Beth Magill

I’m still seven sometimes – Part One

2011-12-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

Last week while I was teaching penny whistle, in the yurt at Adelbert Farm, I had an experience happen that cracked me wide open.

I was teaching a new tune that had incorporated a new note. After learning the tune, I said I had another new tune that had something to do with the Christmas season and was a favorite to everybody at this time of year – Jingle Bells. “Yaaaaaay!” Excitement was in the air.

After a few minutes of working as a group, I invited them to take a few minutes to work on it themselves. Nate was working hard. Struggling actually. I could see he was really trying to concentrate. Sitting next to him was Alison, blazing through the tune. She also plays the violin, so the penny whistle is easy for her. I think there is music in her head much of the time. To her, learning a new tune is simply something new to accomplish, and not much more than that. Certainly not difficult. However, that is not the case for my little friend, Nate.

Just as I was about to say something to him to affirm his efforts, he took his whistle and bopped Alison on the arm, and said her name in a way that clearly showed he was annoyed. She ignored him, playing phrase after phrase. Really well I might add. Nate bopped her a few more times and just as he was about to bop her again, I reached out to stop him. “Nate, are you frustrated?” I asked him. His eyes immediately filled with tears. Nodding, he said, “Yes.” “Do you think you could tell Alison, with your words, instead of hitting her with the pennywhistle, what you are frustrated about?” He said he couldn’t concentrate, that he was trying but he just couldn’t do it. He then drew his knees up, wrapped his arms around them, and put his head down and the pent up frustrations from weeks of not quite “getting it”, came pouring out. She looked at him there, head down, weeping, as we all did, grasping the situation, and seemed to collect her thoughts.

In the most patient, diplomatic, and loving manner, she spoke. “I know you are frustrated… you’ve hit me before but didn’t use your words… if you’d used your words maybe I’d know why you are frustrated and I could do something about it.” Her eyes then filled with tears… silence. She is seven years old. I could hardly speak while I watched this beautiful unfolding. I got choked up, feeling something akin to her sadness, but different. To my surprise, my seven year old self appeared like a rabbit out of a hat, and now the three of us were all knee deep in this moment. It wasn’t just two children and their teacher. It was simply the three of us, three people, all connected by the present moment. However, what the three of us were feeling was unique to each of us.

Nate looked up, hearing the compassion in her voice as much as the actual words. Then he listened with intention. The other kids just watched, wondering what Scene Two would bring in this small, yet very big, drama playing itself out before their eyes.

What did follow was a wonderful discussion on using words when we’re frustrated and how we all feel that way sometimes.

But what took me by surprise, was the sudden realization of knowing exactly how Nate felt.

More to come in the next post…

Excuse me, what kind of instrument is that?

2011-12-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

Last night I was playing at the The Biltmore Estate, in the Winter Garden with Jim, my husband. We have been fortunate for many years to be regular holiday season musicians.

By the third set, a pretty good sized crowd had gathered. We had played several pieces and I was in the moment – the beauty of the music, the grandeur of the House, the lights, the floral decorations (gorgeous!), all of it. I was almost a bit teary after finishing the piece, “In the Bleak Midwinter”, when suddenly a woman pipes up and asks a question. She smiles courteously and says, “Excuse me, what is that instrument you are playing?” Other folks turned their head and looked at her. I could see 25 thought balloons suddenly appearing that were saying in unison, ‘Ummm, hello? Are you serious?’ By the innocent expression on her face, I could tell she was.

Now, when I play this instrument, I get asked pretty frequently what it is.

Sometimes people will guess – a clarinet? An oboe? No, it’s an Irish wooden flute. “Oh really! Okay, thank you!” Sometimes I get this, “Oh, really? A flute? Really?” As if I’m messing with them. Yes, it is. It’s what flutes looked like before the silver system flute came along.

But when I get asked what THIS instrument is...

well, let’s just say the importance of music education in our schools cannot be underestimated. So last night, while I did feel a bit shocked (as did the rest of the Biltmore House guests), I was also challenged not to look at Jim for one microsecond as I knew I would lose it. He made some sort of wisecrack meant for only my ears and I was hard pressed not to burst.

Apparently this woman has come this far in life without ever seeing one. Now it was me that wanted to ask, "Really?" But of course I didn't - I just smiled and said, "A flute!" She smiled back and said, "Thank you! Merry Christmas!" And that, was that... :)

Stepping into the unknown

2011-11-29T14:31:00.000-08:00

That’s what everyday feels like these days. It’s both exciting and scary. And it feels exactly like what I am supposed to be doing. That, in itself, is grace. And that grace is not just comforting and reassuring, but my lifeline these last eleven months. Especially to the worry-wart part of me that gets completely wigged out by the fact that there isn’t more paying gigs on the calendar. Not yet anyways. I’m all about affirming these days. Everyday. It keeps me going in the face of fear and this walk of faith that “this”, this not knowing what is around the corner, is mine to do.

And while I can’t see around the corner, I know I am somewhere on that curve. The one that guarantees change, the one that doesn’t know what I will find or discover or create or do.

It’s completely scary and it’s also knowing that all is well. This is the first time in my life where I have decided to call the shots.

Last May, after nearly five months of recuperating from hand surgery where I was not able to teach or play music, I made a decision to give up my Kindermusik studio after almost eleven years of teaching. It was so difficult - I adored teaching, little children, the communities of parents and kids, the laughter and the bonds, witnessing children realize and know they are musical beings. I felt such joy being a partner with parents in this setting.

It was also crystal clear - I was exhausted. And I knew it was time to honor the creative aspects of me that had been feeling ignored for way…too…long.

Let the chips fall where they may. I’m ready. If I’m going to empower others, I must first empower myself. I know that even on the rainy days, respite from the rain really isn’t that far down the road. If it sounds a little bit Pollyanna, bear with me. It’s the walk I know I’m supposed to be on. And I’m on it. ON it! All is well. All will be well. All is well.

Where’s the Music for Thanksgiving?

2011-11-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and today I thought how little music there is that celebrates our cherished Thanksgiving holiday. What I am hearing on pop radio (when my 18 year old daughter is in the car or I am shopping in the store and have no access to NPR or my CDs) is unfortunately, a Christmas muzak play list. Already.

I love Thanksgiving so much because it’s all about gratitude and rituals, traditions and simplicity. And yet, there is so little music that celebrates it.

I find it a shame that the holiday that follows it a whole month later on down the road, is beginning to be heard all over the place. Sigh… So I did a little research today and was sadly disappointed to see that when I plugged in “Thanksgiving & music” into the google browser, what came up were mostly links to Charlie Brown. I persevered though, and found a jewel, which I’ll share with you at the end of this post.

When I think of the music that is officially about this holiday, free of all things material, I can think of only a handful of pieces.

One is the song, “Over The River and through the Woods,” considered the unofficial anthem of Thanksgiving and mistakenly, often associated with Christmas. It was written by Lydia Maria Child, as a poem in 1844, to celebrate her childhood memories of visiting her grandfather’s home for Thanksgiving. I was so fascinated by this woman researching this, that I’ve put her writings on my list of “things to read down the road” list. She was a novelist, journalist, teacher and wrote extensively about the need to eliminate slavery. Unfortunately, her political views caused her to lose a lot of popularity amongst her readers.

My husband Jim, reminded me of “Alice’s Restaurant”, which never occurred to me. Do you have to have been a teenager in the 60’s, or a guitar player for this piece to occur to you? He is both those things and I’m not. When I googled it on YouTube, I read the following post underneath the video: “I have listened to or played this song every year on Thanksgiving for the last 20 years. It's one of those goofy traditions that I treasure. Thanks for the years of smiles, Arlo!” I love this guy’s tradition…. J

Another piece is an instrumental, and if you’ve ever watched “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”, then you know the one I’m referring to. The Vince Guaraldi Trio made it famous and you can find it on YouTube.

I kept looking and began to find all sorts of things, some pretty awful and some pretty wonderful. To my delight, I discovered something out there that was “a new one on me” - Johnny Cash singing on an episode of the Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman TV show from years ago. I watched him singing and looking at June Carter Cash, and well, while it was a little syrupy, it was lovely, as well!

My find at the end of the day was Mary Chapin Carpenter’s, “Thanksgiving Song”, which is on her “Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas” album.

You can be the judge on the images used in the video, but at its core? THIS is what I want to be hearing and singing for this Thanksgiving. And being in the music, really gets me in that sacred, grateful place.

May you feel deeply grateful for all that is in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Highlight of the week, courtesy of Adelbert Farm

2011-11-17T12:48:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday mornings, I get dressed very differently than I do to teach on Monday or Tuesdays. I put on my old jeans, my hiking boots, pack my extra penny whistles and head out to Adelbert Farm in Fairview. The drive takes me 25 – 30 minutes, depending on the weather, and how far down the eight mile stretch of road I get before I’m stuck behind the garbage truck, which then really slows me down, from 35 mph to even slower. Initially, it made me nuts. Now, after eight weeks, I’ve come to appreciate the opportunity to slow down… in driving my car, in my life, and being able to authentically embrace the “be here now” principle. Old Fort Road, that leads to the farm, is lovely. It’s waaaaay out in the country, windy (which forces me to actually drive at the speed limit), and yes, it really is eight…miles...long.

This weekly opportunity I get to slow down in my life, is also when I get to teach the penny whistle to a group of homeschoolers, ages 7-9. It is by far, one of my most favorite hours of the week. I just finished week 8 last week and I have come to appreciate each child and the journey they are on with me. I notice how easy this instrument is for some, how difficult it is for others. Some of them practice a lot. Some of them don’t pick it up outside our lesson together. But during our half hour together, there is not a more relaxed and happy bunch than us. Right now they are learning to play basic nursery rhyme songs. Because they learned them when they were just babies and toddlers, the melodies are ingrained in the brain (I love how that rhymes!), which makes learning how to play the melodies with fingers on a new instrument pretty doable pretty quickly… for the most part. Because next week is Thanksgiving, we reviewed at our lesson yesterday, several pieces to perform at next weeks’ celebratory “Thanksgiving Hike/Art-Music-Drama Presentation/Lunch” event for families.

Within 20 minutes of our lesson, (and only EIGHT lessons at that!), they played Hot Cross Buns in two keys, Mary Had A Little Lamb in two keys, Row Row Row Your Boat, London Bridge, I’m A Little Teapot, Shave and a Haircut….Shampoo! and lastly, Baa Baa Black Sheep. Nine pieces of music. Nine! Two of the kids who practice pretty regularly and play other instruments as well, wanted to play the most recent piece I’d taught at the last lesson, something outside the world of Nursery Rhymes – Michael Row the Boat Ashore. They nailed it after just one week. I was blown away. After the lesson, Willa wanted to play me a piece she’d worked out by herself, something very big these days on the radio - Stereo Heart by Gym Class Heroes… Her pal, Harrison, smiled and said, “Oh I love that! It’s my favorite piece right now.” He proceeded to play it right along with her, in perfect time and rhythm and phrasing. She had just taught it to him the previous week.

After just two months, these kids had become quite comfortable on the whistle playing nine nursery rhymes and then, a new song, something unfamiliar about Michael and his rowing the boat ashore. I’d like to think they were becoming empowered, confident, more skilled, more excited. But I’m not sure what was brewing inside their heads and spirits. What I do know is that they were able to figure out on their own, to improvise, noodle around and have fun. I watched them play that song they love hearing on the radio while looking at one another, smiling, giggling at times, and wanting to do it again and again. I was so happy for them. And it made me happy. Today I realized that those two minutes of them showing me what they could do, was my happy moment of the day. It made me realize deeply again, what power there is when we are feeling the joy of being in the music.

Getting stuck behind the garbage truck these last eight weeks, anxious to arrive on time, was all worth this moment. And I’m willing to get stuck behind that truck every Wednesday morning from here on out. What a delight to witness children discovering the music inside themselves.

Eight lessons, nine nursery rhymes and a folk song… Music of the heart just rolled on out of those two kids, like a cup that runneth over. Imagine if you stuck with something for eight weeks, what would birth itself in you?

Andrew in Lilongwe, Malawi on St. Patrick's Day

2010-04-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

My son, Andrew, posted this two weeks ago, the day after St. Patrick's Day. This is just a portion of his post. For those of you who don't know, he received a fulbright fellowship to pursue his project, Stories of Aids through music. I thought I'd try and recap, but I couldn't edit it without you missing the amazing images I had as I read it.......Photos were taken by his girlfriend, Kaitlin Houlditch-Fair. His blog is http://fulbright.mtvu.com/author/andrewmagill/

....The first school was a Catholic school of 350 young children. As soon as we walked in hundreds of children flooded in with chairs and in a frenzy assembled the haphazard rows, each one vying to put their chair closest to the stage. The Catholic parish priest, a charming Irish ex-pat of 40 years in Malawi explained to them in Chichewa what each instrument was and we all obliged him by giving little impromptu demos of what we played: accordion, bodhran (Irish frame drum), wooden flute, guitar, and fiddle. Two of the lads got up to dance the St. Patrick’s Day set dance and the kids were beside themselves. So naturally we invited them up to dance. For our last two sets I struggled to find space to bow as the stage began to fill with more and more little bodies flailing, kicking up dust, and screaming in their tiny sopranos. By the end we were literally all standing on our chairs wheezing on the dust being kicked up by hundreds of legs.

That afternoon we went to a school where we played for 400+ boys in their school yard. Again we did our little instrument demos. Again we gave them several sets of rousing good tunes. This time, some of the students got up and played us a song, a hip-hop rap about HIV/AIDS awareness and responsible sex. The age ranges here were from about 5 to 15 and the older boys were clearly kings of their school… dancing and singing this song about HIV as hundreds of smaller faces cheered them on. The boy strumming the guitar had literally never played a real guitar but played it with surprising facility. Evidently he had fashioned himself a two-string guitar out of scrap parts and fishing line at home and was giddy at the opportunity to hold a real guitar. By our last set of Irish tunes the boys had descended on us and we felt as if we were at the center of a mosh pit. Imagine 400 boys bursting with excitement all clamoring for a front row patch of grass to dance to the music we were playing. By the time we left the Irish contingent had achieved celebrity status. It was all I could do to hold on to my fiddle as the boys mobbed each one of us in delight......

I try to imagine the excitement, looking at the sea of smiles, and hear the roar of "Bring it on!" from these boys in the picture. There's so much music in these boys that have yet to be birthed in ways they have not dreamed possible... yet. Every child should be able to go crazy with the power of music and what it can stir deep within the spirit. I am delighted Andrew was able to share the moment with these beautiful boys...and I smile thinking of the many more moments he hopes to share with them, and others like them.

Being willing to sound bad

2010-03-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

Brenda, a friend of mine, posted on Facebook awhile back, “that in order to be good at something, you have to first be willing to be bad at it for quite a while”…

About a week before I had stumbled onto this post, I’d already committed to playing the ukelele for 15 minutes a day. I wanted to eventually get to the point where I could say with complete authenticity, “Yes, I CAN play the ukelele!”

I was “showing up” everyday to play, and was just beginning to realize how far I needed to travel to get to that place of being able to play - not kind of play, but really play. And I realized that there’s a looooong way between those two places.

I began to feel a tad defeated because I’m a perfectionist, and that nagging voice began blabbering away in my head. I remembered when I tried to learn to play the guitar light years ago, at age 12, and my fingers were crying after just a few minutes of making chords. So I gave up. I had been playing the flute and piano for a couple of years, and those instruments didn’t inflict pain on me, only the desire to keep on playing and nailing the pieces of music I was working on. But the guitar? Mmm mmmm. There was a huge absence of desire to press on and accomplish the mastering. So I let the guitar go, and it was a bittersweet decision.

For so many of us who’ve put down an instrument during our childhood or teenage years, for whatever reason, we often end up regretting it.

So back to the ukelele and Brenda’s post…I’d put in my fifteen minutes of practice for the day, complete with oven timer, whose annoying beep-beep-beep also congratulates me that I have accomplished my little ukelele music goal for the day. Those familiar thoughts from the sixth grade again began to take over – My fingers are hurting. This is gonna take forever. FOREVER…..blah blah blah.

To get out of that negative self talk in my head, I sat down at the computer so I could conveniently escape those rants in my head for a bit and check out who is doing what on Facebook. I’m reading, scanning, skimming and then bam, I read Brenda’s post. I chant this to myself several times – “in order to be good at something, you have to first be willing to be bad at it for quite a while”… Wow. Her words stick like peanut butter on toast and I realize she's dead on right about this.

I’ve been mulling this over many times in the last couple weeks and for me, the biggest challenge is the willing part. I have to be willing to sound bad, go slow, make a zillion mistakes, make the chord changes sloppily and badly. I have to be willing to sound badly. I have to be willing to accept that I sound badly. By being willing to be great at sounding bad, I can be a teeny bit better in another week. And in the week after that. And when my contra dance band, Fly By Night, gets together a month from now for its first rehearsal with me playing my ukelele on some Old Time tunes, I might just have a helluva great time.

And no doubt, I will not only be proud of myself for having been so good at willing to sound bad, that eventually, I will be able to see there is definitely the possibility to sound good. Maybe even pretty good! Now THAT fuels me on right now to pick up my very cute, little ukelele. For fifteen minutes. Just for today.

Thank you, Brenda.

My birthday wish for Erin

2010-03-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

I’m fascinated by kids who play instruments and whose parents never did. I’m fascinated that my mother and father who never played a record in our house, or took us to see live music, except for a symphony once (and that’s a story for another day) birthed someone whose life revolves around it so much. …and whose life has been a wreck when music wasn’t a central theme.

I always knew I’d play music. My brother never had that thought. He thought he’d try the cornet in middle school and he stuck it out for a couple of years. But it didn’t speak to him the way music spoke to me.

Both he and his wife, by their own admission, would not describe themselves as musical. And yet they have these kids who love to play music. Lizzie, age 15 and my namesake, plays the flute and loves it – the flute itself, the practicing, going to lessons, playing in the band at school. She LOVES it. And she loves her teacher which is an amazing gift in itself.

Emily, age 12, plays the saxophone and is extremely skilled at it, but doesn’t pick it up at home to practice. She plays in the band at school and because she’s so talented, can get away with it. It doesn’t speak to her. She’s been hankering to play the guitar and I’ve been encouraging her Dad and my sister in law, Jen, to put one in her hands. Once they do, I have no doubt she’ll be practicing all the time because she’ll be excited to. And motivated. And no doubt, she’ll excel at it. All her musicality will just transfer onto the guitar, like a duck to water. She’ll just need to adjust to a different pond.

Christopher, is just ten and is learning to play the clarinet. The elementary school band needed a bass clarinet so asked him if he’d rise to the challenge, and he said yes. Not only is he enjoying it, but it’s BIG. He likes that.

Erin, the youngest, is eight, and sees all these different instruments coming in and out of the house. She hears them honking and tooting on a regular basis. I wonder if she thinks, “I like that. I don’t like that. I’d like to play that. I’d hate to play that…” As she’s about to turn nine this week, I’ve been wondering what instrument will call out to her. Perhaps the saxophone that her sister, Emily, doesn’t want to play anymore, or something different. Something that separates her from the rest of the bunch.

I hope she knows that she’s musical already. I hope that when it’s time for her to be old enough to be in the school band, she’ll know clearly which instrument she wants to play, and doesn’t. That’s just as important, if not more so……. Who would want to play the trombone when it’s the harp that speaking to you? Who wants to play in the band when it’s a cello that is really appealing? Who wants to play anything melodic when it’s the drum line, and pounding out the beats on all kinds of loud, round things, that makes your heart race?

And maybe there won’t be an instrument that calls her name. Time will tell. I just hope for her that she knows the music is inside her. Now. When she’s older. When she’s 30 and 55 and 70. Always.

Happy Birthday, Erin!

The Animal Boogie is now animated!!!

2010-03-23T09:28:00.001-07:00

CHECK THIS OUT, PARENTS!!!!!

I've "read" this story in the Our Time Classes

and now you can watch it right here!!!

This is a great book for your little one, for a gift, for the holidays, available from the fabulous online bookstore, Barefoot Books.

The Animal Boogie is our bestselling title and it's now on sale for a short time!

Hardcover with Music CD $14.99 (regularly $16.99)
Paperback with Music CD $8.99 (regularly $9.99)
*OFFER VALID UNTIL 31 MARCH 2010.

Out Here on the Sea

2010-03-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

Out here on the sea

We're looking and looking out here on the sea.

That's one of the songs we've been singing in the Imagine That class for 3 weeks now. At the last Tuesday class, the kiddos brought their homemade binoculars so we could see all the pretend sights in our little boats out on the sea. Jeweled dolphins, a monster, a whale, a buoy bell, a flying princess....We saw it all! And we sang about it too. These kids are so dang cute, I just can hardly stand it sometimes. :)

Ukelele: Get ready, set, go!

2010-03-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

This is Andrew teaching Hannah chords on the ukelele a few years ago. He is a gifted musician and a fabulous teacher. I think this picture is when the seed was planted that playing a ukelele would be something new and fun to learn for myself!

For a couple of years, all I've done is talk about wanting to learn how to play this little stringed thing. And I've talked about how cool it'd be for me, an Irish wooden flute player, to be able to play an instrument and chew gum at the same time. Seriously! And to be able to smile and laugh, while playing, when the fiddlers in my all-women contradance band crack a funny joke during a tune at a dance. And to be able to play on some Old Time tunes when the fiddlers "get down with the tune, "Old Joe", for example, rather than just sit there, looking around most of the time, maybe shaking the egg or a playing the tambourine for a time or two through the tune, and then back to sitting. And looking again. I wanna be playing with 'em!

So last Saturday, I finally picked up the cute thing and went online and looked at a dozen youtube ukelele videos. I asked Jim to help me with some of the chords.

And that's my new thing for the spring, to learn (finally!) to play the ukelele. My goal is 15 minutes a day. Period. No excuses. It's only 15 minutes. Discipline and showing up no matter what is hard. Some days really hard. And, it's the only way I know to make it happen. It's the only way I've ever made progress on anything. On the hard days I remind myself that once I take the instrument in my hands, I'm on easy street. The challenge is in the time involved that it takes me to let go of everything I think I need to do, and turn to the instrument. This is usually about 30 seconds. I just have to push forward and listen to the voice that says, "C'mon on now", instead of the other voice that wants to resist. When I resist that voice, I can move into where I knew I wanted to be all along.

I am so excited. I know that 2010 is gonna be the year I turn into a "uke" player, instead of just talkin' and talkin' about being one. Yee hah, gonna walk the talk instead of just talkin' it.

Is there an instrument you've been wanting to play for awhile? Forever? I invite you to step forward, through that door, too. Respond to that voice that calls you and see another part of yourself you always knew was there, waiting outside that door, but you hadn't invited in yet.

Concert Highlight of the Year is about to happen!

2010-03-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

I've been blessed to attend many amazing concerts featuring some of the best musicians, in their field, over the years- through the Swannanoa Gathering summer events, through the Diana Wortham Celtic Series and other concerts held in this beautiful theatre, through dozens of concerts held here in town at the Grey Eagle, White Horse in Black Mountain, outside concerts, etc. And there are many that stand out in my mind.

I've also heard a lot of CDs from many different genres. We have zillions of CDs here in the Magill house. Well, close to a zillion... and while I love so many different kinds of music, the Celtic and Singer/Songwriter genres are my faves. There are many, many fabulous musicians out there. I'm going to post my faves another day.......

If you were to ask me who are my top five musicians, I'd be hard pressed to pick just five. If you were to ask me what are my top five CDs, ooh, that'd be hard, too. But ask me to just pick someone amazing, original, extraordinary and awe-inspiring, and that'd be easy - Danny Ellis would be in that top five.

I first heard his CD, "800 Voices", when my friend, Annie Lalley gave a CD to my husband and me, and said, "You HAVE to go home and listen to this. As soon as possible. And you have to promise me that once you put it in the CD player, you won't move off the couch until you've heard it from beginning to end." Hmmmm, okaaaaaay I thought. So we did. I don't often give myself the gift of just listening to music and doing nothing else - listening with purpose, without distractions, without doing something else while the music is playing in the background, without giving it my undivided attention. Too often the music becomes the background event instead of the main event.

I still remember this experience of listening to Danny's CD and how I felt, during the listening experience, and after the listening experience. It's difficult to describe it. At best, I can say it's one of the five best CDs I've ever heard in my entire life. It is a masterpiece.

I've seen Danny's show before, two years ago. To SEE him perform these amazing songs (works of art) while listening simultaneously, and being surrounded by the music, was a concert experience unmatched by any other. I am counting the days to see and hear him share his gift, his heart, his musicality.

Should you choose to spend Wednesday night, March 17, at Diana Wortham Theatre, it'll be an experience you won't forget. Chances are you'll go back to this night in your mind, to the music, and what you felt, over and over and over.

When's the last time you heard live music? When's the last time you heard someone whose music could make you weep, laugh, fill you up? Come give yourself the gift of this evening with Danny. Get his CD. Come listen and have a moment.

It's the moments that fill me up. How about you?

http://www.dannyellismusic.com/

Toyland, Toystory, TOYS!

2010-02-19T17:24:00.000-08:00

With the theme of the Imagine That classes being about a toymaker who makes toys in the toy shop, the kiddos got dressed up in toy-themed clothes, some little tykes even wearing special underwear - it was cute beyond words.

There's some proud looking little people here!

Trent-fire truck; Miles-basketball;

Keira-Fancy Princess; Ivy-princess

Sadie-butterfly; Noah-football;

Sebastian-Bob, the builder; Michael-Wild Things

Thomas-monkey; Sophie-doggies;

Sarah-crayons and Atticus-moose.

Our little song we sang when we knocked on the door of the Toy Maker:

Toy Shop, Toy Shop, Let's make believe now.

Toy Shop, Toy Shop, Let's make believe.

It got me to thinking of my favorite toys as a child (and how few there were compared to what my kids had), then to the great movie, Toy Story, and then the old song, Toy Land, popped into my head. I wonder, how many of you have heard of this golden oldie, recorded by Doris Day back in 1941?

Toy land, toy land

Little girl and boy land

While you dwell within it

You are ever happy there

Childhood's joy land

Mistic merry toy land

Once you pass its borders

You can ne'er return again

When you've grown up my dears

And are as old as I

You'll laugh and ponder on the years

That roll so swiftly by my dears

That so swiftly by

Childhood's joy land

Mistic merry toy land

Once you pass it's borders

You can ne'er return again

Village "Day on the Farm" Dress Up Day

2010-02-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

What farm isn't complete without its very own

little pig, giraffe, dog or flower girl?

Or a little tractor driver, a bear or a bull?

No farm is! So I say it just ain't a real farm!

Our Time Train & Car Dress Up Day

2010-02-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

Wish I could have gotten every child's pic in here - but a few little ones didn't want their picture taken.......This was fun and I'm convinced we should do it again a little later in the semester! Can you find someone you know here?

Choo Choo Train

This is a choo choo train

puffing down the track

Now it's going forward,

Now it's going back.

Now the bell is ringing,

Now the whistle blows!

What a lot of noise it makes,

everywhere it goes!

Some great train books:

Down By the Station, Will Hillenbrand

Clickety Clack, Rob & Amy Spence

Mama Zooms, Jane Cowen-Fletcher

This Train, Paul Collicutt

All Aboard the dinotrain, Deb Lund

The Train to Timbuctoo, Margaret Wise Brown

Choo-Choo Clickety-Clack, Margaret Mayo

If you have a wonderful train-theme book suggestion, I would LOVE to hear it! Especially if it's not too long, has great pictures, isn't too wordy, and best of all, can be sung!

To all our little engineers, train cars and cabooses - All aboard!

Make 2010 the year for Music Education-watch and see why.

2010-02-04T18:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Helen Peterson for sharing this on her blog!

Fashion Show & Tell Coming to a KM class with you!

2010-01-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

Why not celebrate our fourth week together, and the first full week of February, with dressing our little ones with clothes of a class theme?!

Not only will it make our class together a little more entertaining for us adults, but it gives the little ones a chance to shine for a moment. These little ones LOVE, need and deserve to be acknowledged. So, here are my suggestions:

So for the week of February 1st: For the Our Time classes, something train or car oriented. It’s what the Away We Go curriculum has been all about these past three weeks. I have a feeling that many a child has something adorned with Thomas the Train – shoes, pants, shirt, socks, hat, pj’s, jacket, anything. I’ve even had little kids show me their Thomas the Train underwear! For those of you whose child doesn’t own anything with a train theme, let them wear what they think is special. That’s what matters anyway.

For the Imagine That classes, something toy related. Our class is based on our experiences in the pretend toy shop and while it could be ANY toy, we’ve been specifically singing and moving like jack-in-the-boxes, balls, drums and spinning tops.

For the Village class, how about something farm related? We’ve been moving and bouncing and singing to Old MacDonald, so I can just see these twelve babies in assorted sheep and cows and teddy bears and cats and dogs and……THIS class might be the easiest one to dress for!

Feeling the Joy!

2010-01-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Here's little Miss Adele having a blast in a Village class – could this baby BE any more joyful, happier, delighted? No!!!

She is in the moment, and because she is, so is Kelly, her wonderful mom.

Aside from all the FUN that Adele is having, she is also experiencing a whole host of experiences that a Kindermusik class provides: movement and music and rhythm and steady beat and laughter and vestibular system stimulation and tempo and about fifty other areas of brain development.

In many of the classes this past week, when I remembered to (!), I pointed out the quote I’d posted on the bulletin board behind my instrument table - “When we treat our children’s play as seriously as it deserves, we are helping them to feel the joy that’s to be found,” by Fred Rogers and Barry Head.

In this picture it is clear that joy is being felt, experienced, shared. When we experience it ourselves, well, what a blessing. When we experience it in a group, it becomes something that, by virtue of simply being together, we are reminded how important it is to be in this moment, be here now, that everything important is right here, right now.

This got me to thinking about the following article I thought you might find interesting and valuable. It is adapted from the Nov/Dec 1999 issue of Kindermusik Notes and was originally written by Anne Green Gilbert, Director of the Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company in Seattle, Washington, and a consultant for Kindermusik International.

What is really cool about the reference to Anne is that long-time Kindermusik parent, Mary Beth Tanner studied with her in Greensboro, where Mary Beth majored in dance. It’s a small world!

Music and Movement: The Keys to Learning

Music and movement are magical ingredients to learning for both parent and child. A baby's first communication is through movement. A toddler will respond immediately to lively music with what seems to be humorous gyrations but to him are quite serious attempts to coordinate movement with rhythmic patterns. The young child seems to be moving constantly - leaping off couches, rolling down hills, and spinning around and around until she falls down in a giggling flop on the floor.

Our brains fully develop through movement activities such as crawling, rolling, turning, walking, skipping, reaching, swinging and much more. The brain has a plan for development that involves specific and intensive motor activities to make full use of our complicated nervous system. The nervous system of each human being must go through a series of developmental stages before the brain can operate at its full potential. All children "program" their motor and perceptual equipment, nerves and brain cells by using their whole body and all their senses.

Movement is fundamental for the development of the central nervous system but movement and rhythm are also essential for the development of the soul. When a parent moves with her infant, a special bonding takes place that is extremely important for social and emotional growth. When a parent sings to her child, not only are language skills being developed, but also a sense of love, comfort and harmony. The special touching, laughing and rhythmic moving that takes place in a music and movement class lays a very strong and much needed foundation for a happy, healthy and joyful life!

The Kindermusik curricula are especially designed to provide opportunities for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and young children to learn through interactive music and movement activities. Kindermusik class provides parents and children a variety of stimulating experiences that will be beneficial for everyone.

Movement activities are key components to all Kindermusik curricula:

· Intentional touch is designed to provide stimulation of the nervous system, relaxation and bonding.

· Activities involve unilateral, bi-lateral and cross-lateral movements that help develop the brain and muscles.

· Movement and dance steps allow the caregiver and child to experience different rhythms and locomotor movements.

· Synchronized dances develop sequencing, provide reassuring repetition and social interaction.

· Expressive movement provides variety, creativity and opposing feelings such as fast and slow, high and low.

· Rocking and swinging stimulate the vestibular system, which is so important to balance and even eye movement.

· Props, such as the "humongous" scarves, provide tactile and visual stimulation.

Kindermusik At Home materials extend these music and movement activities so you can explore, dance and sing at home. Only on Kindermusik CDs will you find such a wide diversity of musical styles from different cultures that evoke different types of movement.

Put on your Kindermusik CD at home and don't worry about performing the dances the "right" way. Don't even worry about right and left! Just move to the music and adapt and vary the steps if necessary so that you feel comfortable and have fun!

Pete Seeger on Thistle & Shamrock

2009-12-14T13:37:00.000-08:00

So many of us are simply not aware how much of the music that we teach our children is really folk music. Folk Music… What IS that? I love the definition the “All About American Folk Music” website says:

'You care about folk music because you're a "folk." If you've ever opened your mouth to sing a melody – for better or worse – or have clapped your hands and stomped your feet in rhythm to your favorite song, then you've taken part in folk music. Folk music, historically speaking, has accompanied everything that's ever happened in the world, from work to love to entire revolutions. People have always sung to pass the time, to cheer themselves up, to speak their mind, and for any other species of reasons they could come up with. Besides, the great thing about folk music is that you don't have to be glamorous and wealthy to make it happen. Heck, you don't even have to know how to play an instrument! It's a style of music that has been classified because it's of, by, and for the people.'

All those little nursery rhyme melodies that were cemented in our brains have lasted through the generations because of three simple reasons:

They are simple lyrics – easy to teach, easy to remember.

They are simple and lovely melodies – again, easy to learn, thus, easy to remember.

And we love them. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t keep singing them. Did you know that you’ve already taught your little one a folk song? Don’t’ think so? Well, look at these:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Old MacDonald Had A Farm

Puff the Magic Dragon

Polly Wolly Doodle

Jimmy Crack Corn

I’ve Been Workin’ On The Railroad

Oh Susanna

This Land is Your Land

Yankee Doodle

Folk Music has been going on for a long, long time and not only is it timeless, it shaped much of the social and political scene. That’s another post for another day.

So, my pal, Fiona Ritchie, host of NPR’s Thistle & Shamrock featured Pete Seeger on her radio show over Thanksgiving. I just got this today in an email from her, and encourage you to have a look and a listen in the next three weeks. Really. Do yourself the favor and take some time out. Have a listen. The next time you sing with your little one, you’ll be singing from a different place because you’ll have a deeper understanding, and a deeper respect, of where what we love to sing, came from. Pete Seeger is one of those pioneers and I bow humbly to this man and all he did, and continues to do.

Dear all,

If you're looking for some inspiration to sustain you through this crazy month, can I recommend the quiet wisdom of a man of 90, still pursuing his life's work in songwriting, performing and activism. Our music/interview radio show featuring Pete Seeger aired over the Thanksgiving holiday on NPR stations in the U.S. and is now available for a three week run on our Listen Again web page. Take an hour for yourself and enjoy a visit with this remarkable man whose music and message are as timely as ever. Click here and then on the 'Listen Now' link to open the NPR Media Player on your desktop. In over 25 years of broadcasting, I've never had a chance to include Bruce Springsteen in one of my shows - until now! Also featured, along with Pete Seeger, are Tommy Sands, Dolores Keane, Dick Gaughan, Nanci Griffith, and Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Warmest wishes for Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, New Year and all your celebrations! Fiona Ritchie

[Scene setter:
A train journey up the eastern shore of the Hudson River transported us to Duchess County near the town of Beacon, NY, and towards the high ridge home of Pete and Toshi Seeger. "Homestead" may be a better way to describe their original house, a log cabin built by Pete on land he cleared in 1947, that sits adjacent to their present home. Newly chopped wood was piled by the door, a daily chore for Pete, now 90. The aroma of hot soup filled the air. I travelled there with Doug and Darcy Orr and we shared lunch with the Seegers before settling in for a chat with Pete, recorded for this broadcast. Anecdotes, insights, memories and music flowed around the kitchen table.]

[From our Website Guestbook:
"The show featuring Pete Seeger that was broadcast on Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful. While it may have been one of the least "Celtic" shows, it will certainly be one of the most memorable. I'm blogging about it in hopes more people might get to hear it."]

[From Listener e-mails:
"This program was surely one for the ages. You captured the spirit of an American icon."]

Fiona's website is: http://www.thistleradio.com/

If you google Pete Seeger, you'll find three months worth of stuff to read, listen and be inspired by.

Enjoy the ride~ Beth

2009-11-13T06:21:00.000-08:00

Here's how you can get a quality gift for a great price AND help me build my Kindermusik scholarship fund!

Every semester I give out a certain number of scholarships to assist families in giving their child the gift of this special program. I give priority to those families who have little ones with medical issues, to single-parent families, children with Downs Syndrome, and preemies for example.

This past year, I became keenly aware of how many financially strapped families there are in our community. When the economy tanked last year, it affected all of us. Including me. Not as many families reenrolled this past fall. I received more than the usual inquiries into assistance. Some families didn't ask. I offered. I couldn't say no. And I didn't want to. I gave out twice as many as I'd budgeted for. Some folks told me I need to set boundaries, have thicker skin, etc. And they are right -in some areas of my life I do. However, my desire to make this program available to as many children as possible, is important. It's really important. Music is important in the life of a child. For all of us.

So, in order to be able to offer the same amount of assistance for the coming semester (Jan - May 2010), as I currently am offering, I am selling some of my stock inventory. I purchased all of it last November at the Kindermusik International Annual Convention. Everything is brand new, in its original bag and ready for gift giving. With holidays around the corner, here's an opportunity to purchase something of quality AND help build the fund. For the kiddos.

Here's what I have:

This Little Piggy

Book, CD and Drum Set

$20.00 New (8 in stock)

Bath Tub Fun Set

CD, Squirty fish and duck mitt

Mesh storage bag with suction cups

$12 New (7 in stock)

Wiggle, Waggle, Loop de Loo

Book, CD and Plush Bee

$20.00 New

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Book & CD Set

$12 New

1,2,3 Octopus & Me

Book & CD Set

$12 New

10 in the Bed

Book, CD & 10 animal puppet set

$25 New

Cock-A-Doodle-Blue!

Book, CD and Plush Rooster

$20.00 New

Frog Went A-Dancing

Book & CD Set

$12 New

Why we do what we do

2009-11-09T15:18:00.001-08:00

I thought I would share with you some of the reasons behind WHY we do what we do in class. I got some of this from another educator out there in Kindermusik cyberspace, whom I am most grateful to!

Why do we let kids choose how they want to participate? Kindermusik is a “child-centered” program. That means that in class we want to allow children to lead their own learning. So if Johnny wants to participate by simply observing 6 weeks in a row or if Mary likes to participate by jumping around the activity-it’s okay! Really, it is! I know it’s difficult when a child doesn’t appear to be participating, or isn’t participating as we would like them to! But here’s what we should ask ourselves-

Do I see my child watching or listening to the activity, even if he didn’t participate in the traditional way?
Does my child go home and mimic activities done in class?
Does my child look forward to Kindermusik?

If the answer to these questions is YES, then your child is getting the full advantage of the Kindermusik class experience! There is no wrong way to do Kindermusik!

When do I let her move around and when do I pull her in?

What a hard question. The answer lies in the questions above. Is your child watching or listening, even while she is moving? If so, as long as she isn’t being a distraction to the rest of the class, it’s fine to let her move around. Better yet, get up and engage her as she jumps/ bounces/ twirls! What is important in our class is that you, the parent, are engaging with your child. Your child needs to see that “Mommy/Daddy likes to do music with me and I get to choose how we do it!”

Do I really have to get up and jump hello?

Don’t we wish that the kids would choose simple moves! No doubt classes require a lot of energy from parents. The answer to the question is, yes, if you possibly can it’s always best to get up and participate no matter how silly! Your kids love to see you being silly with them, and they learn best through the play we do in class. The keyword is ENGAGE, ENGAGE, ENGAGE! Make yourself the child’s focus rather than me, the “teacher”. Ideally, your child should look to you for ideas rather than me.

Isn’t coming to class enough?

No! The “Kindermusik experience” is one part class and nine parts home music time. Our class is meant to serve as a jumping off point for the rest of your week at home. In class each week we do different activities that can be expanded or repeated at home. In short, if your kids aren’t hearing the music and repeating the activities with you at home where they are most comfortable, they are missing out on the part of their KM experience that makes it complete-joyful reinforcement and interaction at home. You’re not getting your money’ worth if you only do music during class time. Make the most of the semester by using your Home Activity Guide each week. Your child will thank you for it!

I really like Sarah’s mom! Class time is our favorite time for a chat!

I realize it is fun to meet other parents with kids roughly the same age as my own. It is so tempting to talk through a dance activity with another parent or chat with another parent during “exploration” time. After all, we parents don’t get out a lot and KM classes DO provide us with a way to make new friends! That being said, class time should be ALL about your child. As hard as it is (even for me!) it’s always best for us to keep our focus solely on the children during class. Before and after class (especially during Gathering Time) is a great time for families to get to know one another.

Special Story Hour at Barnes & Noble this Saturday, Oct 31st!

2009-10-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

Wonderful KM mom, Victoria Crane, is volunteering much of her time with the WNCAP organization and they are sponsoring an incredible event. It's not very often you can hear a ballet soloist, from the Moscow Ballet, read a very special story, in person, here in Asheville! Read on........and consider going!!!

The Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP) is honored to be partnering with the Moscow Ballet for a very special fundraiser opportunity. WNCAP is selling fundraiser tickets to The Great Russian Nutcracker scheduled for December 22, at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium . To help promote this special event, Moscow Ballet Soloist Nataliya Miroshnyk is coming to Asheville this weekend, October 31. Nataliya will be participating in a special story hour at Barnes & Noble in the Asheville Mall at 2:00, and later that day she will be attending WNCAP’s Raise Your Hand Auction at the Deerpark Restaurant on Biltmore Estate.

So if you have children and are looking for something to do before the trick-or-treating begins, head to Asheville Mall and meet Nataliya at Barnes & Noble, if you’re not trick-or-treating, we hope to see you at the Raise Your Hand auction.

Two great events all for a great cause -- to purchase tickets for both The Raise Your Hand Auction and for the Great Russian Nutcracker, please visit the WNCAP website at www.wncap.org

Making Halloween a little bit musical

2009-10-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year...Halloween! And here in this photo, is my daughter, Hannah, from a few years ago.

Please feel free to come to class this week in costume - it's sooooo fun for your child to be totally into their character!

I have to share one of the most endearing stories I've ever heard in my ten years of teaching Kindermusik. Several years ago, about a week before Halloween, Cassandra and her son, Solomon, about three years old, were discussing Halloween costumes as they were arriving for KM class. She came inside the class and whispered in my ear the conversation she'd had with him. "Mommy, I know what I want to be for Halloween. I want to be Miss Beth." Thump-thump-thump went my heart. I was speechless, and his Mom and I did our best to stifle our laughter in front of Solomon... No doubt about it - the best compliment I could ever get from a child. :)

So regarding this time of year, musically speaking...... while there's a lot of Halloween-type songs and chants out there, I find many of them a bit scary for our littlest ones. Here are three little songs/chants you can have fun with!

Pumpkins on the Ground (To the Tune of: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (crouch down)

How'd you get so big and round? (stretch arms out wide to sides and then make a circle)

Once you were a seed so small, (pretend to hold a seed)

Now you are a great big ball! (make huge circle with hands)

Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (crouch down)

How'd you get so big and round? (stretch arms out wide to sides and then make a circle)

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (hold up five fingers and point to each in turn…)

The first one said, Oh My it's getting late

The second one said, “There’s witches in the air”

The third one said, “But we don’t care” (hand gesture)

The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run” (make running sounds with hands on floor)

The fifth one said, “I’m ready for some fun!”

When whishhhhhhhhhh went the wind (gesture with arms the wind wishing)

and OUT went the light (clap hands together)

and the 5 little pumpkins rolled out of sight (roll hands & then run fingers behind back)

Did You Ever See a Pumpkin? (To the Tune of: Did You Ever See a Lassie)

Did You ever see a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,

Did you ever see a pumpkin with no face at all?

With no eyes and no nose and no mouth and no teeth,

Did you ever see a pumpkin with no face at all?

So I made a Jack-O-Lantern, a Jack-O-Lantern, a Jack-O-Lantern,

So I made a Jack-O-Lantern with a big funny face,

With big eyes, and a big nose and a big mouth and big teeth,

So I made a Jack-O-Lantern with a big funny face!

Good, clean fun!

2009-10-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

The scarves have migrated to my house for what feels like the zillionth time this semester. It's only October. At this rate, they're going to be in shreds by February.

But keeping germs to a minimum is my upmost concern.

To help me help you and your little one stay as healthy as possible, please consider washing hands or using hand sanitizer when you arrive and leave. Thanks!

Now aren't they pretty just sitting there in the dryer? In the Imagine That classes, we call this our leaf pile. Wheeeeeeeeee! :)

Why do we sing 'Bells Away' anyway?

2009-10-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

Greetings Families! A fellow Kindermusik educator in Charlotte, NC, gave me permission to include the following in a newsletter several years ago. I thought you would find this very interesting!

Understanding the Links between Music, Language, and Behavior During Early Childhood.

Hello Neighbors! While attending the International Kindermusik Conference in Washington D.C. this summer, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Adam Winsler, PhD., Dept of Psychology George Mason University, present a speech entitled Why Do We Sing "Bells Away" [or the Clean-up Song] Anyway? His answers are fascinating!

Language and music are two central cultural tools for early childhood. Singing is fun and stimulates many parts of the brain including the limbic system, a key area of emotions and socialization. Language and music together can guide behavior by breaking up the stimulus-response typically exhibited in lower animals and infants. Also, motions labeled within a song (bells away or toys away ) can seamlessly provide the child an opportunity to choose how to participate and therefore avoid power struggles. These music and language experiences sculpt the brain and develop "executive control" far more powerfully than many other types of experiences in early childhood. Dr Winsler highlighted 3 things that occur in Kindermusik classes that develop children's ability to regulate their own behavior including:

1. Active listening/vocal play.

2. Songs that link words to movements

3. Songs that systematically change behavior,using-body motions – modulating from slow/fast, up/down, and stop/go.

Have you seen your child delight in practicing these skills? There is a gradual shift in early childhood from external (parent) regulation, to self-regulation. Self-regulation is achieved mainly through internalization of language. Do you hear your child talking out loud to himself and or imaginary friends while playing? This is called private speech or self talk and is a very important part of language acquisition and the beginnings of internal thought. (Notice how different your child acts when just sitting and watching TV!) For our children, we should maximize opportunities encouraging them to talk to themselves so that good connections between language, plans, and behavior can be forged. (Gee- adults don't get this encouragement!) Researchers studying brain development, and early childhood specialists, are now proving with conviction what music teachers have known intuitively for a century: Music Makes the Difference!

– Maya S. Johnson

Susie Vanderlip - Legacy of Hope

2009-10-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

For those of you with teenagers, here's an upcoming event you won't want to miss! Both my husband and I are going to attend with our sixteen year old daughter, Hannah. My hunch is this is going to be powerful and extremely thought provoking.

Susie is coming to Asheville, co-sponsored by First Congregational, United Church of Christ and Jubilee Community Church. This event is a theatrical one-woman show for the whole family with the goal of improving communication between teens and parents and it's also, an amazing message about how to protect our children.

She will share her eye-opening, entertaining approach to guiding our children to good choices. Vanderlip is an international theatrical speaker on youth and family issues, an author and educator. Susie portrays a variety of dramatic characters (partying teen, teenage love seeking teen, rebellious teen among a few) that will take you on a roller-coaster ride from laughter to tears, surprise, hope and enthusiasm.

You'll be touched and encouraged especially if you, your teens or friends have dealt with excessive stress, alcohol, tobacco or other drug abuse; depression; grief or loss; divorce; communication difficulties; life adversities. Be entertained and captivated while you gather new insights and HOPE!

Susie has spoken to one million teens and adults in 47 states and several countries. Don't miss her visit to Asheville! Cost $12 per person / $15 per family

Saturday, Oct. 24th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

First Congregational, 20 Oak St

Contact: Rev. Shannon Spencer at 828-252-8729

Calling you bloggers out there......

2009-10-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

Before class began today I was talking to a fabulous Kindermusik mom, Kara, and realized how much I enjoyed reading her blog a couple weeks back. When I clicked on it, I was transported, delightfully, into a world I don't get to see much outside of the classroom - hers. And that of her sweet boy, Rem's.

Reading about one particular day in the life of her family, and her two year old's adventures on that particular day, helped me see him in his big, little life. I loved it. It took me down memory lane. And I loved that. It made me realize, once again, the sacredness of each day with little ones, with each other.

Surprisingly, it made a difference in my awareness for the rest of day. I was more present with the Kindermusik class that I led after lunch, with two of my children later in the day, and on my walk that evening. I've thought of that entry and Rem's adventures into the land of imagination every time he's come to class since. I feel like I know him a little bit more. It helps me be in class with him a little bit differently, and I know that just a little bit of something, can sometimes make a big difference.

Are you a blogger in our Kindermusik community? If you're comfortable with my sharing your blog, I'd love to do that. One never knows where inspiration might be found.

Here's Kara's for you to take a look at, and in the meantime, send me yours. We can be a part of a bigger KM community ......can be more intricately connected. I don't know about you, but I need that in my life.

www.karachenevert.blogspot.com

Barbara Kingsolver coming to Asheville

2009-10-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

For all you fans, mark your calendars!

Time: Monday, November 2, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Location: Asheville High School Auditorium, 419 McDowell St, Asheville, NC 28803
Title of Event: Barbara Kingsolver- A New Novel!

Malaprop's (and the entire Asheville region!) is honored to welcome one of our favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver, who will present her latest novel, The Lacuna. The event will take place at the Asheville High School auditorium at 7 pm on Monday, November 2nd, and one ticket is complimentary with each pre-purchase of The Lacuna from Malaprop's. For more information, please call us at 1-800-441-9849.

H1N1 Virus

2009-10-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Cindy, a KM mom, for passing this onto me. She got this from New Dawn Midwifery here in Asheville. While long, it's very informative and has a great recipe for making your own elderberry syrup................................

H1N1 is a new virus and people younger than age 60 do not have immunity against this virus, so it is expected to spread easily between people.

As of early September 2009, there are 500+ cases at Cornell University, with several hospitalizations, including one death.

Flu risks in pregnancy:
If early pregnant with severe respiratory illness, risk of miscarriage or premature birth increases.
If later pregnant with severe respiratory illness, a smaller lung capacity can make respiratory symptoms worse.
This flu is more virulent for the young and adults for possible secondary bacterial infections and respiratory failure.
Six percent of confirmed fatal 2009 H1N1 cases thus far have been in pregnant women while only less than 1% of the general population is pregnant.
Flu during pregnancy increases risks in offspring of later developing schizophrenia.

Flu symptoms:
Fever
Muscle aches
Fatigue
Cough
Sore throat
Loss of appetite
Runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

The flu is contagious for about 7 days, or if sicker longer, until 24 hours after clearing of fever.

Pregnant women, call your health care provider if:
You have been exposed to anyone with flu symptoms.
You have any flu symptoms. Please call the first day so that you will have the option of getting the best effect if you choose to use Tamiflu.

Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or difficulty breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Unable to drink enough fluids (8 cups/day)
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or not interacting
In children, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough

Primary flu prevention:
As with all health care, your healthy behaviors are the most important factor in maintaining your and your family's health. Her are some ideas:

1. Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap after contact with others and before eating.
2. There is some evidence that hand washing with Hibiclens 4% soap, available at pharmacies, maintains an anti-microbial film on the skin that kills flu viruses up to 6 hours thereafter. Washing in the morning and at lunch can provide all-day protection for workers involved in public service.
3. Avoid using shared hand towels. Use paper towels or air dry hands.
4. Avoid sharing water bottles or glasses, utensils or toothbrushes, or sharing food such as licks of an ice cream cone or finishing another person's leftovers.
5. Cover face with tissue when coughing or sneezing, toss tissue, then wash hands.
6. Obviously, keep tissues strategically throughout your environment or in your pocket.
7. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your elbow.
8. Develop habits to avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth when you haven't recently washed your hands.
9. To maintain a healthy immune system, eat a healthy, balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, get good rest, and practice stress reduction.
10. Teach these behaviors to your children.
11. Stay home or keep your children home if having flu symptoms until 24 hours after fever resolves without the influence of fever-reducing medications.
12. Medicines such as antiviral Tamiflu may reduce symptoms and make transmission to others less likely, especially if begun within 2 days of onset of symptoms; this is considered safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, some H1N1 flu strains have become resistant to antiviral medication.
13. Breastfeeding newborns can be protective. Wash hands before and after breastfeeding to lower transmission between mother and baby.
14. If having symptoms, use a face mask when going to see your health care provider; otherwise, stay home.

Natural care products:
Start natural care with the first onset of flu symptoms. Get prepared now.
Warning: Echinacea has not been more effective than a placebo in most randomized trials.
Warning: Zicam or zinc nose sprays/gels have been associated with loss of smell.
Zinc works best when taken regularly (every two hours), using 10 milligrams of elemental zinc per lozenge for not longer than 3 days. Not recommended for children.
Vitamin C: keep it under 2000 mg per day. Try sipping Emergen-C throughout the day.
Garlic is known to boost the immune system and prevent secondary infections such as ear infections, bronchitis, and sinusitis: eat one raw clove twice daily when fighting colds and flu. Do not eat plain! It is yummy to crush fresh clove over most main courses, on salads, in salsa, on potatoes with butter or olive oil, or spread on toast with butter or olive oil.

Elderberry cut the flu duration in half in one small randomized trial. My experience with elderberry has been wonderful, as when it seemed a cold or flu was starting, elderberry ended it before much could happen. I have used elderberry juice from fresh fruits, but a syrup can be made from dried fruits. Look for sources of juice, syrup or dried berries online. Make some syrup now to have throughout the flu season:

Elderberry syrup recipe
1 cup dried berries
3 cups filtered water
1 1/2 cups honey
1 ounce fresh ginger root, grated
Juice of 1 lime

Combine berries, ginger and water in stainless steel or glass pot. Heat on medium until simmering. Continue to gently simmer uncovered for 45 minutes to an hour, or until reduced in volume by half. Remove from heat. Allow decoction to cool slightly. Strain well through cheesecloth, squeezing the juice from the berries. Measure liquid and combine with equal parts honey. Reheat to light boil. Add all the lime juice. Pour into glass jar, date, and store in the refrigerator for up to a year.

Take one tablespoon 2-3x/ day daily during the cold and flu season. For children ages 2-5, use half the adult dose. Dose for ages 6-12 is two teaspoons twice daily. Nursing mothers can take one tablespoon 5 minutes before nursing to pass the benefits along to the baby.

About the H1N1 vaccine:
It is a separate vaccine from the regular seasonal flu vaccine. Both of these vaccines are recommended by the CDC for pregnant women.
H1N1 vaccine will be given in one dose.
The immune response gives protection against flu about 8-10 days after vaccination.
It will be available in mid-October.
It is believed that getting the vaccine in pregnancy will provide some protection for the baby in the first 6 months of life.
It is considered by the CDC to be safe in pregnancy in any trimester.
This vaccine is produced in exactly the same manner as the seasonal flu vaccine and is considered to have a similar safety profile. Serious adverse events with vaccines are so rare, cannot be seen in the smaller clinical trials conducted.

Pregnant women must get the vaccine injection from single dose vial to avoid thymerisol preservative of multidose vial. The flu mist spray is attenuated virus and cannot be given to pregnant women, children under 2, or adults with asthma. This vaccine is made with egg culture, so if there is an egg allergy, the vaccine should not be given.

Risk groups recommended for H1N1 vaccination:
Pregnant women
Care providers of children less than 6 months of age (mothers, fathers, grandparents, daycare providers)
Children over 6 months of age and young adults up to age 24
Adults age 25-64 who have medical risks such as asthma, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, etc.
Health care workers

Links of interest:
http://www.flu.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/pregnant.htm
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090729/pregnancy-ups-swine-flu-death-risk
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160539.php

Fundraiser Concert for The Children's Music Network

2009-10-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

The Children's Music Network is having their 22nd Annual National CMN Conference in Black Mountain this year (Oct. 9-11). As part of this conference, they decided to hold a fundraiser in Asheville. This opportunity won't come again soon. Come and support this great group! A whole bunch of fun in one night. It's not often you get to attend a concert full of talented children's entertainers under one roof.

The concert is scheduled for Thursday, October 8th, at Jubilee Community Church from 6:30pm - 8:30 pm. www.jubileecommunity.org

Come see Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Ruth Pelham, Jackson Gillman, Sammie Haynes, Bruce O'Brien, Fran Friedman, Andrea Green, Leslie Zak, Jacqueline Howard, Two of a Kind, Tom Pease, Beverly Botsford, Rick 'Kazoobie' Hubbard, Julie Austin, Elise Witt & more!

Admission: $8.00, Kids - $4.00, Under 3 is free.

Beth Magill

I’m still seven sometimes – Part One

Excuse me, what kind of instrument is that?

Stepping into the unknown

Where’s the Music for Thanksgiving?

Highlight of the week, courtesy of Adelbert Farm

Andrew in Lilongwe, Malawi on St. Patrick's Day

Being willing to sound bad

My birthday wish for Erin

The Animal Boogie is now animated!!!

The Animal Boogie is our bestselling title and it's now on sale for a short time!

Hardcover with Music CD $14.99 (regularly $16.99)Paperback with Music CD $8.99 (regularly $9.99)*OFFER VALID UNTIL 31 MARCH 2010.

Out Here on the Sea

Ukelele: Get ready, set, go!

Concert Highlight of the Year is about to happen!

Toyland, Toystory, TOYS!

Village "Day on the Farm" Dress Up Day

Our Time Train & Car Dress Up Day

Choo-Choo Clickety-Clack, Margaret Mayo

If you have a wonderful train-theme book suggestion, I would LOVE to hear it! Especially if it's not too long, has great pictures, isn't too wordy, and best of all, can be sung!

Make 2010 the year for Music Education-watch and see why.

Fashion Show & Tell Coming to a KM class with you!

Feeling the Joy!

Pete Seeger on Thistle & Shamrock

Why we do what we do

Special Story Hour at Barnes & Noble this Saturday, Oct 31st!

Making Halloween a little bit musical

Good, clean fun!

Why do we sing 'Bells Away' anyway?

Susie Vanderlip - Legacy of Hope

Saturday, Oct. 24th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

First Congregational, 20 Oak St

Contact: Rev. Shannon Spencer at 828-252-8729

Calling you bloggers out there......

Barbara Kingsolver coming to Asheville

H1N1 Virus

Fundraiser Concert for The Children's Music Network

Hardcover with Music CD $14.99 (regularly $16.99)
Paperback with Music CD $8.99 (regularly $9.99)
*OFFER VALID UNTIL 31 MARCH 2010.