I just read this great article about music and how it affects the brain development of children. It targeted children from 4-6 (that made me smile since it's the recommended age for LPM 1st yr students!), and had some great findings that support music education for small children! I loved this part:
"That the children studying music for a year improved in musical listening skills more than children not studying music is perhaps not very surprising. On the other hand, it is very interesting that the children taking music lessons improved more over the year on general memory skills that are correlated with non-musical abilities such as literacy, verbal memory, visiospatial processing, mathematics and IQ than did the children not taking lessons. The finding of very rapid maturation of the N250m component to violin sounds in children taking music lessons fits with their large improvement on the memory test. It suggests that musical training is having an effect on how the brain gets wired for general cognitive functioning related to memory and attention
Happy Reading!
First Evidence That Musical Training Affects Brain Development In Young Children
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Practice makes perfect!
Since I'm teaching 2 of my own girls this year, I'm getting a parents perspective of LPM (in a twisted sort of way!) One thing I'm finding...practicing is harder than I expected, and we're only on year 1! Not that the actual practice is hard, but finding the time to do it is a challenge.
So with the new year, I'm recommitting myself to be better at sitting down with my girls at practicing! This week we've done pretty well.
I had an lightbulb moment! In the past, I'm usually multi-tasking while practicing with them. I'm making dinner, or helping the older kids with homework AND trying to help with practicing. This week, I managed to carve out time just for LPM and what a difference it made!
Here is what the week looked like for practicing: Friday, sat down with younger one and did the bells. Once we did the "assigned" bell work, I just tossed out the three patterns randomly (MRD, SSD, SLTD) and she played them on the bells. Then I had her close her eyes and listen while I played the different patterns and she had to tell me what pattern it was by doing hand signs back to me. This lasted for maybe 20 minutes...but only because she was asking for more. If she was done in 5 minutes we would have called it good, because when it stops being fun for either of us...it looses it's effectiveness. It is Let's PLAY Music, after all!
Then we moved to the written assignment. The hardest part of that was finding the right crayon colors needed! Then we flipped to the back of the book and practiced making the three patterns with beans. She would make them and then I would make them and we would quiz each other back and forth. We also practicing identifying and making baby steps and skips with the beans.
Through out the week we've turned on the CD (she is really loving the new puppet show) and listened as we've made lunch or cleaned up.
Practice for my older one looked similar, but the bells and written work happened at a different time. I like practicing separately so we minimize comparison and they each can demonstrate what they truly know, and not what the other one just did.
AND it gives me another opportunity to spend one on one time with them...a huge benefit to LPM!
So with the new year, I'm recommitting myself to be better at sitting down with my girls at practicing! This week we've done pretty well.
I had an lightbulb moment! In the past, I'm usually multi-tasking while practicing with them. I'm making dinner, or helping the older kids with homework AND trying to help with practicing. This week, I managed to carve out time just for LPM and what a difference it made!
Here is what the week looked like for practicing: Friday, sat down with younger one and did the bells. Once we did the "assigned" bell work, I just tossed out the three patterns randomly (MRD, SSD, SLTD) and she played them on the bells. Then I had her close her eyes and listen while I played the different patterns and she had to tell me what pattern it was by doing hand signs back to me. This lasted for maybe 20 minutes...but only because she was asking for more. If she was done in 5 minutes we would have called it good, because when it stops being fun for either of us...it looses it's effectiveness. It is Let's PLAY Music, after all!
Then we moved to the written assignment. The hardest part of that was finding the right crayon colors needed! Then we flipped to the back of the book and practiced making the three patterns with beans. She would make them and then I would make them and we would quiz each other back and forth. We also practicing identifying and making baby steps and skips with the beans.
Through out the week we've turned on the CD (she is really loving the new puppet show) and listened as we've made lunch or cleaned up.
Practice for my older one looked similar, but the bells and written work happened at a different time. I like practicing separately so we minimize comparison and they each can demonstrate what they truly know, and not what the other one just did.
AND it gives me another opportunity to spend one on one time with them...a huge benefit to LPM!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Year 2 here we come!
2nd year requires each student to be on their own keyboard during class...so we wrapped up Thanksgiving festivities early and hit the Black Friday deals to buy 8 keyboards! Personally, I've out grown my past adrenaline rush for skipping sleep to fight crazy crowds for a good deal...but when you have to buy 8 keyboards...I couldn't pass up the deal! My sweetie was such a trooper to come along!
Really, the hard part was getting them home...since we spent the holiday in Bosie and had to fit the keyboards + 5 kids + 2 adults + all the stuff that goes along with them into the family mobile!
Good times!
Almost didn't fit through the door with this load!
Parent testimonials
I love it when parents discover the power and amazing ability LPM has to teach children complex musical concepts! Here are some of my favorite comments from parents after our first semester:
"I can tell that my children are learning a good foundation for a life of music. I am excited each week to see their improvement!"
"We are very impressed with Let's Play Music. Our son loves it and is learning a lot. We are excited to continue in the program."
"I can't believe how much my child has learned in such a fun way! He has no idea that he is learning about music. It's great!!!"
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