Fly Me to the Moon

When pieced together, pictures of graffitti from around a city sing "Fly Me to the Moon."

That song.

It's one of the first songs I ever played from a Real Book.

One of the first songs jazz mentor Jon Metzger used to show me how to outline chords anywhere on the guitar neck, with the melody line on top.

It was the language used to bridge a generation gap between myself and another music mentor, Mr. Saunders. This retired, piano-playing, martini-swigging neighbor left me his ukulele when he died. A gift in honor of the time I spent at the foot of his hospital bed, playing "Polly Wolly" on a what he called a "crap ukulele."

I may need to go get some paint and stencils.

thefreesoundproject

Launched in 2005 The Free Sound Project is like a flickr for odd-minutia audio. A place where you can upload, download, or cruise the sound of almost everything, from a child's jewlery box, to a raindrop. Purely exists in the spirit of sharing free sound. There will never be a copyright issue here. The only protection you see is that these sounds will never have copyrighted.

I did do a search on "animals," remembering how much the little ones liked to get around the CD player in Kindermusik class and listen to the sounds. How their eyes lit up when they heard a sound, and then tried to imitate it.

Don't know if I could imitate some of these, though. Worth a try. Or a listen, anyway.

Especially this Tibetan chant.
And this Nightengale.

I squirmed. Then I got the squid.

When I first read about this kid's hand-soap that promises, not only to clean your child's hands, but also actually teaches them how to wash their hands, I thought: Ridiculous. Watch the video, too.

Then I saw this.

It's taking care of the little details when nobody is watching--that's what really counts. And in your classrooms, parents are taking in every little detail. I talked with one singe parent who said other families in her class won't re-enroll because the room is too small.

What do parents think about your room? Ask. A fix could be really simple. But those little details make a big difference.

Hold on to your recorder

Video of a professionally performing group of musicians that feature, yes, the Recorder.

Hat tip, the Kindermusik Educators of Canada Yahoo group.

If you must wear shoes

Like everything else, children's shoes get funkdified. Thanks Helen. I'll keep an eye out for the stripies.

Like my new bumper sticker?

Make your own here.

Candy Band

I believe that's a children's string symphony backing up this punkster "Monster" song.

The Lovely Mrs. Davis calls it the future of children's music.

Leaving a washable mark on the belly, hand, toes

Photo and words by Kindermusik Educator Katie Henderson

It has become a weekly goodbye ritual to stamp the hands of each child at the end of class with an ink stamp whose picture coordinates specifically to some activity done that week. In NO way is this a symbol of a “job well done,” but, rather, it serves to create a ritual, and to trigger a tangible memory (at least until the next good bath) of special moments in the Kindermusik classroom.

Some children, typically the older ones (and “older” is broaching three in Kindermusik!) ask for more than one stamp, and, in one recent class, several children extended the request to arms, feet, legs and, well.... even bellies!

I wish you could have witnessed one such recent wee one, begging with sighs and toddler whines, for mom to unsnap her “onesie” so she, TOO, could receive a “belly stamp.”

Enjoy the attached picture, from the final day of fall semester, with many precious feet, orchestrated simultaneously and instinctively, in a sitting circle, to receive the semester end’s “KINDERMUSIK logo” a VERY special stamp.... and consider what indelible picture YOU want to leave on the hands, and in the hearts, of your child, and the children with which you come into contact today.

The birth of pooh

Mollie Greene reminds us that this week is Pooh's birthday. Celebrate.

When I first heard his name, I said, just as you are going to say, "But I thought he was a boy?"

"So did I," said Christopher Robin.

"Then you can't call him Winnie?"

"I don't."

"But you said -- "

"He's Winnie-ther-Pooh. Don't you know what 'ther' means?"

"Ah, yes, now I do," I said quickly; and I hope you do too, because it is all the explanation you are going to get.

Trophy kids?

Terri Lenzo sent this Q&A article in the Akron Beacon Journal with Family Psychologist John Rosemond. A parent asked if programs such as Kindermusik were a waste of money. He replied that only status-seeking parents enroll in such programs to create what he calls a "Trophy Child."

Ouch. Like being a parent isn't hard enough.

Wonder if parents in Alyssa Preddie-Allen's special needs classrooms think about trophies when their child joins their typically developing peers after participating in Kindermusik.

Or if parents with kids at La Creche child care center in "Murderapolis" think about trophies when they drop off their kids, and then stand in yet another, federal line hoping for a break, or a warm bed.

Same goes for the kids at St. Mary's who, if left alone, and without access to programs like Kindermusik, would start school 2 full grades behind their peers.

Reality is that there are a lot of families between the posh and poor sides of town who budget and balance every penny to make sure they're setting up the best life possible for their children. Every penny counts. But I know, from my 5 years experience here at Kindermusik, and 2 years teaching in the Kindermusik classroom, that I can tell a difference between a child who has been in Kindermusik and one that hasn't. And I can tell, not by the trophy, or the bumper sticker on the car, but in the eyes of that child.

Parents will either see it as a luxury or a necessity, and that's a personal decision--parents make tough decisions every day, and this is one that bears investigating. We'd like to help. Try a class for free and see if the little hairs on the back of your neck don't stand up. See if your own heart doesn't swell and swoon with a newfound love of learning. See if it's a necessity, or a luxury.

The first class is on us.
Then please tell Mr. Rosemund what you think.

Shoes off, combat boots, too

Kerry McGinley is a writer for Cinchouse.com, an online resource and support Web site for military families. She called last week about a story on Kindermusik and how the program's worldwide reach can provide a little consistency for the transient lifestyle of these families.

Kindermusik has 73 Educators bringing a little something familiar to those stationed in various military communities around the world--including Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where Kerry talked with parents for this article.

Special hat tip-salute to all the Kindermusik Educators reaching to these families--and a special hat tip to these families. Especially now.

How many buttons do you see?

The photographer, Sara Brennan-Harrell, at the Greensboro Kindermusik Convention is also a wedding, engagement, and maternity photographer. Check out her blog.

Stars, a song, and a story of freedom

“Follow the Drinking Gourd” is a song with a secret code. While slave owners thought they heard singing in the fields, the slaves were really passing on a message telling each other how to escape. The “drinking gourd” refers to the constellation we call the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper always hangs in the northern sky—the direction you go if you’re fleeing to Canada to escape slavery. “Left foot, peg foot” describes a one-legged man who would help the slaves on the way, the rest of the song describes the route.”
- page 10, America the Musical, by Do-Re-Me & You!

Listen to "Follow the Drinking Gourd"
See if you can match the clues in the song to the stories and pictures on the quilt pictured above.
Order the "Follow the Drinking Gourd" story and song and others that make up America's history in the online kindermusik store.

The eye brow story

Still feeling a little under the weather today, and I'm going home, back to bed with my soup, books, and hot tea. Couldn't resist sharing what brought a smile to this grumpy face, though:

"TeleFables are little books that live on your computer desktop, which you can download from our site and read anytime you like. No plug-ins or special software required! You only need to uncompress the file, and it's ready to play."

My favorite is "The Eyebrow Story."

Alphabet of Nations

Hat tip Head, Shoulders, Knees and all that.

Happy Birthday Xander

I first met Xander when he was just a little kid, like, 3 years old. He wasn't even a big brother yet, like he is now, to Lexi. He hadn't quite earned super-hero staus as Commander Xander, but he still made quite a first impression.

The first question he asked when I climbed out of the car after a long drive from Seattle to his doorstep in Abbotsford, BC, was something to the effect of "Did you bring me any presents?" I was there to host some focus groups with the parents in his mother's Kindermusik program. Fortunately I was prepared with a kazoo fresh from a music museum in Seattle, and a very odd children's book, with accompanying CD.

After a few minutes, we were pals, drawing and telling stories together.

Happy Birthday Commander.

Now, Darcie, how'd you make the cool graphic?

Raindrops keep falling on my head

I rent a little house in Greensboro and it's usually my little monastary. Only since the home's owner realized that the house really needs a new roof (I rent), the roofers have taken that solitude from my happy, little quiet home. And with Sunday's monsoon sweeping across North Carolina, sometime around 9 pm that night I had a beautiful little waterfall pouring from the ceiling fan. I tossed out three, full buckets of rainwater that night and early morning. It finally stopped dripping two days later, and now pieces of the ceiling are falling.

Needless to say, that's why I've missed a few posts. I am, however, very happy it stopped raining.

Don't know whether I feel like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or Chicken Little. Somewhere in between I guess.

Kindermusik ink

Temporary tattoos just for toddlers feature the picture and the word. I know a certain fiddling pig that would appreciate this very much in this semester's Fiddle-Dee-Dee, the spring 2007 learning theme in Kindermusik.

Tattoos for tots

Musicovery

musicovery.com

Hat tip www.seancoon.org

Know the EO part 2

A second installment in a little visual game we've been playing here at Kindermusik called "Know the EO." See if you can guess who did the song and dance bit at Chuck E. Cheese restaurant; who saw Orville Redenbacher on a plane; who has two phantom fingers; and who was held up at gun point.

Resolution # 1

1. I will not be so hard on myself, or others, this year.

Thanks for the reminder, Santa.

Newborn through seven

You sing a baby lullabies and speak in nursery rhyme.

You clap and sing with toddlers.

You make up stories and songs with preschoolers.

You watch your big kid become her own person while she masters just a little bit of everything before she decides on what she loves.

Every step of the way, Kindermusik gives you the music you can share together, while you both figure it all out. And in the Teacher's Lounge, you can find the photo you see here, and more, to help parents understand why a Kindermusik style of learning is better for everything.

What would have happened ...

... if this man right here had a music teacher who told him he could only play an instrument one way?

Close your eyes. It's Beethoven's birthday.

Via Kindermusik of Holland.

"How amazing that Beethoven composed his last and most monumental symphony at a time when he was completely deaf. He never heard a single note of his 9th Symphony (in which the chorus sings the famous "Ode to Joy.") Friends had to turn him around from conducting so that he could see the applause. When I tell this story to my Kindermusik Young Child students they are amazed. Then we do a little experiment. We sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star out loud first then silently. The children's eyes widen as they tell me they COULD hear it inside their head! Here's lot's more about Beethoven for the curious: www.lvbeethoven.com. Happy Birthday to one of my favorite composers."

To you, from all of us

I cannot tell a lie. You've grown a whole foot.

I probably would've enjoyed numbers a little more with this Pinnocchio tape measurer. Only $6.

Elf Yourself

Upload your picture, or your child's picture, and watch "elformation."

All shined up

This was the favorite snapshot of Our Kind of Day At Home Materials for the Family Time class. Dan Halpern, our Senior Graphic Designer, shined it all up. It's now online in the new Educator Store.

And while you're clicking around www.kindermusik.com, take a look at the Teacher's Lounge. We recently uploaded this week's re-enrolling tip, and, we link you to re-enrolling messages of year's past.

Oh for cute

Psst. Hey. Kindermusik Educators. Look in the Teacher's Lounge tomorrow for this e-postcard sized graphic you can use to promote your free demonstration Kindermusik classes, storytimes, Family Time classes, or something simply to do between the fall and spring semesters.

Which one do you like?

Tell me your favorite shot and we'll upload it to the www.kindermusik.com

Thank goodness for Darcie because she's taught me so much about photography, including how to take a good head shot, and product shot. This afternoon was nice and sunny, so I took the Our Kind of Day At Home Materials outside and snapped these pics (we're employee-owned, honey. We save where we can. Plus, I like flexing the old shutter-finger).

Host your own 15 minute product photo shoot:

1. Across the street is a huge brick building. In the afternoon, the sun goes behind the building, so it's just the right mix of light and shade for a photo shoot.
2. I fastened my white-paper backdrop to a windowsill on the outside of the building, near the sidewalk. I used rocks to hold up the paper against the windowsill, and arranged the products on the white paper.
3. Then, I got down on the ground, real close to the products, and took pictures.
4. The only potential hazzard was a car driving by every once in a while. Thank goodness I spent all that time as a kid playing in the streets ... so I had the good sense to know when to get out of the way.
   

Flyer! I hardly know her.

Recently we sent out the "research-proven reason to re-enroll" flyer, and, turns out, many Educators couldn't even open the durned thing.

I'm sorry about that.

Hopefully, one or all of the following will make it easier to open attachments and special graphics:

• First, we made it a Web page instead of a cumbersome .pdf or .jpg attachment. Check it out.


• Next, you may want to install, for free, a newer version of Adobe.


• Finally, we'll start uploading these things in a more organized, findable way, soon, on the Teacher's Lounge. Major renovations are soon on the way. I'll keep you posted.

Finally, thanks for letting us know what doesn't work, so we can get it right.

Bright idea

Finally.

Just in time for the holidays, and for the first time ever, you can buy Do-Re-Me & You! products online in the Kindermusik store. Previously available only through home parties, you can now shop online without the small group-social anxiety at www.shopkindermusik.com.

All the marketing stuff and exclamations aside, I sincerely, from the bottom to the top of my heart, am excited about this. Ever since Do-Re-Me & You! first launched, I couldn't wait until the new products came out and I could listen to the new music and start writing copy for the new catalog. Only problem was that only the folks who could find a sitter, or find the energy after a long day at work, to attend a party were the ones who got to experience these thoughtfully integrated books and CD sets.

And it's not just some turn-em-and-burn-em collection of music; or some rock-star looking for a stroll down the revenue avenue that's growing in the Kindy genre. We've been doing this for over 25 years. And with the outstanding musicianship and percussive gifts of Jon Negus; the mind-blowing arranging talents of Barry Webb; and the amazing Berklee-grad duo who founded the Music Factory and cranked out some amazing cinematic and musical adventures with Aesop fables, and the Tortoise and the Hare.

And given that the imagination of a child has enough power to make even a spoken word story come alive, I can't imagine what's going to happen in a child's mind when he gets his imagination on some of these songs and stories. Seriously.

Some no brainer, great gifts. Check it out.

In a pinch?

I've never been a cheek pincher. I'm more apt to flick a child's ear lobes or pinch their elbow skin.

But look at these cheeks. Then take a look at all the other pictures tagged chubby cheeks in flickr.

Just another fascinating video from Darcie

Via Darcie Brown.

and I ran ... I ran so far away

I. am. so. proud. Within the last few days I've been getting emails from Kindermusik Educators who are filming, and uploading, video to You Tube. I've recently added their channels to my You Tube channel so I can stay updated.

This morning, Olivia Richardson sent a little something she taped at Convention: Just a few of us girls dancing with joy when convention was over. I thought I'd do a little Irish jig, and eventually, the "Running Man," which looks a little more like, "Clumsy Girl."

Walking the talk

It's one thing for a CEO to take a seat on a prestigious panel of speakers. Especially when the topic pertains to something like "social entreprenuership" at Stanford University's Center for Social Innovation.

It's another thing entirely to take a seat with a group of children who probably slept the night before at a homeless shelter; to take their picture, and to take them in your arms. That's exactly the talk, and the walk, that Kindermusik's CEO Michael Dougherty makes nearly every day.

Listen to Michael's thoughts on "social entrepreneurship" here.
You can watch him take the issue to heart in the video you see here, where Michael is visiting with a group of kids at a center located in one of Minneapolis Minnesota's toughest neighborhoods.

Rhymes like Ali

As you talk with parents about Kindermusik's whole child development, from head to toe, from cognitive to physical skills, consider how one of the greatest athletes in the world--Muhammed Ali--had a penchant for rhythm and rhyme as well. Photo via Insititue of Visual Arts

I done wrestled with an alligator, done tussled with a whale
I hancuffed lighting, thrown thunder in jail
Yesterday I injured a stone, hospitalized a brick
I’m so mean ... I make medicine sick.

Changing the world, one child at a time

This year, with Kindermusik's CEO, Michael Dougherty acting as the interviewer, and with myself acting as a documentary-filmmaker, we profiled the six Kindermusik Educators in the world who recieved the Maestro in Outreach award--Kindermusik's highest honor for the Educators working in their communities, with local resources, to reach children who need Kindermusik the most.

She must be a musician

She is. Priscilla Dunstan was recently featured on the Oprah Winfrey show and talked about the language babies use to let you know they're hungry, uncomfortable, have lower gas, need to burp, or simply, are sleepy.

You can watch the video here.

The musical connection: (via www.dunstanbaby.com)
"Already an exceptional violinist by the age five, [Priscilla] could hear a piece by Mozart once, then play it back in its entirety, note for note. Her father, Director of the Educational Testing Centre at the University of New South Wales, found that his young daughter had an eidetic memory - a rare photographic memory for sound.

"During her teenage years Priscilla toured throughout Europe and Australia as an accomplished concert violinist. Priscilla then spent more than 10 years exploring the world of opera, where her talent as a mezzo-soprano deepened her understanding of sound produced by the human voice.

"When Priscilla gave birth to her son Tomas, her instincts as a mother and musician led her to believe that a baby’s cries had to be something more than just random sounds. Noting combinations of sounds in a journal, Priscilla explored various settling techniques and observed Tom’s reactions. Eventually she was able to recognize patterns, and identify how specific cries had a distinct need attached to them."

Three ways you can build Sign & Sing enrollments

On Wednesday, you can find the Sign & Sing Session B Parent Email Databanks online in Teacher's Lounge. Educator, mentor, and this session's email writer Debby Long had some great suggestions about how you can help parents feel a stronger connection to the class.

• Find signing resources in your community. Look in your community for listings about signing clubs, workshops, or classes in your area to continue your Education about signing. Plus, it’s a great way to meet people in your community who are interested in signing, and perhaps, in signing up for your class.
• Start a signing playgroup. It could be as simple as putting out a piece of paper in your studio with a suggested time for parents get together for a “signing” playgroup. Then these families can together at the park, the museum, or the zoo, and help each other use sign language through out the play date.
• Connect the learning to the next semester. Make a connection to the signs you're learning now, this semester, to the stories, learning theme, or musical concepts you'll be covering in a Kindermusik class next semester in your Village, Our Time, Imagine That! and Family Time class themes.

More love for Elisabeth Perotin

Wish list item #48: Socks

Only trouble is that this funky designer and sock-making company, Eley Kishimoto, is based outside the United States.

Funny thing about that list

It keeps getting longer every day.

When I changed over to Beta Blogger (which I like, oh so much Betta), I lost all my Kindermusik links. I'm just getting around to updating the list of active Kindermusik Educator bloggers.

If your blog is missing, please email and let me know!
mmcginn@kindermusik.com

And happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Gobble, gobble.

Is there a Ben Zander in there?

Online children's art gallery

The mouse-drawn pictures you see here are the point and click creations of two 6-year-old children in opposite corners of the world: Berlin, Germany, and Boston, Massachussets. Their pictures hang together on the user-generated walls of "Artroom, Where Kids Can Make & Display Art Online."

Here, children can draw, submit, even go back and edit their pictures online, and see their pretty pictures hang on the virtual hall of refrigerators around the world.

Makes me wish this was around in my Lite Brite days.

Something you may not know about me

We've started a game here at Kindermusik called "Know the EO" (Employee Owner), where once a week we film someone here sharing an otherwise odd fact you probably don't know. We showed the first five in a series today. Give it a few seconds between each person for the pause.

Another reason I heart flickr

You can make this movie-style poster in less than 15 minutes. It's another thing I saw on Sean's blog (see previous post). You can make your own class flyers, posters, and more using photos from your class and fd flickr toys.

"Design is the new black"

I read that on Sean Coon's blog the other day, and I've been thinking about it. Especially since I'm such a fan of black.

Then today I pop over to Damien Rice's not so user-intuitive Web site, where I found a link promoting his new album, "Damien Rice 9." As an aside, the musical style of this Dublin-born singer-songwriter actually makes me feel, in the realest sense of the world, a simultaneous sense of uplift and wilt at the same time. An uplifting wilt, if you will.

Anyway.

When I checked out the new album's Web site, I saw the new black. Pushed myself back in my chair. Not over what I saw, but rather over the design of the site (Rice's lyrics are explicit, not the Web site, but then again time was when Huckleberry Finn's language was considered "explicit.")

Anyway.

The Web site is the new black, and a new kind of design that didn't overwhelm me with choices. I went there to hear the music and that's all the page did for me: play the music. And yes, I could have listened to the entire album on the Web site. For free. Instead, I went straight to iTunes and bought it before I even finished listening to the first song.

That's the thing. If something's brilliant, you don't have to worry about not getting anything back when you give it away.

Tölzer Knabenchor strikes Bach

Some people have their head in the clouds

Mine tends to hover more towards the stars. And while I'm finally nearing the end of a massive biography on Mark Twain, here is my where head hovers today:

"It's lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened. Jim he allowed they was made, but I allowed they happened; I judged it would have took too long to make so many. Jim said the moon could 'a' laid them; well, that looked kind of reasonable, so I didn't say nothing against it, because I've seen a frog lay most as many, so of course, it could be done. We used to watch the stars that fell, too, and see them streak down. Jim allowed they'd got spoiled and was hove out of the nest."

- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Dance of the Sugar Sun Fairy

Squeeze this sun and you’ll hear Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. With two krinkly-layers of sunbeam rays coming from the center of this warm, smiling sun face, and a clip on handle that doubles as a teething ring, you can easily attach this little guy to almost anything: strollers, diaper bags, and cribs.

Find more gifts you can give to your Kindermusik families--or yourself--this year for the holidays. Find new boomwhackers sets and caps, a duck-bill whistle, and more new items online in the Educator store.

Sign in.
Click "New Items."

Adam Sandler, I am truly sorry

"His voice is the sweetest sound I ever heard"

This little red haired boy is Horatio, and nephew to Jessi Hagood here at Kindermusik International. She took this picture.

I'd like to use it in some email marketing pieces we send to parents and was wondering: What would the headline be? Would the voice be his, or his parents? Would the headline be the parent's voice, talking about what her hopes are for him? Or is this picture a conversation between a parent and child? If they are sharing a musical moment, what does it sound like?

English accents, children's music

That's a "Ninja Dinosaur" chasing a toy-stealing, card-playing king, pictured above. Put that dinosaur in a rocket ship and I know at least one child who would likely launch himself into outer space out of the sheer thrill (Xander). It's spot-on in sound, too, and one of the tracks on "Colours are Beautiful," the newest "Save a Child" musical compilation. Already this record redefines, once again, what "children's music" means.

With its feel-good sound, and feel-good mission, this newest offering features a Franz Ferdinand, "you-don't-stop" modern sound with brit-pop accents and a Monty Python's kind of storytelling that's innocent enough for the little bright eyes peering up at you as you sing along.

Also, on a bad blogger note: I'll admit to a serious case of the grumps, being away so long from blogging, exercising, and playing music over the last week. This album is lifting my spirits. I'll be playing guitar with the band again tonight. I went for a run this morning. But I'd do it all over again to meet you at the Kindermusik Convention.

Thanks for showing up, laughing in all the right places, and giving us enough to go on ... at least until next year's Convention ... all year long. I can't wait to blog about all the lovely things you'll blogs, and myspaces, and the possibilities.

Kindermusik Convention

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."