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.