Looking up new words

I had to look up the word "Indiana" and "Indianapolis" for this post.

Here comes two more words, not so easy either, but I can manage: "Minneapolis" and "Minnesota."

I'm in the middle of a three-day, travelling-filming project to the cities I can't spell very well. Michael Dougherty, Kindermusik's CEO, and for now, Audio Grip, wanted to film Kindermusik happening where it has the greatest impact, where it changes lives the most: In the places where children can't get it.

I'll post some of what I filmed next week in snippets. Otherwise, you'll have to see the full production at this year's Kindermusik Convention. We'll show the footage at the Thursday fund-raiser for the Children's Fund.

We're filming because it's hard to explain in any dictionary words, just what Kindermusik does for these children.

If I find the word, I'll let you know. Otherwise, I'm kind of enjoying not knowing--for now.

From 30 to 180

This year, Kindermusik Educator Shirley Grossman is retiring from teaching. The Soundwave blog in her community wishes her a musical farewell. Click under the first picture and you can hear a sound sample from class.

La-la-Lori

Birds on Vimeo

It wouldn't be right to welcome new blogger Lori Burkhardt to the blogosphere without some sort of video hello. Her blog, Kindermusik with Lori Burkhardt, features all kinds of music and movement on film.

For a special treat: press play on her video, "Hush Little Baby,"and watch this sparkly birdie video.

Welcome Lori.

Eureka! Kindermusik tattoos!

What a great idea. Kindermusik tattoos. Now I can semi-permanently have Kindermusik on the brain.

Sonya Kempf of Aberdeen, South Dakota gives out these little temporary tattoos in class, and mailed some to us here in Greensboro the other day.

"Children are back for week 2 and they are showing me that tattoo! Precious!" Sonya writes.

Would you like some tattoos? Here is the contact Sonya used: yvette@printglobe.com. She probably still has the logo.

Demonstration class produces new enrollment

Literally.

From Michelle Jacques, Kindermusik of Cambridge, who, coincidentally, may be the first Kindermusik Educator with animation on her home page, and is also a new blogger in the blogosphere:

"About an hour before the demo started, a woman called me to ask if there was still room for her and her son -- I was a little hesitant as I already had 13 children and 6 families registered for the demo. However, she told me that she was supposed to have given birth two days ago and she was still waiting around, and she and her little guy needed a diversion.

I joked with her that she really just wanted me to help her start her labour with all the jumping and moving around we would do. Sure enough, 10 minutes into the class, immediately following the 'Jump with Me' verse of 'Hey, Betty Martin,' she left the room. This morning, I called her house to see if everything was alright and her mother-in-law answered to tell me she was at the hospital, ready to give birth at any moment. Her water had broken in our class and that's why she left! Isn't that cool?! I can't wait to talk to her again!"

Spend now or later? Now.

• 
  As lawmakers look in to how to raise a more competitive, smarter workforce, they're asking, "Where will we get our biggest return on investment in education? Early in life, or later?" A new study suggests that spending more on a child's early childhood education yields a bigger return than money spent in the older years.
  
  Admittedly, papers like this come out every once in a while, so how are these findings different?
  
  

  "Although much research has been published on the value of positive early experiences, this paper pulls those strands together into an integrated message that the group hopes will help guide public policy in the future. They've already influenced legislation in Washington state and Nebraska and have begun working with lawmakers around the country with a nonpartisan partner, the National Conference of State Legislatures."

  
  
  What's it mean to you? A few more talking points with parents about why investing in a child's early education is one of the most important investments they can make.
  
  
• A child's eventual ability to learn calculus or a second language, he explained, starts with the neurons that are shaped by positive interactions with nurturing adults.
  
• As more and more unskilled jobs move overseas, the United States needs a well-educated work force to stay economically strong. Getting that work force means making sure more kids are able to benefit from their education; that means making sure their brains are well-prepared to learn.
  
• "The key issue is the nature of kids' relationships with the important people in their lives. It's not about the toys, it's about the human connection," Shonkoff said.

Batting a flowered eyelash

The creator was a very ambitious puppeteer named Jim Henson.

A nod to the new Mollie Greene

Mollie Greene is home again.

After a short time drinking French-pressed coffee somewhere in the great midwest, and complaining about the heat like a Daisy in "The Great Gatsby" novel, Mollie Greene has packed up her two curly-haired boys, and four-leaf clover-picking husband, to come home.

“I can’t wait to get back to where people really care,” Mollie said, or something like that, a while ago over email.

That also means starting anew with her Kindermusik business. That means a new shingle, and in this day and age, that means a new blog.

A tip of the hat to you, Mollie, and your new blog: Poco a Poco.

Ten years later, she still rocks with Kindermusik

Just today, Kindermusik Educator Theresa Case recieved this email from one of her former student's parents (pictured second from the left):

Theresa, I was looking through some old pictures recently and came across a picture of my daughter, Casey Wood, at Kindermusik class with you years ago. I don't know if you remember her - she's 13 years old now! I thought I'd contact you so you could know what a wonderful, positive influence all the years of Kindermusik were for Casey.

We recently moved to Kansas City (after a few other moves along the way) and Casey attends a music school here called ROCK U. She plays the bass guitar and gets to play in a real rock and roll band! She attends public school for the rest of her classes, but ROCK U is a unique environment that makes taking music lessons lots of fun!

She is a member of a band you can check out their web site at on the13thfloor.com. There are some pictures so you can see what she looks like now! She is second from the left. They (and the rest of the students of ROCK U) just played their second concert for the public at the Hallmark Crown Center in downtown KC in front of 300-400 people.

I truly believe her love for music began during those wonderful Kindermusik classes so long ago. They are such great memories for us. It sounds like you and your business have done very well - I'm so happy for you! Again, thanks for inspiring a little girl so long ago!

Angie Leonhart
Casey's Mom

Xander's Quips: Gesundheit

How to be a good Conventioneer

For more information, visit the "Simply the Best" blog.

Follow me to Kindermusik ... the movie

Follow me to Kindermusik on Vimeo

Tomorrow, look in your email inboxes for more ways to share this video with your families, or click the video screen and follow it to Vimeo. There, you can copy and paste the code to your blog, you Web site, or you can copy a link to send to your families.

Long live the LP

Via All Dressed Up and Shy

I got mail

Every day I check the mailbox for something that isn't a bill, or some advertising thing, or some thing in general that I won't like at all.

Today was different.

I got an original art work by Xander of a jellyfish. And two more messages: Spaceship, and dinosaur. Hmmm. Wonder if that's what they call creative inspiration for new songs?

I hung the new artworks right by my Beatles postcard picture. I can see it there every day.

Thank you Xander.

True dat

Merry Meadow Music Maker

Click an instrument to play.
Wondertime online's activity pages.
Via InJoy Your Day