Meet The Harmonica Man

Music gives when you give it away. I know there are lots of toddlers with harmonicas now....when are you going to start playing in the checkout lane of the grocery store?

Music and Language and Emotions and the Brain

The other day I had a chance to sit for a while when things were quiet and listen to this radio program from WYNC's Radio Lab. It was a very interesting and even entertaining program. I really do want to know more about how the ear "hears"...how our brains get the message!

Really it was so fascinating that I listened twice to the segments about how babies are attuned to pitches as infants and how in societies with tonal languages (languages like Mandarin Chinese) it is more likely a child will grow up with perfect pitch compared to a language (like English) which is not tone specific. (Many many great composers had perfect pitch.) But that we do teach babies certain vocal inflections as part of communication and some of that is common around the world.

Also I enjoyed the segment about Stravinsky's Rite of Spring which some call the most important music written in the last century. I followed up the radio program by listening to my daughter's orchestra at the Conservatory at Lawrence University as they played a fantastic concert of mostly Stravinsky pieces!
A great evening!

(This picture is actually from the November concert with the LSO choirs. Also a really great concert.)

I play loud sounds on my drum!

Brady plays LOUD sounds on the snare drum. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
There's a pattern here...and that's related to math.

We explore the snares. You can make quiet sounds by touching the snares.

Pulling down the "ears" of the big marching drum. This drum is a revolutionary war replica. I used to have a fife and drum corps when I lived in Maryland...way back when....



LOUD SOUNDS BOOM!
Quiet sounds tap.

Playing the Glockenspiel!

Here's pictures from my Kindermusik Young Child 2 class from the South Asheville Arts Center location in Arden.

We singing, playing and reading the notes "C" and "A" and this week our new note "D"!
Above you see Madison, Alexander and Thomas. They look great. You should hear them!

Help for Haiti – A Benefit hosted by French Broad Chocolate Lounge and Café String Quartet

On Tuesday, February 16^th, from 7 to 9 p.m., Asheville’s own Café String Quartet and French Broad Chocolate Lounge will present a fundraiser to benefit the people of Haiti. 100% of the ticket price will be directly donated to Mercy Corps, for relief efforts associated with the recent earthquake. http://www.mercycorps.org/

The benefit will take place in the newly opened second floor of the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. Artisan chocolates will be offered for free to attendees, courtesy of the Chocolate Lounge. A raffle for a special occasion cake will take place, with all proceeds also being donated. Ticket prices are sliding scale, from $10-$20. “Whatever the guests are moved to give to help the affected people of Haiti, we’ll graciously accept it on their behalf,” says Dan and Jael Rattigan, owners of the Chocolate Lounge. “With beautiful chocolates and beautiful music, we’ll make sure it’s worth the price.”

The music, provided generously by Café String Quartet, will focus on French and Latin music, to reflect the history and culture of Haiti. Café String Quartet is comprised of four classically trained musicians who continue to enjoy playing a diverse collection of music together: Monique Pinelli and Elizabeth Terry on violin, Matthew King on viola and Eric Scheider on cello. The members of Café String Quartet are thrilled to partner with French Broad Chocolate Lounge for their annual fundraiser.

What: Help for Haiti Fundraiser, www.cafestringquartet.com

When: Tuesday, February 16^th, 7-9pm

Where: French Broad Chocolate Lounge, 10 S.Lexington Ave., downtown Asheville (828) 252-4181 http://frenchbroadchocolates.com/

Tickets are by donation at the door. Suggested donation $10-20

I Believe

Do you?

New Semester Begins this week

Hello Musical families,
The new Kindermusik Semester begins this week! The big news is that you can do the complete registration online right here: REGISTER NOW.

Most classes have a couple openings left. But why wait? Childhood is such a short season!

If you are interested in trying a class for free please email me at singandtwirl@gmail.com or call the Asheville Arts Center at 242-1548.