Music, Science, and the Brain ~ Part 1

By chance, a friend forwarded a video clip (below) of world-renowned musician Bobby McFerrin “playing the audience” at an event.  The clip is terrific, but more on that later.  The event was the World Science Festival, held in June 2009, and the event, called Notes and Neurons, was an entire session devoted to music’s impact [...]

Have More Fun ~ Take the Stairs!

Many of us use music to make the more mundane things in our lives more fun.  These folks at a subway station in Stockholm found a creative way to take this to a whole new level (no pun intended)!  Watch this, and see if it would make you take the stairs more often.
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Did You Know How Music Benefits Your Child?

I have written several blog posts about the benefits of music playing, listening, and education for young children.  This wonderful video sums it up better than I ever could.  Enjoy it, and congratulations for giving your child the gift of music!

Many thanks to Christa Sigman, who turned me on to this [...]

Surprising Benefits of Music Education

Here is yet another source that sings the praises of music education in young children.  New Jersey Family Magazine recently posted an article on their website entitled “7 Surprising Benefits of Music Education.”  In a nutshell, the article states what Kindermusik educators have known for years.  Music aids in memory, literacy, math, social, physical, [...]

Of Joshua Bell, Beauty, and Children

A couple of years ago, the Washington Post conducted an experiment at a busy D.C. metro station during morning rush hour.  They asked Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical violinists in the world, to play his violin at the station and see what would happen.  Bell was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a [...]

Inside the Kindermusik “Bubble”

Today I’m going to step aside and let Michael Dougherty, the CEO of Kindermusik International, speak on my behalf.  I hope you’ll enjoy what he has to say.
We have learned the hard way in this recession that things are not always as they seem.  Banks are not as solvent, General Motors is not as mighty, [...]

Great Children’s Music Resource

Any of you who have experienced Kindermusik classes know that the songs and recordings are high quality, age appropriate, and designed to enhance the young brain in all kinds of ways.  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of much of the children’s music available today.  Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon Beat Boppers [...]

Why Music Matters ~ You Heard it Here!

I have communicated in this blog on many occasions (using words, videos, articles, and pictures) about the benefits of music.  I just found another source, schoolmusicmatters.com, that contains quotes from other folks who can talk about this subject much more eloquently than I.  Here is some of what these folks had to say:
When I hear [...]

Gift of Music Lasts a Lifetime!

I have written many posts in this blog about the beneficial effects of music on young children.  Here is a video of an older couple playing the piano together at the Mayo Clinic, which shows how music can keep us feeling young throughout our lives.  Enjoy!

(Thanks to fellow Kindermusik educator Bonnie [...]

Kindermusik and the Path to Reading

I often talk in Kindermusik classes about the link between music and literacy.  Now, Kindermusik International has published a study that describes how Kindermusik classes help your child on the road to learning to read.  Check out On the Path to Reading: Toddler to learn how Kindermusik Our Time classes lay the foundation for reading [...]