Take Note Studio Blog

  5 Ways Kindermusik Teaches Empathy and Kindness Over the years, countless friendships have been forged inside the walls of our Kindermusik classroom - amongst the children and amongst the grown-ups! The warm, supportive environment in your weekly Kindermusik classes presents many gentle, loving opportunities for your child to learn to get along and show empathy -- all while creating meaningful relationships with others. Sharing From Level 1 of Kindermusik all the way up to Level 5, sharing is an important part of demonstrating cooperation and selflessness. As new instruments are passed out or two kids share a scarf for a partner activity, your child gets to practice the valuable skills of sharing and working together. Taking turns Whether it’s waiting for the teacher to pass out scarves or waiting to pass the ball in a circle activity, taking turns helps your child learn patience. Your child also practices being empathetic because their friends in class are also waiting for their...

  Vestibular Stimulation Essentially our  vestibular sense helps us to ‘keep tabs’ on the position and motion of our heads .  Think of it as an internal GPS! ‌ However, our vestibular system is t he most connected sensory system in our body.  It works alongside our other sensory systems (including  the proprioceptive sense ), enabling us to use our eyes effectively and process sounds in our environment. Our vestibular system  has a HUGE impact on our physical, emotional and indeed learning skills.  It is the first sensory system to develop in the womb. After birth, our vestibular system is often  likened to the ‘brain’s traffic controller’ for all the sensory information it receives.  It sorts and relays incoming sensory information from other sensory organs and passes it onto to the various sensory regions of our brain. The Vestibular Sense is  crucial for a child’s development – helping them work rest and play.  A typically ...

  How Reading Literacy and Music Literacy Go Hand in Hand When a child starts recognizing pictures in a book, it's a big deal because it shows they are beginning to understand that symbols—like words and pictures—stand for real things and ideas. This is the start of something really important.  As they learn more, their excitement grows because they realize that this is how they can express their thoughts and needs to the people around them.  When we talk about "literacy," it's not just about reading and writing. It's about being able to understand and use language in all its forms—whether that's speaking, reading, writing, or even listening.  Literate kids understand that sounds, letters, pictures, and ideas are all connected and meaningful. But what does all of this have to do with music? There's actually a very strong connection between learning to read and learning music.  When a child understands that letters and sounds work together to create ...

  It can take a little time... and that's okay! In Kindermusik, we intentionally build familiar routines and rituals into the class to help your child become comfortable and anticipate what comes next. For example, from the very first day, we will always begin and end class with the same two songs - the Hello Song and the Goodbye Song. This signals to your child that class is starting or ending. On average, children need four to six weeks to transition into a new class - even children who have been in Kindermusik before. For some children, it can take a little longer. We're all about the process and not performance here at Kindermusik, and so we just give them all the love, space, and understanding that they need! As time goes on, your child will learn the routine, become familiar with the songs, and look forward to seeing friends from class (and so will you!). Plus, once they become secure in the routines and rituals, the learning and enjoyment really take off! What you can do...

  Why Stay Enrolled in Kindermusik? Is it all just for the fun of it? Well fun IS a big part of it, but there's lots more to your Kindermusik enrollment than just fun. Families tell us they stay enrolled year after year because... Kindermusik is music... and SO MUCH MORE! From birth to age seven under the caring guidance of your Kindermusik educator, your child grows and learns without pressure to perform, only encouragement to explore and discover. Kindermusik uses the power of music to develop the individual your child was born to be. Kindermusik is a great place to make (and keep!) great friends One of the sweetest things to see is the beautiful community that grows within a Kindermusik class, a community that blossoms into friendships not just among the children, but amongst the adults too! Kindermusik brings families closer together Life is busy, and family time together is a precious commodity. A Kindermusik class is truly the essence of "quality time," offering you...

  Masterful Teaching: Crossing the Midline Activities What is the midline? Think of the midline as an imaginary line down the middle of our bodies from our heads to between our feet Crossing the midline is important because: When children cross the midline, they are using both sides of their brain to coordinate smooth, controlled, complex movement. ‌ It is important to combine movement patterns that cross the body for daily tasks such as reading, writing, and tying shoelaces. ‌ The ability to cross the midline is necessary for tasks that involve both hands, where they work together to do a job... or for playing the piano or violin, for example. ‌ From  Importance of Crossing the Midline "Crossing the midline plays a part in everything we do! Reading, writing, catching a ball, getting dressed, sitting cross-cross-applesauce, play, self-care...everything!" Level 1 criss-cross exercise: Cross right arm to left leg, left arm to right leg. ‌ Level 1 ball play: Have the babies sit ...