Music Education and "a Kindermusik child"

Over the thirteen years I have been attending Kindermusik classes, I have come to be able to spot a Kindermusik child a mile a way.

A Kindermusik child:

• is curious
• smiles a lot, even when alone
• is confident in his or her own voice
• enjoys hearing other children sing and play
• can be calmed, excited, or centered by music
• has the emerging patience to try and figure things out
• enjoys – and is proud of – belonging to a group

Now imagine if EVERY child shared these qualities. Might the news headlines look a bit different every morning...?So to those who think arts education is not important enough to make a priority in our world, I say, “How would we know? We’ve never tried.”


by Michael Dougherty, CEO of Kindermusik International

Kindermusik and Babytalk's World's Biggest Playgroup Event

Once again Kindermusik International participated in the World’s Biggest Playgroup event sponsored by Babytalk. This event was held on November 10, 2009, at the Mall of America in Bloomington (Minneapolis), MN. Click here to take a look at a copy of the in-book promotional page which appears in the November issue of Babytalk, where you’ll see Kindermusik and many other child-focused companies listed as sponsors. Kindermusik provided the four musical/activity sessions during the event, and we were included as a sponsor and are being recognized in all advertising (both local and national).

Maestro educator Helen Peterson (along with a few other Kindermusik educators) led the four 20 minute Kindermusik segments during this half-day event. This brought more children into the Minneapolis area Kindermusik programs and provided Kindermusik some well-deserved national attention all at the same time. 800 to 1000 children and parents were expected to attend!

Passing the Torch!

It really doesn't seem that long ago that Rachel Roberts was in Kindermusik employee owner & educator Cindy Bousman's Kindermusik class at the Cultural Arts Center in Greensboro, NC. You can imagine her surprise and delight when she found out Rachel is currently in a Fundamentals Learning Group! It really feels good to be able to pass on the torch.

"Young" Rachel is the cutie on the left in the red striped shorts!

Women in Business

Now is the perfect time for you to start your own Kindermusik business and add valuable income to your family budget, while bringing the gift of music to children in your community.

Did you know that within married-couple families, the typical working wife now brings home 42.2 percent of her family’s earnings? And, women increasingly are the primary breadwinners. In 2008, nearly 4 in 10 mothers (39.3 percent) were the primary breadwinner in their family—either because they were a single, working parent or because they earned as much as or more than their spouse. An additional quarter percent (24.0 percent) of mothers are co-breadwinners—that is, a working wife bringing home at least 25 percent of her family’s total earnings. Women are becoming breadwinners among all kinds of married-couple families, by income, education, and race.

Above data obtained from the Shriver Report - The Shriver Report is a product of Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress. For more research on women and the economy, go to americanprogress.org/women.

The "Mary Poppins" of Kindermusik

Kindermusik educators are called a lot of things -- creative -- musical -- warm -- friendly -- compassionate -- but Lindsay Levin of San Ramon, CA, was recently called the "Mary Poppins of East Bay" by one of her parent PROMOTERS.

Here's what was said:

"Miss Lindsay is apparently the Mary Poppins of the Eastbay. I love music and sing loudly to my 80's pop hits when I am 1000% sure no one (okay, cat excepted) is within driving distance. Miss Lindsay is pretty much the complete opposite. Actually, I think she would sing her way through her day if she could."

A Parent Testimonial..Music to Our Ears!

I have always wanted to write to Kindermusik to tell you of my experience. All 3 of my children went through the Kindermusik experience and we ALL loved it.
That was many years ago, my children are now 19, 17, and 15 and they are all musical even though my husband and I are not.

The oldest plays all sorts of instruments, has a great ear, writes music, sings, and is attending college for Jazz Studies. The middle child has been playing flute since 4th grade and is now Drum Major for her high school marching band and desperately wants to continue marching in college. The youngest also plays several instruments and is in high school marching band too.

This program has touched our family's life in a big way and I wanted to say THANKS

..shared by Brenda C. whose children took Kindermusik classes in both Alabama and Virginia

Join the global community of educators who are positively impacting the lives of children with the gift of music.

As I go into my 16th year of teaching Kindermusik, it feels like a good time to reflect. I remember that first semester of teaching two classes of "Beginnings" in my church basement (for you newbies, that's what we called it before it became "Our Time"). After teaching 3 years I was up to around 50 students and decided to hire a teacher....and then another. As life was good, in my ninth year, I started feeling like there was something more I was destined to do. I didn't want to give up Kindermusik, but something was nagging at me. Then I went to convention and witnessed Sandy Taylor from Denver, Colorado, as she presented us with her work with special needs children. It touched my heart so a new endeavor began. For the next two years, I worked on becoming not-for-profit so we would be eligible to apply for more grants. We received our 501-c in 2006. This part of our program has been an uphill battle ever since, and our mainstream children are still the ones we mostly serve and value so much. They are the ones who sustain us and bring us joy every day. We're up to 3 locations, 230 children, 7 teachers and a part time Administrative Assistant. Fundraising is a new part of our yearly activities, and we currently provide tuition scholarships for 6-12 children per semester. We're so excited about receiving At Home materials from the Ruth D. Anderson Kindermusik Children's Fund for the coming 2009-2010 years. We will take free Family Time classes to Sheltering Wings which is a shelter for battered women and their children. We hope to bring some positive bonding between these mothers and children and put smiles back on their faces again. We're also moving one of our locations this year due to the center we've been in for 3 years closing down. If there's one piece of advice I can give to my fellow Kindermusik Educators, it's this. Don't say to yourself, "when is it all going to settle down?" or "when I just get this done, we'll be set." It never settles down. There's always another fire to put out. A teacher quits, or a location closes down or asks you to move, you have a huge unexpected expense come up for the program, your computer breaks down, you make a big mistake. It's called "running a business" so relax and don't take it so seriously. It's all part of the journey -- so every time there's a hurdle, don't panic -- even if others around you do. You learn something with every trial. Just look at each hurdle in the face and then calmly tackle it. It will never be perfect but it can have endless rewards. Kindermusik has taught me not only about children but about myself. As we patiently wait to receive that first grant, I am grateful for the wonderful families and staff that I currently have and continue to value the new relationships I continue to make.

Have I Got What It Takes?

Many of you may be asking "have I got what it takes to be a Kindermusik educator?" Well... we have some information that may help you in determining whether this is a good fit for you. According to a study published in the AMTA's Journal of Music Therapy Spring 2008 Issue, music education majors were primarily female, studied a band instrument or voice most frequently, 53% attended university on scholarship with 3.0 to 4.0 GPAs. They took private music lessons growing up, participated in sol0 or ensembles, were members of church/community groups, and volunteered. The trend was basically the same with music therapy majors, with these few exceptions: they were primarily females, who studied voice most frequently, 60.3 % attended university on scholarship with 3.0 to 4.0 GPAs. They both have a service-minded outlook, which draws them to these professions.

Personality traits include: Warmly enthusiastic, high-spirited, ingenious, and imaginative. Able to do almost anything that interests them with a solution for any difficulty. Ready to help anyone with a problem. Often relies on their ability to improvise instead of prepare in advance. Can always find compelling reasons for whatever they want. Live their outer life more with intuition, inner more with feeling. Usually more extroverted.

If this sounds like you, and you have a passion for music and love for children, this is the single best career choice that you can make!

Music and Math

There is no longer any doubt that there is a significant link between early music instruction and cognitive growth in certain other, “nonmusical” abilities, such as math, memory, and spatial-temporal reasoning. In fact, studies focused specifically on music for young children even suggest that these cognitive gains increase according to the number of years that students engage in active music learning, and even that the younger children are when they begin, the greater the gains will be!

For more detail see:

The Impact of Music on Mathematics Achievement by Deanne Kells, M.A. http://www.kindermusik.com/Classes/Downloads/ImpactOfMusicOnMath.pdf

Discovering Mathematics Through Music by Heidi Gilman Bennett

Research Highlights (Toddlers) - http://www.kindermusik.com/Classes/Downloads/MusicAndMathOTFinal.pdf

Research Highlights (Preschoolers) - http://www.kindermusik.com/Classes/Downloads/MusicAndMathITFinal.pdf

Music and Social-Emotional Development

Music & Social-Emotional Development Research demonstrates that involvement in music and movement activities from an early age helps children develop good social and emotional skills. Research also links social and emotional development with school-readiness and even with higher academic testing scores. It's no surprise. After all, the same skills that foster emotional security and social success - skills like confidence, curiosity, cooperation, self-regulation, and good listening - predict cognitive achievement and academic success as well. For more information visit: http://www.kindermusik.com/Classes/ClassesBenefits.aspx .

by Molia Dumbleton, M.A., M.A. and Heidi Gilman Bennett

Growth Despite the Recession!

This is a lovely sentiment from one of our successful Kindermusik educators about the growth of her program.

Why does my program continue to grow, despite the recession? Well, I think that I exude an infectious passion and a strong belief about the benefits of early childhood education. Word of mouth and re-enrollments (plus the sibling enrollments) are more precious to me than any advertising that I could do!

One little girl, Ada, has taken 7 consecutive Kindermusik classes with me, and her sister is following close behind. It amazes me that her parents are willing to invest so much money into this program, but then I realize that parents will sacrifice anything to give their child the very best. And, fortunately, my program is seen as the very best in this City. I always have waiting lists!

What advice can I pass on? Well, although advertising and enrollment incentives are important (and I do those, too), your focus has to be in the classroom! Parents will pay the tuition if they see the benefit in the class. Even when you are thinking, “I’m too tired to teach 3 Our Time classes in a row”, go into the classroom and have all of the energy of a 2 year old (that means crawling, rolling and hopping if little Oliver suggests it!). Smile for the entire class, and be more excited than the mother when little 5 month old Chloe waves for the first time.

It’s really all about the relationship that you form with families. If you are like a friend, they will do all the advertising for you! So, my advice is to attend that 4 year olds birthday party!

Reassure the parent that thinks her child is too shy. Have all the patience in the world as little Brody takes forever to pick out his sticker and make a special effort to sit beside a different child each week. Talk to parents after class about the unique and special things that you notice about their child, and how they have changed over the course of the Kindermusik classes. And, most importantly, use those FOL tips in your guide! As much as the child likes your classes, it is the parents that you have to convince.

Show your appreciation for re-enrolling with gifts (I use the Pick A Song, Sing Along CD – it is fantastic!). Recommend concerts and activities going on in the City that are appropriate for your Kindermusik kids (I have an email list and recommend children’s concerts as they come up). Anything that you do that goes above and beyond will show your dedication to the program, and to the children.

A old highschool friend recently asked about teaching Kindermusik, and I spouted off a zillion reasons why it is the best thing I have ever done with my life. She said “are you sure you are not in Kindermusik marketing?”, and I realized that I have never been as passionate about anything as I am about Kindermusik!

To new educators, old educators and everyone teaching Kindermusik: You can do it! No matter what state our economy is in, a parent will always want the very best for their child, you just have to prove to them that Kindermusik is the “good beginning that never ends”!

by Breeanne Fuller / Lethbridge, Alberta

The Whole Family Is Important

January marked my 10th year as a Kindermusik educator. My current focus now is much different than the focus I had when I first began this Kindermusik journey. Maybe it is age or maybe it is the times we live in, I don't know, but I have shifted my focus from predominantly being on the children to now being focused on the families as a whole. I see so many hurting people every day walk into my studio and somehow when they leave they feel better. Or at least I hope so. I want my families to know how much I care for them and I do this by talking to every family one by one every week, sending notes to mommy and child with stickers for the child if they are absent, sending individual emails to those I know need encouragement and sometimes just picking up the phone and saying, "Hey, I was thinking about Johnny. How's he doing this week?". Yes, it takes time. Lots of time. More than I have ever spent in my 10 years of teaching. But you know? It makes me a better person and teacher to care for others. Music is so healing and I want to share my love of others and my passion for music every day of my life. I encourage you to take a look at your business...is it just for the money or do you see it as an investment into other people's lives?

shared by Michele Mulder

My Success Story

For my intents and purposes, I am going to call this my Success Song. I know, it sounds corny and sentimental. But after all, that is who I am. I am sentimental. And being a musician at my very nature, it seems only natural that it be called something musical.

When I was asked to share my success story (song) I immediately said to myself, “Oh yeah, sure that’s easy. It’s the three ‘p’s (ppp).” No -- not the musical dynamic marking Pianississimo meaning very, very soft, but the three ‘p’s with which I “live” my business. Passion, Persistence and Patience. These three ‘p’s are at the core of my belief system regarding my business, and I believe they have contributed to my success as a Kindermusik Educator.

PASSION
First of all, I have a passionate commitment to the cause…to bring the gift of Kindermusik into the life of every child.

I believe in Kindermusik. Why? Because it makes a difference! And I know that nobody wins until we all do. I love Kindermusik! I truly love what I do and have adopted a motto for myself. I even went so far as to add it to my email signature. “LOVE WHAT YOU DO, DO WHAT YOU LOVE.” I am passionate about the cause.

I believe in Kindermusik’s philosophy: Kindermusik is a community of families and educators passionately committed to bringing music to children's lives through developmentally appropriate curricula, CDs, books, instruments, and activities.

Kindermusik's philosophy is founded upon rigorous research and our fundamental beliefs:
• A parent or loving caregiver is a child’s first and most important teacher
• All children are musical
• The home is the most important learning environment
• Music nurtures a child's cognitive, emotional, social, language, and physical development
• Children flourish in a child-centered environment where activities are developmentally appropriate
• Educators value the learning process—not the performance—of music making
• Every child should experience the joy, fun, and learning that music brings to life

I believe in Kindermusik’s brand promise. It is what sets us apart from the other options that are out there.
• Exceptionally talented early-childhood music educator
• Quality home materials to continue the learning throughout the week
• Parent education about the development of their child

A leader (or educator) who is passionately committed to the cause will draw much commitment from others. I believe in and can see the difference it makes in the lives of children. I have a passionate commitment to the cause. Do you? If so, let me ask you a question then. How do you show your commitment? I show mine through Persistence and Patience.

PERSISTENCE
I remember when I was first starting out several years ago. I did everything right. I advertised in all of the right places. I held demos in all of the right places. I walked neighborhoods with flyers, I wrote articles hailing the benefits of Kindermusik, I had a website up and running. I offered sibling discounts and early bird specials. I did it all. I even held a demo at the library that had no less than 50 people in attendance! Yet, when it came time for my first class, only three families registered. Where were all of the people? I had no explanation. I was so discouraged.

Despite my discouragement, I traveled from Denver to attend my first Kindermusik Convention in Greensboro, NC. (which was WONDERFUL, I might add!). And I made a very dear friend, Amy, who happens to live out east. Amy and I became fast friends, and I learned that she and I had “opened our doors” at about the same time. Amy had 50 students instantly. Go figure! Kindermusik is Kindermusik, right? And besides that, I did everything right too!

Then, really being confused and discouraged, I remember talking with my mentor, Kim Denney about it. I will never forget what she said. “Offer it [KM classes] and they will come. Just keep offering.” Persist! Don’t give up. Well, I listened. I didn’t give up, I kept putting myself out there and I kept putting Kindermusik out there and it paid off. I’m happy to say that I now have full and nearly full classes. (I still have some small classes too, but they are coming along.) My business is growing. As a matter of fact, I have experienced my first “wait list” class as of yesterday! Now that is a great feeling!

“Your program looks great, Lisa but , no. …” I learned something about myself when I heard this. I found that I don’t take “no” for an answer for very long. While running Kindermusik classes through a recreation center may not be for everyone, it has been a boon for me. It took me three people and three “no” answers to get to the “yes” I needed. I didn’t give up and kept trying and I’m glad I did. Getting into the rec center in my community was the turning point in my business. Persistence was the key.


PATIENCE
The waiting paid off. Word of mouth is a powerful thing, but sometimes it takes a bit of time for the word to travel. I had to plant the seed, care for it, and wait for it to grow. It takes patience to nurture a business. That is a tall order when trying to put food on the table and pay the mortgage, I know. Especially now. But for me, it has been worth it. I love what I do.

Sure, I have done some practical and tangible things to help the business along as well. I have offered classes at different locations on different days at different times, including weekends. I have offered Adventures Summer Camps. I approached preschools with ABC Music & Me and have added ABC Music and Me to the “core” curricula. I even recognized a need for parents wanting & needing some time for themselves in my community and offered a class I called ABC Music & Me: Parents Day Out. (It is a two hour class in which we have music time, snack time, craft time and play time together. The parents are welcome to stay or go run errands or go take a nap! This class has proven to be very successful for me.) I make myself very visible in my community—library story times, demos at Barnes and Noble, etc. I even began wearing apparel with the Kindermusik logo on it. You would be surprised at the conversations that has started!

I have also learned from my mistakes. I have done some really dumb advertising things, but the important thing is that I didn’t do them again. I had to be patient with myself and be willing to admit my mistakes. There was a lot to be learned from that particular ground that I covered.

So, this is what has worked for me. It is the tune I have sung to myself since day one. Hopefully you can find something here that can help inspire you to keep the faith—to keep the commitment to the cause. Kindermusik does make a difference. It has made a difference in my life, that’s for sure. That’s my song and I’m singin’ to it!


shared by educator Lisa Fultz from Aurora, CO

Three Different Career Paths

Having trouble determining what to do? Kindermusik now offers several career alternatives when you become a licensed educator. You can choose to be your own boss by establishing and nurturing your own program. You have the option of going to work for a local teacher that is interested in expanding her program. Or, the third choice is to go into preschools, daycares, and montessori schools to teach ABC Music & Me!

A new tool on our class locator features this button:




Educators that have teaching opportunities available have this logo posted on the class locator service we provide. To check for opportunities in your area, visit http://www.kindermusik.com/Classes/ClassesFind.aspx.
Enter your zip code and then contact them directly about job availability.

We are excited that we can now match employers to employees, in order to build the Kindermusik community, and reach more children with the gift and power of music.

Today's Economic Conditions Require Tough Decisions

In difficult times such as these, things often come into sharper focus-we remember what's really important, and what goals in life are really worth pursuing. And in times like these, Kindermusik stands out as a source of joy, growth, and strength for young children and their families. What more important time than now to help families come together?

The investment a parent makes in a child's early years, by enrolling them in a Kindermusik class, has lasting benefits. In fact, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, states, "Studying music encourages self discipline and diligence traits that carry over into mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history and geography." Research supports that music helps prepare the mind for specific disciplines of learning; skills learned through music carry over into study skills, communications skills, cognitive skills and abstract reasoning skills useful to all parts of life, according to a 1997 article in Neurological Research.

Join our worldwide community of educators as we change the lives of children and their families with the gift of music.

Kindermusik ... A Way of Life

Kathy Cain attended the Kindermusik educator convention in Raleigh, NC this past fall, and had these wonderful words to say about her teaching experience. Hear her story along with her other Kindermusik colleagues. Truly, a good beginning never ends.

Music Gets Children Ready For Reading

When it comes to literacy, how does Kindermusik fit in?

Researchers believe that music instruction helps children build active listening skills. By “tuning in” to music and other specific sounds carefully, one at a time, and with full attention, children hone their listening skills. Through songs and chants, children develop an ear for the patterns of sounds in words, phrases, and sentences. And as children listen to and sing words set to music, they become familiar with other sounds, rhymes, rhythms, and patterns in language.

The kind of learning children do in Kindermusik—engaging in active, focused listening exercises; building both receptive and expressed vocabulary; expanding awareness of phonemes, the building blocks of language; and exploring an awareness of how the printed word works to communicate—has been proven repeatedly and convincingly to be the kind of learning that is specifically linked to success in school.

For more details, please go to www.kindermusik.com/benefits

Bubbles, Butterflies, and Paper Monkeys

Inspire a child's love of learning in only five lessons this summer, teaching Kindermusik Adventures.

As you know, research proves that early integration of music into the daily routine means improving a child's ability to think, create, reason, and express. Adventures' summer camps provide an opportunity to continue their love of learning in an environment that is both fun and educational, during a time when most are on vacation for a 2-3 month period.

In a Kindermusik summer camp, they blow music bubbles, play parachute, and kite games. Make yard art from a glue jar. Sing. Say hello in 5 languages when they visit a new country each lesson: Germany, Japan, England, Mexico, and the continent of Africa. All these great summer camp activities -- the music, stories, and crafts -- are designed to nurture a child's natural curiosity, one that eventually draws them toward learning new words, new numbers, new cultures, and new big ideas.

Earn some additional income this summer by teaching a few 5-day summer camps. Imagine, offering only 4 classes with 8 children each, over a 2-week period, and earning as much as $2,500.

(This is a great opportunity for members of MTNA, MENC and NAEYC.)

School Teachers Needed

As a preschool, kindergarten, or elementary school teacher, you play a vital role in the development of children. What they learn and experience during their early years, shapes their views of themselves and the world. It also affects their success or failure in school, work, and their personal lives. As you know, preschool children learn primarily through play and interactive activities. You are responsible for introducing them to math, language, science, and social studies, and successfully do so with story telling, rhyming games, music, and art, as well as other basic teaching tools.

Well, that's Kindermusik! We are the world's leader in using music and movement to foster whole child development (social, emotional, language, physical, and cognitive) and instill a lifetime love of learning in children world-wide, ages newborn to 7.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, job availability is only expected to increase about 12% between 2006 and 2016 for public school teachers. Most public school teachers must be licensed, which typically requires a bachelor's degree and completion of an extensive approved teacher education program.

With Kindermusik, you can begin fulfilling your life's best work today. All you need to do is complete our Fundamentals of Kindermusik training course. It is all done online from the comfort of your own home in 8-10 weeks. Just in time to earn summer income.

And... you get to be the boss! Set your own schedule, determine your own tuition, and tailor your program around the needs and responsibilities of your own family.

We support you with lead distribution, class scheduling on our international website, E-Z online enrollment for your families, a customized path for your business' success, and free professional development and on-going training.

Call us today to get started on your journey to teach!

(This is a great opportunity for members of MTNA, MENC and NAEYC.)

by Terry Kilgo
Recruiting Manager
(using report from the U.S. Department of Labor)

SHARING MY LIFE'S BEST WORK WITH YOU

Over the past 10 years, I have had the distinct privilege of helping hundreds of people just like you fulfill their dream of becoming Kindermusik educators. There is nothing I enjoy more than getting acquainted with all the wonderfully talented and motivated people who are looking to touch the lives of children and their families through music. I help them get started on their Kindermusik journey as they start the fabulous training experience that will lead them on the path to becoming a successful Kindermusik educator and business owner. It takes courage and determination to embark on a new adventure, and everyone at Kindermusik University is committed to helping each student succeed. The online support starts in the classroom and continues after licensing and teaching. I have never regretted my decision to become an educator. It has brought me so much joy that it is a blessing to share that with others.

by Julee Kowallis
Lead Mentor and Senior Fundamentals Advisor