WHY MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS

Recently, at my son's junior high choir concert, on the back of the program was a wonderful list of why we should have music in our schools. I thought is worthy of sharing with my Let's Play Music families and friends.

1. MUSIC IS MATHEMATICAL
It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.

2. MUSIC IS A SCIENCE It is exact, specific and it demands exact acoustics. A condcuctor's score is a chart, a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody, and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time.

stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.....you will definitely be impressed with what music will do for your child as they enter school and the school of life!

RECITAL WOW!

I have to say I really love how the Let's play Music recitals entertain the audiences and how that is not the intention. The children really internalize the music and experience learning about it in different ways! They then get to show that experience on stage; and in it's most genuine way, the learning comes out on display spontaneously, creating a FABULOUS AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING show! That same spontaneous entertainment delighted yet another recital venue last night! thank you to all the parents who spend the time to help their child in class or in the home by encouraging them and learning about how best to build such a wonderful musical relationship and helping to foster a better parent child relationship. I really have very wonderful students who love learning and the parents who help them are absolutely the best to be associated with!!!! Here are some pictures I have from the recital. These are without the children. If you would like me to post a picture of the recital that you captured, please send them to me via email!

bonds parent to child

The final piece of dissecting the vision statement of Let's Play Music. BONDING PARENT TO CHILD! There is such a great feeling when you KNOW you are doing something right for your child. I have always felt like Let's Play Music was right for every single one of my children. Whether they chose piano or other instruments, I knew that Let's Play Music would give them the very best foundation into whatever they would do in music!!!! Now, my children look back with fondness to their "let's play music" time. They especially love seeing their younger siblings enjoy the puppet shows. They watch the practice time I have with my current daughter and positive memories quickly return of how they got to do the same thing with Mom. Let's Play Music creates a bond with your child for a lifetime! I have 5 children and my oldest really loves participating in choir. My 2nd son, has no intimidation for learning a new instrument and is currently playing the cello and has expressed interest in learning other instruments. My 3rd child, is excelling in private piano studies and my current lets play music student, loves the fun her classes offer her. I have had the unique opportunity to be just a mom with my children and then to teach 2 of them. with my 5th and youngest coming up soon I will have been able to bond with all of them as they participate in Let's Play Music. As a Mom, I want to be able to help my children learn by tapping in to HOW they learn. Seeing 'How' they learn has helped me be a better mother and teacher! I will ALWAYS TREASURE that time with my children!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Merry Christmas to all of my students and their families as well as all of the Let's Play Music Adobe Teaching Team. It's been a pleasure to work with all of you this year. I truly enjoy every second of teaching this fabulous program! Makes me so excited to see everyone learn! Have a wonderful holiday time with your families!
Classes will start back in January 2011.

enhances intelligence

AHHH, the next part of the lets play music mission statement. "enhances intelligence." extensive years of research indicate music is magical, especially when it comes to the effects of the brain development!" Music also promotes enhanced brain functioning. it promotes cognitive development as well as abstract thought. in mathematics, music plays an important role in enhancing the brain's hard wiring for spatial-temporal reasoning, or the ability to visualize and transform objects in space and time. when we divide and subdivide rhythm, this aides in the development of proportional math and fraction skills. music develops these spatial-temporal reasoning skills. knowledge of these skills are a prerequisite to math at higher levels. As children are introduced to complex musical concepts they not only develop high musical aptitudes, but high mental capacities as well. or in other words: MUSIC ENHANCES INTELLIGENCE!

develops talent

research in musical development is concluding that a person is "musically talented" not because of DNA or genetics, but because of a musical environment at a young age. Exposure and instruction during the child's "music window" develops high musical aptitude. Musical Aptitude is the capacity to learn and assimilate musical skills. So we can see, that teaching music to children early will result in.....TALENTED CHILDREN! "Let's Play Music presents and encourages the development of harmony, melody, and rhythm skills in such a way that a child internalizes these skills; and as they are internalized and assimilated, a musician is formed. All children are musical by nature, but need some guidance to refine their natural interest into a skill. Let's Play Music is focused on developing the musician already present within each child by INTERNALIZING the elements of beautiful music." i tell my 1st year parents that the focus of the 1st year is complete INTERNALIZATION and internalization cannot be rushed. so let's have FUN!

Increases Confidence

YES!!!!! Let's Play Music increases confidence. I have seen my own children's inhibitions decrease and confidence increase as they have participated in lets play music. When they get the 'AH-HA' moment, they naturally feel confident with themselves. As they try a new and hard thing, it will seem difficult at first, but when they persist and keep trying, that internal reward of increased confidence shines through. I have been able to witness, first hand, the shy child in class that eventually comes out of their "shell" and really become active participants in the class. As a teacher and a mother, when I see the confidence in a child increase, it makes me so excited and I feel a great reward indeed!!! If anyone has experienced that same thing, feel free to post a comment, I would love to hear how lets play music has played an important role in increasing your child's confidence!