Simply Music Workshops

I love teaching Simply Music. I love seeing people's delight when they find that they can make music so quickly. I see children feeling good about themselves. I see adults who have always dreamed of playing piano making that dream come true.

And now there is a new opportunity. For those of you who aren't ready to commit to piano lessons, or who just don't believe that Simply Music could possibly work as well as we claim it does, you can now take just four weeks of lessons with no further obligation. You get a taste of what this method can really do.

Please contact me, or look on the Simply Music website to find a teacher in your area and give yourself a chance to be musically expressed. It is a wonderful gift that you can give to yourself, or to your children.

The Spiritual Value of Musical Expression

I have an adult piano student who has a really stressful, icky job. She deals with some of life's most tragic situations on a daily basis.

This week she came into her lesson with an unusually high number of horror stories from her work. But then about halfway through her lesson she commented that when she is in her lessons she is able to forget all of that. "It's like dipping a flower into cool water," she said.

There are so many befefits to musical expression. But in my opinion this is one of the most important. Music creates an outlet, an escape from everyday problems. It gives us a way to express our emotions at times when words just won't do. We can throw ourselves into the music and come out refreshed, with a clearer perspective.

The Importance of Parents

It is amazing the difference that parents make in a child's life. As I teach my piano lessons, I insist that the parents be actively involved in their children's music education. They sit in on the lessons and are held accountable for their children's practice time.

I can tell exactly which parents are really involved in their children's music education. Those children make quicker progress, know their songs better, and are more confident.

I think sometimes we forget that our children are children. We expect them to be self-motivated. We are surprised when their not. Kids get bored. When something feels new it is fun and exciting and wonderful. But as the newness wears off they can get bored. Or when something gets difficult they can get discouraged.

It is interesting to see how parents handle this. Our natural instinct is to think that something is wrong. Or maybe this music program isn't as fantastic as we thought. What we lose sight of is that in any long-term venture we go through highs and lows. How many of us have had perfectly blissful marriages or careers where we never felt bored or discouraged or thought of quitting?

Of course children will go through this too. And as parents, we have a responsibility and a great opportunity. We can teach our children how to weather the lows without quitting. What kind of an impact can that have on a child's future? How much better prepared for life's ups and downs will our children be if they are trained to make it through some lows without quitting when they are young?

I believe that by training our children in this way we are helping to develop into their characters qualities like integrity, determination, and perseverance. That is where success comes from.

The Rhythm of Humanity

I have been teaching my 10 year-old piano with the Simply Music® method since the beginning of October. She can play about 17 or 18 songs up to this point. And she's having a blast. She'll play for anyone who will listen.

I was listening to her practice the other day and marvelling at how smooth and even her rhythm is. Once she has a song comfortably in her fingers she plays it perfectly evenly. Now, understand, I am not teaching her rhythm per say. She has no idea what time signatures are yet, or that she is playing eigth notes, or quarter notes. She isn't counting along while she plays.

If you've had a traditional piano background I know this makes no sense at all. But that's the way this method works. Now, she will learn time signatures and note values and be able to read music like a champ. We just don't start there. And if you are thinking, "well, I don't know. It doesn't sound real." Then ask yourself this: how many piano students who start off trying to learn to read music from the beginning can play 18 songs with both hands after 4 months of lessons?

The reason this works is that we all have a natural rhythm. In fact, we have so much natural rhythm that we couldn't function or even survive without it. Human beings, every one of us, are deeply musical. That doesn't mean that we could all win American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. But we all have deeply ingrained musicality.

We use it all the time- with the beat of our heart and with every breath we take. And those are involuntary! Think of all the things we use our natural rhythm for: walking (just try to do that unevenly), brushing our teeth, cutting with scissors and on and on.

I have a family member who considers himself completely unmusical. But over the holidays I heard him chopping an onion with one of those choppers you can buy in the mall - the ones where you push on a plunger and the blades rotate against the cutting board. Anyway, the perfect, even rhythm was almost comical. He would do 7 plunges and rest for exactly one count. It was perfect. You could have danced to it.

The problem isn't that people aren't musical. The problem is that people are so profoundly musical that many of them don't even notice.

Crossing the Generation Barrier

I started a new group piano class today. I actually combined two smaller ones and added a new student. In the class are children as young as 8 (with their parents) and even a retired adult. They had a great time together. They learned a whole new song from beginning to end and learned how to play arrangements for two other songs.

I love how universal music is.

A Piano Recital Already!

I have been teaching Simply Music for less than two months and my students are ready to give a recital. I am so excited. They each already know several songs (with two hands) and are learning how to accompany some traditional Christmas Carols.

I feel that I am able to make a real difference in these kid's lives. It's more than just teaching them a skill. They love their classes and I see their confidence growing. I'm sure that they are gaining self-esteem through the process of discovering the music inside of themselves.

Kindermusik Parents

I love Kindermusik parents. I love them because they are so unselfish. With all of the selfishness in our culture it just does my heart good to see people being so giving.

These are adults who, first of all, take time out of their busy weeks to spend focused time with their little one. And you should see what they do. Grown women, and men, dance around and sing silly kids songs. They make crazy faces and imitate sounds from hammers and saws to rain to various animals. They play with jingle bells and all sorts of peek-a-boo type games.

I know that these activities take these people out of their comfort zones. But they are willing to risk looking and feeling silly for the sake of their children's enjoyment and education. And they love it.

Way to go Kindermusik parents!

Earthquake Rocks Kindermusik Class!

Yesterday we had an earthquake here in So Cal. It happened to occur right in the middle of one of my Kindermusik classes. I was teaching an Imagine That class of 3 and 4 year olds at the time. The moms were out having coffee together.

I had to crack up at these California kids. They weren't a bit scared. We talked about it for a minute or two, took note of the things around us that kept moving after the quake was over -- the chandelier, the water in the fishtank, and then we just kept right on with class. I'm glad it wasn't more serious though. I'm not sure what I would have done as the only adult with 9 children if we had experienced a real disaster.

The phone rang as soon as the quake was over. I normally wouldn't answer during class, but I figured it was the moms checking on their kids. It wasn't! These are such seasoned So Cal moms that they didn't even call. They just showed up at the end of class for sharing time.

It's amazing what we adjust to.

Kindermusik Event at Babies R Us!

On Saturday, July 12th I will be offering free Kindermusik demonstration classes as part of a national promotional event with Kindermusik and Babies R Us. The classes will take place at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, and 1:00 pm.

A demo class is a great way to see what Kindermusik is all about. We will do lots of fun activites, and I will demonstrate how Kindermusik engages all areas of a child's development while providing valuable information for parents as well.

I will be holding raffle-prize drawings at each class featuring a book and music set that will be reading during the class. I will also have registration specials for upcoming classes.

So, consider yourself officially invited for some music fun and education!

R*E*S*P*E*C*T

As I taught my Adventure Camp for 3-5 year olds today I noticed something. It was a class full of new students and they started out shy and quiet. But once I sat down with them, looked each child in the eye and engaged them in conversation they came to life. After just a few minutes this shy, quiet group was so excited to share that I could barely get a word in.

It just reminded me of how much we all desire respect from others, even from the time that we are 3 years old. Everyone loves to be heard and to feel that what they have to say is important. I am so grateful to be a Kindermusik teacher and to have the opportunity to make children feel loved and listened-to.

Kindermusik Summer Adventures Camps

Summer Adventures Camps begin next week! You can still register and enjoy this fun time with your child.

Classes are on Tuesday mornings at Right Start in Rancho Cucamonga. I am offering the following classes on Tuesday mornings:

Our Time (1.5 - 3 years old) from 10:15 - 11:00

Imagine That (3 - 5 years old) from 11:15 - noon.

Classes start this Tuesday, June 17 and run for 5 consecutive weeks.

Summer is a great time to try out Kindermusik. Classes are only 5 weeks long and we focus on fun summer themes! The cost is $99, and that includes Kindermusik At-Home-Materials that help you bring the fun and learning home. You will receive a cd with all of the songs from class, as well as an instrument and a literature component.

Give me a call with questions, or to register!

Childlight Music (909) 357-2044