Open Studios October 31, 2006
Posted by musiclasts in Instrumental Instruction, Kindermusik, Local Events.add a comment
The Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC), in conjunction with the strong support
of Wachovia Bank, is excited to present its 5th Annual Open Studios
featuring 80 artisits from the Upstate.
Open Studios is Saturday, November 4th from 10:00am – 6:00pm and again on
Sunday, November 5th from 12:00pm – 6:00pm. Catalogues, which include maps
to the artists’ studios, are available at the MAC office (467-3132) located
at 16 Augusta Street (across from Smoke On the Water). Or, visit the Open
Studios website at www.greenvillesouth.com/openstudios.html.
This event is tremendous and worth some good family time – rain or shine!
Enjoy!
“When the wind blows, the leaves are swept together” October 30, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Connecting, From Us to You, Instrumental Instruction, Kindermusik, Outdoor Play.add a comment
Recently, the daughter of a friend of mine showed to me the enormous pile of leaves that she had collected on a nature walk at school earlier in the day. Since the leaves have only just begun to change, she’d only (it.) managed to gather 173 leaves to take home and one can only imagine the bag full she’s sure to come home with in the next few weeks!
Earlier the same day, at the local park with which we’re obsessed, a group of four and five year olds were gathering any and all acorns and sending them hurtling in crowds down the twirling tornado slide. Dangerous? yes, if there had been unsuspecting children lingering at the bottom. But since the park was not yet busy, we parents let the rosy-cheeked activity continue.
The windows are latched, jackets are on permanent display near the door,
“Winter is coming,” honk the geese as they suspend themselves in the at-last-it’s-not-raining blue sky. What are you doing to make the most of the great outdoors, the cooler weather, and the glory of autumn? Please don’t tell me you’re watching it from behind the steering wheel or while sipping coffee at the kitchen window. Get up! And get your kids into the air before winter slush and mud come calling.
Sign Language and Preschoolers October 26, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Expert Insights, From Us to You, Indoor Play, Kindermusik.add a comment
Sign Language is easily learned by preschool-aged children. Signing can:
– Create an environment for understanding without words.
– Help children avoid frustration when words don’t come easily.
– Foster language refinement – can clarify.
– Provide ways to communicate with non-hearing people as more children are “mainstreamed” into preschools.
– Help children attend more easily — requires eye-contact (children are overloaded with sound in environment)
– Make language active; children are active participants in the learning process.
– Foster self-esteem — gives children more control in expressing themselves and is an acquired skill.
– Lessen conflict in the classroom — channels kinetic energy positively.
– Be a quiet way to “correct.”
Taken from Imagine That! Hello Weather, Let’s Play Together teacher manual.
How to Foster Curiosity October 24, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Expert Insights, Indoor Play, Instrumental Instruction, Kindermusik, Outdoor Play.add a comment
“Learning is by nature curiosity.” — Philo
Curious children can be exasperating as they are into everything and explore and try everything that pops into their heads or runs across their paths. But curiosity, dead cat notwithstanding, is part of the natural drive
The following suggestions for fostering curiosity are taken from the Imagine That! Hello, Weather, Let’s Play Together teacher manual.
– Be a thoughtful and interested questioner asking open-ended questions rather than questions that are simply answered with a “yes” or “no.”
– Give your children your loving attention.
– Support children’s exploration and play through demonstration and modeling.
– Expand children’s exploration through comparisons and discussion.
– Provide opportunities for repetition, practice and mastery of skills.
– Always present a positive choice when setting limits.
– Keep your own sense of wonder and curiosity alive.
Fais do-do October 19, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Connecting, Expert Insights, From Us to You, Indoor Play, Kindermusik.add a comment
Did you know that singing, listening, and experiencing lullabies gives a child a moment to reconnect with their caregivers? Toddlers in particular need a chance to “bound back” after experiencing a day full of “bounding away” activity. In the Kindermusik classroom, we use a quiet time to give both the children and the adults an opportunity to reconnect with one another after a busy time of learning and playing.
At home, reconnecting is just as valuable. Taking a moment to reconnect after or during a busy day is an important part of your child’s emotional development, just as interacting with your child through play, literature, and exploration is important to his or her emotional health. Research shows that touch is as important to a child’s growth and development as are eating and sleeping.
Not only does a quiet time to reconnect benefit your child, taking time to enjoy your child in this way is also beneficial to you! As you sing, rock and massage your child during a quiet time, you are nurturing the bond between the two of you by communicating your feelings of love to your child, something that you may need to communicate more on difficult than on easy days! Relaxing with and enjoying your child also nurtures a feeling of well being in both child and adult and can ease anxieties and frustrations that come with the day to day of parenting.
As you begin to establish a quiet time routine, you can rely on traditional lullabies that you learned as a child, learn new lullabies featured on your at-home CDs, and consider adding some of the following lullaby albums to your home collection.
You Are My Sunshine Music Collection
Wunnerful, Wunnerful October 19, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Connecting, Expert Insights, From Us to You, Indoor Play, Instrumental Instruction, Kindermusik.1 comment so far
Lawrence Welk, “was a musician, an accordion player, band leader and television impresario. ” (wikipedia)His television show, which was most popular in the 1960’s features top-notch musicians with big hair and toothy smiles. The music, also known as “champagne music” wasn’t the cool music of the era, but it was light and fun and interesting to watch.
So, moms, dads, children young and old, get out your instruments, home-made and store-bought alike, and set up an orchestra pit in your living room while you turn the volume up on a whiz-bang show. Be sure to leave enough room for a dance floor. Consider swirling dresses and shoes that tap. Tune in to the Lawrence Welk show to hear classic music that you may or may not remember and invite your children to experience musical performances both visually and interactively.
The show airs here in Greenville Saturday nights at 7 on PBS. Don’t forget to bring out the bubbles and go out with a rainbow bang yourselves at the end of the show.
And remember, it’s important to be silly. If you’ve forgotten how, this is a good place to start!
“All I want for Christmas is a Bilibo!” October 19, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Connecting, From Us to You, Indoor Play, Kindermusik.add a comment
Instrument and puppet orders will be going out this week in your classes. Now is your opportunity to take advantage of a fantastic resource of educational and unique tools for you and your child to use together at home. Not only does having a stash of musical instruments at home provide hours of fun for everyone young and old, but it provides an easy way for you to take the classroom activities you experience from week to week and expand on them at home.
Play is the primary work of the child — why not provide your child with top-notch tools for the job?
Tea Party October 19, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Uncategorized.add a comment
Children ages 8-10 should mark their calendars and plan on attending the musical “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” playing at the Peace Center October 23-26
“From the halls of British Parliament, to the port of Boston and the “Tea Party” protest, to the Boston Massacre to the dangerous thrill of Revere’s now-legendary ride warning people of the coming British invasion, this new musical makes American history accessible and exciting through a unique combination of music, drama and humor. TheatreworksUSA’s The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere tells the inspirational, universal story of how ordinary people can make a difference. ” — from the Theater Works Usa website.
Composer of the Month: Edvard Grieg October 5, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in Instrumental Instruction, Music History.add a comment
Grieg is considered one of the most prominent Nordic composers of all time. Grieg’s music is not only melodically rich, but rich with human emotion, which makes his artistic statement ring all the more true: “One must first be a human being. All true art grows out of that which is distinctively human.”
Although he was born in Norway in 1843, Grieg studied piano, music theory, and composition in Germany. In the later years of his life he travelled promoting his own music and performed as a conductor pianist in many concerts.
Grieg died in 1907 at age 64. Thousands of people flooded the streets of the town to mourn his death.
Grieg wrote during the Romantic period. He is considered a nationalist composer as he was very inspired by Norwegian Folk Music, which is reflected in his compositions. Grieg’s musical paintings are easy to remember and have been hummed for generations. The Peer Gynt Suites, in particular “The Hall of the Mountain King,” will be forever remembered as Grieg’s most famous works.
Parent’s Night Out October 5, 2006
Posted by molliegreene in From Us to You, Indoor Play, Kindermusik.add a comment
Don’t forget about Parent’s Night Out! This Friday at our Simpsonville location from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Don’t miss it! Call our office at (863) 232-5010 to register.
