Spring 2007 Schedule Now Available

The Spring 2007 Kindermusik Schedule is now available online.If you would like a copy mailed to you, call (753-8199) or e-mail me, and I'll send one out. Spring semester starts January 29 and ends May 26.

With more than twenty day, afternoon, and evening class times, Monday through Saturday, we're sure to have something that fits your schedule.

It's easy to register for classes!

• Online:Our parent-friendly website is easy to use, especially late at night after the little ones have drifted off. Though Mastercard and Visa are accepted online, you do not have to use a credit card to save your space in class.
  
  
• By Phone: Call our studio telephone line (956-753-8199) to let us know which class(es) you wish to enroll in. We'll fill out your registration form for you and save your requested space(s).
  
  
• In Class: Stop by the studio during class times (M-Sat), and let us know which class(es) to enroll your family in.
  
  

Looking forward to another great semester of making music with you!

P. S.--

Register by January 15th, and receive a $10 early bird discount.

Thinking About Graduation?

One of the things I like about Kindermusik is that our classes are divided into developmental age ranges. That gives us the ability as educators (and parents) to really focus on activities appropriate to that particular age range. For example, in an infant/baby (Village) class, we can focus on things like intentional touch (baby massage) and synchronized dancing in the arms of mom or dad that might not necessarily be a component of a toddler or preschooler class. As an added bonus, each class is made up of parents who understand each other because they are dealing with many of the same issues--a built-in support group.

Not that each child is a carbon copy of another. Within each of the classes, children have the opportunity to observe other children at different developmental points. For example, Village classes often have a mixture of lap babies, crawlers, and walkers since the age range for that class is birth to 18 months. Toddler (Our Time) classes often have children that are fairly new walkers/talkers to children that can skip, hop, run and talk quite well since the age range for that class is 18 months to 3 years.

At the end of each semester, I am often asked about how to choose a class for the next semester, particularly by parents with young toddlers or young preschoolers. Here are some of the things to consider when deciding which class would be a good fit for your child:

Moving from Village (0 to 18 months) to Our Time (18 months to 3 years)

• Your child can recognize and reacts to familiar songs.
  
• Your child has an attention span of several minutes.
  
• Your child can comprehend and follow simple two-step directions.
  
• Your child can communicate beyond simply crying or whining when frustrated.
  
• Your child is able to walk and has started exploring post-walking skills such as jumping.
  
• Your child knows his or her name.
  
• Your child notices and is interested in imitating the actions of other children.
  

Moving from Our Time (18 mths to 3 yrs) to Imagine That! (3 yrs to 5 yrs)

• Your child has a longer attention span and basic preschool skills(recognizes simple shapes, basic colors, and can do simple matching games).
  
• Your child can tell stories and uses his imagination to pretend play.
  
• Your child is comfortable in groups and is beginning to understand how to behave in social situations (e. g., can follow simple classroom rules).
  
• Your child can remember and recite simple songs and rhymes.
  

****Imagine That! classes offer the opportunity to practice separating from mommy or daddy for a short period of time in a safe environment; thus, parents have the option of remaining in the waiting room until Sharing Time if achieving independence is a skill being worked on. However, parents are very welcome to remain and participate during class if having a special bonding time together is the desired goal.****

As always, you know your child better than anyone else. You are always welcome to try any of our numerous classes to find the one that is the best fit for your little one.

Looking Ahead: Kindermusik Calendar Reminders

All classes (except for Family Time) will meet the weeks of December 4 and December 11.

December 18-22 is a bonus week of classes. We'll be doing winter-themed songs and activities this week. This is a great time to make-up missed classes or spend extra time together at Kindermusik.

The week of January 1 and January 8 are the final two class weeks of the Fall semester.

Spring classes start on January 29 and run through May.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope your day finds you surrounded by friends and family.

We celebrated Thanksgiving this week "Kindermusik-style" in our free Bonus classes. Lots of families took the opportunity to attend extra classes as a make-up or fun family holiday activity. We had a great time with all of our out-of-town guests; remember, visitors are always welcome!

Tales From The Kindermusik Convention, Part Four

Time flies--it's the last day of convention. We filled our morning learning with Rosamund Zander,gifted psychotherapist and wife to Benjamin Zander. She took us deep inside our teaching philosophies and challenged us to assess the way we relate to each child. Excellent session...

In the afternoon, we attended breakout sessions covering a variety of topics, including: applying the "Five Love Languages" to the classroom, teaching practices for preschool and big kid classes, including special needs children in the classroom, and using the American Sign Language Sign & Sing curriculum.

The Awards & Recognition Banquet was Saturday evening. Though I wasn't able to stay for the banquet (rushed back to Tennessee to spend time with my parents and see my much-missed Noah), Kindermusik by Sarah Flack was recognized for being a Maestro program, placing us as one of the top Kindermusik programs worldwide.

Tales From The Kindermusik Convention, Part Three

Day Three of the Kindermusik Convention brought a chance for me to do some shopping at the Convention Store. Kindermusik shopping is one of the fun perks of being an educator and studio owner; each semester I get to add instruments, books, puppets, and other props to our studio supply closet--not only do we have the basics like sticks and bells and eggshakers, my teachers and I also have a large collection of world instruments, drums of all shapes and sizes, and other surprises to use in class.

For each age level (infants & babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids), I purchased at least one set of new instruments plus some new puppets and story books. Mr. Fish is one of the new Village (infants to 18 months) instruments.

Morning also brought the opportunity to explore different topics in breakout sessions. Sister Patricia St. John, an "expert in early childhood music, the founder of Carondelet Music Center and its Executive Director," shared ways to approach teaching from a child-centered perspective and demonstrated how to observe and support the learning of each child in our classrooms. Some of the other morning session topics were: ways to use Ipods in class (still learning to use mine), teaching practices for baby and toddler classes, and a discussion of the ABC Music & Me preschool curriculum.

Working lunch--I was invited to participate in a Kindermusik Focus Group. Lots of fun brainstorming ideas for future Kindermusik curricula and sharing feedback from our Kindermusik families back home.

Our afternoon general session was with the incomparable Benjamin Zander, conductor for the Boston Philharmonic. Using the book The Art of Possibility that he co-authored with his wife Rosamund Zander, Mr. Zander spend two hours sharing a perspective on life and relating to others that has changed the way I approach my teaching. Here's what he wrote on his website after speaking with us:

"I told the teachers in Greensboro all about you [writing to a class he teaches]. It was as if the class moved south for the afternoon.
They flew off the walls with the "courage" assignment. It blew the place apart. There is hope for the world! The teachers of the 0-7 year olds at Kindermusik are passionate, alive, engaged, profound, open-hearted, light-hearted and fun. The front row filled up in 6 seconds flat. After that it was a battle to get as close to the front as possible. No one holds back. Tears and laughter flowed in equal measure. They were bursting with excitement. Their singing raised the roof and the heart. The energy in the room was so high that it nearly exploded. I have rarely had so much fun! It took hours to come down - some of us stayed up till one in the morning talking. This is going to change the world. Roz had them for three hours this morning and took them deeper and farther."

Tales From The Kindermusik Convention, Part Two

Morning of Day Two was filled with the remaining sessions of the Leadership retreat. After a very interesting discussion about group theory by Dr. Clay Rowell, we were each presented with a "Little Red Box." Those of you that enjoyed the Village Baby camp last summer with me will remember this song--it's on the "Busy Days" Kindermusik CD:

"I wish I had a little red box
to put my baby in.
I'd take her out,
and kiss, kiss, kiss,
and put her back again."

The red boxes are for saving all those sweet notes, beautiful drawings, and other treasures from my Kindermusik families.

Afternoon brought the arrival of hundreds of Kindermusik educators from around the world for the opening session of the convention. We were treated to a performance by the North Carolina A&T State University "Cold Steel" drumline. These musicians were incredible!

Thursday also included a vocal training session with noted voice coach Arthur Joseph, and a charity auction for the Ruth D. Anderson Kindermusik Children's Fund. (The Children's Fund is a scholarship fund that helps Kindermusik educators bring music classes to children and families in need.)

I always have a copy or two of "Love Everyday," a collection of stories about families that have received Kindermusik scholarships, in the classroom for you to borrow or read before class. Warning--these stories may make you cry.

Tales From The Kindermusik Convention, Part One

Trees changing colors, mountains, cool weather...The drive to North Carolina for the 2006 Kindermusik Convention was beautiful. I left Noah, still sound asleep, with my parents in Tennessee; this would be our longest time apart since he was born. He was very excited to get to spend time playing in the flower garden (also known as digging in the dirt), walking in the woods, and looking for bugs with Granny and Papaw. I, on the other hand, was a little (lot) nervous about being away from my "baby" and daydreaming about what I would do with all the free time I was sure to have at the hotel.

I've been to conventions and workshops before, both as an early childhood music educator and in my former life as a graduate student/teaching assistant at East Tennessee State University. Some conventions are more of an excuse to see the host city than to learn, but not this one. As lovely as Greensboro looked to be, I didn't leave the hotel for more than hour during the four days of convention. It was that good, that full of incredible opportunities to learn.

Day One of the Convention was an invitation-only Leadership Retreat for Maestro-level educators, mentors, Speaker's Bureau members, and representatives to the Kindermusik Partnership. This was a chance to meet other top Kindermusik educators, share ideas, and receive special training. I was happy to have the chance to talk to Kindermusik educators from Texas including Kathleen Wayland (Grapevine, TX), Lisa Muratore (Dallas, TX), and Deborah Foster (Lakeway, TX). I also was able to spend a few minutes talking to the wonderful lady who trained me as a Kindermusik educator, Kim Denney (Ohio).

Highlights from Day One of Convention include:

• Lisa Rowell's presentation on being a Kindermusik parent. It was interesting for me to consider ways I can use my experience as a Kindermusik mom to help better meet your needs during class time. Screaming child? Been there--it's okay! Child won't sit still? Been there, too--it's okay! It also helped me consider ways to support our Kindermusik dads (we have quite a few!).
  
• the "Reach for the Stars" session gave me time to think about my vision for what I want Kindermusik in Laredo to be and ideas for using my passion for music and working with young children.
  
• the special bedtime story and lullaby by Molly McGinn, senior writer (and all-around cool gal with a great voice) from Kindermusik International. Inspired me to dust off my guitar when I got back to Laredo and sing some of that good bluegrass music I grew up with. Also, visiting with Kathy Ecobichon (KI employee owner) at the evening dinner was a treat.
  

Why I Love Being a Kindermusik Educator: Reason No. 577

Because I get to spend time with precious little ones like these (and their wonderful moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles). Thanks for sharing pictures from the Kindermusik Costume Party, Sophie!

On The Road to Laredo

We'll be leaving for the airport this afternoon and officially back in Laredo late (as in 2 AM late) this evening. Kindermusik Convention 2006 was incredible; I have LOTS to share with you all. Keep an eye on this blog for pictures and convention stories later this week (when I have my computer back).

Remember, classes resume tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!