Welcome to my backyard!

I've been a backyard naturalist for many years....probably mostly because of the sounds of nature we use in our Kindermusik classes to help children with skills in intentional listening. This kind of listening is far different from "hearing" (from which we cannot escape!). Often in class we use the songs of birds to practice our intentional listening. For myself I am thrilled when I am outside and hear a bird and can name it just from its song! I find I can hear many layers of bird sounds--birds calling, answering, proclaiming, scolding... Once on a short vacation up to Mackinaw Island the squeaking wheels of my suitcase insulted a robin's territorial claim. He tried all the harder for us to understand we were imposing--nay ~~ tresspassing! This short video gives insight to human sounds we hear but usually don't listen to. I found it both humorous and sobering at the same time!

Join our Kindermusik Adventures class (Welcome to My Backyard) Monday's at 10:30 for lessons that stretch our ability to listen with intention! Begins June 1. See www.ashevilleartscenter.com

We'll sweep this clear in half a year if you don't mind the work!

My daughter, Anne and I made a little trip during spring vacation. We went to the ocean. I believe it's been over 15 years since I've seen the ocean and this was Anne's first time!


Anne's reaction was one of quiet determination. She didn't say much. She just bent down and started to "clean up"! I was reminded of the quote above from Alice in Wonderland.

And I just got to work with her so now we have lots of fun shells for our Creatures at the Ocean class this summer (starting all this week!).


Five little seashells lying on the shore.
Swish went the waves and then there were four!
Four little seashells cozy as can be.
Swish went the waves and then there were three.
Three little seashells all pearly new.
Swish went the waves and then there were two.
Two little seashells sleeping in the sun.
Swish went the waves and then there was one.

One little seashell left all alone whispered shhhhhhhhhhh as I took it home.


We had for so many years lived so close to Lake Michigan (very much a jewel!) but I have missed the waves and the tides.

Poppies for Memorial Day.....





Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing.....


Peace,
Yvette

Children's music concert--FREE!

Do families already know about this???? It sounds fabulous! I hope to make it to the first and the third event.

When we were growing up, by some stroke of luck, our family attended many concerts. Some were concerts where siblings were performing but many were recitals, ensembles from the local college, or when the symphony traveled to our region...I think it's very important to take children to as many live concerts as you can manage. Live music has special qualities that affect our well being! Concerts like these that are free are wonderful because if you have to drift out with an especially wiggly one--it's OK! After the concert talk about what you heard, what you liked, what was amazing....It doesn't take too long before you have children who are attentive and critical listeners. And they start to apply these skills to their musical endeavors and also to their listening skills for school and everywhere else!

Keowee for Kids!
Festival 2009

Friday, May 29, 3:30 and 5 pm • flute & guitar
Lord Auditorium, Pack Library, Downtown Asheville

Saturday, June 6, Noon and 2 pm • flute, guitar & cello
The Hop, 640 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville

Friday, June 19, 1 and 2 pm • flute, viola & harp
First United Methodist Church, Waynesville

KEOWEE for KIDS! are mini-concerts which introduce young listeners, ages 5-12, to chamber music and instruments through story and sound. The programs are designed to help children explore creativity through active participation in the musical experience.

Free Admission • Thanks to the generous support of Dr. Dennis R. Campbell, DDS, Pediatric Dentistry of Asheville and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation

Cool Cats under Cool Capsbusking in the city!!!!

Look what a treat I found "in the city" today! These happy buskers are playing an original I think! And they are from left to right:
Anne, Devin, Duncan and Grayson. Do you think they are they having any fun?

Do you have to be a gifted musician?

Would you ever say to a child: "You aren't mathematical. You just don't have that gift for math so why don't you try something else?" Of course NOT! We expect all children to achieve a certain level of math.

Why do we NOT expect that all children will achieve a certain level of music fluency? Especially now as we have research that proves that music training improves math scores, reading scores and SCORES of other measurements for scores of other intelligence indicators. Why? How can schools say "We have no money for a music program?" or "We can only afford music for the first half of the year. We'll do visual art for the second half."

Reading music and pitch matching improves reading scores:

TUNEin™ to READING comes alive on our video! See our software in action and meet students, educators and literacy experts who explain how and why it makes such a dramatic difference for struggling readers.

What could be better? Well, I think that "better" would be all the joy endocrines that a student would get singing in a top notch school choir...where the director would help them realize the thrill of matching pitches, making harmony, grooving with intensity...making music together...yes, that would be the best.

Lindley Junior School Choir - Simple Gifts

Coventry Blue Coat School Choir singing Bright Morning Stars Are Rising:

What do you suppose their reading scores are like?
Wait, that's not the right way to be thinking...

I'll bet the LOVE to read.

Smarts

"Whether by voice or by instrument, musical performance requires physical control and precision of a high order. A child working at mathematics or languages can sit back and mentally contemplate for minutes before facing difficulty. The same child singing or playing a musical part must both obey exactly and artistically the present behests of the music and at the same time think ahead to prepare herself or himself to deal equally faithfully with what is coming in the music. In no other subject is a child called upon to make four or five decisions a second and act on them continuously for such stretches of time. This combination of constant vigilance and forethought with ever changing physical responses constitutes an educational experience of unique value. Moreover by its nature and traditions the art lends itself more than most activities to the pursuit of excellence to which there is no nobler aim in education".

A quotation of an English music instructor found in a speech by Dr. Frances Rauscher.