Spring 2014 Family Newsletter
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Sing and dance along to "All Around the Kitchen" with the families in this 3-minute video. As the moms model making up lyrics to go with everyday activities, it's clear that---with a little creativity---anytime can be music time!
Do you have some lyrics of your own? Share them with our worldwide Facebook community. |
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Singing and Dancing:
Exercise for Your Brain
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When you and your child are singing and dancing in your Music Together class, did you know that you are exercising many of the most important parts of your brain? In particular, recent advancements in brain research present some strong evidence that active music participation can help develop the areas in the brain involved with language, reading, and the processing of speech. This is especially true during early childhood, when the brain is already rapidly developing through experience, and it may lead to some surprising benefits for your child.
 READ ABOUT THE BENEFITS
PRINT ARTICLE (PDF)
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Featured Family:
The Friedmans
| Donna Weng Friedman and her family "aged out" of Music Together classes over fifteen years ago, but music remains an important part of their lives. In fact, the Friedmans have discovered an innovative way to share their love of music-making with others through their family-designed classical music apps for the iPad, called the "Music Bee Club" series. Designed for children between the ages of two and eight, the apps feature well-known classical compositions, such as Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" and Saint-Saëns' "The Swan," accompanied by narrated, original animated stories.
READ FULL ARTICLE
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~ Summer Shopping Special ~
Free Shakers with $35 Purchase!
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Place an order of $35.00 or more on the Music Together online store and receive a FREE pair of Music Together egg shakers ($4.50 value; age-rated for children 2+). For your free gift, use coupon code SUMMER2014 at checkout.
This offer expires August 31, 2014, and may not be combined with any other offers or discounts.
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Remembering What We Already Know
by Ken Guilmartin, Music Together Founder/Director
Every spring I am immensely privileged to spend several days with some of the incredibly gifted individuals who bring Music Together to communities like yours all over the world. They come to the Music Together Annual Conference to learn how to run their centers and programs better. But they also come to inspire and be inspired, to nurture their patience and perseverance, and to have some amazing fun making music together. They come to remember and affirm what they already know so deeply about the importance of what they do.
 Our keynote speaker addressed this theme directly in his moving and inspiring talk. Dr. Karl Paulnack, Dean of the School of Music at Ithaca College, began by saying "I'm not going to tell you anything you don't already know" and then proceeded to give us fresh insights, uniquely and powerfully expressed, about the fundamental importance of music in human life.
PRINT ARTICLE (PDF) |
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Support the Total Learning Act
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Children who are at risk benefit tremendously from participating in Music Together, and there is a bill before Congress that would give many more of them access to our classes. Introduced by US Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4), the Total Learning Act (HR 3983) would provide funding for educational programs modeled after the Total Learning Initiative, which includes Music Together as a key curricular component. Sign a petition to show your support for high-quality early childhood education for all children!
Designed in 2008 by the Bridgeport, CT, nonprofit anti-poverty agency Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD), Total Learning is a comprehensive approach to school change that aims to reduce the achievement gap between poor and upper-income children. Total Learning combines many innovative educational initiatives, such as extended day, professional development for teachers, increased family support, arts-based learning, and Music Together parent-child and preschool classes.
In this video, you'll see Representative Himes visiting a Total Learning program in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Show your support of early childhood education for ALL children by signing a petition in support of the Total Learning Act.
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Take Our Five-minute Family Survey
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Click here to take a five-minute survey---and enter a drawing to win a Drum 'n' Fun large percussion set! ($80 value)
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 This summer, run in the sand and play in the waves with a little "Sandpiper" and his flock until it's time for them to go to sleep in the moonlit dunes. Winner of four awards, including Academics' Choice Smart Book, NAPPA Gold in Educational Tools, and Mom's Choice Gold.
Learn more and watch the video trailer for Sandpiper.
Oyster, mussel, snail, periwinkle, clam. "She Sells Sea Shells" all day long---with some help from her animal friends! Winner of seven awards, including Academics' Choice Smart Book, NAPPA Silver in Educational Tools, and Mom's Choice Gold.
Learn more and watch the video trailer for She Sells Sea Shells.
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Music Together at Home: Maracas "Diaper Bag Songs"
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You're probably used to carrying everything you might need for the day in your bag: diapers, wipes, change of clothing, tissues, band-aids, snacks, books. Add a couple of songs, too, to pull out the next time your little one is fussy. We call these "diaper bag songs," and they can really come in handy during those sometimes challenging transitions.
Maybe your son or daughter doesn't want to get dressed, get in the car, or take a bath. Singing simple, familiar tunes with your own words narrating the action can often shift the tension and stress wrapped up in difficult moments in a way that language cannot. Here are a few ideas for diaper bag songs using the Maracas Song collection. Do you have your own? Share them with us on Facebook!
Fussy eater? Chant about whatever you're eating using "Pease Porridge Hot": "Peach yogurt hot, peach yogurt cold, peach yogurt in the bowl, nice and cold!" Add a big "YUM!" at the end and take a bite.
Tricky diaper change? "Jumpin' Josie" is a great distraction song! Sing about what you're doing along with your child's name: "Time to change your diaper, Mason; time to change your diaper, Mason. Time to change your diaper, Mason. La, la, la, la, la."
Restless in the car? Time to pull out "Train the the City." Let your car be the "train" and sing about where you're going: "This car is driving to the park, this car. . . we'll be there long before dark, this car." And remember, nothing has to rhyme! How about: "This train is going to the store, we're going to buy milk and crackers and grapes, this train . . ."
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