Around Town

Here are a few upcoming events that I thought Kindermusik families might enjoy.

April 10 is the Rome High Night of Dreams. This is an adult event, and a very elegant evening of dining and dancing. The Rome High Jazz bands play, the students serve you dinner, dessert & coffee as you enjoy the music. This event will take place at the Forum and begins at 7 p.m. See one of your Kindermusik teachers for tickets. There is a silent auction that offers some very nice items, including a Kindermusik basket!

April 12 - 15 The Scholastic Book Fair will take place in the Cook Building at Berry College. It happens between 3:30 - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday. These is a great opportunity to purchase books at a great discount. Directions to Cook - go around the circle, you are going south; go past the Cage Center (new athletic building) on the left. Turn right onto Martha Berry Circle North...the Cook Building is the 2nd building on the right. Once you pass Cook, you will have to turn right to get to the parking lot. The book fair takes place on the 1st floor.

April 17 is Waterfest sponsored by CRBI, and this year they have a concert featuring
Billy Jonas. (NOT the Jonas brothers from Disney Channel!). This concert is a fund raiser for CRBI, but also a fun family event. Jonas present family oriented, audience participation concerts around the country. We have tickets available for purchase when you come to Kindermusik. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6 - 18 and FREE for under 6!!! The concert will be helded at the Rome City Auditorium. Click here to hear Billy Jonas.

March Winners

Alexa Kidney (Thursday Our Time) and Kaitlyn Mingledorff (Tuesday Young Child)were the winners in the March drawing.

This is the seventh 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, just one more month to win. Congratulations to our March winners!

Hear an organ grinder at Berry, March 27

Bring the kids and come out to Berry College for the annual Arts & Crafts festival. It's happening on Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. You can check out the vendors - current students & alumni, all selling their wares. You can also see an organ grinder!

Master organ grinder Ted Guillaum will be playing his Raffin 20/40 street organ at the festival. Anyone attending will be invited to sing, dance, listen, choose a song he or she would like to hear, or try cranking the organ (how hard can it be?). Mr. Guillaum will also be happy to answer any questions about organ grinding or mechanical music that you may have. Click here to see a video from last year and learn more.

The festival will be held on the lawn in front of the Moon building. At the circle, head south - past the Cage Center and Moon building is on the left (next to the Cage Center). Paintings, pottery, jewelry, and more will be available for your inspection and purchase!

Learning Links

One of our activities from Away We Go (Kindermusik Our Time) explores moving to music that is bumpy and smooth. We sing the song Floating Down the River, and we use hoops for our boats. The children and adults rock gently in their "boats." Then the music/words change and bodies begin to bounce, hoops bounce, children jump in their hoops. It's an obvious change - aurally and visually because of the music. This is how children experience legato and staccato - music terms for smooth and bumpy. The children in this class are 18 months - 3 years old.

When the children are 4 1/2 they can come to Kindermusik for the Young Child. Last week the children in a Young Child class listened to music that was staccato and legato. We used the music terms, and they saw the written words. They also moved with their bodies to music that incorporated staccato and legato. Another activity included drawing to music incorporating that same sound. Their pictures looked like dots and long flowing lines. They listened, moved, drew, and read about these musical terms of expression

Kindermusik links the learning throughout all of the curricula. This insures that "a good beginning never ends."

Music for 7 - 10 year olds!

Orffestrations - it's not listed in a brochure for the summer 2010 classes, but if your child is ages 7 - 10 they can enroll in this special music experience. No prior experience is necessary, but a love of music is required.

What is Orffestrations? It is a music and movement class that takes songs and "orffestrates" them using various instruments. We use drums, barred instruments (xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels), woods, metals and an occasional recorder.

What will my child gain from this camp? Ensemble skills (needed for band & chorus), listening skills (needed in life!), rhythmic & melodic reading, and creativity. All this while making music with friends!

You can check here to see an example from last year's class.

How do you enroll? Email me at knobles@berry.edu and I'll give you the address where you can mail your payment. The cost is $70. (Pay by May 1 and deduct $5)
Orffestrations is offered June 14 - 18 from 10 - noon. Class will meet in the Kindermusik room on the Berry College campus.

Piano intro camp

Journeys is for children ages 6 -8 to explore the piano and the recorder in a concentrated study. The children get an introduction to the piano using the Yamaha Clavinova Lab in the Berry College Music Department. The focus is on becoming familiar with the keyboard using proper technique.

Recorder playing is also included in this camp, as it encourages fine motor skills, and gives the children the opportunity to learn another instrument.

To add spice to our time together the children enjoy adding percussion instruments to books. This ensemble time encourages cooperation, listening, and lots of fun!

This class will help you decide if child is ready for piano study. Students that plan to enroll in Beyond Kindermusik in the fall are encouraged to take this class.

This camp will be offered June 21 - 25 and July 12 - 16 from 10 - noon. Cost is $70. Class is limited to 8 children. You do not have to have a piano at home to enroll in this fun summer camp! Register by May 1 and deduct $5

Kamp Kindermusik, ages 4 1/2 - 7

Are you looking a camp that will be fun, educational and include lots of music making? Then come to Kamp Kindermusik. This camp is for children ages 4 1/2 - 7 and will be held 3 consecutive weeks beginning June 21. The class meets from 10 - noon in the historic Ford Complex on the Berry College campus.

This year the camp is Jumping Beans, music from Latin America. We'll explore sounds from the rain forest, dance to La Cucaracha, play a pan flute and learn some Spanish. Activities include singing songs, instrument play, dramatic play, moving to music, stories, crafts and snacks. This class will also have a time of piano exploration.

Materials include a home CD, music magazine, and a pan flute. Class is limited to 12 children. The cost is $75 (all materials included). Camp activities are the same each week. You may choose from the following weeks:

June 21- 25

June 28 - July 2

July 5 - 9

Register by May 1 and deduct $5.

Summer music for 3 - 4 1/2 year olds

If you have been in Our Time classes, and your child has recently turned 3 or will have a birthday in the next few weeks - consider Growing with Music camp this summer.

This class is a transition for you child to the next level of Kindermusik. One the major differences is that the parent doesn't participate in the class until the last 15 minutes, thus it is a weaning process from your care/supervision.

The summer classes are offered June 14 - 18 and July 12 - 16 from 10 - 11:15 a.m. The children will sing, play instruments, and move to music while enjoying stories and rhyme. There is a snack served each day during the camp. Themes for the week include circus music, indians, teddy bears and farm animals. There is a limit of 8 children per class and the cost is $45. Register by May 1 and deduct $5.

If you are looking for more music, then you could consider Musical Beginnings during the Maymester (see post on 3/10/10), and then enroll in a camp for summer. Fall classes for this age group is called Imagine That! and follows a similar format to the summer camp.

Family Time this Summer

Do you have multiple children of varying ages? Do you want to do Kindermusik with all of them, but don't have the time for separate classes? This summer you can do it all in ONE class...called Family Time. This class is for families who want to be in class together. You will enjoy a variety of musical learning experiences. Your family will laugh together, share, take turns and let music be that special bonding time.

This summer the music and activities are based on playing. Playing with friends, with family, with toys, with animals, and of course with music! Materials include a family guide magazine for the curriculum, Let's Play, a CD, tambourine and egg shakers to enjoy at home.

The class meets for 45 minutes on Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. beginning June 15 for five weeks. Cost is $100 for 2 children; $125 for 3 children. The class is limited to six (6) families. Register by May 1 and deduct $5.

Pick up a green or blue flyer when you come to Kindermusik class week, the registration for Family Time is on the green or blue sheet.

May & Summer sessions for 18 month-3 year old

During the academic year this age group is known as "Our Time." Our summer classes use a different curriculum and we refer to the toddler group as "Musical Beginnings."

Kindermusik of Berry College will offer 2 sessions: one in May and another beginning June 14th. Although we will use the same curriculum for both sessions, you are welcome to register for both. Children enjoy and learn from repetition. A fee reduction is given if you choose both sessions.

Musical Beginnings (18 months - 3 years) curriculum will be "Let's Play." The class is for toddlers and their adult companion. During the class we'll sing, play instruments, move to music, use scarves and hoops, and enjoy finger plays. This summer the music and activities are based on playing with friends, toys, and animals.

Home materials include: A family guide magazine for Let's Play, a CD and a tambourine to enjoy making music at home. Cost is $65 (includes all materials) for the five week session. Class is limited to 12 children. If you attend both sessions, the cost is $105. Class length is 30-35 minutes. Register by May 1 and deduct $5 AND get a FREE CD!!!

Maymester classes will meet on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. OR 5:45 p.m. Maymester begins May 4.

Summer session classes begin June 14, and has the following choices:

Monday OR Wednesday 9:00 a.m.
Monday 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday 6:30 p.m.

Priority registration for our current families is available until March 25. Registration will continue until classes are full, but space is limited. Space is reserved with your payment.

Maymester & Summer Village classes

Maymester sessions PLUS Summer classes for Village

Kindermusik of Berry College will offer 2 sessions: one in May and another beginning June 14th. Although we will use the same curriculum for both sessions, you are welcome to register for both. Children enjoy and learn from repetition. A fee reduction is given if you choose both sessions.

Kindermusik Village (newborns - 18 months) curriculum will be "Busy Days". Each lesson features new activities and songs you can sing for all the places you go together - the store, the playground, the doctor, and more!

Home materials include: Busy Days CD, board book, parent information and an instrument (cage bell). Cost is $85 (includes all materials) for the five week session. Class is limited to 10 children. If you attend both sessions, the cost is $140. Class length is 45 minutes. Register by May 1 and deduct $5 AND get a FREE CD!!!

Maymester classes will meet on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. OR 6:30 p.m. Maymester begins May 4.

Summer session classes begin June 14, and has the following choices:

Monday 6:30 pm
Tuesday OR Thursday 9:00 a.m.

Priority registration for our current families is available until March 25. Registration will continue until classes are full, but space is limited. Space is reserved with your payment.

Summer Schedule

Pre-registration for our current Kindermusik families will begin this week. This means you can register before the summer brochures are mailed out. We call it PRIORITY registration.

NEW!! We are offering a Maymester for Village & Our Time ages. Those classes will begin on Tuesday May 4 and continue through June 1. There will be a morning & evening session. We will repeat the same curriculum in the summer, beginning June 14. If you want to do Maymester and summer, there is a fee reduction.

Camps for older children will be offered during various weeks in June & July. We will also offer Family Time this summer on Tuesday evenings.

I will put the various camps up on the blog all this week, so check back regularly. You can pick up a pre-registration sheet in class this week. Fill it out & bring your check to reserve your space!

KINDERMUSIK OF BERRY COLLEGE IS NOW ON FACEBOOK...become a FAN, and tell your friends!!!

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.

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.