Saturday, June 26, 2010

We've Moved

Hi, Friends,
Thanks for stopping by.  We've actually recently moved our blog (as well as our main website) to http://kindermusikwithjoy.net.  Come see us over there!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Giving Your Child a Great Start in Music

Parents regularly ask me when is a good time to start music lessons or what to do with their child to develop an interest in music prior to taking lessons.

Here is a lovely article that just appeared in the "Omaha World-Herald" on Monday which answers those very questions.

You can also come for a visit Saturday November 17 at the Community Music and Dance Academy as various Conservatory music and dance instructors discuss "Music and Dance for the Young Child." I'll have more details soon.

Monday, August 06, 2007

Whack Them and They Go BOOM!

This is what my adorable hubby wrote this week on our family blog about my favorite new instrument, which arrived at our house over the weekend:

"Joy recently purchased the coolest musical instrument you can buy for your child. I'm not kidding. These things are so addictive you'll be wrestling your child for the chance to play with them.

They are nothing more than plastic tubes that have be cut so when you hit them they produce fixed pitches on the diatonic scale. So when you hit the red tubes, you get a "C," the orange one gives you a "D," and so on. And when I say "hit," I mean "hit." You get to smack these things on the wall, the floor, the table, your arm, your child's head, anything really and you get a note. Whack three together and you can make a chord. Sure it comes with mallets, but where's the fun in that?

Best part? The name - Boomwhackers! Doesn't it just make you want to whack the tubes and yell "BOOM!"? Ok, maybe it's just me, but Sam's doing it too.

You also get a black plastic cap that drops the pitch produced an octave, a cap they call the "Octavator," which when combined with Boomwhackers makes these things sound like they will either save the world or take it over (The Octavator is attacking with his Boomwhackers! Take Cover!")"

He was more than a little excited, especially because these funky little tubes reminded him greatly of Harry Partch, wild and wacky musician and instrument builder of the 20th century, who also happens to be the subject of hubby's dissertation in musicology.

Truthfully, his enthusiasm is completely justified. Just hear a sample of some compositions written expressly for Boomwhackers. And then come see my new set this weekend at our Family Music Day (which I'll write more about tomorrow). I also suspect they'll start showing up in some of the Young Child classes soon.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Better than Knife and Fork

One of the delights of being a parent of a young child is getting to cut tiny morsels of food for those growing little tummies. In fact, one of the best things about a night out in my book, is not having to cut someone else's food. That said, I have been introduced to a fabulous tool to make this job easier - a small pair of scissors. Now, when one of our friends at church first mentioned this little trick, I was doubtful as to its worth. Then she gave me a pair of small scissors in a cute little plastic case, and now I am hooked. We take them everywhere, and when we don't, we berate ourselves for the extra trouble we've caused.


Since we've started this trend with our little man, my mom-in-law has mentioned she does the same with many cooking ingredients for dishes. I must say, cutting up a large breast of chicken, does indeed go quite a bit faster with scissors than knife and fork. In fact, I've now decided I need a pair of kitchen shears just for this purpose. My friend who orginiated the idea even keeps multiple pairs on hand, just so she's never without. I think she may be wise to do so.


So there you have it. Works for me. Give it a try, I think you'll be convinced.


This post is a part of "Work For Me Wednesday" sponsored by "Rock in My Dryer." Head on over to see what other great ideas they might have up today.

Friday, July 27, 2007

One Easy Way to Improve Academic Readiness: Kindermusik



"If you learn music, you'll learn most all there is to know. "-- Edgar Cayce
Kindermusik can help your child be more prepared for school. Read the full study involving approximately 30 students enrolled in Kindermusik classes: "Study Shows Music Training Improves Intelligence."

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Another Favorite New Book

So, here's another book I've been dying to recommend, but truthfully, I could not remember the title in order to look it up. I ran across it in this darling gift shop in Manhattan, Kansas one weekend in June and am determined to buy my own copy.

How to Con Your Kid is another in the growing line of cleverly written parenting books that remind us all to laugh at life with kids and delivers sage parenting advice with a good dose of wit.
Designed largely to help parents with many of the struggles of uncompliant toddlers (and I would say preschoolers), this book uses a lot of the best techniques from early childhood educators and experts but makes it the most fun I've ever seen. The author stands ready to arm you with an ansenal of great "cons" but promises that for those few instances when all else fails, he's still included two pages of stickers at the back of the book for bribes.

Check it out.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Summer Water Play in Kansas City

Both the Village classes and the Family Time class talked about water this week, so I thought it appropriate time to mention a few places worth checking out for fabulous, fun, water play:

  • The new Spraygrounds around town that make for a delightful adventure with water. We visited the one at Loose Park a few weeks ago and enjoyed playing in the giant sprays of water.
  • Though we haven't visited, I must say that the small beach at 1,250 acre Shawnee Mission Park also look worth investigating. It's open daily from noon to 7:30 pm (6 pm on the weekends). Entrance is roughly $3 for kids and $5 for grownups. Lay on the beach and enjoy watching the boats pass by or build your own sand castle.
  • And if you love water parks and swimming pools - check out this great site reviewing some of the best pools in the Kansas City area.