Wait...wait...wait....NOW!

Watch this really short clip to catch a glimpse of many developmental building blocks we are working on in all age groups of Kindermusik.

Our work with this song includes:
1. Exploring the drums  

2. Pretend play

3. Playing along with a steady beat

4.Math patterns and measuring time

5. Eye/hand coordination

6. Developing our proprioceptive sense

7. Self control  

8. Fun!

If you saw my earlier post on "School readiness and reading readiness: Is it just for preschool?", you'll know that we've been working a LOT self control. The above video is a snapshot of budding musicians learning how to wait for the perfect moment to play a single tap on the drum. There are 3 children playing drums and they all stepping on the path to self control. First, of course is exploration (drums are fun and can make all kinds of sounds, mostly fast and loud!) and understanding their body (specifically for this activity knowing where their arms are and how to make them do exactly what you want them to do--this is part of the proprioceptive sense). Then, waiting (self control); a skill highly developed by musicians especially in any ensemble work like playing in an orchestra, woodwind quintet or rock and roll band. In our little video the drum is part of the simple ensemble. The children's brains have computed the length of the first phrase and have noted that it matches the second phrase. Some predict that the third phrase will also match but when it turns out to be a much longer phrase they have to work against the urge to tap in the middle of the phrase! Wait...wait...wait....NOW! That's pretty complex work for these little ones! But these are the tools they need to be successful as adults.

 Nolan jumps on the last beat of each phrase of Hickory Dickory Dock. At first children will learn that the length of the 2nd phrase matches the first. Then the predict the third one will also be the same size. You have to give them credit when they make that educated guess!  BUT the first  2 phrases are short and the third one is long so Nolan has learned to measure the time for each phrase and the pattern that this creates. Jumping is a gross motor activity and takes a lot more control than tapping or clapping.

Just below I've put a link to an article of interest from the New Yorker about self control as a predictor of success. The author says towards the end that it's sad that we know this but when we see a student who can not wait their turn, or shouts out the answers without raising their hands, the only thing we do about it is complain. There are ways to learn this self control. And, well..., what could be more fun than Kindermusik! It's a valuable way to invest in your child!Don’t!

The secret of self-control.

by Jonah Lehrer May 18, 2009

Children who are able to pass the marshmallow test enjoy greater success as adults.

Music, the Universal Language

This week in our Kindermusik Village class (Newborn-18 months) we've been singing a scale song. So very simple. Even the words are "La, la, la, la,......" The babies are curious about how we are singing one of their favorite words we find them staring at mom's mouth and tongue to see how she makes the "L" sound.

The tune is "Do ti la so fa mi re do, do ti la so fa mi re do, do re mi fa so la ti do, do ti la so fa mi re do." Or if this system makes more sense to you: C B A G F E D C, C B A G F E D C, C D E F G A B C, C B A G F E D C. It's just a major scale. Even if you've never studied music you still can sing it on one hearing. (Think the first line of "Joy to the World".)

But here's the math, and it's math that is in a different dimension because it's about the relationships between the frequencies of each pitch. Each note is a specific distance from the next; all being equal except for two intervals that are smaller (those are between the 3rd and 4th notes and the 7th and 8th notes).  Our ears are measuring the relationships of the distances of the pitches. By a very young age we can all understand this mathematical pattern with our ears and we can sing even sing it! And it's a pattern that's used all around the world.

Today in class little Alex was ready to sing the bottom of each phrase going down: "La!" Right on pitch!!! His ear is already calculating the distance! He's doing math! (Don't we LOVE it when kids can do math in their heads!?)

Watch this video of Bobbie McFerrin leading an audience in singing a "Pentatonic Scale". They were only given the directions you see in the video. And this audience is not specifically an audience of musicians, but rather of people who have an interest in science. He proves the universality of the language of music!

Keep singing!

PS here's a good read:

School readiness and reading readiness: Is it just for preschool?

Go-GO-GO-GO!!!!!
AND: STOP
Stop and be still.
Stop and wait.
Stop and listen.
Stop and think.
Stop.
AND GO!
 Here she goes!

In Kindermusik we are always working on these! In Kindermusik "Imagine That!" we are careful to be still and listen when we stop so we can hear the different timbre of the instrument we are to pick up and play along with "We Are Fine Musicians". It is more challenging to stop when we are making big movements as in our song "In the City" where we move our feet fast all around our big city until the "stop" signal is given with our voice and our hands making the American Sign Language motion for STOP! It takes body control and timing to stop so instantly! Yes, these 3 and 4 year olds can do it! They are thinking, listening and their ears and brain sends the signal then they DO stop! And they love it!

                                                                                  She stopped!

With Kindermusik "Our Time" (18 months to 3 1/2 years) we are stopping to listen to the tempo of each section of our dance "Lento y Rapido" We have to be still and quiet, and think about the speed of the music so we can dance according to that cue!They appreciate the ASL hand stop sign. It helps their picture thinking brain grasp the concept of "stop".

Watch her dance and STOP just like this!

Even in Kindermusik "Village" (newborn-18 months) we see and feel the adults stopping according to a musical cue but also on another level we are beginning to understand being in control of stopping each activity. As we sing "Bells away, bells away" and allow the children the time and trust they need to put the bells in the basket ALL BY THEMSELVES! Two really important elements help the children with this huge accomplishment.  First we must be willing to take the time to allow them to realize they have the choice. When we are in a hurry we "help" them put them away quickly. That's when they hang on tighter! In essence we end up grabbing the bells to speed things up and which means it will take longer next week. Ah! I must ask the adults to do some hard work: stop for a moment. Stop and allow. Stop and wait. Stop and trust. If they don't put it in the basket the first week or even the second week...they will soon. I promise.

We all need practice stopping, don't you know. Funny how this goes in a circle. So, time for the grown ups to stop. Put on a lullaby, maybe dim the lights, sit in a big comfy chair or even lie down on the couch. Really stop. Stop and breath. Stop like we do in the Kindermusik Village class when all the adults take a minute to really stop and relax. Then come back and listen to (or read) this NPR article on self control:

For Kids, Self-Control Factors Into Future Success