominantly think in pictures. If you say "Don't run!" the only picture children will come up with is an image of their own feet running! There's no picture at all for "don't". What's so dangerous about saying "Don't run!" is that not only that they can't help but run, but mostly that we feel so strongly that they are disobeying the adult in charge. Things only escalate from there...and now we have a power struggle.
Let's head that tantrum off at the pass (my adult tantrum too!) and avoid expecting children to think more maturely than they are able.
Say:
"Eat your potatoes" instead of "Don't dawdle"
"Sit down" instead of "Quit bouncing around"
"Put your feet here" instead of "Stop fooling around"
Do you get the idea? It makes sense to me. Let me know what you think about this idea...I'd love to hear your comments.
Peace,
Yvette
Monday, November 10, 2008
Looking for my voice
Like clockwork, every early November for a number of years I would catch a cold and by Veterans Day I'd be in such a state that I'd be calling my health care provider whispering into the phone because of laryngitis!!
This year I feel as if I'd lost my voice in a different way. While there's no cold and I'm fully able to sing all day in my Kindermusik classes I can't seem to find my blogging voice! I've not blogged for months...so long that with the change of my email address, etc. I can't even log on to my old blogs!!
Having moved from Holland MI to Asheville NC and changing from owning my own Kindermusik studio to teaching for another I am wondering where my perspective is: WHO AM I???!
I've been feeling a little like the very quiet person in the class who just sits there watching...not confident yet to express myself. I can identify with the children who sit on mom's lap with big eyes for weeks and weeks.
So, be patient. It's not forever. Before long we will jump in and sing and twirl like never before.
This year I feel as if I'd lost my voice in a different way. While there's no cold and I'm fully able to sing all day in my Kindermusik classes I can't seem to find my blogging voice! I've not blogged for months...so long that with the change of my email address, etc. I can't even log on to my old blogs!!
Having moved from Holland MI to Asheville NC and changing from owning my own Kindermusik studio to teaching for another I am wondering where my perspective is: WHO AM I???!
I've been feeling a little like the very quiet person in the class who just sits there watching...not confident yet to express myself. I can identify with the children who sit on mom's lap with big eyes for weeks and weeks.
So, be patient. It's not forever. Before long we will jump in and sing and twirl like never before.
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