Spring 2009 Village Classes

Spring Village classes have just begun at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, and we only have 4 spaces left. Village Zoom Buggy meets from 11:15 until 12 noon every Thursday until April 23. A brand new 8 week class, The Rhythm of My Day, will run the same time and day from April 30 until June 18, 2009.

The Rhythm of My Day

This class will help you bring more rhythm and routine to your baby's day, as well as help develop lasting learning skills. We'll show you how and tell you why music can help your little one soothe into the day’s schedule and help build a strong body and mind network for learning. You can bring home those same stress-free play and relaxation techniques from class, and incorporate them into your daily routines.

Home Materials: CD of beautifully arranged songs from class, The Rhythm of My Day—a colourful picture board book with class themes, a set of Art Banners, and an instrument for music-making at home.

Enrol today! Call 250-754-4611 or email nicole_arendt@yahoo.ca for more details.

Story Time Jewels

As I get ready to begin a new semester of Our Time this week I am again excited by the high quality of musical and developmental research that goes into each and every unit of Kindermusik. This Thursday (10:15am) and Friday (11:15am) I'll introduce the delightful unit Fiddle Dee Dee to parents and their children, including the favourite book, created just for this unit, called Animal Serenade written by Susan James Frye and illustrated by Andrea Eberbach. This sing along book ties in beautifully with all of the activities we will be exploring over the next 6 weeks of classes, at which point we get to explore another book. Refreshing myself with the book, I count 7 songs with a rich musical heritage. This one small children's book packs in original Kindermusik songs, adapted traditional tunes, as well as music from South Carolina, Arkansas, Germany, and Mexico.

It's not too late to join the learning and fun! Call the Nanaimo Conservatory at 250-754-4611 to register today!

Moving from Village to Our Time

Transitional Ages and Stages

How do I know if my child is ready for the next class level?

The Kindermusik philosophy springs from genuine respect for each child's individual rate of development. Class activities and at-home materials are designed to honor, support and celebrate the wonderful uniqueness of each child. Classes have overlapping age ranges to help parents accommodate their child's own needs.

If your child is near a transitional stage, the following guidelines may help your decision.

Moving from Village to Our Time - Children ready for this next level show many of the following characteristics:

Physical
- Improved walking skills, feet are together, knees flexible (vs. the "just walker" who has a wide-based, legs apart gate with locked knees)
- Beginning to imitate/explore a variety of traveling movements -- run, jump, leap

Cognitive
- Reliably point to correctly identified body parts
- Can follow two-step direction
- Understands what "one" means (vs. a handful)
- Learning to use toys and objects in symbolic ways (moving beyond just enjoyment of sensory properties)
- Can interact in a directed activity
- Able to shift attention with transition
- Connects to an activity; initiates a play sequence
- Reliably responds to own name (refers to self by name in secure environments)

Emotional
- Uses gestures and language to deal with frustration (as opposed to just crying or whining)
- Sustains interest and attention in activity for several minutes (Note: not wanting to give something up, such as bells or sticks, can be a sign of maturation)

Language
- Can express wants and needs symbolically (gestures, words)
- Has vocabulary of 20 words; receptive language is still stronger than expressive
- Reading with caregiver becomes cooperative. Child will select book, sit, relate to the story and interact

Social
- Interested in what other children are doing
- Capable of distal communication (i.e. following verbal instructions from farther away)

Musical
- Moves to music, perhaps to steady beat

Spring 2009 Schedule

Village (0 to 18 mnths)
Thursdays 11:15am to 12 noon

Our Time (1.5 to 3 yrs)
Thursdays 10:15am to 11am, OR
Fridays 11:15am to 12 noon

Imagine That! (3 to 5 yrs)
Fridays 10:15am to 11am

Call the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music at 250-754-4611 or visit http://www.ncmusic.ca/group.php#kindermusik to register.

Questions about Kindermusik? Call me, Nicole, at 250-591-2010, or email nicole_arendt@yahoo.ca.

* Register by Jan 15 and receive a 10% tuition discount *

Save When You Register Early!

Register by January 15, 2009 for the exciting Spring semester at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music and receive 10% off your tuition!

Call 250-754-4611 for details.

Fall 2008 Family Time classes at NCM

Family Time (Newborn through 7 years – the whole family!)

Here, There and Everywhere – 10 weeks Saturdays 3:15-4pm

—the five sub-themes center around different family outings: a visit with a friend, an outing at the park, a trip to the city, an afternoon at the aquarium, and a day on the farm. Move like animals with this unit’s story Flip-Flap, Sugar Snap! And follow a girl’s adventure as she loses her jambourine during the day’s outings and then finds it in the story Jingle-Jangle Jambourine.
Home Materials: Two Books—Flip-Flap, Sugar Snap! and Jingle-Jangle Jambourine, Two Home CDs, Family Guide, Board Game, Waggs the dog Hand Puppet and Finger Puppet, and Two Jambourine instruments.

Fall 2008 Imagine That! classes at NCM

Imagine That! (3 years to 5 years)

Hello Weather! Let’s Play Together! – 15 weeks Fridays 10:15-11am or Saturdays 1:15-2pm

—sunshine, rain, snow, thunderstorms, and more in this imaginative and delightful weather-related musical adventure. Preschoolers create storm sounds with a drum to “Wild Storms,” jump in pretend puddles to “Mud Puddle Jump,” throw pretend snow-balls to “Snowballs,” and sing along to “Colors of the Rainbow.” They’ll be surrounded in a creative musical environment that integrates music, pretend play, story telling, movement, and more.

Home Materials: Two books—Michael Finnigan and Hurry Home, Little Kittens, Hello Weather Play Set, Two Home CDs, Family Activity Book, and Instruments—ankle bells and rain shaker with scraper.

Fall 2008 Our Time Classes at NCM

Our Time (1 ½ years to 3 years)

Milk & Cookies - 15 weeks - Thursdays 10:15-11am or Fridays 11:15am-12pm

This unit makes everyday home activities and chores easier and more fun with music! Cook and sing to “The Muffin Man”; dust and clean to the original song “In My House”; get ready to wash clothes to the delightful poem “Washing Machine”. Baking cookies, eating cupcakes, blowing on hot cross buns, wiggling like jelly, going grocery shopping and making tea are all represented in familiar as well as new songs. Move, play, and sing together in developmentally appropriate activities created just for 1 ½ to 3-year-olds. Capture the familiar and new moments of the day and learn how music can impact your toddler.

Home Materials: Two Books—At My House and Cookies, Two Home CDs, Stir Xylophone instrument, and a Home Activity Book—all arriving in a durable lunch bag.

Fall 2008 Village Classes at NCM

Village (newborn to 1 ½ years) - Thursdays 11:15am-12pm or Saturdays 2:15-3pm

Zoom Buggy! – 8 weeks
—Swoosh, vroom, and clickety-clack your way through this delightful unit. Babies and adults will dance, sing, and play instruments to the theme of being on the go. Chug around the room to the song “Little Red Caboose,” hold on tightly while “Riding in the Buggy,” and dance your way to “Zoom-e-oh!” Engage in rituals and playful activities such as infant massage, lap bounces, exercise, and quiet time.
Home Materials: Colorful board book—Zoom Buggy, Home CD of the songs heard in class, two Art Banners, and a baby instrument for music-making at home.

Dream Pillow – 8 weeks
—This title alone brings images of rocking, cuddling, singing, and lulling to sleep. But leading up to sleepy time are many upbeat and playful activities. Babies and Adults will swirl to a dreamy cloud dance “Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland.” They’ll also play baby appropriate instruments to “Aiken Drum,” and “Sarasponda.” Favorite nursery rhymes like “Wee Willie Winkie,” and “Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling,” are sprinkled throughout the classes. It’s easy to weave many of the class songs and activities into your families’ daily routines.
Home Materials: Board book that calms and relaxes—Dream Pillow Lullaby, Home CD of the songs heard in class, two Art Banners, and a baby instrument for music-making at home.

Our Time for Toddlers