Holiday Tips for Parents

While the holiday season is a time for reflection and celebration, it is also a time of holiday stress for parents and children. With family events, cooking, shopping, and travels, normal routines which we rely upon are interrupted (i.e. no Kindermusik classes at Musik & Motion to attend during the winter break), it can wear you out and make you and your child feel a bit out of sync.

So "experts with Parents as Teachers National Center offer holiday tips for families with young children, who are often at the center of holiday celebrations and family get-togethers. By remembering that holiday stress can affect children differently, that sharing cultural traditions helps parents create special memories for their kids, and that seasonal music offers a learning opportunity, families can celebrate together in peace and prosperity."

You can read more by clicking the following link to Parents as Teachers National Center.

The Making of a Kindermusik Video

I'm so very excited to share with you that Musik & Motion website now features an in-house video of our very own Kindermusik families in action. In working with Chris Stone (a genius in video editing and story crafting) and Pat Kuske (ditto for cinematography)-- these two amazing and talented people have skillfully and visually captured a bit of what goes on in the Kindermusik class at Musik & Motion in a 5 minute 38 second video. Chris and Pat are consummate professionals, extremely personable, dependable, and willing to go the extra mile for you. I hope to be able to work on future projects with both of them again!

Kindermusik families, thank you for generously offering and bravely sharing your testimonials on camera after class. Each of your testimonials whether on/off camera, written or verbal mean oh, so much to me, and I appreciate every word of it!

And Kindermusik educators out there, if you're looking to create a video for your program, please don't hesitate to contact me or Chris. Ditto for any businesses, schools or non-profit organizations looking to capture your mission and story on camera.

Here's the link to Musik & Motion website: Enjoy!!!

Chris Stone's information:
Chris Stone Editorial
916.591.4987
chris@chrisstoneeditorial.com

On The Night You Were Born

This is such a lovely book that I just had to share it with you and your Our Timers in class this week-- it's one of those books that just invites you to snuggle up with your little ones to enjoy as part of your bedtime rituals. On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman available at Borders (where I got my copy) and Barnes & Nobles.

Click here to read more glowing reviews the book: Publisher's Newswire

Love this Song!

Thanks for letting me share some of my personal favorite songs with you and your child as we end another joyous semester of Kindermusik Our Time! See you in January 2008 Kindermusik families.

Singing Puppy

This is just so cute! I wonder if there have been any studies about animals and pitch matching???

Update: Kindermusik Holiday Disco Night

What an incredible turn out last Friday night! It truly was wonderful to see so many of you with your families, dressed up and enjoying the night with your little ones, disco music and great food! Everything was so yummy-- by the way, who made the beautiful Christmas Wreath Rice Crispies?

Karen's photo backdrop added a lovely holiday scene inside the boathouse. If you are purchasing pictures from the photo shoot, please contact Karen directly at (916) 206-8132. If you need an experienced and reliable DJ for your future events, please give Ron a call at DJ West Entertainment.

Several families have uploaded photos from the party onto the evite photo album-- fun, fun, fun! Unfortunately, I don't have any to share (I'm borrowing the photo at the top from the internet) as I was too busy having fun! By the way, if you have any suggestions or comments for next year's Kindermusik holiday party, don't hesitate to let me know!

Special thanks to Mike, Jazmin, Wendy, Amy, Juan, Nina, and Tammy for staying to clean up with me!

She without arm, he without leg - Ballet

I hope you'll steal a quiet moment to enjoy this video my good Canadian friend, Deanna sent me-- it will inspire you and make you want to dance!



It's lovely, Deanna!