Sunday, November 28, 2010

Music goes beyond words....

NPR's Melissa Block talks to violinist Lynn Chang, who will be playing at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony on Dec. 10, honoring Chinese writer and human rights activist Liu Xiaobo. 

Chang said "An artist plays to educate, to entertain, to illuminate, but here, it's a much deeper purpose. We're trying to finish in music where words are left off." 

So beautiful and so true. I hope you will listen to this article as Chang plays his violin at the end. He plays a beautiful tune called "Jasmine Flower" and I could hum along. I recognized it instantly. It's on this CD! If you click below on the picture you can scroll down at the Play.Kindermusik.com site and hear a sample of the Kindermusik arrangement.
Isn't this another really wonderful reason to love Kindermusik? Babies who've listened to Kindermusik CDs have experienced a wide, wide variety of music. They already can appreciate the different timbres, tonalities and textures of music from around the world.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Fun in a BOX. Christmas gift....the best.


Here is our fun way of practicing self control...waiting and waiting...and having a great time with a box!


Younger children are just beginning the concept of understanding time, wiating and even making predictions about the future. Time isn't something you can point to! Steven will be better able to wait longer because we allowed him to determine how long he should wait. Playing this game at home will give opportunities for practicing and children love this game so much they may surprise you by keeping you singing the toast song for a looooooooong time before they pop!


A big box or a large piece of fabric is a great holiday gift for a child of this age. The open-ended objects stimulate imagination, creativity and problem solving. AND they leave room in the budget for more KINDERMUSIK! (the gift that keeps on giving!) Studies show that subsequent semesters of Kindermusik help children with inhibitory control and self control in upcoming school years.
Waiting in a box, stop and go songs and games, tapping shakers to a steady beat all help with body control, the beginning of self control (including the ability to think before we speak).

So think before you give them the latest electronic toys that have narrow imaginative possibilities. Think about 15 weeks of musical fun, musical learning, musical togetherness that these children thrive on and you will cherish. Kindermusik....a good beginning never ends.

The new semester will be online next week. Gift certificates are available: email singandtwirl@gmail.com.

Have fun singing and twirling in the kitchen this week!
Yvette