Do Babies Have a Language? Yes!

Another Kindermusik educator turned me on to this fascinating information (thanks, Jane Hendrix!).  It turns out that babies ages newborn to about 3 months old do have their own special language, so it can be easier to decipher those newborn cries and determine what your little one needs. Priscilla Dunstan from Australia has a gift for [...]

Parenting = Happiness? Let’s Be Honest

This is a departure from my usual posts about how music and play bring joy to the lives of young children.  In my work as an educator of young children, I have the opportunity to see how parents interact with their children and each other, and this article is for them. For the past few [...]

What Do I Do With All This Stuff?

Kindermusik is so much more than a once-a-week event with you and your child.  All of the curricula are designed for you, your child’s first and most important teacher, to continue the learning with your child all week long.  With all of the snow days we’ve had over the past few weeks, this concept has [...]

Halloween Week 2010

It’s time for Halloween Week 2010 with Julie’s Music Brioso!  During this week’s Kindermusik classes, feel free to come to class in costume.  Miss Julie will be dressed up, too!  We’ll take some pictures and do some fun Halloween-related activities during class.  Please note:  For those families attending class at Leigh’s School of Dance, we [...]

Some Great Advice

A fellow Kindermusik educator shared this video, and I just had to share it with all of you. What advice would you give your “new mom” self?  I think I would say, “Relax and enjoy the ride!”  Have a great week!

How Do I Continue the Learning at Home?

I consider myself fortunate beyond belief that I get to spend 30 to 45 minutes a week singing, moving, playing, dancing, and rocking with children from infants to high school.  My time with you and your children each week is precious–time devoted to developing your child’s brain and strengthening the bonds between the two of [...]

Kids Need to Play–Doctor’s Orders! ~ Part 3

This is the third and final post addressing “The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds” by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  (Click on the link to read the entire article.)  My first post summarized the AAP’s views on the benefits of play, and the second addressed the fact that [...]

Kids Need to Play–Doctor’s Orders! ~ Part 2

This is the second in a series of posts addressing “The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds” by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  (Click on the link to read the entire article.) My first post about this article summarized the AAP’s views regarding the benefits of play.  Despite all [...]

Kids Need to Play–Doctor’s Orders! ~ Part 1

I have written several times in this blog about how important it is for young children to have time to play and use their imaginations.  I just found an article from the American Academy of Pediatrics that addresses this as well.  The article is entitled “The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and [...]

Give the Gift of Music to a Child in Need

Ten days ago, I attended the joint Kansas/Missouri Music Teachers Association state conference.  I received a wealth of information that will hopefully make me a better music teacher, especially to my piano students. I was also privileged to learn about a very worthwhile charity in our area.  It’s called Music 4 Jeremy’s Cherubs.  It was [...]