And the award goes to.... ME!

I always dreamed of winning an award, perhaps a Grammy or a TONY but "understudy", and "runner-up" were more my reality. I did win a pie baking contest once. I was the only one entered in my division. I've discovered that not winning awards is okay with me.

I don't need to be THE best, I need to be MY best. Not winning gives me space to improve and takes the pressure off. That's one reason I got into Kindermusik. Previously I was teaching private voice lessons where everyone wanted to be the next super star. They weren't enjoying the music, they just wanted the awards.

Kindermusik is about the learning and the fun. Instead of "good job" we say "thank you for playing for us". We learn about music and through music, how to sing, play, move and listen. We learn about ourselves and how to work together. Life skills. Maybe some day one of my students will win a Grammy or TONY. If they do I hope they remember Kindermusik with Ms B  when they give their acceptance speech. That would be better than any award I could win on my own.

Oh but wait... the title is about me winning an award. I have at long last won something and have been given the honor of a Bloggy Award.

Liz, at http://twirlsncurls.blogspot.com/ has given me an award! It's the Sunshine award, and you're supposed to 1) post it on your blog (I saved the image and uploaded it), and 2) pass it on to 5 people who have brought sunshine into your life by listing them and a link to their blog.  Here are the people in my list, do stop by and check out their cute sunny blogs:


1. http://www.musicforspecialkids.com/
2. http://thetatamimat.blogspot.com/
3. http://mavieetmajoie.com/
4. http://kiboomu.blogspot.com/
5. http://a-latte-talk.blogspot.com/
 and a "runner-up", because I think runners-up are awesome ;)
    http://turbofanatic4life.blogspot.com/

Vacation...from posting ;)

Ok, I've been on vacation so I apologize for the lack of recent posts. And apparently my brain is still on vacation as I can not find anything of extreme value to say right now. Hopefully my brain will return from whatever sunny spot it is in and I will have a new inspiring post up soon!

July 4 in DC

America is a tune.  It must be sung together.  ~Gerald Stanley Lee

Happy Birthday America!

Happy Birthday Alazar!

Four years ago today we mailed in our application to the adoption agency. Unknown to us on that same day on the other side of the world our son was being born. One year later we were in Ethiopia holding him. And today surrounded by Star Wars and Toy Story toys we celebrate his turning four. What a joy he has been and continues to be to us. We are so blessed.

Wordless Wednesday- Ethiopia, One Pic is Not Enough...

 Three years ago this week we were on a life-changing trip to Ethiopia, an extraordinary country.

The housing

The faces

The scenery

The housework

The market

The reason

Kindermusik for math, literacy, and social skills

The initial view of a music class is that it is directed specifically at children whose parents aspire for them to become accomplished musicians. While musicianship is certainly obtained, Kindermusik actually focuses on teaching math, literacy, and social-emotional skills and it does so through the three different learning styles- audio/verbal, visual, and kinesthetic.

Your audio/verbal learner in music class: Your little singer is given many opportunities to learn and express themselves in Kindermusik class. Each semester your child receives a CD with the entire semesters repertoire. This will probably be their favorite part of the take home materials. They will be introduced to early math skills through singing counting songs musical scales and hearing the complexities of classical music. They will be introduced to the very important skill of active listening by learning about sounds and then listening for them. Active listening and repeating of rhymes is a building block to childhood literacy. Listening to a wide variety of music including music in different languages prepares your child for multilingual literacy as well. Socially your child learns through the ensemble effort of singing together. They also learn the turn taking skill through call and response. The skill of your child's actual singing is secondary to these important life skills.

Your visual learner in music class: Your reader will particularly enjoy the story time in Kindermusik class and their favorite part of the take home material will most likely be the book. They will also like the bright posters on the walls and the colored scarves we dance with. As we sit, stand and move in class your child will be observing visually and will be introduced to early math skills and even geometry as they begin to understand spacial awareness. They will see numbers as we count on our fingers while singing and will notice the patterns as we shake shakers up high for four beats then down low for four beats. In story time they will enjoy looking at the pictures and words in the book, beginning to define the two. They will enjoy matching pictures to sounds and they will learn the early literacy skill of reading left to right. Socially your visual learner will learn to relate with others through turn taking with instruments and having the opportunity to watch other children interact. They will learn social cues like standing when they see the teacher stand and clapping when they see others clap. Important building blocks to your child's success are found in such a class.

Your kinesthetic learner in music class: Your tiny dancer will love all of the hands on time they have with scarves and instruments in Kindermusik class. In fact the instrument they are given as part of the take home materials may be their favorite. Dancing patterns and clapping steady beats are both early math skills your child will enjoy. Counting on fingers, hopping three times in a row, all to fun music instills these math skills. Literacy will be learned through understanding the meaning of words through movement. Up, down, fast, slow will make sense to them as they are actively involved, enriching their vocabulary. Socially your kinesthetic learner will thrive from turn taking, circle dancing, holding hands with other children, and partner dancing. All of these will help your child relate to others in an enjoyable environment. High energy children with a great need for movement are well respected and appreciated in class while learning essential skills.

Kindermusik is an international music and movement program for children ages 0-7 and is the originator of the mommy and me style class. They combine years of research with modern discoveries to create an ideal learning space for your young child. For more information or to enroll in a Kindermusik class go to www.KindermusikwithMsB.com.

Wordless Wednesday - Tim in Uganda

This is my husband Tim. He has been at an orphanage in Uganda for the past two weeks. I miss him dearly but when I see pics like these, I get it.