Music is important for Families children & adults

Natural Ability and Creativity

2012-01-31T12:46:00.000-08:00

"Natural ability without education has more often attained glory and virtue, than education without natural ability." Cicero Are you thinking? How many self-educated people have attained success? Many. How many who have not gone through 'traditional' education invented things that changed the world? Quite a few. Do we kill or inspire creativity in our educational system? It would all depend on the the combination of the teacher, the student, the parents and the support system.
I was speaking at my workshop titled "Creating Confident, Competent Children (Ready for School; Ready for Life) and a woman interjected a statistic that made me raise an eyebrow. She sent it to me and I've written to the blogger to ask for the citation. The statistic is that when children are tested for creativity, 85% show it. By the time you are an adult, the percentage goes down to 2%. You've got to shake your head at that! And wonder, why?
Basically, one of the reasons is because as adults, many do as they are supposed to do at their jobs and don't deviate. It is also postulated that as we get older, we become more resistant to new ideas and change. Sad. But, true.
Those who have learned to value the Arts, keep them in their lives as adults and thus become more 'likely' to embrace change and possibilities outside the norm. In our schools, it is imperative that we include music, art, drama and creative movement as part of the curriculum. Participating in these activities inspires creativity, encourages divergent thinking and awards personal achievement.
Whether we work with children as a vocation, as a parent or just as a member of society, we should recognize, validate and support natural ability and creativity from birth onward. "Find the Gift in Every Child"

Sharing the HOLIDAZE

2011-12-05T06:19:00.001-08:00

It is that time of year - the HOLIDAZE. On the Music with Mar. Group Facebook Page, each day I post a brain fact. From now until Christmas, the posts are going to be about the season of Christmas and how it is celebrated throughout the world. These posts will include how every culture uses music. There may not always be citations as some of the conclusions will be based upon many, many people writing the same thing. Please feel free to add any thoughts and citations as I welcome your input. The more, the better :)
Everyone knows the traditional songs; everyone sings along and gets that 'feeling'. My Jewish friends sometimes know the words to the Carols better than some Christians. (Many of the Carols were written by Jews!) In Muslim countries, the holiday is celebrated with song as well. As I've been researching, I've been finding a lot of interesting facts and it is time to share with Mar.
Whatever you celebrate, we ALL celebrate the season and enjoy each other's customs, traditions and FOOD (and drink)! Music and food have brought people to tables throughout the ages. It is hard to be angry with someone when good music is playing and there's aromatic, delicious treats on the table.
Take advantage of this wonderful time of year and share your traditions with your friends, introduce yourself to theirs and feel the MAGIC!

Scary Music and Halloween

2011-10-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

It's Halloween ~ a favorite holiday for many of us who grew up before all the 'bad' connotations started being put on it. Don't let the politically correct police ruin a wonderful holiday. There are many parts of it that are quite good for children (young and old.)
Peter Alsop says in his workshops that there are no such things as negative and positive emotions. Rather, there are comfortable and uncomfortable emotions. Uncomfortable emotions are important because they make us affect change. We will all experience an uncomfortable emotion once in a while, if not even on a daily basis. If we do not give children the experiences (in a safe environment) to feel those emotions and know they are safe, they will not have any tools to deal with them when they do happen. And, they will.
Music that is a little scary may make children uncomfortable. When an adult helps them through it by saying "That does sound a little scary but we will be ok. Let's listen and see what happens", it helps the child relax and pay attention to what is happening. By enforcing, "We're ok" (and making sure the song isn't lasting too long), the child then hears the happy ending and the brain sends the message "You felt uncomfortable, but you are alright."
Dressing up to pretend to be something you are not is also an important part of play and development. Often children will dress as something they are a little afraid of. This helps them conquer that fear by becoming that persona and controlling it. Sometimes, they dress as something they'd like to 'try on'. (Come on, ladies. What do you dress like for Halloween?)
And a last important factor is rituals and routines. Human beings need holidays to look forward to. It gives life meaning. Imagine if everyday was just another day with no special days to look forward to. Did you like that thought?
So get out "Dark, Dark", "Spider on the Floor", "The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything", "Five Pumpkins on the Gate" (although I do change witches in the air to voices in the air; your choice) and any other Halloween song you love and let the Holiday be what it's supposed to be ~ an opportunity to dress up and get CANDY!!!

Brain Facts and Citations

2011-09-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

Many have written about the Brain Facts - how they are enjoying them, sharing them and learning from them. I am thrilled. Thank you for caring enough to help spread this important information that so many fantastic people have dedicated their lives to. Several have asked for citations. For that reason, I have created a new side bar down the left side of the home page of Musicwithmar.com. It is titled "Handouts". Citations are listed there and it is a work in progress.

Although there are many facts that are hard to pin point to one specific person because by now, that knowledge has become an accepted part of our brain anatomy, I am now going back and putting in citations where I can and including them in the posts. My reason for these posts is a passion which is shared by most in the world of education. Please always ask / suggest when you want an improvement or tweak. I'm happy to oblige.

At this point, I am compiling all the brain facts in one document and inserting citations. That document will post in a couple of weeks. Anyone who has facts to add, please write to me or Facebook me and I will be happy to include it. (Please supply citation :) )

The world of neurobiology is fascinating. The connection to music and movement is undeniable. When I see the same research in several books, that is when I post it. Researchers like Dr. Carla Hannaford, Dr. John Ratey, Dr. Michael Gurian, Chris Brewer, Don Campbell, Eric Jensen, Stuart Brown, Dr. Daniel Levitin, Daniel Goleman and Daniel Pink continue to put out wonderful information that is relevant and easy to make a part of our everyday life, whether that be working with children in a professional field or working with children in other settings.

As a matter of fact, this information is valuable in ALL our personal relationships. How helpful is Michael Gurian's gender research? If everyone had to read his book in high school, maybe there'd be less divorce! Daniel Goleman's breakthrough with Emotional Intelligence is so important that it branched into Daniel Pink's passion of right brain world. And Carla? Can't say enough. She pulls together all the physiology and, well, she's just Carla!

Most of the research is done in labs by people whose names often get lost as author's who write about them are the ones whose names are remembered. Names like Schlaug, Weinberger, Menon, Kraus, Shaw, Rauscher and Patel to name a few. I would suggest for those who really want to keep current you go to Dana. org and sign up for the FREE publication. They send them out bi-monthly. Each issue has a synopsis of what they have found to be the latest findings.

Again, thank you for your interest. Please respond, insert, share, repost and stay in touch. For those of you going to NAEYC in Orlando, please visit me in the School Specialty Booth. Sing-cerely ~ ~ Mar.

The Brain Change from Left to Right

2011-09-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

Those that know me, know I love to read brain research. This latest book, "A Whole New Mind" by Daniel Pink, has many interesting facts in it. I've been using some for my daily posts on the Facebook Page and thought here is the place to elaborate.
The point that has me most intrigued is his comment "The MFA is the new MBA". For me, that is wonderful news. For others, it's a perplexing, "What does he mean by that?" Let me explain as Daniel did.
When our country was first founded, people needed body strength to run the fields, hunt and survive. We moved into the industrial age where stamina for repetitive tasks became the focus and from there into the left brain dominated world of the number crunchers and analysts. Everyone wanted their MBA or a degree in Business. Now, another shift has happened. What makes a product different from another has become presentation and not performance. And that takes right brain thinking!
More people are training for careers that require right brained thinking. Harvard Business School is now easier to get into then UCLA's fine arts graduate school. Medical Schools are requiring doctors to take art classes so they can learn to look at details which will skill them to look at facial expressions and tone of voice when dealing with patients. I say "Hooray!". But, I also am aware that this is an awesome opportunity to taut the importance of why children must be taught to use both sides of their brain from early childhood and a lot of this is done through --- (READY?) -- Music class, Art Class, Creative Movement.
If ever there was a time to be verbal about keeping arts in the schools, this is it. Creating children who are good at reading, math and sciences is just half the picture. We must instill a knowledge base for the basics along with the ability to format, present and design.
Please share this blog. It is important. I'd love to get a dialogue going on how we can do this. What practices can we implement to help make this happen? What can we do to make the general population (parents, politicians, school board administrators) aware of this shift if they aren't already? Wouldn't it be wonderful to be part of a group of people who helped at the ground roots level to get this message out? Join me!

The Misconception of the Stay-at-home Mom

2011-08-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

Stay-at-home moms are regarded with a misconception by many preschool teachers that their children come to school unprepared. It is not true of the majority of stay at home moms. And, it is insulting. My daughter never went to one day of preschool. We had a group of moms who did many activities together. All the children in our group tested for the gifted program. We didn't have exceptionally smart children; we just prepared them. That makes the difference.
In my opinion, my daughter was better prepared for K than what any preschool teacher could have done. (Many say it's because I had the education to do it. That could be part of it, coupled with all that love.) She learned so much while she helped me prepare grocery lists, find the items in the store, help me put them away and then help cook the meal. From sorting laundry to playing board games, there were learning experiences everywhere. AND, they were One-on-One! There were also group activities such as the library, music class and children's museums.
My daughter thanked me when she was in high school. She came home and said that she was listening to all the kids at lunch talk about their preschools and she asked "Didn't you do any of that with your moms?" The answer for most was something like "Just on the weekends". She thought at that point that she was lucky and said to me when she got home "Thank you for my childhood."
Now, if a child comes from an environment where the moms lay on the couch, aren't educated etc, it's a different story. Just please don't lump all stay-at-home moms in one category. Generalities are a dangerous thing.
In those first 5 - 7 years, the brain is needing to build that foundation of frontal lobe first - strengthening attachment and security. If we spend a lot of time on cognitive (rear brain) activities, we are not giving the frontal lobe as much attention as it deserves. We are focused on the part of the brain that is more logical, wanting to gather and store data. It is like skipping steps with the basement while building a house so you can get to the parts you really like. If that basement - foundation - isn't well laid, the kitchen will crash through!
Staying at home, when time and economics (and personal decisions) allow, gives parents an opportunity to focus more on the frontal lobe, having more control and first hand knowledge of what their child is doing, who they are playing with, how their personality is developing.
A professor and pediatric neurosurgeon from USF stated in a keynote address I attended that children before the age of 5 need attachment, not socialization. Although socialization is fun for them, it isn't necessary. We as parents see them smiling and having fun and think "My child NEEDS to be in school so he can be with other children". That's not really true. If a child was eating chocolate ice cream and smiling, would you think "My child NEEDS to eat more ice cream."? Not really. You'd think "She enjoys that once in a while, but I need to make sure she gets plenty of fruit and vegetables first."
When a parent has to work, we have some great preschool programs that will give children the guidance, attention and love they need. We all make the personal decisions. The purpose of this blog is twofold. First to state that children of stay-at-home moms do come to school prepared AND second, to state that we all have choices. It is not right to make either type parent feel guilty about their decisions. Everyone does what they believe is right for their family. Please don't judge or form uneducated opinions. Knowledge is a powerful thing.

Music Lessons and Learning to Deal with Pressure

2011-08-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

Test scores have shown dramatic improvements after children were given music lessons. Lessons do not need to be private for these benefits. It is recommended that 'lessons' do not start until the child has reached the concrete thinking stage, usually between 4 - 6.
Opening a can of worms here, but we all need to learn to face the pressures of tests as life often puts us in testing type situations. The first time we try to walk, we are testing ourselves. We may fall. That's scary, but we try, fall and try again. Trying out for a sports team is a test. Asking someone on a date, testing ourselves. So why do we demand that we don't test our children?
I agree, many of the tests are incorrectly administered, but, don't we need to have a marker for us to see if they are learning? My view on tests when I taught at a local University was this (and I told my students so). The test is not about the children; it is about whether or not the teacher was effective. If a test is given and 50% receive a failing grade, than it is only logical that the teacher didn't get the point across and not the reverse, that half the class is incapable of understanding. I told this to my daughter in middle school and that helped her a lot.
The point? Music lessons test you. It's scary to sit and play with the potential of making a mistake. Learning that when you do, nothing bad happens. You just changed the pitch or rhythm. It's still music! What a great way to develop confidence! Play on. Play on.....

The importance of Lyrics

2011-07-25T05:59:00.000-07:00

Ninety-nine percent of learning is unconscious. When songs are playing, children are taking in the lyrics. Make sure it's something you want them to know.
All styles of music are good for children; it is the lyrics that can be harmful. Up until the age of approximately 7, children's value systems are being developed. Whatever information goes in, becomes part of their moral belief system. If they hear the same thing many times, it becomes even more solidified. This is why it is important we protect our children from harmful content they do not understand / do not need to know.
A lot of what is on the radio today should not be heard or repeated by children under the age of 7. However, because media standards have lowered so much, it is very difficult to protect our children from such content. It becomes our responsibility to make sure that when they are with us, we play music with lyrics we would have no problem with them repeating.
I'm not saying "No pop music" because it's important for them to feel a part of our world, our culture. Just choose wisely./

Neurochemicals ~ ~ Why Music Plays an Important Role

2011-07-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

On the daily FB posts, I've been putting tidbits on movement and it's relationship to brain benefits. Neurochemicals play a big part in that.
During my interview with Kathy Stevens of the Gurian Institute (Listen from website), I asked her to simplify the differences between males and females. She responded "Oxytocin vs Testosterone". See? Neurochemicals play a big part, even in the gender differences.
Getting these neurochemicals stimulated is where music comes in. Beginning with rocking a baby, making eye contact and smiling, you are connecting with the pre-frontal lobes and they are reacting positively by creating dopamine and endorphins (impulse control / ability to attach). Soft singing will stimulate melatonin and seratonin (aiding in the ability to relax / go to sleep). Lullabies!!!
Musical games that encourage creativity and cooperation stimulate oxytocin and testosterone. Now, we may not be able to manipulate our male / female tendencies to not produce these chemicals, but we can learn how to control them better. These games teach boys how to work with those competitive feelings without hurting others. Girls learn to share, work together and how to react to boys, who are doing something totally different!
Dancing. Cannot say enough! The bonding in itself tells a child "You are important to me." Dr. Carla Hannaford cites research from out of Harvard on how important all this is to heart health with statistics showing the adults who come from healthy homes have less heart disease while 97% of those who don't come from healthy homes have heart problems!!! Oh MY!!!!
Much more to learn. Keep educating yourself and using that knowledge with your children and loved ones. They benefit and the rest of the world will as well when they go out into it as adults and use what you taught them.

Following up on Rhythm Sticks

2011-06-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

It is common, when using rhythm sticks, that we have a tendency to move only our dominant hand. By doing this, we are stimulating that side of our brain while the other is just 'assisting' with the activity. By making sure we switch hands and move both, we get both sides stimulated.
There are many ways to do this with children. Ask them to play "Copy Cat" with you. Have them do with their sticks whatever you do with yours. When they are more familiar with this activity, you can let them take turns being the leader.
For those who cannot afford sticks, paint stirrers are great. They can decorate them with their own names / pictures and then at the end of the year, they take them home!
Please share your stick ideas.

Rhythm sticks - so much more than tapping them together.

2011-06-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

When we pass out rhythm sticks, think beyond tapping them together. For the next few posts on Facebook, each little benefit will be targeted. Let's list them :
Passing the sticks out can be done by chanting and calling out names developing listening skills as they wait for their name. When tapping together and then tapping the floor, they're getting the brain to repeat a pattern.
If sticks are held up in front of you and moved from side to side to the music as your eyes follow them, (Try to keep that head still!) the eyes are practicing what they need to do to follow words in a book. Ah! Reading Readiness -- once again without that "I can teach your baby to read!" stuff.
More will follow. Let's just start with this. Tell me your thoughts. Either here or on the Facebook Group Page.

Marching

2011-06-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

At every Music with Mar. class, whether in AK or FL, there is a parade. We march. We count loudly. We count softly. With each step of the way, there is brain research being implemented.
It begins with picking the instruments. When children have to choose, it is a good time for parents to watch their behavior, how they get what they want. Each parent should use this time to teach their child that social skill.
Next, we find the beat and march while we strike our percussion instruments. Finding and keeping a steady beat is a skill that should be in place by the time they enter Kindergarten and is related to reading proficiency.
Marching is a cross lateral activity. It uses both sides of the brain as the left leg comes up while the right arm is out and then switches to right leg, left arm. The ability to do cross lateral movement is necessary to read. This movement also helps the brain to work at a fuller capacity because both sides are communicating.
When counting, we are doing beats in sets of four to help with math patterning awareness. By counting first loudly and then softly, we are practicing our voice control. Most children under four cannot whisper because it takes more muscles to whisper than it does to talk.
Stay tuned each day for more Brain Facts and Music!

Brain Facts

2011-06-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a while. This blog is mostly to get everyone to start following the weekday daily posts on Brain Research findings and their relationship to helping children (people) learn and live to their fullest potential.
The more people who understand, the more families that can do the things that will prepare their children for school -- an life in general. It doesn't take money, fancy programs or even large blocks of time. Just continued participation in activities that are fun and helpful.
Hop along with me and Mr. Froggy.

Sequencing and IQ

2011-03-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

How many numbers in a sequence can you remember? According to Jan G Goldberg, PhD. in an article published in the Huffington Post, Dec, 2010, the amount of numbers you can rememer in a sequence is directly related to your IQ. The average number is 7. For grades K through 12, it has been shown that there is an average of a 3.1 year difference in achievement between an auditory span of 5 and 6!
What does this have to do with music? Aw, come on. I can bring everything back to music!!!
Children need to be taught how to sequence. We should be doing things with them to increase their memory skills. Brings to mind songs that get them to keep adding on, such as "Today is Monday", "Smart Woman" or "Rattling Bog". When children are happily singing and giggling as they try to remember what comes next, their brain is learning to remember longer and longer sequences and this leads to higher IQ, better abilities.
Much more to say on this topic. Let's hear from you. Share this blog with your friends. Thanks!!! I'll have more to add later.

Sharing Traditions - Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T06:15:00.000-08:00

Traditions are so important. They give us something to look forward to. They provide a definite reason to get together. They make us feel connected. What worries me is so many people are afraid of traditions in this politically correct climate. Afraid a tradition may insult someone else's tradition. So, we should respect other's traditions at the loss of ours? I don't think so.
What we must remember is, our traditions are important to us as theirs are to them. It is all about respect. We respect their right to have their beliefs and they respect ours.
Many of our traditions were religious born and that is where the 'sticky' part comes. What has happened is, some of these have lost their 'religious' ties and become a secular celebration. That is great because it allows those who want to celebrate the religious aspect to still do so and those who want to be a part of the other excitement can do so as well.
Which brings us to Valentine's Day. Some religions don't recognize this holiday at all and other's have loosened up and enjoy what it is has turned into. The point of all this? Celebrate what you want. Enjoy it and Share it! Isn't a tradition to share traditions?

Math Connection

2011-01-24T17:40:00.000-08:00

As I'm finishing up an article about the connection between math and music, it gets me thinking about all the things we did as children that prepared us for learning. And, we had no clue! Circle games, picking partners (without adults getting involved to tell us how to do it fairly) and falling down and picking ourselves up (alone or with a friend's help) because an adults didn't come rushing to say "Are you ok?" (Asking that always prompts one to think, "Aren't I supposed to be?")
Children never get to be children without adults telling them how to be children!!! That is sad. I could say much more, but for now, how about just this to get you thinking and to stimulate some convo!!!

Sh! It's important to be quiet.

2011-01-03T05:54:00.001-08:00

Silence IS Golden. And, an important part of auditory discrimination. Our children today have so much stimulating input to their brains, they literally have problems functioning in silence. First and Second grade teachers have informed me that children cannot sit and be quiet when doing Silent Reading, worksheets or taking tests. They begin to hum, tap pencils or fingers and click their tongues. This is a problem. Learning to sit in silence is a necessary skill.
What are some things that can be done that will help children learn to manage silence? Call and response songs teach there is a time to listen and a time to respond. Songs like “B I N G O” “I Can Count and Singo” and “Little Peter Rabbit” have spots where you must remain silent and just ‘think’ the words. In MwM class, they learn when to sing and when to listen with Mr. Froggy and Bunny Foo Foo. Kazoo and sticks activities help with this skill as well.
Native Americans used Talking Sticks for storytelling. This is done by sitting in a circle and the person holding the stick gets to speak. The stick is then passed to the next person who continues on with the story or creates a new one. This can also be done with song.
You may take your child on a “Listening Walk”. Walk in silence and pay attention to what you hear. When you return from the walk, discuss the sounds. Children who are writing can bring clip boards and take notes. “Sound Scavenger Hunt” Go for a silent walk with specific sounds to listen for. When you return, discuss how many you found.
As parents, we get so excited for the first word and then sentences. (When they become teenagers, we sometimes get excited for the breath between the sentences!) We should also celebrate the ability to listen. People that are good listeners do better intellectually, emotionally, socially and cognitively. This is because they hear more of what is being said and perform better in each of those areas.
The hardest assignment I was ever given in college was to sit still and do nothing for 15 minutes a day. I learned so much. In this new year, remember to turn off the electronics a bit and listen!

Starting Traditions

2010-12-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when we make pacts with ourselves. They're called "New Year Resolutions". I think that is because they are only kept while the year is new and then they are forgotten or discarded because we decide they were impractical or too difficult to do.
As a music teacher, it is often this time of year when children may begin music lessons - take up a new instrument. That can be the beginning of a tradition, a skill or love that is passed down from parent to child to child.
Growing up in an Italian-American neighborhood, there were relatives all around, each at a different age and each with their own genre of music. I listened to everyone and sang and danced along. From those early years, the tradition of music in my family grew into my life passion. On my dad's side, Irish. At 6, I remember singing "My Wild Irish Rose" to my grandfather. (I loved the stage!)
These little things we do with our children (or teach our children to do for themself) may become what they do for a lifetime. Watch if you see a sparkle, a love, a flame grow. Nurture that and give them a gift that will be with them forever. Probably, they will pass that gift onto their child.

Music's Role in Tradition. And Why It's Important!

2010-12-19T07:22:00.000-08:00

What can get a group of people who have never met each other and participate in an activity together? A song. You can be at a theme park, a party or even a bar and a song everybody knows comes on and soon, we are one voice, singing as if we've been friends forever. That is part of the Magic of Music.
WE need tradition, rituals and holidays. It is what helps us to look forward. If every day were the same, each would be today with tomorrow looming. But, when we know "Christmas is next week", there's anticipation, not only for the day itself but for seeing the people we will be sharing it with.
Each holiday, special day and tradition has a song. There's a song for getting married, graduating, funerals, parties etc etc. Little children naturally make up songs for things they learning - "I'm tying my shoes. I'm tying my shoes." etc etc.
Remember to pass your traditions unto your children. Thirty years from now, you will smile as you sit in the seat your grandparents once held and feel a warmth in your heart as you listen to them sing with their children the songs you once sang to them.
MARry Christmas! Hoppy Holidaze!

Singing Green: Can Music Save Our Planet?

2010-12-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

Singing Green: Can Music Save Our Planet?

Go GREEN when choosing your Christmas Tree this year. (And, I don't just mean the color.)
Can music help make our children environmentally conscious? I believe so and I know that the Banana Slug String Band has some of the best songs to do it. This is a great interview with Larry from the band as he and Mar. Harman discuss how music can help mold children's thinkings with some incite from Natalie Wickham. Give a listen and let us know your thoughts.

Why do girls sing and boys play rock guitar?

2010-10-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why boys seem to play the louder instruments and girls play tambourine and sing? Is there something that leads us to instruments that are suited for one gender or the other? The answer is Yes. In a wonderful interview with Kathy Stevens of the Gurian Institute on BAM! Music and Learning Channel, the possible reasons for this were discussed. It could be as simple as males make testosterone and girls make oxytocin. Each affects our desires in different ways.
Knowing that nature has 'something' to do with this, what can we do to balance things out? Or, do we have to? People should be able to choose whatever instrument they want. If we expose children to all instruments and step back so they can make their own choices, they most likely would still be drawn to the same choices. The most important thing, as in so many other instances where gender walls needed to broken down, is to expose them to many choices and let them know they can play whatever they want.
Here is a link to the interview.

Important Article -- Babies don't read; Babies get ready to read!

2010-01-17T10:03:00.001-08:00

http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_language_literacytips&AddInterest=1145&lnkname=art_5

Pee Pee Song

2010-01-15T07:22:00.000-08:00

Wow! Nice suggestions. This week, many people have asked about a Pee Pee Song. There is one; have no worries! You can find "Pee Pee In the Toilet Bowl" on "Start the Music". It works. My sister tried it with her 2 yr old grandaughter last weekend and it got to the "Pss pss psss pss" part, little Julia said "I doin' it!"

Mr. Froggy's Favs

2010-01-14T07:15:00.000-08:00

Mr. Froggy’s Favs
People have asked for a ‘best of’ CD. Here’s what we’re going to do ~ ~ release that CD but as a download only. You can help us. Write in our blog and tell us what 12 songs you think should be on it. All people who help will have their names entered into a drawing. Five will win a download of the new CD when it is available – hopefully in March.

HappiER New Year!

2010-01-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

Everyone seems to be locked into a mode of ‘things are bad’, but they really aren’t. We have so much out there for us! It is all in our attitude. And, remember. How we act / react to the current atmosphere teaches our children how to behave when they are older. Think about how you are and then decide if that is how you want your child to be.
It is the first six years that shape our lives. Those years define who we will be – our value systems, preferences and personalities. Brain research shows us that not much within our core can be changed after our seventh birthday, except through pharmaceuticals or behavior modification practices, neither of which are long lasting.
As we get older, we often notice our parent coming out in us. How many of those times do we get frustrated with ourselves remembering how we always said “I’ll never…..” and then, we do. It is almost inevitable. So, look at yourself and if there is something you don’t like, fix it before it becomes part of who your child is.
Teach your children to love life no matter what the circumstances or situations. Teach them to have good hobbies and habits. Society is so concerned about whether they can read, write or do math. Isn’t it more important that they can make a friend, be a friend? Enjoy life?
One of my pet peeves (and if you know me, well, never mind), is the ‘everyone should go to college’ mantra. Not everyone is meant for college. And, what message do we send to children who’s parents haven’t gone? What message do we send about our hair dressers, house painters, bakers, mail carriers, police officers, military? Aren’t they successful?
If someone grows up to do something for a living that they truly are passionate about, that is success! Help them find that passion and then give them the tools to develop it. That is success as a parent. It’s fun traveling the journey with them.

The Holidaze!

2009-12-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the season. It is sad when adults get so caught up in preparing for the Season that they actually miss the point that the season is happening each day on the way. Every little detail is part of the memories that you and your family will have forever -- picking out presents, decorating the house, writing cards, shopping for the meal. And, even toddlers can help. It doesn't matter if it is done perfectly. What matters is doing it together and sharing time. It's all about family. Take time to hug along the way and have fun.

Halloween

2009-10-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween! It's a wonderful time of year. You can dress up to be someone you'd like to be or something that you're a bit uncomfortable with and being it for one day, helps you feel more at ease. And, chocolate!! MMMMM
When taking your youngest children out, remember not to overwhelm them. We sometimes tend to make this more about us than them. Small doses and not scary please. Visit a local Music with Mar. class that week for a safe, controlled, trick-or-treat place (with music and Mr. Froggy!)
About scary -- everyone has fear in their life at some point. To learn to face fear in a safe environment is very important for children to learn. That is why we sing a song that is a little bit scary or uncomfortable but when it is over, we're safe. Mom / Dad are there and all is well. That's a great lesson to learn.
Several years ago, I produced a Halloween safety song with my friend, Officer Pati Gross. I'm posting that song as a FREE download on the Music with Mar. FB page this month. Please listen to it and teach your children all the safety things they need to know before they go trick or treating.
Hope you get more treats than tricks and always remember that if you collect too much chocolate, I am happy to take the extra :}

Why you should take your child to a music class for families

2009-10-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Music is such an important part of our lives. At every important event, we pick a song. When we graduate from high school, there's 'the song'. When we get married, there's 'the song'. We relate to music on many levels.
Having music be such an important part of my life when I was growing up, it was natural for me to keep it a part of my life -forever. I became a music teacher. When my daughter, Gioia, was born, I wanted to stay home with her yet I missed working with other children and music. That is how the program, Music with Mar., was born.
As time went on, I began to study the brain research behind music's importance and used this research to help me write the songs I've recorded and use in my classes and in the workshops I do for teachers.
With this blog, I will each week discuss one aspect of music in our lives -- children and adults. I hope you will share your experiences you've had at a Music with Mar. class, workshop or other music activity.