Enroll now!

Come see why the Kindermusik program at 

Berry College is the best!

It's time to enroll in the fall semester of Kindermusik classes.  Save $15 if you enroll before July 15.  Classes begin the week of August 18 and meet weekly for the 15 week semester. There are classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in the morning.  After school classes meet for big kids wanting to learn the written language of music.  Late afternoon and evening classes are available for preschoolers, toddlers and babies to enjoy with their families as well.  To see a schedule and register visit www.berry.edu/kindermusik  For more information email knobles@berry.edu

Families in a summer Village class enjoy a group dance.

Benefits of Movement

Movement is a key component in any Kindermusik class. Children enjoy moving, in fact, it's hard to keep them still - at least until they become teenagers! Today I'm going to share some benefits of movement that I learned reading Different Learners.

Movement, especially rocking, spinning or hanging upside down, helps develop the cerebellum. The cerebellum interacts with higher, frontal levels in the brain for cognitive skills such as language, social interactions, music, and attention. The brain seeks activities during key periods of development. The cerebellum has a large growth spurt during the first 2 years of life, yet continues to grow and change into adolescence, and that would answer why your child likes to spin and you don't!!

Exploring physical spaces through movement contributes to higher cognitive skills that depend on spatial abilities, including math, sciences, the arts and memory. In the Kindermusik class that movement includes navigating without bumping others.

Exercise & movement promote a healthy lifestyle, but did you know it also builds the brain? Here are some brain benefits of exercise:

• Patterned movement (circle left, circle right, into the center, walk back out)replenishes brain cells
• Vigorous, fast dance routines may quicken your & your child's overall speed of information processing!
• makes the mind alert and increases attention and motivation
• prepares and encourages nerve cells to bond to one another which helps log new information

Get moving and build your brain!

What is Orff?

I am taking my level 2 Orff-Schulwerk Certification. I drive to Cobb County every day for two weeks, and meet with over 50 other music educators. It is the highlight of my summer! Why? Because the classes stretch me, and encourage me as a musician, teacher and person. But what is it? Here is a synopsis:

Orff Schulwerk is a "philosophy" of teaching music. It is not a method. It is a way of teaching the entire child, the cognitive as well as the affective domains.

1. Movement is always first.

2. Body percussion. (snap, pat, pat, and stamp)

3. Rhythm instruments and recorders.

4. Pitched percussion instruments are added and integrated into what we know today as Orff Schulwerk.

5. Improvisation and composition are included in an Orff class.

Orff (named for Carl Orff) Schulwerk (German for School work) takes teachers and students into deeper levels of teaching and learning. Going beyond knowledge and comprehension, students apply their knowledge, often independent of the teacher, through composition and improvisation.

Being exposed to this type of learning, and then applying this new information to my teaching is exhilarting. Helping children express themselves through music and movement is why I continue my education through Orff classes.

There is an Orffestrations class for children ages 7 - 10, at Berry College. The class meets June 22 - 26, and there is still space available!