Thanks for stopping by A Family Place. I enjoy working with families, and sharing the power of music with them. Kindermusik provides this outlet for me. This blog will allow me to share thoughts and ideas that can help families in their journey.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Ms. Kay's spring break

Ms. Kay WILL NOT meet her classes the week of March 15 - 19.

Originally she was going to meet her Monday class, but not the Thursday classes. That has been revised and none of her classes will meet that week. That is the week that Berry College is on spring break.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Spring break & Summer classes

We had snow this week, but spring and summer will be here soon!

Every school system has a different spring break, which makes it difficult to coordinate with Kindermusik classes. Therefore, each Kindermusik teacher will make individual decisions concerning spring break for her classes. Please keep this in mind if you occasionally go to a different class.

  • I will NOT observe any spring break. So Kathryn's classes WILL meet every week with no breaks.
  • Ms. Kay will NOT meet her Thursday class on March 18, but Monday classes will meet EVERY week.
  • Ms. Wendy will NOT meet the week of March 22 - 26.
  • Classes have varying end dates, but should continue through the end of April.

The summer schedule is almost ready for publication. I hope you will plan to attend Kindermusik this summer. Don't want to clutter your summer? We are offering a special May session for Village and Our Time ages, each will have a different curriculum from the current class. The classes will meet for 5 weeks on Tuesday mornings or evenings. Look for a special preview/registration for current families before March 20. Registration for new families will begin March 30.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

February Winners

Rachel Clark (Village class with Ms. Kay) & Daniel Taylor (Our Time class with Ms. Wendy) are the winners for February . This is the sixth in a series of drawings celebrating 20 years of Kindermusik at Berry College. Each month two names are drawn from the bucket. The first person receives $20 Kindermusik credit and a small gift for their child. The second person can choose one item from an assortment of instruments, CD's, or books.

Enter weekly, one entry per child that attends a Kindermusik class. The drawings will continue through April 2010. Congratulations to our February winners!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

President's Day

It's President's Day,

It's President's Day

Let's Celebrate the President's Way.



That is the beginning of a speech ensemble created several years ago by a group of Kindermusik children.



Monday, February 15 is President's Day and many schools & businesses are closed. Kindermusik of Berry College WILL hold classes despite the federal holiday.

The exception to that may be if we have inclement weather. If the snow they are predicting visits on Monday, then call 706-233-4091 to find out if class will be in session.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

January Winner & more...

I'm a bit behind in my post... Aly Slade (Asa) & Emma Breithaupt are the winners for January. This is the fifth in a series of drawings celebrating 20 years of Kindermusik at Berry College. Each month I will draw two names. The first person receives $20 Kindermusik credit and a small gift for their child. The second person can choose one item from an assortment of instruments, CD's, or books. Enter weekly, one entry per child that attends a Kindermusik class. The drawings will continue through April 2010, so you have FOUR more chances to win.

There are several community events that your family may wish to participate. This Saturday, February 6 is the dance concert "Footsteps in Faith". This will take place at the City Auditorium on Broad Street. There are performances at 10, 1, 4 & 7. The performances are free and open to the public. You may see a Kindermusik friend or family member on stage!

Saturday, February 13 is the 2nd meeting of the Mt. Berry Square Mall Kid's Club. This is a free club for ages 4 -8. Each month features a different activity. Kindermusik was there in January (the weekend it snowed!). The February meeting will feature the Rome Area Council for the Arts. They will have hands on activities for the children. The mall has lots of freebies for attending too! There are registration forms for the Kid's Club outside the Kindermusik room. Fill out a card and take it to the mall next Saturday. The meeting is from 10 - 11 a.m. outside of Belk.

Twice is Nice is coming soon! This is Rome's Oldest children's consignment sale. The sale begins February 9th. This year's location is at the old Office Depot on Shorter Avenue (next to Big Lots). Check it out at www.twiceisnice.biz

Do you know of an upcoming event that families would enjoy? Let me know, I'll be glad to add it to my posts.




Saturday, January 16, 2010

Spring into Kindermusik!

Kindermusik classes have begun for the spring 2010 session, and we already have a holiday. No classes will meet on Martin Luther King Day, January 18.  Monday classes will resume on January 25.

Many of our classes are full, which is a wonderful - unless you had a friend that wants to enroll : (      Currently we have space in the following classes:

Village - Thursdays at 9:30 - 2 spaces
Our Time - Tuesday at 9:30; Wednesday at 10:15; Thursday at 6:30 p.m. - several in each class.
Imagine That - Mondays at 5:30 - 2 spaces; Friday at 10:15 - 4 spaces;

Though we refer to this as spring semester, it is winter and that can cause weather related closings.  Berry College will often have classes when other schools are closed.  That is because it is a resident community.  If the Floyd County schools are closed due to inclement weather, then Kindermusik will NOT meet.  The exception: if the weather is a "non-event" and the schools close anyway (as a precaution) - then Kindermusik classes may meet as scheduled.  How will you know?  You can check the blog - I'll update it for weather issues or call the office (706-233-4091)  and listen for a new message related to the weather.

Do you have a way you use the Kindermusik home materials with your child?  I would love to hear about it and share it here on the blog. Email me your story at knobles@berry.edu

Monday, January 4, 2010

Kid's World at Mt. Berry Square featuring Kindermusik

A new program is being launched at the Mount Berry Square mall in January called Kid's Club. It is a free club that children ages 4-8 can join & the meetings will be the 2nd Saturday of every month in the morning. Each meeting will feature an educational theme. Kindermusik will be the focus of the first meeting, January 9 at 10:00 a.m.

Kid's Club is going to be educational for the parents, and the Kindermusik will be fun for everyone.  Kindermusik is best when it is experienced.  I can tell you about the activities, but most folks "get it" when they participate. But, you are probably wondering what will we do at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning at the mall?  Here are some things we will do:

  • Children enjoy marching, galloping, and tiptoeing as a drum tells them how to move and when to stop.  We call this talking drum.  The children enjoy anticipating when they will stop and how they will move.  It's a movement activity, but it's also an listening exercise!
  • We will ask the children to listen to specific sounds...like a siren and a foghorn. High & low are the first steps in pitch discrimination. We'll make those sounds with our voices - voice exploration.  We may try out some instruments that might re-create those sounds.  Then we will listen to a musical example that uses high & low, and then move to the music - moving our bodies high & low.
  • There will be plenty of instrument play.  We will use drums, shakers, and metal instruments to create an ensemble.  This will allow the children to use their listening skills in a group setting,and hear the various timbres produced by different instruments.


We will meet outside of Belk, so please use the entrance closest to the store. 

The Kid's Club is designed for ages 4 - 8, but Kindermusik is a family affair - so feel free to bring the family.  Remember this program is free and will be offered the 2nd Tuesday of every month!  Kindermusik of Berry College is the inaugural program, so make sure you join us. 

We'll even have a special drawing on Saturday! So, if you haven't won in our monthly "20 years" drawing, you have another chance this Saturday, January 9 at the mall!!