Silence: Music to My Ears

When was the last time you listened to nothing? No kids, iPods, dvds, phone calls; just quiet. It may it hard to remember. Our ears and brains are always engaged in listening to something. Children are also constantly bombarded with sound. In our attempts to keep them learning and entertained, they too aften have little chance to appreciate silence. Quiet time can be valuable for children.children in the pre-language stage can have a chance to practice sounds and words, children who are talking can have a chance to practice new words, and it gives all children the chance to quietly reflect on their day.

Silence can help to direct behavior as well. Often, using a quiet voice to speak to children will calm them down, or at least get them to use quieter voices. If they need to be quiet to hear something interesting they will. Think about how quiet they get when we sing the verse on "Wheels On the Bus" when the parents say "shhh, shhh, shhh." Children can easily be overstimulated by noise, causing them to act out or to cry. Silence gives their ears a break and maybe yours too!

May 14th, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Pa Manen Fanm Nan" by Michel Martelly with Haiti Twoubadou from Putamayo French Carribean

"Croque" by Thomas Ferson from Putamayo's French Playground

Sing to Your Baby

I heard this review on the NPR. It may be interesting for parents who need a music confidence boost!



May 11, 2011
If you'd like to sing to your baby this Mother's Day, but think your voice is enough to make a small child cry — or an adult, for that matter — fear not. A new CD just might boost your confidence. Sing to Your Baby is a collection of simple songs for parents who are convinced they're singing-impaired.
The songs were written by Grammy winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. The collection features 11 songs, but each one appears twice: once in a key intended for moms and once adjusted for dads to sing. Cathy Fink says most of the tunes are what's known as "zipper songs," written so it's easy to zip out a line and zip in one of your own.
"It's really important for parents to realize that your baby is not judging your singing voice," Fink says. "You are a rock star from day one, so as long as you're having fun and enjoying the moment, the baby's going to have fun and enjoy the moment."
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/136028850/sing-to-your-baby-fighting-parental-stage-fright

April 30th, 2011

Today we listened to:


#4 "Danza de Concheros," #5 "El Chivo" from San Patricio by the Cheiftans and Ry Cooder


Baby class:


“Zamba Malato” by Susana Baca (Peru) from Putamayo’s Latinas: Women of Latin America

March 12th, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Polly Wolly Doodle" feat. Sheryl Crow from Rocket Ship Beach by Dan Zanes and Friends

"Do, Re, Mi" from The Sound of Music in Japanese. (I don't know the name of the CD in English)!

We said and acted out the rhyme:

Tall as a tree
wide as a house
thin as a pin
small as a mouse!

March 5th, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Mbube" - The Mahotella Queens from Putamayo's African Playground
Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee"

We also sang "five green and speckled frogs" and counted the frogs on the felt board

I sang "Going to the Zoo" by Tom Paxton

February 19th, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Jama Day" from Novelties by Peter Mayer

Various drums: tracks #8, 9, 10, 11, 12 from Toys I Make, Trips I Take" by Kindermusik

#2 "Kunze Kwadoka" and #3 "Mutserendende"  from Paivepo by Oliver Mtukudzi (Africa -- Zimbabwe)

#4 "Danza de Concheros," #5 "El Chivo" from San Patricio by the Chieftans and Ry Cooder


We read the book One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root & Jane Chapman
When we read this book we hear lots of new sounds and can practice them.
This story is also rhythmic -- music and reading together!