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

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!!

We interrupt this blog

to bring you a favorite recipe!  I know everyone is busy with holiday festivities and family, but I wanted to share a couple of recipes that are popular at my house.  I love to bake, and I wanted to share with my blog readers something besides music.

Yeast Bread

1 T. yeast

1/2 c. warm water

1 T. sugar

1/2 c. oil

2 c. milk & 2 T. vinegar OR lemon juice

1/2 c. or less sugar

1/2 t. baking soda

5 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

6 c. all-purpose flour (extra as you mix)

Dissolve yeast & 1 T. sugar in warm water, Add remaining ingredients in a large bowl. You will probably need to stir in extra flour to get the consistency dough like. You can either continue mixing and kneading in the bowl OR on a floured surface.  Place dough in a gallon ziploc bag that has been sprayed with cooking spray ( or  greased with crisco). Squeeze air out of the bag, so the dough can expand. Dough can be refrigerated for up to TWO weeks.  Pull out as needed for dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls or pizza dough. Bake at 400. No need to rise. Prep time is 15 minutes.

This is a staple at my house, and so easy to make.  I no longer buy frozen dinner rolls or crescent rolls.  My kids can make their own pizzas by adding pizza sauce, cheese and other toppings.  Of course my kids are older (ages 11 - 21)!

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

12 ice cream sandwiches

1/2 c. hot fudge topping, warmed

jello pudding mix - chocolate

cool whip - thawed and divided in 1/2

8 oreos - chopped

Warm fudge and whisk in 1 cup of cool whip. Add pudding mix and stir well.  Add chopped oreos cookies. On a 24 inch sheet of foil, place 4 ice cream sandwiches side by side.  top with 1/2 of topping. Repeat.  After placing last 4 sandwiches on top, frost with reserved cup of cool whip.  Fold foil to make a tent and freeze for 4 hours. Prep time is 20 minutes.

This is an easy treat, and often requested by the Nobles children as their birthday cake. I have never made this cake in the summer, always in December!!  

Awesome Apple Bread

1 cup oil

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cups apple, chopped

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix oil, eggs, sugar, vanilla and apple in large mixing bowl.  Add dry ingredients and mix well. Bake in loaf pans (2 regular or 5 small) at 350 degrees for 25 - 35 minutes, or until knife comes out clean. Prep time is about 20 minutes.

This is a wonderful breakfast bread, or for snacking during the day.  I make this in small loaf pans and give it as a gift.  You can also make apple bread muffins.  This freezes well, and you can take it out as needed.

Happy baking and Merry Christmas!  

December Winners!

Iva Palmer (Joseph) & Laureen Gilbert (Ricky) are the winners for December. This is the fourth 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. Congratulations to our December winners!

November Winners!

Janice Houck (Jada Joy) & Jessica Carney (Laney) are the winners for November. This is the third 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. Congratulations to our November winners!

Holiday Fun: Music Included

The holiday season provides many opportunities for enjoying music.  In Rome we have numerous activities for you to choose from.  I will list some here now, and again in a few weeks.

Oak Hill Symphony Holiday Concert is Tuesday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ford Auditorium at Berry College.  The orchestra consist of middle school through college age, with many Kindermusik grads performing.  Admission is free.  The concert will last one hour.

Rome Christmas Parade is Tuesday, December 1 at 6:30 p.m. on Broad Street.  Our family has been attending this tradition for many years.  I have held children, strolled children and been very pregnant while watching the parade.  All the high school bands participate along with churches & businesses in town.  It's crowded, it can be cold, but it's a Rome event you should experience.

Oak Hill Candles & Carols takes place on Saturday, December 5th from 6 - 9 p.m. Admission is $5 per person and includes a photo with Santa Claus on the front porch of Oak Hill.  Carolers and the Roman Festival Brass will provide festive music on this evening.  

Oak Hill in Lights will be two consecutive Saturdays - December 12 & 19th.  $10 a carload.  

For more information on these events at Oak Hill go here.

While attending music events during the Christmas season can be fun, don't forget to make some music of your own.  Go caroling with your kids, even if it is just to a neighbors house. Grab the neighbors and make it a progressive caroling! Start your own tradition.

Laughter

I have heard it said that a preschooler laughs about 400 times a day, while an adult laughs an average of 10 times per day. Children are typically joyful beings, and I think we can learn from them. I happened across an article about the benefits of laughter and thought I would share them.

• Laughter relieves physical tension, leaving muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes.
• Laughter boosts the immune system, decreasing stress hormones and increasing immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies.
• Laughter releases endorphins, elevates your mood, and enhances communication.
• Laughter protects the heart, improving blood flow.

Kindermusik provides many opportunities for you to share a laugh with children, so make sure to sign up for next semester's classes. You can get information on that here