Not sure if I should be scared, or simply admire it

Plus, a picture-perfect answer to "Why music?"

Neat, huh?

I've been wanting to change this blog look forever and blogger just made it very decently easy. Now if I could only figure out how to get rid of the little "tool" and "pencil" icons, I'd be a very happy girl.

"Mother and I"-pod: Halloween costumes

More fancy-schmancy and otherwise interesting offerings from the folks on "Project Runway" on npr.org.

A litttle of what you'll miss

(If you're not going to Convention this year, we hope to see you next year!)

Kindermusik of Indianapolis--Outreach Videos

Jack, The Great Pumpkin

Online pumpkin carving activity for kids
Who I'm going to be this year for Halloween (Loretta Lynn or Jack White, I can't decide)

Okay, I was wrong

When Kindermusik first announced a new "personalized" CD project, I dare say, I dare say, I turned my nose.

Personlized music recordings for kids have about the same warmth and personality as a personalized operator-recording, saying you've reached a disconnected number.

We're sorry ... Molly .... the number you have reached is no longer in service.

So I sheepishly confess, I was wrong about this one. This one is different. I should have had more faith in the beginning. Also, a personal disclaimer: I'm singing "Old McDonald" and "It's Time to Clean Up." That also means I saw first-hand how dedicated the vocalists, sound engineers, and Executive Music Producer David Huff were from start to end.

The big pay-off came when an office-mate here, Angelica, said she played just the 30-second sound sample off the Web site for her daughter. "Her eyes lit up," said Angelica in her very light, lilting Italian accent. "She kept saying, again! Again!"

Give it a look and a see for yourself, here.

Gee, that's super nice

Plopped down today in front of the computer and found a nice surprise in my YouTube mail inbox: a note from a fellow Educator, blogger, and music maker from half-way around the world (He emailed to let me know my blog address was missing a dot).

Take a look for yourself on this kids music and early education blog called "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and all that." Pictured here is the blog's author, Devon.

Boomwhackers

We've had some boom-whacker sets laying around here at KI and I can't keep my hands off them. I first saw them a few years ago in an Orff class (one of the many musical learning method on which Kindermusik is based).

Know any fun boom-whacker activities? Send them to me: mollymcginn@gmail.com

Rocket Kwip--Review before you launch

You may want to watch first, yourself. However, bears will be riding paper rocket ships.

Xander's (music) kwips

My hope is very soon to write Darcie's son Xander a rocket song. Haven't found it yet, but I did find this rocket-inspired instrument on this super-neat web site called the Oddmusic Gallery.

Hear the Rocket instrument
Click through a gallery pictures and sounds from other odd instruments
oddmusic.com

via Memorable Moments

I'm feeling unusually busy

Beauty tips by Audrey Hepburn

For attractive lips
speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes
seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure
share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair
let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise
walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored,
renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand
you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;
one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Outreach Sneak Peek Part Two

Mama got a new guitar

When I was sixteen, I got a dog the same way. Unsuspectingly I walked in to "look around" and fell in love. It was a similar feeling yesterday when I picked up this semi-hollow, tobacco-washed, Ibanez guitar. It just felt right.

It's also my first-ever guitar purchase. Since I started playing guitar at 15 years old, I've picked on the borrowed guitars of my brothers, my father, and supportive boyfriends. The electric-acoustic Fender I've been playing for the last 10 years was a freebie won at a raffle.

It feels like a new beginning for me. One that involves another crippling purchase: a killa amplifier.

Fine Arts Portal

Watch as Joshua Bell tells the story behind his stolen violin. Watch a gallery tour of the Collection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or visit the Museum of Modern Art. All part of a new Fine Arts Portal.



Violinist Joshua Bell
Agent for change Martin Luther King Jr.
Museum of Modern Art

Mr. CityMen

Mr. CityMen combines music, real film, and animation, and Gumby's cousins. Personally, I like the guitar man.

A sneak peek at the Outreach films

"The stories here are heartbreaking"

Kindermusik Educator Ginger Bennett spends one Saturday a month on a football field of a Jr. High School in Pearlington, Mississippi.

Here is why:

“Most of the United States is aware that New Orleans was damaged by Katrina, but to put things in proper perspective, consider that New Orleans lost about 6,200 homes while Mississippi lost almost 70,000.”

Pearlington, Mississippi -- Pearlington was a small community with about 900 homes. Since Katrina, only 3 homes managed to remain “livable.” The first comment most volunteers make when they come is, “It looks as if nothing has been done in the way of rebuilding.”

Most of the thousands of displaced people have no money to repair or replace their houses. They have not been well treated by their insurance companies (as I’m hoping you’ve heard on the news) and are waiting on promised rebuilding grants. I’ve only met three families who have received this grant money. Many people share a common story. What little money people collected from insurance was used to hire contractors. These contractors have since disappeared. Finding an honest contractor is not only difficult, but expensive. Since the need is tremendous, so is the price. Prices have gone up so much that people just can’t pay for all the necessary rebuilding.

What can you do to help? There are three main things you can do:
1. Prayer; keep the Mississippi coast in your daily prayer.
2. Send gift cards from Lowe’s, Home Depot or Wal-Mart. You can send these to my attention.
3. Send yourselves. We need workers.

A heart full of grace

Excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's speech, "The Drum Major Instinct."