YouTube Fun

Activity number 1
Watch the hippo and dog video with your kids. Have them pick one of the characters and copy their every move. My daughter, Miss B chose the dog each time but my goodness did she enjoy it! This could be fun used at school for a brain break or just a Friday night at home being silly.

Activity number 2
The Boom Chicka Boom song is a run repeat song.
There are several different styles, and hilarity of course ensues!
Watch it with your kids and have some silly moments. When you learn it, it can be a great car game or just around the home.

Look for fun and you will find it!

Making The Most With Music

Starting your child at a young age appreciating music can open amazing doors of imagination as they travel the road of life. It can be a bit daunting to being though. Where to start? Even at a young age, music can be played in the background at home.As they become older, you can make selections just for them. While in the car or sitting at home you can listen to the music and ask questions "Do you think this is happy music or sad music?" "How does it make you feel?"  "Is it loud or soft?" All these are critical thinking and reasoning.
Now, the big question.... What songs do I pick?
Here are a few of my suggestions and a few to listen to.
You could also sit down and compile a playlist of your own, just have fun with it!

Fast paced exciting songs
Hungarian Rhapsody  (one of my all-time favorites)
Schubert's Military March
Overture From The Marriage Of Figero
1812 Overture
Orpheus In The Underworld 
In The Mood - Glen Miller
Sing Sing Sing -Glen Miller
Oklahoma (Musical)

Cultural/Fun
Waltzing Matilda
Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport
Brown Girl In The Ring (A game children in Jamaica play)

Soft and Peaceful
The Aquarium by Saint Saens (A stupendous piece)
La Cynge (Very well known tune)

Music Basics

Music is one of the most important things to me. The listening, naming artists, and discovering new sounds oh, just about all of it.
I desire to pass a love of the arts and specifically music on to my children. I have been looking forward to the day when we can begin official piano lessons. Until, then I needed to have a way to teach the basics of Music Theory while playing and not in an official sit down lesson. After trying to envision how this might look, I came upon an idea.

I let Bella pick out four colors of felt, and then also purchased black

 

When I got home I cut out the notes, rests and a few symbols.

I then allowed her to play with them on the felt while we talked about the names. She enjoyed it and I have noticed that talking while playing with a concept can often get it across without them feeling forced into it. I have taught a few younger children piano and used similar methods. Flash cards and drawing would work very well at this age too. Even if you are not familiar with music theory, this could still be used to open up the minds of little ones at home.


Here is a link to a basic musical theory page