You may remember that I posted a video by an a cappella group called Straight No Chaser 2 years ago.  They sang an amazing version of “12 Days of Christmas” and it is by far my most popular post to date.  (You can view it here for old times’ sake.)  Millions of people saw this same video, including a record producer, and now the group has recorded a CD.  Here is “Christmas Can-Can.”  Enjoy!

Happy Holidays to all of you.  See you in 2010!

It’s hard to believe that it has been over 2 years since I began writing this blog.  It is always my hope that it is a source of information, good music, and (of course) fun.  I was recently honored to have my initial article posted on the Kindermusik International blog Minds on Music.  Here is an updated version.  (Click here to see the article at Minds on Music):

I have always loved music, and have been a musician since I was a young girl. I began playing the piano at age 7, and later added voice, clarinet, and handbells to my repertoire. Music has always brought me joy when I was feeling sad, or calmed me down when I was upset. (My family can attest that I have been known to literally “pound out my frustrations” on the piano.)

After completing 7^th grade, I attended a music camp at a small college a few hours from where I grew up. There I had the opportunity to take a private piano lesson from the dean of the music college. I played for him a piece that I felt I had mastered, and he proceeded to point out all of my shortcomings in a way that put my fragile 13-year-old ego through the shredder. Then he told me that if I really wanted to “do” the piece, I would have to give up the other music activities that I enjoyed (accompanying the junior high chorus, playing at church, etc.) and focus completely on practicing that piece. After the lesson, I felt incompetent and utterly dejected.

As high school graduation approached, I began considering a career in music.  While I knew that my musical ability had improved, that horrible music camp experience was still in my mind, and I still felt that my best efforts would always be inadequate.  There would always be someone like that music professor jumping on my every mistake, and music would become a source of stress rather than an outlet. In addition, the Midwestern work ethic with which I was raised conveyed the message that your job was just a job, and you weren’t meant to enjoy it.

So, I pursued my other talents, mathematics and business, and became an actuary, working for 2 different insurance companies for a total of 16 years. I endured the stress of studying for and passing a series of extremely difficult exams, working 50+ hour weeks with no end in sight, juggling career and family, and always feeling like I wasn’t doing enough. There was very little about my career that I could call fun, and I know I wasn’t much fun to be around. What was fun was making music, as I became a church and community musician and began teaching music to children.

In late 2005, I left my executive-level job to take some time off and figure out “what I want to be when I grow up.” What I figured out is that life is too short to not enjoy what you do, and what I enjoy is music. In the fall of 2006, I began teaching music at local preschools and became licensed to teach Kindermusik.  Shortly after that, I formed my business and chose the word brioso, which means “with vigor and spirit.” In 2007, I began teaching Kindermusik classes and private piano lessons. And I have discovered that singing and laughing with children nearly every day is a wonderful boost to the spirit. It is my hope that all of you reading this are fortunate enough to spend your lives doing work that feeds your spirit as well.

Have a great week!

This is the third and final post in a series about the impact of music on the brain.  The inspiration for this series was Notes and Neurons, a session at the 2009 World Science Festival devoted to music and the brain.

The third principal point I learned from this session is it is exposure to various pitch combinations, not genetics, that determine human preferences. The music that we hear creates patterns in our brain that filter our preferences.  This exposure may begin forming before children are born, because auditory systems are formed within 12 weeks after conception.  Here are some other interesting tidbits:

• An interval refers to the distance between 2 pitches.  Intervals of a 5th (think of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star) and an octave (think of Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz) are nearly universal, found in music from Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, and many others.
• An interval of a 4th (think of Here Comes the Bride) is fundamental to Western music.
• Even when we speak, there are associated pitches and intervals that convey meaning.  Studies have shown that a descending minor 3rd (think of Hey Jude) conveys sad speech, while an ascending minor 2nd (think of the Jaws theme music) implies angry speech.
• Scientists could not find a specific interval(s) that conveyed happy speech.  This makes sense, because the concept of evolution would say that we need to pick up on negative speech for our protection.

As I conclude this series, I will leave you with another clip of Bobby McFerrin improvising a song during the Notes and Neurons session.  This song is culturally diverse, yet contains several examples of 5th and octaves.  Enjoy!

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Improvises A Cappella, Song One of Two from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Are you looking for a great gift for a child this Christmas?  Something that will be more interesting than the box it came in?  Something that will last longer than 1 day? Well, look no further.  Give the gift of a Kindermusik class.  The class will go on for a few months, but the benefits to the child will last a lifetime.  Check out this video of a grandmother who has offered to buy Kindermusik classes for all 17 of her grandchildren!

I have certificates available in any denomination for all of you grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends to give to the children in your lives.  Get in touch with me by e-mail or phone, and I’ll tell you how to give the gift that keeps on giving.  Have a great week!

This is the second in a series of posts about the impact of music on the brain.  The inspiration for this series was Notes and Neurons, a session at the 2009 World Science Festival devoted to music and the brain.  The second principal point that I heard from this event was every part of the brain is involved in music.  This is true if you are passively listening to a piece of music, but is even more true if you are in the act of making music.

Music is a whole nervous system activity.  The cortex, the sub-cortex, and the cerebellum of both the left and right hemispheres of the brain get into the act. When listening to or performing music, the following brain areas are involved:

• auditory
• visual
• physical (planning and organizing movements to, or motor skills to perform, music)
• personality
• memories and associations
• expectations (the brain has a sense of where the music is going and what will happen next)
• emotional experiences and manifestations (these tend to be more abstract and primordial than other emotions humans have)
• social experiences (see Part 1 of this series for more information)

Here is some additional food for thought from Dr. Frank Wilson, an assistant clinical professor of neurology at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco (click here for the source information):

1. Studies show that instrumental practice enhances coordination, concentration and memory and improves eyesight and hearing.
2. Through music, people become an active participant in their own physiological development. They can discover themselves and a sense of self in community through musical involvement.
3. Involvement in music connects and develops the motor systems of the brain in a way that cannot be done by any other activity.  A UCLA study of brain scans indicates that music fully involves more brain functions than any other activities studied.
4. Dr. Wilson feel that these significant findings will lead to a universal understanding that music is an absolute necessity for the total development of the brain and the individual.

This is some great stuff to “chew on” this Thanksgiving week.  Have a great holiday!

Julie is pleased to announce the Spring 2010 Kindermusik class schedule:

Daytime Classes: Leigh’s School of Dance (13490 S Arapho Drive) in Olathe

Village ~ Newborn to 18 mos. with parent ~ Cock-a-Doodle Moo

Hop on the hayride—it’s time to head for the farm! In this class, we will sing songs about the farm, including Old MacDonald, Hayride, and Clever Cows. We’ll engage in rituals and playful activities with your baby, and learn how to continue them at home for optimum learning.  Home Materials: Picture board book, CD of the songs heard in class, a Sunshine Jingle instrument for music-making at home, and a set of Art Banners for the nursery wall.

Sign & Sing ~ 6 mos. to 2 yrs. with parent ~ Sessions A & B

From the moment of birth, parents have a strong desire to understand, and babies have an innate need to communicate. This class (developed by Signing Smart™) gives parents the tools to communicate with their little ones using American Sign Language. This research-based program speeds language development and eases frustration.  Home Materials: 2 DVDs with signs learned in class, 2 sets of flash cards, and 2 Home Activity books with ideas to continue signing at home.

Our Time ~ 1½ to 3½ yrs. with parent~ Away We Go

Hop on the train, get in the car, board the plane, and Away We Go! This class focuses on transportation, a favorite topic for toddlers who are on the go, go, go! Sing and play along with favorite songs, such as I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad and Wheels on the Bus. Explore fast and slow, smooth and bumpy, and high and low.  Home Materials: 2 CD’s featuring songs from class, 2 interactive story books, Home Activity Book, and 2 harmonicas designed for toddlers.

Imagine That! ~ 3½ to 5 yrs. ~ Toys I Make, Trips I Take

What’s more exciting to a child than a new toy? How about a remarkable toy shop, filled with boats, trains, balls, and a jack-in-the-box! Toys I Make, Trips I Take introduces the musical environment of a remarkable toy shop, and is focused on creating a stimulating musical environment that integrates music, pretend play, story telling, movement, and more.  Home materials: 2 CDs, 2 literature books, a Home Activity Book, Toy Shop playset and drum.

ABC Music & Me ~ 5 to 6 yrs. (grades K-1) ~ Feel the Music Under the Rainbow

In this class, we’ll explore words that help describe feelings, while learning more about the emotions of others. We will match sounds with pictures, and pictures with written words, to build lasting literacy skills.  Your child will learn about Ludwig van Beethoven, as well as the musical concepts of high and low pitches, crescendo, and decrescendo. Home materials: 2 Home CD, 2 Family Activity Guides, mini maraca, and 1 pair of finger cymbals.

Family Time ~ Newborn to 7 yrs. with parent ~ Make Way for Music

Families will sing, dance, and play as we explore beat, rhythm, staccato, legato, voices, instrument families, and much more in age-appropriate ways. We’ll engage in activities that the whole family can enjoy together, including finger plays, songs, dances, stories, and family jam.  Home Materials: 2 CDs, 2 literature books, Family Activity Book, lion hand and finger puppets, board game and two finger drums.

Evening Classes: KC Road Shops (1500 E Kansas City Road, Suite 25B) in Olathe

Village ~ Newborn to 18 mos. with parent ~ Cock-a-Doodle Moo

Hop on the hayride—it’s time to head for the farm! In this class, we will sing songs about the farm, including Old MacDonald, Hayride, and Clever Cows. We’ll engage in rituals and playful activities with your baby, and learn how to continue them at home for optimum learning.  Home Materials: Picture board book, CD of the songs heard in class, a Sunshine Jingle instrument for music-making at home, and a set of Art Banners for the nursery wall.

Our Time ~ 1½ to 3½ yrs. with parent~ Away We Go

Hop on the train, get in the car, board the plane, and Away We Go! This class focuses on transportation, a favorite topic for toddlers who are on the go, go, go! Sing and play along with favorite songs, such as I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad and Wheels on the Bus. Explore fast and slow, smooth and bumpy, and high and low.  Home Materials: 2 CD’s featuring songs from class, 2 interactive story books, Home Activity Book, and 2 harmonicas designed for toddlers.

Visit Julie’s website today to enroll. All classes are 45 minutes in length. A $60 deposit due at enrollment ($30 for Village classes), with the remainder due by first class. Enroll by January 1 and get $10 off, plus a free CD! In addition, there is a $30 discount for siblings who enroll in the same session. Scholarships are also available (click here for details).

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 on the brain.  What a great feeling it is to have your life’s work and passion discussed at such a premier event!

I have watched the entire session online, and there was so much great information that I am going to devote a series of posts to it.  One of the principal points made during the session was that music creates community. According to the scientists on the panel, music is embedded in our culture.  Before there was language, music was a way to communicate and form social ties with others.

How did early humans use music to communicate and bond with one another?  Some of the earliest attempts at language and communication were actually dance and mimicry–of animal sounds, of other humans, of events, and of the gods.  These attempts later evolved into what we know as music.

For these early humans, this music was entirely participatory.  People made music together because it helped them to form emotional bonds to each other.  The idea of sitting passively and watching someone else “perform” music is not natural to human evolution.  Here is a case in point, as Bobby McFerrin, one of the panelists at this event, made music with the audience:

Bobby McFerrin Plays the Pentatonic Scale Using the Audience at the World Science Festival (video) | The Stimulist

(Posted using ShareThis)

More to come later.  Have a great week!

Calling all amateur directors and singers!

Kindermusik International is making a music video of The Itsy-Bitsy Spider, and is asking for your help.  Make a video of someone in your life singing this favorite song, and submit it to Kindermusik International.  You don’t have to be currently enrolled in a Kindermusik class to enter.  Everyone who submits a video will be entered in a drawing to win a free semester of Kindermusik classes!

Be sure to click here to get all the details.  Good Luck!

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.

My favorite part is the very brief shot of the couple who appear to be playing Chopsticks à la Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia from the movie “Big.”  I would want to do the same thing myself if I were there!

Have a great week!

It’s time for Halloween Week 2009 with Julie’s Music Brioso!  During next week’s 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.

For more Halloween fun, click here and check out Miss Julie’s Monster Mash-Up video.  You can make your own video as well!

Finally, click on my pumpkin above and you’ll be taken to a site where you can carve your own jack-o-lantern.

Have fun, and Happy Halloween!