Musical Update from Music Together

Hello Children’s Hour Academy Parents,

It has been such a joy working with all of your kids. They are doing a great job embodying the Sticks collection and so many of them are making huge leaps in their individual musical growth. The youngest ones are often humming the resting tone when the song is over, the older ones anticipate my every move and once I get a pitch they often start the song for me. Many will look at the song card I show them and instead of answering the question of, “what song is this?” they just look at the song card and start singing the song. And, more often than not they are in tune, or very, very close. I have noticed a big leap in many that now have the rhythm in their feet and hands, another big leap in the life of a child. Many of the mobile toddlers see me walk by and sign, “MORE”, and then when we are doing music class they feel the end of the song coming up and stand in front of me and sign for more! It is very cute and a huge indicator that they are absorbing each experience at a profound level.

A big Thank You for all that turned out for the PJ Jam. I don’t think we have ever had that big of a turn out, and it was so much fun! It was also great to meet many parents that I hadn’t had the chance to meet yet and to hear their stories of how much the whole family is enjoying the music.

We are going to be taking the Sticks collection to the end of the academic year. If you are getting burnt out on the Sticks collection or want the experience of a parent/child class with new music, Maracas is the collection I am starting in April, please check out the class schedule on my website or e mail me if you are interested in a class.

For those of you that have attended a Parent Education Event or Teacher Training you know that I reference Dr. Oliver Sacks’ research when talking about how the young brain processes, absorbs and uses music. He has a new movie coming out called, “The Music Never Stopped”. Here is the link for the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=mejPllxcEJI It looks like it is well done and should be quite touching. Dr. Sacks loves a good story that pulls the heartstrings.

Thank you for being such wonderful parents. Sing often, and dance, Best, cv



Craig Van Ness
Director/Teacher
Willamette River Music Together
503.329.8751
7410 SW Oleson Rd. #387
Portland, OR. 97223
www.willametterivermusictogether.com