Blessed with music and so much more!

I saw this video the other day and I was struck by how these children were so thankful to have music in their lives.  Music is a gift and I am blessed to be able to teach and share it with so many.  I hope you have a Merry Christmas and enjoy this amazing video.
landfillharmonicmovie.com

Music makes you smarter!

Did you know...?

Music stimulates the mind, encourages creativity and helps to lay a foundation for learning that leads to higher intelligence and aptitude.
Preschoolers who studied piano performed 34% better in spatial and temporal reasoning ability than preschoolers who spent the same amount of time learning to use computers (Rauscher & Shaw. As reported in Neurological Research, February 1997).
Preschoolers who took singing and keyboard lessons scored 80% higher on object-assembly tests than students at the same preschool who did not have the music lessons (Rauscher & Shaw. As reported in Symphony, Sept.-Oct. 1996).
Listening to Mozart’s Piano Sonata K448 was found to significantly increase spatial scores of college students on IQ tests (Rauscher & Shaw. University of California as reported in Nature).
In a study of medical school applicants, 66% of the music majors who applied to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. Only 44% of the biochemistry majors were admitted (Lewis Thomas, as reported in the Phi Delta Kappan, February 1994).
The very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon Valley industry are, nearly without exception, practicing musicians (Grant Venerable, The Center for the Arts in the Basic Curriculum, New York, 1989).
For the unborn child, classical music, played at a rhythm of 60 beats per minute, equivalent to that of a resting human heart, provides an environment conducive to creative and intellectual development (Dr. Thomas Veert, The Secret Life of the Unborn Child).
In 1994, it was reported by the college entrance examination board that students with coursework in music performance taking the university entrance exam (SAT) scored 49 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 36 points higher on the math portion than students with no course work or experience in the arts.
It has been shown that high school music students have higher grade point averages than non-music students do in the same school (from Time Magazine June 11, 1999).
"It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the rest of musical perception." - Albert Einstein on his Theory of Relativity.
Plato once said "...music is a more potent instrument than any other for education..." Now scientists know why. Music, they believe, trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. After eight months of musical training, 3 year olds were expert puzzle masters, scoring 80% higher than their playmates did in spatial intelligence – the ability to visualize the world accurately. This skill later translates into mathematical/conceptual and engineering skills. 

Happy Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for Let's Play Music and all of my amazing families!  

We are thankful for Let's Play Music!

All my classes are well into becoming musicians and having fun!  I am no longer accepting students for the 2012-13 year.  Please let me know if you would like to be added to my waiting list for next year.  I am thankful for each of my students!  What a gift to share music with all of you each week, blessings!  Ms. Robin

The latest in LPM

The Let's Play Music Curriculum is made up of 6 sequential semesters.  What this means if your child is a current student, they are in first year, first semester which is called Red Balloons.  We will finish this semester up the second week of December.  Blue Bugs begins in January of 2013.

The order is
1st year:  Red Balloons, Blue Bugs
2nd year: Green Turtle Shells, Yellow Indians
3rd year:  Purple Magic, Orange Roots

If you child has not yet registered and started Let's Play Music classes they have about 1 more week before registration closes for the 2012 year.  Then registration will open again next year for Fall of 2013.  If your child is already 6 or 7 years old this is their LAST chance to experience this awesome program.  We only allow children to start in the fall and they must be between 4-6 years old when they start.
If your child is 3-5 years old, please let me know if you are interested to be added to the waiting list for next year.  I am anticipating taking very few new students next year, so if you think you might want to try it, the waiting list reserves a spot for your child.  I will e mail out the registration information to you in the spring.

Excited to have a few more new students starting last week and this week!  We are learning so much about music and having a GREAT time!  :) Ms. Robin

In support of Solfeg

If you are new to using Solfeg or Solfeggio (The term Solfeggio is Italian, translations vary and can be used interchangeably.)  and wondering more about why we spend so much time on incorporating it into Let's Play Music, here is a bit more information.
Solfege means rather than singing the note names (C, D, E , F etc.) we sing and play on syllables
(Do, Re, Mi, Fa, etc.)  The popular song from the musical, "The Sound of Music" showed Maria teaching the children to sing by using the song " Do, a Deer."  Let's Play Music has used this method of  using music to teach musical concepts in all of our curriculum.  Spoiler Alert:  I can not wait to teach rhythm next semester in Blue Bugs, our bug chant is one of my favorites!

I was taught Solfeg for the first time in high school by our choir director.  I remember thinking it was odd.  It was also hard to learn, as a 16-17 year old, understanding how to add these syllables to the pitches we sang and using hand signs at the same time.
After watching my own 4 and 6 year old (both Let's Play Music first year students,) pick up the syllables and the hand signs with ease, I see now what my choir director was trying to accomplish with a bunch of high schoolers.  They are able to relate pitch from their voices (a child's first instrument) to their tone bells and the piano!
We use Zoltan Kodaly's method of adding hand signs which allow the children to feel the major scale.  The hand signs are structured in a a way that each one accurately links the pitch to its function within the scale.
We even use Solfeg "high fives" in class!  Ask your child to give you a "Ti tap" or a "Do bomb."  :)

Here is a great article in favor of using Solfeg with some interesting perspective if you would like to learn more.



http://blog.brillkids.com/?p=126

Classes are off to a fabulous start!  We are having fun and learning so much about music.  I will be accepting students until the end of September and then registration will be closed until spring.  I will be accepting a minimal amount of first year students next year.  This means if you know someone who would love this program or if you want your child to have the musical foundation to succeed in anything, register now!  Click on the link above and if you have not seen a class yet, please contact me to observe a FREE class this month.

Check it out!
Magical Lamp puppet show: Carmen Aragonaise

Here is a link to a wonderful performance of Aragonaise which is the piece we are using for our Magical Lamp puppet show.  Have you child watch with you and see if they can identify the different characters and instruments!
Ms. Robin

Fall Semester Begins Soon!

I am so excited to start teaching Red Balloons (the first semester in the first year of the Let's Play Music Program. ) I have ordered supplies and am eagerly awaiting the giant box of tone bells, music, and workbooks to arrive on my door step. I still have a few openings on Mondays at 1pm and Tuesdays at 4:45pm. If you are interested, please let me know. If anyone in the Thursday 4:30pm class would like to switch to Tue at 4:45pm, please let me know. I will be starting classes the week of Aug. 20th and teaching weekly until Dec 10 (with a few weeks off in the middle for various Holidays.) The calendar for the 2012/2013 year is available on the blog now! Parent Orientation (Mandatory for every student to have 1 parent attend) is Monday night, Aug. 13 at 7:30pm. We will begin promptly at 7:30 and plan to be here 30-45 minutes.

Let's Play Music on the news!

Let's Play Music was on the news!  Do you want to see what first year class is like?  Here is a great example from another wonderful LPM teacher.  If you want to learn more, come check out a sample class for FREE on July 30 at 10am or 4pm!  Contact me to reserve a spot for your child, bring a friend!  

2 spaces left in the sample class next week!

Hope everyone has fun celebrating all the dads in their life this weekend!  Yes, Sunday is Father's Day, in case you have forgotten :)  Also, Just a quick reminder that I have 2 spaces remaining in the FREE sample classes on Monday, the very next day! 
If you are at all interested in attending a class to see what Let's Play Music is all about, please let me know to reserve a spot for you on Monday, June 18 at 4pm (the 10:00am class is now full, if you wanted to attend and these times do not work for you, I have a waiting list for the next sample class which will probably be in mid August.  If you would like your name on this list, please comment on this blog or facebook or E-mail me with your name, phone number, and e mail and I will make sure to contact you when another class date is set.)
 Hope to see many of you next week and have a wonderful summer!
If you wonder what I am talking about, please check out the video below :) www.letsplaymusicsite/video 

Sample classes nearly full!

I just wanted to remind those who are interested in attending a FREE sample class for Let's Play Music this summer that I have 3 spots left at the 10am class and 2 spots in the 4pm class both being held on June 18 in Loveland. Please contact me if you are at all interested in reserving a spot for your child and seeing what Let's Play Music is all about.  Check out the video below to see an overview of the program.

What fun we had sharing Let's Play Music at Kids Days at Centerra in Loveland yesterday! Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table and said "Hi!" I am so excited to teach 2 more sample classes this month. I have a few spots left, please let me know ASAP which one you would like to attend with your child! Siblings welcome :) Please contact me for more info or to reserve your spot in the 10am class on Monday,June 18th or the 4pm class on Monday, June 18th. Hope to see you there and here are some photos of Let's Play Music at Centerra!

Registration now open for fall classes!

I had so much fun teaching my first sample class in Loveland today! Great job to all the kids and thanks to all the moms and grandmas for getting them there, Hooray! I anticipate that fall classes will fill quickly so I wanted to offer registration online to make it fast and easy. Just click on the registration tab above and you will reserve your child's spot for Let's Play Music this fall. If you attended a class this week and want to have that $15 registration fee waived, it must be submitted by midnight of the day of your class. Any questions or additional information needed, please e mail me or call! If you want to find out how you can save $15 on registration, attend a sample class! Next class will be Monday, June 18th at either 10am or 4pm. Contact me to reserve a spot for your child. Anyone who refers a friend who also signs up for Let's Play Music receives $20 off their first months's tuition! Hope to see you soon and keep on singing! :)Ms. Robin

FREE Sample Classes next week

I just wanted to remind those who are interested in attending a FREE sample class for Let's Play Music this summer that I have 3 spots left at the 10am class and 2 spots in the 4pm class both being held on June 18 in Loveland. Please contact me if you are at all interested in reserving a spot for your child and seeing what Let's Play Music is all about. Watch this video to see an overview of the program.

Aimed for children ages 4-6 years old in the fall of class beginning.  If you would like more information,  contact me by phone or e mail 970-682-3558 or E-Mail Me.
or check out the video below 

Let's Play Music comes to Loveland!

I am so honored to be teaching this amazing curriculum beginning in August 2012!  I have been looking for something for my own kids to teach beginning piano and voice and this is absolutely the ANSWER!  There is nothing like it on the market, I am so excited to see the progress of my students as they learn piano playing, singing, classical music, note reading, and ear training while having FUN!  I invite you to attend a FREE sample class this summer to learn more and see if Let's Play Music is a good fit for your family.
Basic Info:
Sample Classes
Wednesday, May 30 at 10am:  1 spot left
Thursday, May 31st at 4:30pm:  6 spots left

Aimed for children ages 4-6 years old in the fall of class beginning.  If you would like more information,  contact me by phone or e mail 970-682-3558 or E-Mail Me.
or click here to see a class video: