Meeting Dr. Gordon

In between Summer Camp A in May/June and Summer Camp B in July/August, I squeezed in a two-week training opportunity at The Gordon Institute of Music Learning (GIML) and completed my Mastership Certification Level 1 in Early Childhood Music Education. Meeting Dr. Gordon has been a transformational experience for me which I'll share with you more in future posts. The program was held at Michigan State University, and to my surprise, staying in the dorms wasn't that bad. It was more like a mini hotel! Cafeteria food downstairs was great!!! The campus was beautiful-- lots of lush trees and gorgeous landscaping.

Next Saturday, I'm hosting a Parent Education Night for Kindermusik families-- I can't wait to share with you some exciting research conducted by Dr. Gordon on how babies and young children learn music.

As a living master, Edwin Gordon is known internationally as a preeminent researcher, theorist, lecturer, educator and author on early childhood music education. Please visit his site at GIML to learn more about his work and come to our gathering next Saturday evening.

Please contact Miss Sunny @ musikandmotion@yahoo.com to RSVP!

Giving Meaning to Father's Day Tomorrow

On this particular Father's Day, I will be remembering with fond memories one of our own Kindermusik dads who passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. Adam Aguilar, age 44, is survived by wife, Kathy and son, AJ.

You could always spot the curly haired dad & son duo in Saturday's Our Time class-- how "AJ" loved to sing the "Choo-choo" train song last semester! And like all Kindermusik dads, Adam provided his active and energetic son the emotional anchor all little boys need, and together the father and son team made us smile in class.

The loss of a seemingly healthy dad to cancer is deeply felt by every Kindermusik parent and caregiver at Musikandmotion. The outpouring of support for Kathy and AJ has been tremendous-- the cards, email and words of sympathy for the Aguilar family. In the past two weeks, the community of Kindermusik families in Natomas donated $1345 to the Adam Aguilar Jr. Trust Fund-- I am truly humbled to be a part of a one of a kind music community...

I'd like to acknowledge all the families for their support and generous contribution to Adam Aguilar Jr. Trust Fund. I thank each of you for your giving and caring spirit.

Ronald & Candy Carson (Parents of Nico)
Edward & Corey Grundel (Parents of Andrew)
Winnie Chan (Parents of Lauren)
Karla & Ryan Hall (Parents of Angela)
Stephanie & Scott Le (Parents of Courtney)
Christy & Richard Tsai (Parents of Mia)
Sumit & Mrinalini Date (Parents of Yash)
Sherry & Shaun Nealon (Parents of Molly)
Mirna & Philip Tohme (Parents of Melania)
Simon & Jackie Lim (Parents of Shaun)
Susan Iratene (Parents of Kaden)
Melisa & Todd Chase (Parents of Aidan)
Monica Hagan (Aidan’s Aunt)
Nora Knell & Patrick Horne (Parents of Phoebe)
Shelly & Todd Williams (Parents of Madison)
Amber & Scott Husten (Parent of Skylar)
Patrice & Lee Westover (Parents of Luke)
Rachel Lee & Chantha Trinh (Parents of Ajay)
Gina & Charles Hines (Parents of Julia & Grace)
Davita and Seth Levin (Parents of Eliana)
Hope & Matt Gawlick (Parents of Hope)
Surekha & Vinnay Reddy (Parents of Maya & Jaypal)
Richard & Claudia Bow (Parents of Wolfgang)
David Rhoads & KJ Strong-Rhoads (Parents of Kate-Lynn)
Shawn Kanehira-Mar & Daniel Mar (Parents of Tyler)
Eloisa & Alberto Gomez (Parents of Lauren)
Kelly & Jeff Putzke (Parents of Ellery)
Susan Wu & Valentin Chou (Parents of Jason)
Iryna I. Kline (Parents of Sophia)
Kathy & Michael Johannesmeyer (Parents of Nathan)
Mike & Jazmin Gibson (Parents of Mathew)
Carla & Chris Curcuro (Parents of Julia)
Beth & Mike Negrety (Parents of Keira)
Jennifer Rauzon (Parent of Lily)
Carrie & Devin Koehn (Parents of Colina)
Naomi & Enrique Villaruz (Parents of Maya)

And countless others for their support, kind words, thoughts and prayers. Have a wonderful and happy Father's Day, everyone-- be sure to give your dad an extra hug tomorrow!

P.S. In the event you would like to make a donation, please send your check directly to:

Palo Alto Community Federal Credit Union
616 Ramona Street
Palo Alto, Ca. 94301
(650) 329-8900
Make check payable to Adam Jr. Aguilar Trust Fund

Book of the Summer

If there's one parenting book I'd like to recommend this summer, it's "Bright From the Start: The Simple, Science-Backed Way to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind from Birth to Age 3" by Jill Stamm. A month ago, I was browsing through Border's with a gift card I had received last Christmas and I came upon this fabulous book-- it literally combines science, brain research, child development and practical ideas all in one, and to my delight and surprise, the author references Kindermusik (check out page 266-- sure it's only a 4-liner but it's a positive recommendation)! I hope you'll check this book out-- it will affirm everything you are doing as a Kindermusik parent/caregiver and provide you with even more insight, ideas and inspiration.

What's a Didgeridoo?

Ever wonder what a Didgeridoo looks like? Kindermusik parents and caregivers with their babies, toddlers and preschoolers have all been listening to this fascinating Australian instrument in Epo I Tai Tai E (from "Peek-A-Boo, I Love You") and dancing to Dover's Dance (from "Zoo Train")-- two of our summer camp (A) themes at Musikandmotion!



Here's a bit of history behind this fascinating instrument which native aborigines of Australia have been playing for centuries...

"Possibly the world's oldest musical instrument. A wind instrument originally found in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia. Is made from limbs and tree trunks hollowed out by termites (insects). Is cut to an average length of 1.3 metres (51 inches) and cleaned out with a stick or hot coals. Was used as an accompaniment to chants and songs. Produces a low-pitch, resonant sound with complex rhythmic patterns," by Helen Thompson, Nursery Nurse and Brain Gym® Consultant.

So while the traditional Didgeridoo may be difficult to find and play, you can make your own by using plastic tubing or a poster tube. Click the link here create-kids-crafts.com to find out how!!!

Farewell to SCSO's 2007-2008 season

It was truly an elated experience to be able to sing Mozart's Requiem with 200+ choral and orchestral members and the exceptional soloists (David Robinson, Sandra Rubalcava, Oksana Sitnitska and Elias Mokole) last Saturday evening at the Sacramento Community Center Theatre.

Here's an except from Edward Ortiz at Sacramento Bee:

"And as performed at the Community Center Theater on Saturday evening by the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, the great merit of clarity was the paradigm.

This was an evening where the SCSO spanned a total of 204 years of choral music by following the "Requiem" with Morten Lauridsen's 1997 "Lux Aeterna." It was a mostly inspired performance of both works, which presages a strong performance for the SCSO's debut at Los Angeles' Disney Concert Hall with the same program in June.

Mozart's brilliance is self-evident in the 14-movement "Requiem," which Mozart did not complete by the time of his death in 1791. It's a work that shines best when conductor, orchestra and chorus are conduits instead of invasive interpreters. And this approach proved the great charm to this performance. It was a no-nonsense and vividly expressive take on the work. Here singers seized on all the delicately defined moments in the "Requiem," especially the poignant "Lacrymosa."

Check out the full review by Edward Ortiz at Sacramento Bee!

Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra

Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra presents Requiem - by Mozart & Lux Aeterna - by Lauridsen on Saturday, May 10 at 8 PM with pre-talk at 7 PM.

Sacramento Community Center Theater
1301 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Here's a "Sneak Preview" of our May 10th Mozart/Lauridsen performance:




SCSO in the news -- by Edward Ortiz of Sacramento Bee

If you can secure a good baby sitter for your little one(s) this Saturday evening, I'd love for you to come out and see the concert as I will be singing in row 5 seat 2 in the soprano section.

Going to Miss Sunny's

"Going to Miss Sunny's" -- written and composed by Skylar, 21 month old Our Time toddler. Starting pitch: D in duple meter.

Here's what Amber (Skylar's mom) shared: "She was singing it in all her glory, but of course when the video camera cones out I get the shortened version (children are so perceptive to knowing when they are being "watched," aren't they?). Anyway, this is what she was singing on the way to class, on the way home, and most of the afternoon."



Amber, this is quite an honor-- I have never had anyone compose a song about me! But what truly impresses me is the fact that Skylar, at only 21 months, is making music at home and experimenting with her singing voice and music concepts from musical contour (up and down of melodies) to dynamics (loud and quiet), patterns and phrases, rhythmic beat (in duple meter!), and lyrics with words and neutral syllables. Makes my heart sing with joy- Thanks for sharing!

Flower Sweet & Cute!

Hmmm, sort of reminds me of my Malt Furbabies. Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful display of colorful flowers this time of the year.

Thanks Patte for sending the cute picture of "dog flowers" my way!