Sept 15 -- Oct. 13, 2012

Here's what we listened to:

Sept. 15: "King Kong Kitchie" from Dan Zanes' + Friends, Rocket Ship Beach

                "Here we go, Zudio" from Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem on
                Many Hands, Family Music for Hati

Sept. 22: "Wonderful" by Pascal Parisot from Putamayo's French Playground
                
                 "La Lizeta" by Candido Fabre Y Su Banda from Cuban Dance Feet on Fire

Sept 29: "Old McDonald" The Black Lodge Singers on More Kids' Pow-Wow Songs

               "Danza de Concheros," & "El Chivo" from San Patricio by Ry Cooder & The Chieftans

Music Can Encourage Shy Children

Some children in my classes are quite shy. Some are hesitant at first and then break out of their shells, some remain shy throughout the course of the classes. It is just fine to be quiet and shy, and even if your child is shy, he can still make music! In fact, making music in groups can aid shy children by providing less pressure to be "on" or in the spotlight. They can make music in a community setting where everyone is encouraged to participate to their own level of comfort. Songs that are well known put people on the same playing field. Songs can also address emotions that can be difficult to express for shy children.

As a teacher, I like to encourage children to participate, but never force them. They can learn a lot by watching, and because our chairs are in a circle, they can still feel like part of the group. Even if your child sits outside the circle watching and listening, there is a chance that the next class they will sit in the circle, and by the last class be more comfortable than you ever thought she would! Since our class is a parent/child class, it helps shy children to feel safe when their parents are there as a comforting presence. Parents can lead by modeling how to participate with confidence.  The less you force them to say, dance in the middle of the circle, the more they may think of dancing on the edge on their own. Exposing your shy child to new experiences like a music class can put them just out of his or her comfort zone enough to grow and develop healthy social/emotional skills.  

If you have a shy child and wonder whether to sign up for a class, know that Wiggle Clap and Sing is a joyful, thoughtful and loving place to play music!

Here is a helpful article about parenting shy children: http://www.shakeyourshyness.com/parentingshychildren.htm

July 14 -- August 11, 2012

This session we listened to:

July 14: "John Kanaknaka" from Dan Zanes and Friends Little Nut Tree & 
            "Mambo Yo Yo" - Ricardo Lemvo from Putumayo's Afro-Latino

July 21: "Jamming" Bob Marley from B is for Bob
            "Flying Machine" from Father Goose It's a Bam Bam Diddly!

July 28: "Red, Red Robin" Rosie Flores from The Best of the Land of Nod, 
               "Didi Tera Devar Diwana" from Dum Dum Diga Diga,
               "Saturday Night Waltz" from Aaron Copland's Rodeo

August 4: “Crawfish Song” Buckwheat Zydeco A Child’s Celebration of Folk Music

                  “Carnival of the Animals” Camille Saint-Saens

August 11: “The Freeze” from Kids in Motion By Greg & Steve
                "Merrily we Roll Along" Lord Invader With The Calypso Orchestra on the Smithsonian Folkways Children's Music Collection
                

May 19th -- June 23rd, 2012

Here's what we listened to this session:

May 19: "John Kanaknaka" from Dan Zanes and Friends Little Nut Tree & "Battu" - Angelique Kidjo Putamayo's African Playground


June 2: "Jamming" Bob Marley from B is for Bob & "Zip-a-dee-doo-da" from Swingin' in the Rain

June 9: "La Lizeta" from Cuban Dance - Feet on Fire & "Jig Jog Jee" from Father Goose It's a Bam Bam Diddly!


June 16: "Bonjour, Bonjour - L'Autobus A Vapeur" from Putamayo's French Playground & Mozart's Horn Concerto


June 23: "Here We Go Zudio" from Many Hands: Family Music for Hati

April 14th -- May 12th

This session we listened to:

April 14: "Battu" - Angelique Kidjo Putamayo's  African Playground & "John Kanaknaka" from Dan Zanes and Friends Little Nut Tree 


April 21: The Black Lodge Singers "Old MacDonald" on More Kids' Pow-Wow Songs & "La Lizeta" from Cuban Dance - Feet on Fire 


April 28th: "Kwela Man" A Johhny Clegg and Juluka Collection & "The Flight of the Bumblebee" Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov


May 5th:  "Dil Lay Gayee" Bhangra: Original Punjabi Pop


May 12: "Jamming" Bob Marley from B is for Bob & "The Rainbow Connection" - sung by Sarah McLachlan from Gather Round: Songs for Kids and Other Folks

Music and Motor Skills

You hear the terms "fine motor skills" and "gross motor skills" a lot when it comes to young children. Fine motor skills are small muscle actions like writing or tying shoes; gross motor skills are large muscle actions like walking, kicking, or reaching. When we sing songs with actions and when we play our rhythm instruments, we have opportunities to develop these motor skills. Dancing helps with balance, holding mallets helps with grasping, rhythmic music can help encourage the natural rhythm of walking and running. There are a plethora of skills a child can gain. Developing motor skills can help kids to be kindergarten ready and music can help!

March 31, 2012

Today we listened to:

"Jammin'" 12" remix by Bob Marley

"You-you-zha" from Chinese Lullabies, Bejing Angelic Choir

"Here we go Zudio" by Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem from Many Hands, Family Music for Haiti