Bells are ringing!

Happy Holidays to all!

Kindermusik in Asheville

Thank you Aunt Em for this fun collage of our Monday Kindermusik Village Class (newborn to 18mo) at the Asheville Arts Center. What a great class! Moms, dads, grandparents! Always 3 classes for the price of one: Music for the babies, aerobics for the grown ups and a special this term is ballroom dancing! Well, remember, it's only a dance and it's really the fun that counts.

One of the musical elements of this day's focus is the meter of the music. That means the organization of beats (ie groups of 3 beats or 4 beats). In the song that we are moving to and I am counting there are at least 4 different organization patterns including measures of 7 beats. If babies hear this in their environment then playing Stravinsky's Rite of Spring won't be such a counting challenge when they are in their college orchestra!

Kindermusik Kids Now

What do Kindermusik kids look like when they grow up? What kind of things do they do for fun? How's this for a bunch of Kindermusik kids grown to TEENAGERS!!!!

A Child's Emerging "Self"

I can do so many things all by myself!
I can do so many things all by myself!
Can you wiggle your eyebrows, just like this?
I can wiggle my eyebrows, just like this!

Can you show your teeth just like this?
Mirror play helps toddlers work on finding out about their bodies; naming body parts like eyes and nose, figuring out that you can move your own eyebrows, understanding emotions, and working on the concept of being a separate person from their primary caregiver. That's a big job!

Can you blink your eyes?


Their emerging "self" includes a quality of self esteem as well. Being told you are beautiful by someone you love and trust early in life will affect their self esteem in a positive way. And, I believe, be something we want them to know deep down inside before that 16 year old knocks them off their feet with the words "You're so beautiful!" Wouldn't you rather they already know it.

Let mirrors be your reminder to look at yourself and affirm that you are a beautiful person and then look at your amazing children and tell them how beautiful they are!



Hello Beautiful!!!

Yes, that's you!

You are precious.

Peace,
Yvette

Our Time Kindermusik with guitar!

Here he is, the guitar guy Noah, in Kindermusik Our Time at the Asheville Arts Center! There's talent!

Carnival of the Animals - Aviary

We listened today with my Kindermusik Young Child 1 class to the Aviary from Camile Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals. I mentioned that when you are listening with intent to this piece you might hear the flute and maybe the piano at first. When we listened again we heard more and more layers of sound. This complex listening gets kids ready for paying attention at school and for being extra observant to auditory input.

So here you can listen again and see for yourself! Do you hear the pizzicato cellos? And do you hear the wispy sound of the violins? I mentioned that there were 2 pianos and of course the star of the Aviary is the flute! (My favorite!)

the Aviary by Camile Saint-Saens

We listened today with my Kindermusik Young Child 1 class to the Aviary from Camile Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals. I mentioned that when you are listening with intent to this piece you might hear the flute and maybe the piano at first. When we listened again we heard more and more layers of sound. This complex listening gets kids ready for paying attention at school and for being extra observant to auditory input.

So here you can listen again and see for yourself! Do you hear the pizzicato cellos? And do you hear the wispy sound of the violins? I mentioned that there were 2 pianos and of course the star of the Aviary is the flute! (My favorite!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFFt_kFq_eQ

ABC Music and Me!

I've been teaching the ABC Music and Me program at the Asheville Arts Center South location on Thursdays this fall. During October we've been saying this cute little poem:

Frog kiss, frog kiss.
Such a special thing.
When you kiss a frog
The frog begins to sing.
Ribbit, ribbit, ....................

This past Thursday was their day to celebrate Halloween together as a class and they all came to the ABC music time dressed up!!! I grabbed the story blanket and made a long skirt, draped a green humongous scarf over my hair and donned a spare witch hat. Here we go!

Witch kiss, witch kiss.
Such a special thing!
When you kiss a witch
The witch begins to sing
Cackle, cackle, cackle!!!!

There was Maddie, dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine:
Train engine, train engine.
Such a special thing.
When you kiss a train
The train begins to sing:
Choooooochooooo Chug, chug...(Maddie did not miss a beat; he and Samantha jumped right in with the train sounds.)

Aiden was a Builder; "Bang, bang, bang....."
Samantha was a '50s Sock Hopper, "dance, dance, dance...."
Nora was a ballerina, "Twirl, twirl, twirl..."
Camilla was super girl, "Fly, fly, fly....."
Ben was a dinosaur, "RRRROOOOAAAAR!"
We did them all.
But Dorothy, I mean Sophia, with her ruby slippers, took me away.

Dorthy kiss, Dorthy kiss.
Such a special thing.
When you kiss a Dorothy
The Dorothy begins to sing.

Sophia, in the blue gingham dress and perfect Dorothy hair, took a deep breath.
Her eyes began to sparkle and she began to sing:
"Somewhere, over the rainbow.............."

It was a beautiful moment. I have a feeling we were in OZ.......just for that moment.
But I'll have that memory forever.
Thanks Sophia.

All tuckered out....

All this hopping like frogs and dancing like elephants has me completely wiped out this week.....
I tried to study up but just couldn't keep my eyes open.

Conscious listening.

Every Kindermusik day I help children and adults with conscious listening skills. Today in our Village class (newborn to 18months) we modeled wonder and attentiveness when listening to something specific. Our faces held wonder and our bodies were still as we listened. The babies right away were curious! They "froze" wide-eyed. After hearing the recording of the squirrel, bee, and owl we then mimicked the sounds vocally. If we continue to do this then the children will imitate us both with acute listening skills and with vocal play. It's a big job to help our brains to know exactly what to listen to and what to filter out......listen to this informative (5 minute) talk about listening:

Kindermusik at Biltmore Park

Met some new friends this afternoon at Biltmore Park Festival. It was cold but very friendly. (Most did not even know that the Asheville Arts Center has a south location in Arden JUST FOR THEM!) We drummed up some music for curious George to dance to.


I also saw some of my students from Kindermusik at the Asheville Arts Center...they enjoyed the Curious George stories and the instruments....and my favorite: the cute little "toddler dance".

Like a rock star to me: Gustavo Dudamel

If you click on his picture above it should take you to the conductor's game. Good luck. I need more practice....I ranked at "Student".

He is the new Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor. And his goal:
Music for everybody

Not just for the old folks who can afford to by the concert tickets.......

I keep looking at "El Sistema" as if I were a kid passing a store window seeing something I really really want. I really want to see this right here. Wouldn't it be fabulous? Wouldn't it be fabulous for the children? For the community?

Dream with me.

What good is fun?

Can going up stairs make you smile? Oh, YES.

Mommy and Me class in Asheville!

Kindermusik Village: a precious moment.
Newborn to 18 months and their adult.
Tuesday October 13 at 9:30
North on Merrimon, under the Atlanta Bread Co.
RSVP 253-4000 or singandtwirl@gmail.com

Last week in our Village class we had baby drummers echo a pattern, a no longer clingy nine month old sing "Caw" like a crow, a 5 month old respond to a descending vocal line, and many adults overwhelmed by a loving moment with their babies.

Meet other first time moms, parents of 2nd and 3rd children, and families of twins and triplets!

You have to try it to believe it.

Come.

Do you envision any of these for your child?

• She's a violinist winning concerto competitions.
• He's applying to engineering schools and receiving great scholarships.
• She's a poised dancer or a skilled basketball player.
• He's a confident CEO.
• She remains very clear minded even late in life.
• He has a talent for music that has given him enjoyment all through his life.

You must be dreaming!!! and we at the Asheville Arts Center say "Dream BIG!"

Kindermusik makes achieving these goals even more of a possibility. It's an investment that won't ever devalue. Take advantage of Kindermusik at the Asheville Arts Center. Students who complete the Kindermusik for the Young Child class (ages 5-7) will more likely enjoy and therefore succeed in taking private music lessons. They will be valued members of music theater groups because they can read music, keep a steady beat with a group, and move in creative ways to musical cues. They will be team players and leaders because of the music ensemble work they have been doing. They will be smarter. That's what the research says.

Free Kindermusik Young Child Demo Class
Saturday October 10
1:30pm
Soli Classica 1550 Hendersonville Rd.(just South of the Blue Ridge Parkway)
Call Karen Sams

p: 828-277-4111

f: 828-277-4112

International Day of Non-Violence

International Day of Non-Violence coincides with Ghandi's birthday: today. I shall celebrate by being joyous with the Babies in my Village class. I can think of no better way!

If we do not TEACH our children non-violence someone will teach them violence.

Laughter makes the word go 'round!

Kindermusik percription for the day to increase YOUR white blood cells for at least a day and a half. Enjoy this!

"How do you do?"

In our little baby class (Kindermusik Village) we've been doing a little greeting ritual. The grown ups are holding the babies while we meet, greet and shake hands with one another. The babies are taking their job seriously: they study all the adult faces. You can almost hear them think as they look from mommy to mommy's friend or from mommy to a stranger. "So this is what it looks like when mommy greets her good friend." "And this is what she looks like when she is greeting someone new!" Some classes are lucky enough to have daddies to study.

We aren't born knowing how to make these facial expressions nor are we born knowing how to read them!

Did you know the FBI actually has to train their agents in face reading? It's really important. How good are you at reading your spouse's facial expressions?

In our culture today babies are generally too far away from the adults faces to do their studying. They are in the stroller, or the car seat, or the little seat on the grocery cart staring up at the lights. Sling babies have an advantage. They are right there soaking it all in.

I'd love to share more child development tidbits with families:
Free Kindermusik Village demo class for babies
Tuesday 9:30 9/29.
singandtwirl@gmail.com

Reserve your spot.

Who is a musician?

Who do you think is in the audience? Trained musicians? Why did the audience get a kick out of the 3rd (higher) note? These folks are not at a Music Educators conference! They laugh with amazement because they are so surprised that they "GOT IT!" without anyone telling them what the next note sounds like.

It is human to be musical. No matter your age: JUMP IN. It's really so much fun to be making music.

(World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale)

W-O-W. How can anyone afford to CUT music from their budget?

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania School District analyzed its 1997 dropout rate in terms of students’ musical experience. Students with no ensemble performance experience had a dropout rate of 7.4 percent. Students with one to two years of ensemble experience had a dropout rate of 1 percent, and those with three or more years of performance experience had a dropout rate of 0.0 percent.
Eleanor Chute, “Music and Art Lessons Do More Than Complement Three R’s,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
April 13, 1998.

Students with band and orchestra experience attend college at a rate twice the national average.
- Bands Across the USA

thanks to the childrensmusicworkshop.com

You must find a way to make it work.....and there are ways.

Music Class for the BABIES!!!

Next Tuesday, September 29 @ 9:30 am, we will be offering a free music & movement class for babies! Yvette Odell, our Kindermusik director, will be leading a free class from our Village Program at our North location under Atlanta Bread Company on Merrimon Ave. in Asheville. (Newborn-18mos.)

More information about the Village program:

Who knew that you would find gazing into your baby’s eyes the most exciting part of your day? In Kindermusik, we understand how precious this time is with your little one. That’s why Kindermusik created Village.

In a Kindermusik Village class, we take those special bonding moments between you and your baby and add in a unique blend of musical learning activities that stimulate and engage all of the senses. Your educator will teach you how to encourage your baby’s learning through vocal play, object exploration, instruments, and creative movement.

What you’ll experience in class:

• Variety of music. Musical diversity builds strong neural networks in a baby’s forming mind, which is why each Kindermusik semester contains an array of styles, sounds, and genres.
• Instrument play. Age-appropriate experiences with child-safe instruments enhances a sense of rhythm and steady beat, develops a keen awareness of the distinguishing qualities of sound, and encourages spontaneity and creativity.
• Dance. A classroom full of baby and adult pairs dancing together helps a little body develop the muscle strength needed to crawl and walk and helps a little heart to fall in love with the sheer joy of responding to music.
• Together time. A Kindermusik class is truly the essence of “quality time,” offering you a place to create special memories with your child, gain new insights into your child’s development, and nurture your child’s natural love of music.
• Expert advice. A Kindermusik educator explains “what-to-watch-for” every step of the way and how each activity enhances your child’s complete development
• Learning continues at home. With the home materials, the learning continues at home with your child’s best teacher—you!

Enrollment includes:

• Developmentally appropriate curriculum for parents and babies, ages newborn to 18 months
• 16-week semester with two different, eight week themes (length may vary by location)
• Weekly 45-minute class that includes new and unique parent and baby activities
• Two sets of At Home Materials—one for each mini-theme—each including a CD of music from class, literature board book, age-appropriate instrument, and art banner
• You’ll learn over 30 songs, lullabies, and nursery rhymes and play over 200 activities together by the semester’s end.

Imagine - Pan Pipes Flute - John Lennon

Today is the International Day of Peace.
So take a moment..........Pray for peace.

Music from around the world....way on the other side from here!

This summer we had a fun time in our Zoo Train (Kindermusik Adventures) dancing to the beautiful didgeridoo music.

I've been interested in this instrument since a friend (Kim, Benjamin's mom!) lent me her didgeridoo to try. I just couldn't get it going. Seems like since I took Trombone lessons in college I ought to be able to get a buzz going! But NO Way!

So a couple weekends ago I was at the Asheville Organic Fest and there was a family looking for shade under a tiny tree and next to them were 3 didgeridoos. That's how I met John Vorus...and had my first didgeridoo lesson. Like he says in this article below, it's easy to play and hard to master.

Look for John Vorus at the LakeEdenArtsFestival this October. He'll be playing with River Guerguerian Project (My nephew, Duncan, will be playing with the group too~I'll say this is one performance NOT to miss.)


The Transylvania Times • 37 North Broad St. • Brevard NC 28712
Vorus Pursues His Passion For The Didgeridoo

Vorus plays his didgeridoo. (Times photos by Lenora Carver)

Lenora Carver, Staff Writer 18.SEP.09
John Vorus said he doesn’t know if he found the didgeridoo or the didgeridoo found him.

“I think it was a co-creation of this between my path and myself,” said the 34-year-old Transylvania County resident.

When Vorus was 19-years-old and living in Detroit, Mich., he discovered his hidden talent for the Australian instrument.

The instrument, which was created over 1,500 years ago by the Aboriginal Australians, was used primarily for accompaniment in ceremonial dancing and singing, according to the Aboriginal Australia Art and Culture Center in Alice Springs, Central Australia.

Traditionally, an Aborigine would go into nature and listen intensely to animal sounds, not just voices but also the flapping of wings or the thump of feet on the ground” said the Center.

“The Aborigine would also listen to the sounds of wind, thunder, trees creaking, and water running. The essences of all these sounds were played with as much accuracy as possible within the droning sound of the didjereedoo.”

The didgeridoo is considered to possibly be the world’s oldest instrument.

Ring Around the Rosie

From Wikipedia

Kate Greenaway's Mother Goose (1881)

It's the circle song for Kindermusik Our Time right now. Children love it.

It's a very important game-song for growing children. I've tried to give you some information during the classes this week but, as always, children have only a certain amount of patience for adult talk. (Who can blame them?) Here on my blog I can finish my sentences and even carry on in infinitio.......

1. Deep pressure: This is what they crave the most and why the song delights them to no end. They anticipate falling down...then "boom" with glee! The deep pressure of falling down helps children to understand the dimensions of their body, especially if they've just had a growth spurt ...what child isn't going through a growth spurt?

2. Practicing balance: Falling allows them to go just past the point of balance in a controlled way. Taking the risk of falling over and practicing this improves your range of balance.

3. Social skills; understanding community. You can't play this game by yourself. It can be a challenging lesson to the timid ones who don't yet feel comfortable holding hands with other adults or children who they don't know. Sometimes they learn that they have 2 hands, one for mom and one for .....oh, a stranger? hmmmmm.
4. Flexibility: Occasionally there's a child who isn't happy if the circle's not perfect. We have to be flexible if there's a child who won't hold hands and make ours a perfect circle!

5. Being an individual with in the context of a community. This applies those visual children who choose to watch the game instead of holding hands and going around. There's a lesson for everyone!

6. Visual spacial skills and time: A child's place in the room changes as measured my time (musical phases). (Musicians make good mathmaticians, good engineers...etc!) I see the children predicting by anticipating the phrase end but stopping a few beats early and beginning their "fall" but waiting till the right time!

7. Vestibular Stimulation: Any time a child's head changes position in relation to the earth their vestibular system is stimulated. The vestibular system is deep inside the inner ear and is important for balance, emotional well being, memory, attention and focus etc. It's very important that children get lots and lots of vestibular stimulation. (Or they will demand it when they are in the second grade trying to sit still in school.)

8. Repetition: Children are creating new neural connections all the time but they depend on repetition to solidify these connections. We adults don't always have the patience for this repetition but it is so important!

9. Love: oh, delight. This is what I see when the children are playing their favorite songs with their favorite adults. "Again! Again!" they say full of glee. And we will. But have no fear. In a few weeks we'll add more circle songs to your repertoire.

Game

The words of Ring a Ring o' Roses differ by region, although the tune remains consistent. The playground game that accompanies these verses also changes by region, but the most common form consists of participants standing in a circle and holding hands, followed by skipping in one direction as they sing the tune that accompanies these verses. At the end of the line We all fall down, the group usually falls down into a heap. Lyrics to other versions show that the final action was sometimes sitting, stooping, squatting, or even a curtsy, rather than falling.^[2] In some versions of the game the last down would choose a favourite or take the place of another in the middle of the ring.^[3] Ring games which end in flopping to the ground or similar are common throughout Europe.^[4]

In this game description from Wikipedia I see that there are variations in the "falling down". You can stoop, sqatt or even curtsy! Well I'm going to guess those variations were invented by adults who just would fall all the way down!!!

Which....it should be said, you shouldn't do if you know it would do more harm than good for you as an adult to be falling on the floor. Even if it is the nice soft floor we have in our Kindermusik room!

Have fun holding hands with your little ones .
Peace,
Yvette

Do you drive?

Music has become the domain of the professional. When I ask people if they drive, they answer “Yes” in a matter-of-fact way. They don’t try to compare themselves to Peter Brock or Mario Andretti, because they see driving as a normal part of life, not as a specialist skill. With music it’s different. When I ask people if they sing, many people get a bit embarrassed. Usually they’re too shy to answer, assuming the “Yes” answer implies a degree of talent or fame.

And yet singing is far more common in our society than playing a musical instrument. People sing at parties and karaoke, sing Happy Birthday, and sing along with their albums in the car - at least when the windows are up. Learning to play a musical instrument requires a decision, a commitment, and hours of learning and practice. Few people see a reason to make that leap. Even if they learn an instrument at school, few find a reason to continue playing as an adult.

I’m sure that somehow we are missing out on something by leaving music to the professionals......

(read more from the Blog: Audio Tuts)

There's still a chance for you to come to a level of enjoyment in your music making....it is NOT too late. Adults can do it too. (It IS fun.)

Music Lessons at the Asheville Arts Center

More from the Audio Tuts Blog:

Around the Internet, musicians are talking about the benefits of playing an instrument. Here are some of their main thoughts:

• It is relaxing and relieves stress. When I was a teenager, my dad bought a cheap organ when away on a holiday. He wanted to learn how to play it because he thought it would relax him after work.
• It sharpens our thinking. Many studies show that learning to play a musical instrument helps our memory and thinking. For the young, it can increase their reading level and the development of certain parts of the brain. Learning to play a musical instrument has been linked to learning to think mathematically by some studies.
• It is an active interest. These days people spend a lot of their time being passive - watching TV and listening to music. Learning to play an instrument is very active, and gives people something worthwhile to do with their time.
• It teaches discipline. It is challenging, and requires you to stick at it day after day, practicing regularly. It teaches time management and prioritizing, and perseverance.
• It creates a sense of confidence and achievement. Eventually all of that practice pays off, and you learn to play a song on your favorite instrument, or perform in front of a crowd. That’s a great feeling, and it also teaches that hard work pays off.
• It’s enjoyable and fun. And it’s fun in different ways - playing on your own, jamming with others, and performing to an audience are all satisfying in their own way.

It's definitely a de-stresser and don't we all need that?

Duets anyone?
Yvette

Music for tools for life:

This book review from NAMM caught my eye. Looks like a must read for me!

“All people deserve the opportunity to make music.... It’s not about giving people the opportunity to become famous musicians; it’s just about giving them the tools they need to succeed in life.” Moriah Harris-Rodger

Helping your child get the most out of his education.

Kindermusik for the Young Child (ages 5-7+).

What you’ll experience in class:

• Singing and vocal development. . It may sound like a foreign language when your child sings “ta” and “ti-ti,” but he’s using the language of professional musicians and composers and getting ready to read and write simple rhythm patterns.
• Movement. You’ll see your child dance expressively to music, giving him the practice he needs to coordinate his body movements to the sound of music. This kind of musical play not only improves musicianship, but his physical coordination as well. Reading and writing. He’ll learn melodic notation and identify pitches such as the C, A, and D notes on the treble clef, plus rhythmic notation. Eventually he’ll even compose his own music.
• Reading and writing. He’ll learn melodic notation and identify pitches such as the C, A, and D notes on the treble clef, plus rhythmic notation. Eventually he’ll even compose his own music.
• Focused listening. Your child will learn to identify a range of orchestra instruments and their sound qualities, while also gaining an early awareness and knowledge of composers and masterworks in Western arts tradition.
• Exploring and playing musical instruments. . Authentic percussion, string, pre-keyboard, and woodwind instruments expose your child to the many choices for future musical study, and at the same time provide your child with the opportunity to musically succeed before taking on more formal instruction.

Then keep the beat going....sign up for flute or percussion or piano....and orchestra and choir.

It will even improve their sports skills, I kid you not. Though it goes beyond that. Kindermusik is a lifetime sport. You will reap benefits even in your old age.

Peace,
(especially today)
Yvette

Two for the price of one: Fun music class AND Parenting workshop!

Kindermusik is more than just music classes, it also teaches parenting skills

(Asheville, NC)- Asheville Arts Center’s Kindermusik classes start September 14, 2009. Kindermusik, a world-wide music and movement program, offers music and movement classes for children from newborn to 7 years olds, contributing to overall growth and development.

Each week in class children play, listen, and dance to music that impact in profound ways. Every song, story, and two-step has a carefully chosen purpose in this creative curriculum—one that’s designed to stimulate and strengthen the vital neural wiring taking place in children’s mind, right now.

“I have a t-shirt that says ‘We must be what we want our children to be’ or something like that- I'd have to go in the laundry basket to quote it perfectly,” said Yvette Odell, Kindermusik instructor. “Teaching Kindermusik keeps this out front for me. I offer parents ways to be with their little ones with tools for careful observations, positive communications, nurturing creativity, deliberate guiding, and loving interactions. And everyday I go home and try to hone my own parenting skills, to do my practicum.”

Odell has been teaching Kindermusik since 1994 and in 1998 she became director/owner of her studio in Holland, MI. For nine years she earned the status of Maestro in the top 5% of studios worldwide. Odell has a master’s degree in music education from Wichita State University In Kansas and her bachelor’s degree in music education from Western Maryland College (now named McDaniel College).

Her continuing education involves child development, sensory integration work and communication skills. She is frequently asked to present at conferences on topics such as child development, parenting, music and learning, sensory integration and homeschooling. She has private flute students, is involved her her church’s music ministry by playing the flute and singing with the choir. Yvette has been teaching music to young children since 1980 and is happy to be bringing her warm and friendly style of teaching to Asheville, North Carolina.

Being safe and healthy in Kindermusik

Antibacterial gel and soaps, if they do what their manufacturers say, kill 99.9% of all germs, good and bad. We are afraid of the "bad" germs for sure but we need "good" bacteria for digestion and a strong immune system. In the Kindermusik studio at the Asheville Arts Center antibacterial soap is available in the restrooms for before and after class and you may choose to approach the season making use of it. You are also welcome to bring your own antibacterial lotion for you and your child. Use caution with your children by making sure the gel (because of its high alcohol content) is completely rubbed in and dry.

If you or your child are not feeling well please take advantage of our easy class make-up policy. A quick email to let me know will do just fine. Then stay home and put on you Kindermusik CDs and have a special fun time together in your own class. Other common sense tidbits for in class are to cough or sneeze into your elbow and help your child to learn that as well.

I pledge to take measures to keep the environment clean and safe. Instruments will be cleaned before reusing. Also special attention to door nobs and other community common items.

For our circle songs, the ritual with a strong social lesson for us all, you, as always,do have a choice to hold hands or to stand behind your child holding both of his or her hands out but not joining hands with the circle. Maybe you have another creative idea for this activity. You are the parent and you make the choices for your child in this event. I believe we will all be understanding and accepting!

But best of all we know that fun, loving interaction and a good belly laugh (which increases your white cell blood count thus boosting immunities!) will contribute to the good health of your family.

So let's get singing and twirling!! Classes begin Monday Sept. 14th. There's still room for you if you haven't registered. If you'd like to try a class drop me an email we'll get you in.

Best of health!
Yvette

Kindermusik in Asheville, Kindermusik in Arden

Kindermusik classes for the Asheville Arts Center North location (on Merrimon) and South Location (in Arden) will begin the week of Sept 14th. Some of my Kindermusik friends are wondering when the registration deadline is. You really can register at any time but I say that to have your first choice in the schedule and to have your home materials on your first day of class, please call 253-4000 today! Eliza will be glad to walk you completely through the registration process. She's at the phone downstairs at our main location! (Many thanks to you Eliza for all your dedicated work!)

Here's our South location: South - Located just off Hendersonville Road, 2 blocks north of the Long Shoals intersection. The building is behind Quiznos on Summit Avenue. And our North location: North - Located on Merrimon Avenue behind Atlanta Bread Company on the lower level. We are in the same building as the Children's Exchange consignment shop! Love it!

Parenting questions never cease.....

The questions just never end...am I doing the right thing? Am I doing enough? Just because everyone else is does that make it right? Just because everyone else is does that mean there are no other options? What about preschool? What about music lessons? What about organized sports? What about nutrition? What about health care and antibiotics? It is easy to get overwhelmed. But we keep on asking.

What about boredom?

This is beautiful:

You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What? Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again. (Jean-Jacques Rousseau - "Emile", 1762)

I wonder if Jean-Jacques Rousseau would choose different words if he were alive today. Would he see how busy we've become? Would he say "Never in his life will he be so productive again." Think about the JOB of building brain circuitry! Never again will he be working toward his own potential with the same fervor.

I believe this is the most important work they will ever do. That's why in Kindermusik we're skipping, playing, and running...and singing.

All the day long I'm singing a song. La la la la la la la la la.

Peace and love,
Yvette

Raising Beautiful Children (post script)

So....I am amiss! I forgot to come to the very point....the very reason for the post below.

And it illustrates the uphill journey parenting will always be.

I heard my youngest (who is now at 13 taller than I am--what a moment!) using words and tone that made me cringe. I was in the other room, eavesdropping I guess. Guess where that vocabulary and repertoire of inflection came from?

From me!

I have a lot to learn. I hope I can make good use of the lesson.
Peace,
Yvette

Raising Beautiful Children

“If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.” - C.G. Jung

I have a t-shirt that says "We must be what we want our children to be." or something like that...I'd have to go in the laundry basket to quote it perfectly. Whenever I wear it I do so knowing how hard it is to believe it, act it and evangelize it! I always get a comment, a groan "Oh, that's a tall order." Or "We could never do that!"

Ghandi said "We must be the change we wish to see."

The day I do it perfectly is the day I achieve immortality! HA!!

But we continue to strive, grow, stumble, fall two (or more) steps backwards, and remind each other to keep trying, not to give up. It's worth the effort because it really will pay off in your relationship with your children. It's very worth it.

Teaching Kindermusik keeps this out front for me. I offer parents ways to be with their little ones with tools for careful observations, positive communications, nurturing creativity, deliberate guiding, and loving interactions. And everyday I go home and try to hone my own parenting skills, to do my practicum.

Keep in mind that I'm one step ahead! I'm trying to apply this to teenagers...and beyond! So far I'll say investing the time, energy, grace and creativity with your infants, toddlers and preschoolers is worth every bit of effort.

Did you know Kindermusik is a lot about parenting?

Kindermusik: A Head Start For Children - Mom TV

Kindermusik: A Head Start For Children

This video mentions that Kindermusik is a great program for 7 year olds down to 3 months but I've actually had babies as young as 5 weeks in my classes. I believe it's never too early to start! Babies this young are very attuned to loving stimulation through visual, auditory, touch and vestibular senses. Kindermusik is perfect! When my babies were tiny it was so hard to WAIT for them to be old enough! You're not too early!

I'm having some free "try-it" classes on the 1st of September at both the north Asheville and Arden locations. Email me to be invited so you can experience it with your little one.

Yvette

A musical icon

Les Paul June 9, 1915 – August 13, 2009
A pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible.

Can't decide whether to enroll in Kindermusik?

I've been teaching Kindermusik since 1995 and I've met all kinds of children and all kinds of grown ups! You really are Kindermusik people too!

Life is an Opera

And you can write one on twitter! Here's an article I found online about a cool way to participate in this art form.

UK's Royal Opera House to perform 'Twitter' opera

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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(08-11) 05:15 PDT LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) --

It probably won't be "Madame Butterfly," but it should be fun.

London's renowned Royal Opera House said Tuesday it hopes to perform excerpts of an opera now being composed on the Web by the growing community of Twitter users.

They are contributing to the libretto line by line, their imaginations limited only by the format of the micro-blogging site, which allows a maximum of 140 characters to be posted at a time.

The results will be put to music and, if all goes to plan, performed to an audience next month.

Royal Opera House spokeswoman Alison Duthie said the use of Twitter is part of a wider effort to get more people interested in the art form.

"It's the people's opera, and the perfect way for everyone to become involved with the inventiveness of opera as the ultimate form of storytelling," she said.

She encouraged people to contribute to the libretto and to view the work-in-progress at http://twitter.com/youropera.

What's taking shape is strange even by opera standards. So far, the libretto tells the story of a man kidnapped by birds and features a talking cat.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/11/entertainment/e041527D38.DTL#ixzz0NsQ7BP5x

Rain Sound By Clapping

This is my first summer here. People tell me it usually doesn't rain this much! I do love that it's so green....
Enjoy this rainstorm for your ears.



And by the way, are you coming to the Asheville Arts Center birthday party on August 14 and 15?
You're invited!

Fall Schedule

Here's the schedule for Kindermusik at the Asheville Arts Center....and a ton of other great programs. Check it out. If you're interested in trying a Kindermusik class for free please call Eliza 253-4000 and she'll put you in the know and on the list! I had a free class today and we had SOOOOOOO much fun. There were smiles all around.

Join us!

You can click on the above picture to have a larger more complete view. Some classes are filling so call or register online: www.ashevilleartscenter.com

Classes begin Sept 14.

Kindermusik classes are two for one! ;-)

When kangaroo bounces she won't go alone.
Her little one comes in a pouch all his own.
Snug, with his mama, along for the ride,
He can peek out and he can hide!

Baby jumps out of his pouch with a bound!
See how he bounces and bounces around.
Jump, Joey, jump with a hippity hop;
Back to your mama, then leap in and stop!

Two for one you ask? Why, yes! It's a children's music and movement class and an adult aerobic class all rolled into one! Today we were bouncing around like kangaroos and my heart rate was goin'!

But there's so much happening with this little poem that I really wanted to take time and break it apart so you can understand all the important work it invites.

Jumping is reported to increase bone density (no matter your age!) . And beyond that dimension of the physical, for young children and adolescents who experience growth spurts, jumping can give children information they need to know about the new dimensions their bodies...It tells helps them understand where they begin and end.

One more side affect from jumping is deep pressure applied to the joints between the spine, knees, hips, etc. Stress hormones are worked out by deep pressure. This can have an affect of calming or focusing for the child. Children might be better primed for learning after a series of jumps! The best recipe for that would be a short burst of jumps followed by a pause then more jumps and another pause....etc. (Whereas just doing lots and lots of jumping can really wind up a bunch of kids...look out!)

And that's exactly what we did with the music today! "Jump, jump, jump...then back in mama's pouch (with a big deep pressure hug) and sway, sway, sway......then jump......"

There's even more good stuff in this activity about the Kangaroos. The "peek out" and the "hide" section is so much fun for children...that's usually a clue that they are "working". If your little one jumps in your lap and you hide them with a big, deep hug and they can peek out and hide it's a way for them to know it's OK to bound away and jump back in when they realize their world just got bigger then they had ever imagined! When children are about 18 months old (the line is grey and fuzzy, it's not exactly 18 months!) they will recognize themselves in the mirror. This is a milestone in their understanding of themselves as separate from you. Though it takes much longer for this concept to be fully realized (well beyond 3 years old), it is a moment that must be treated gently and with the lesson of trust. Their confidence and self esteem will grow stronger if they know you will be there when they come back from the scary edge of the universe for some reassurance and love. It tests a parent's observation skills, patience and creativity when no one can predict the moment they will take the two steps back to the kangaroo pouch with clingyness and whining!

Only this is certain:
Parenting is hard work!

Keep up the jumping!

Love,
Yvette

Kindermusik Open Houses and Farewell to Patty Lee Book

Dear Asheville Arts Center and Kindermusik families,
The only thing constant is change itself. Parents of young families know this best! We know that children bloom in a balance of predictable routine and stimulating change. Change can be challenging, hectic, exhilarating, scary, exciting, sad, and wondrous.....

It doesn't stop at the end of childhood!
Patty Lee Book, the Maestro Director of Kindermusik at the Asheville Arts Center is stepping down to move with her family to Florida. A move is a tremendous change! We wish you and your family good luck on this adventure, Patty Lee! And we hope you are very soon back to affecting the lives of children with your musical passion and talent.

Having gone through so much change myself last summer you might think I'm ready for routine! I am grateful for the year I've had working with Patty Lee and confident that we can make this change to the new Director of Kindermusik at the Asheville Arts Center a positive one for the children as possible.

Please come to the open house on July 1st to share hugs and a send off for Patty Lee and for some singing and twirling on a great summer day. Do invite your friends...we don't want to keep the Kindermusik magic to ourselves! (See below for time and location for both the July 1 and August 5 open houses.)

Musically yours,

Yvette Odell

Director of Kindermusik
Asheville Arts Center
www.ashevilleartscenter.com

July 1 and August 5: Kindermusik Open Houses at the Asheville Arts Center

Kindermusik Open Houses!

One of my greatest joys in explaining the programs we have available at the Asheville Arts Center is telling people that we have programs for newborns to 18 year olds, as well as adults. Whoever I am explaining that to generally raises an eyebrow and says: "Newborns? Really?"

Really! Our Kindermusik program begins at 1 day old, teaching music & movement and giving your children a fantastic head-start in the arts!

You're invited to a FREE Music and Movement Storytime!
Wednesday, July 1st & Wednesday, August 5th, 2009 at our North location under Atlanta Bread Company on Merrimon Avenue.

Pre-registration for both events is recommended, call us today!
828.253.4000

Kindermusik® is a music and movement program for newborns up to age 7. Kindermusik® is a great opportunity to be a part of a child centered and age appropriate program that creates musical children by letting them explore all the possibilities that surround them.

Kindermusik® is the emerging community of families and teachers passionately committed to bringing music to children's lives. Guided by a proven methodology combining music and childhood development research, Kindermusik® sparks magical, memorable learning for each and every child.

School Readiness?

Give your child a head start.

Kindermusik helps your child

• Develop early literacy and language skills
• Acquire reasoning and early math skills
• Increase self control
• Cultivate a lifelong love of music

Try a class for free July 1st.

Call the Asheville Arts Center today to reserve a spot for your child (newborn to 7+) in a free music and movement story time hosted by Kindermusik at the Asheville Arts Center. 828-253-4000

Immersing in nature....

Yesterday I saw a most exotic, beautiful bug. I had stopped at the Ingle's gas station on Long Shoals Rd. after my Kindermusik class. Right on the brick and concrete post there clung a very large black and iridescent green beetle.... exotically trimmed in glittering copper. It cowered when I came close for a lingering look. Sometimes I just want to fill my urban life with a little more nature...especially when it comes to me in odd moments.


Last week Anne (my daughter) and I traveled up to Michigan to visit friends and then my son, Ben, in the Upper Penninsula---way up there! Then we drove on the other side of Lake Michigan to Appleton WI to retrieve my daughter Claire...her first summer home from college.

But we also took time to visit with nature....Anne splashed in 54' cold Lake Michigan, stared at the white fog on Bear Lake, hiked along a waterfall on the Keweenaw peninsula......
saw some beautiful Lake Superior sunsets..at 10:20pm!
A most amazing phenomenon of going north in the spring is watching time go backwards. We started out from Asheville with the daylilies just beginning to bloom....then we saw blooming spirea bushes, azaleas, lilacs, forget-me-nots, dogwoods, daffodils and amazingly daffodils....the trees were still leafing out and had that light green or reddish tint...my favorite part of spring.


We also visited the Isle Royal National Park headquarters which is not on Isle Royal but in Houghton MI. Ben tells me this was the least visited national park in the contiguous United States. Well, it's no wonder. You can only get to the island by boat or small plane. At the little gift shop I bought a book that my friend, Dana has been insisting that I read.

Being in nature just feels theraputic. I'm curious to read this.

So after more than 2640 miles of driving (Whew) I say we've just got to get out in the LOCAL nature now!! I know someone who does beautiful waterfall tours in Transylvania County!
C'mon girls, let's go. Oh, yeah. Claire's already out backpacking with her cousin.