Rockin' Robins

Class today at Jessie's Place was so much fun. It was a small group of mostly babies and staff, but everyone was very eager to participate. A definite highlight was the final jam of Rockin' Robin. All the participants were jamming along, when all of a sudden we looked over and the kitchen staff were dancing and singing along across the room. The staff (kitchen included) brought a great energy to the class as did the parent who joined us. I'm looking forward to more Wednesdays like this!

An Intimate Feel

A quiet class at Robertson House this evening, but I led it with an intimate feel and gave lots of attention to each of the two children. Everyone had lots of fun scraping the guiro, our instrument of the week. We put a band together during the jam by singing Old McDonald Had A Band, which was a great way to review instruments in the bag. We ended class with a spicy feel - some Latin music for the children to dance to underneath the parachute.

Jumping Bunnies!

Today’s class was full of energy and smiles from both children and parents. Parents were very involved, for the most part, and sang loud and proud - what a treat! With 17 children and 8 parents participating, the energy was undeniable. One highlight was the demonstration of the Thunder Tube, our instrument of the week, during which all the participants watched in suspense as the Tube made its mysterious rumbles. The children were very excited when the Thunder Tube got passed around and everyone got to shake it for themselves. Another highlight was jumping around during the Sleeping Bunnies song, during which the energy in the room went way up! This was a great way to start the session and I look forward to more classes like this.

Magical Moments

Class was so much fun this evening and it was full of magical moments. It started with a mom coming in with her month old baby who hadn't heard music yet. We all got to witness the baby's calm reaction as her mom observed, "She likes music!" This was followed by a boy keeping a steady groove on the tambourine during the jam, while another boy exclaimed "aaaahhhh" during the ascending "ah" melody part of Twist and Shout. What a wonderful way to end my day :)

Keep It Positive

This evening's class was a bit more challenging than usual. The moms were the quietest they've ever been, and a couple boys were running around playing with cars a lot of the time. Nonetheless, I did my very best to stay positive and tried varying activities to meet the needs of the group. It all came together at the end when the little ones danced underneath the parachute and showed off their moves.

Earth Week Fun

Class was smaller and intimate today for Earth Week. I took the moms through a journey with rain, sunshine, growth and some eco-friendly rides. Everyone had a lot of fun experimenting with the thunder tube and rain stick that were the instruments of the week. The jam had a bright note with I Can See Clearly Now, and You Are My Sunshine.

A Hero's Welcome

There's nothing like getting a hero's welcome as soon as you get out of the car – from the staff – and the ten children and six parents were equally as welcoming. It's great to be back at Birkdale for another session! We sang Sticky Bubble Gum, The Belly Button Song, Tickle Song, and All the Nations Like Bananas. We also got ready for Earth Week by singing Trees Need the Sun, and Oats and Beans and Barley Grow. The children clicked away on the claves, our instrument of the week. And, as usual, the parachute drew screams of delight from the children. Looking forward to more silliness next week.

Mighty and Musical

Our class at Gooch today was smaller than last week, but mighty and musical! The smaller group allowed the toddlers to really shine, and more space for all of the kids to stretch their dancing legs. We had a special guest taking photographs and it was hilarious to watch the kids either notice or not notice the photography, and sometimes ham it up for the camera. A highlight was at the end of the class when a participant grabbed a grownup's smartphone and held it to her eye like a camera/telescope – with her eye "looking" into the part of the phone that we usually speak into! For most of the class, however, the kids hardly noticed the camera because they were so engaged by the songs and instruments. We walked (and stomped, and tiptoed, and twirled, and danced)… and stopped! … our way around the circle. The children were all excited to learn about the tambourine, and jam time felt like a joyous moment for both children and adults to express themselves freely along with the music and together with one another. I love seeing how happy the grownups get during jam time, although of course the kids usually steal the show with their unabashed musical exploration, or sometimes just pausing and looking at me studiously. The kids were delighted to have parachute play to end the class, and we sang Goodbye to each child individually. Until next time…!

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun

It was good to be back at Robertson House this evening. I started it off with Thunder Pounding as the rain began to pour outside. Things brightened up with Mr. Sun and there were a lot of dance moves for Hands Together, Hands Apart. Everyone had fun shaking like crazy while playing the maracas and jamming out for You Are My Sunshine and Down In the Valley.

New Beginnings

Our first class together at Gooch was busy and active, with lots of babies, toddlers, and kids with their parents or grandparents! It was great to meet everyone and to see lots of smiling, singing faces around me – sometimes dancing around me! The parents in attendance were having a great time too, and during the jam at the end it was great to see the kids moving to the music and trying out all sorts of new instruments. Watching the children explore making music was one of my favourite parts, although their enthusiastic performance of Roly-Poly near the beginning of class also won me over from the start. I look forward to a great session at Gooch!