Active listening to bells, bells, bells

In this series of blog postings, we’re having fun with bells.  For the next few postings, we’ll focus on LISTENING !   Intentional listening helps us focus our attention on the aspects of the sounds we hear, and be able to tell the difference between sounds, much like we recognize our own child’s voice from any others.  This is an incredibly important skill in all areas of life, and must be developed through practice.  Of course, music makes it engaging and fun. 

For young children it is often helpful to listen with your whole body. 

• Listen to the sound of a specific type of bell.   We will start with bells you may have at home.  Starting with sound that are familiar allows the child to review what they already know so they can connect their current understanding to the new shapes and sounds that will be presented. 
• Creating the sound and feeling the real instrument while it vibrates is the best choice for building a foundation of discriminating sounds.   Let the child HOLD it, and CREATE.
• Using our bodies to move like the bell, or our mouths to sound like the bell is an important part of intentional listening, since we have to attend well enough to copy the sound and movement.

DOOR BELL

Ding Dong – Let your child RING your doorbell, then both of you try to recreate the sound verbally.  If you are up to the task, take the cover off the door bell, and show them how it works – that is if your doorbell actually uses a bell.  Many these days are a digital sound, which may be good to hear – but not to see.

BIKE BELL

Does your child have a bike bell?  Well, then they most likely have a lot of experience ringing it.  If not, take a trip to your local bike shop to check out all the bike bells that are available ! 

Fun, Fun !!!

JINGLE BELLS

Most children love the bright shiny ring-a-ling sound of the jingle bells.  If you have some jingle bells, bring them out for your child to explore. 

If you don’t, they are easy to find at Walmart or a craft store.  For now, just buy the larger bells (they make a better sound) and enjoy listening to them in the bag.  Then let the child explore it in their hands.  In another posting, we’ll explore ways to make jingle bell instruments, and have a lot more jingle bell fun !

WIND BELLS

Most children are also familiar with this type of bell, typically called wind chimes.  This video shows a large assortment of styles, and simply the sound of all of them together.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygjlM5dutzU

Do you have a wind chime at home your child can try?  If not, head over to a store near you to listen to the wonderful chime sounds.  Here in Lakeland, I would recommend Brooke Pottery.  But many times you can find them in most hardware stores.  Wind chimes are also a simple craft to make with your child.

Different types of bells will be presented in each of the following postings in this series, and some videos will be available to hear the sounds, and/or how these bells are used.  For our purpose here, we will focus on the classic bell shapes with ringers on the inside or out.  And I have organized them from the smallest to the largest bells.  After all my research, I believe I must divide it up into separate blog postings.  Although I am presenting them all in one day, take it at a pace that is right for you and your child, perhaps one type of bell a day.  With your older child, you might look at all of them as an overview, then explore them all more personally throughout the next few weeks.

In our Kindermusik classes, we explore many types of bells and compare the sounds, and use appropriate bells for different songs and activities.  Come join the fun and learning by checking out the types of classes offered on my website, then contact me to learn more.

I’d LOVE to hear how you and your child are exploring these sounds.  PLEASE SHARE !   Is your child starting to recognize the difference between the sounds of the bells?

Listening to bells LIVE – Small bells

Small bells of many sizes are unique in their ability to show how size and shape effect the pitch of an instrument.  In this posting, we focus on train bells, handbells, and bells you might find on playgrounds.  The videos will provide a good start in recognizing the different bells and their sounds.

I also recommend going on an outing to see many of the bells you DON’T have at home.  These small bells may be easily available to you in your community  Real and live experiences offer so much MORE than recorded music.  Here are just a few of the benefits. 

• Young children, even infants, are establishing a base of knowledge and only learn from REAL experiences that engage their minds and bodies. 
• REAL instruments resonate (vibrate) through the body in a way that recorded music cannot match, no matter how old a person is. 
• REAL experiences lay a foundation for recognizing the many different timbres of sound, and strengthens their abilities to hear differences in all sounds.

                                                               TRAIN BELL

Most young children will like and relate to the train bell.  This is a homemade video, but was the best to show how the bell on the train works.  You can see the string that goes to the cab.

There is a wonderful train station in Parrish, FL if you’d like to take a old time train ride with your child.  Get the details on the website for the Florida Railroad Museum.   My family really enjoyed an Easter train ride that took us to an open field where the children could hunt for Easter Eggs, meet the Easter bunny, and more fun activities.

HAND BELLS

Joshua's homemade hand bell

Hand bells are simply bells that have a handle attached to the top, and a striker on the inside that makes the sound when shaken.  Here is a picture of one of my students and the hand bell that he made to complete an assignment from an Imagine That! Class.

Of course, handbells have been an amazing way to make music for centuries.  Each bell is designed to sound a certain pitch, and it takes a full set of bells to play songs – and a lot of hands.

This video features an amazing SOLOist will allow children to hear the bells and see how the bells work.  Help point out that the larger bells have a lower pitch, and the smaller bells have a higher pitch.

This video features a large GROUP playing the whole range of handbells in the classic music of “Carol of the Bells”.  Your child can see how these people have to work together as a team and follow the director.

During the holiday season, there are often local groups that perform with hand bells.  Check online or in your paper to see if there is an appropriate recital for you and your child.  It may be a bit of a hassle to arrange, but the experience will be memorable.  The real sound of these bells makes music that resonates in your mind and heart.

You can even buy colorful handbells for your child to enjoy at home.

In Lakeland, at Common Grounds playground, I recently discovered a set of pitched bells with nice long sounds.  They are dark green and are located on the South side of the park under the large playset nearest the wall.  Most of them are pitched to harmonize with each other, but there is one bell that causes a dissonant sound.  That means that it sounds great by itself, but when played with another bell there, it sounds out of balance.  This was a specific choice made by the designer to allow children to hear BOTH harmonizing and dissonant sounds.  One of the bells has actually come loose, so it has a short muffled sound.  Have your child find the “broken” bell, and the bell that sounds “off”.

What kind of bells can you find in your community?  Please Share !!!

Steeple Bells and Tower Bells

Now in our active listening series, we’ll focus on larger bells in a tower.  This includes bells in a steeple that are played by people pulling on ropes, as well as carrillon bells played by a keyboard device.

A tower bell is a LARGE metal bell which is hung in a tall tower, often a church steeple, attached to a large gear  which has a rope around it.  This rope hangs down to another floor where the bell ringer pulls the rope to sound the bell at specific times.  These are VERY LOUD, and the vibrations can be felt even outside the building.

Children may have seen the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, in which the main character pushes the bells around himself (a purely fictional scene).

This could be as simple as ONE bell in a tower, typically in the heart of a village or city, to signify the hour, such as Big Ben in London.  This was how people used to keep track of time, to gather the village, or to sound an alarm. 

These tower bells were also used in churches to signal the time for worshippers to go to church, perhaps to attend a wedding or other service.

In many towers there are several bells of different sizes, and the bell ringing has developed into an art, called Campanology.  Because of the huge swing of the bells, the composer who writes the music must also be an excellent mathematician in order to time the bells correctly.

In this video, Julie Andrews sings “Ding Dong, Merrily On High” in the background while we watch the ART of bellringing.

There is a Catholic church near my home, and I hear the bells played every Sunday morning, as well as other times during the week.  In Lakeland, the Episcopal church downtown plays their bells almost daily, and they have wonderful concerts.  Take a Sunday morning drive with your child to hear the sounds of bells in your local churches (they get up early anyways).  If your church has bells, perhaps you can find a person that can give a tour.  And during the holiday season, you may be able to find a performance that fits into your schedule.

                                                 CARILLON BELLS

The Carillon is like tower bells DELUXE !  The tower houses at LEAST 23 bells.  Instead of gears and ropes, the bells are connected to a mechanical device that allows one person, the carillonneur, to play all of the bells from a device that looks like a keyboard (similar to a piano).

This video features the carillon bells at our own Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL.  It is an introductory video by the Associated Press, so it discussed the whole concept of Bok Tower Gardens.  The part that shows the bells and how they are played is between, 1:00 and 1:45, but you can hear the bells being played throughout the video.

If you live nearby, or plan to visit nearby, Bok Tower Gardens is worth your trip – Even WITH children.  The gardens, and the music from the bells, is a bit of peace for the soul in this crazy world.  If not here, look around, there may be a carillon closer to your family.

The Biggest Bells – across the world

ORIENTAL TEMPLE BELLS are HUGE, sometimes multiple stories high.  The sound is produced by a log that has a brass end fitted to it.  In some cases, the bells are so large, this log must be carried my many men who must move together toward the bell to strike it. 

Unless you take a trip to the orient, your child will not be able to experience this live.  But the knowledge of such a bell can be impressive to a young child, expanding their view of the world to things outside their own life and culture.  This video is homemade, but it great to show the size of a smaller bell and how it is rang. 

These bells are traditionally built for temples and are used to worship.  The sound is so loud that the entire community can hear it.  And the sound can last for hours, enhancing the mind’s ability to focus for meditation and prayer.

I hope you have enjoyed this series of posting exploring the sounds of bells.  I am sure there are more that I have not focused on hear.  Please feel free to add comments to help us become aware of others.

Jingle Bells Makes me Laugh

Ask children if they know a song about bells.  The first to come to mind is “Jingle Bells”.  Although it is commonly known as a Christmas song, as it has nothing to do with this celebration.  It is a fun song about riding in a horse drawn sleigh, meant to make people laugh.  Since GOOD laughter is GOOD medicine for the heart, mind, and soul (really !  Research proves it), let’s have some Jingle Bells fun.

All in the spirit to make you laugh, let’s watch a video, explore the origins of the song, as well as some fun astronomical history, deviate into the childhood versions, and then…  well, maybe you can share your own version with us.

This video made me laugh, not only because holiday icons have become musicians jamming out to this song, but also because one of the reindeer starts rocking out to the “batman” version.

The author and composer of Jingle Bells was a minister called James Pierpoint who composed the song in 1857 for children celebrating his Boston Sunday School Thanksgiving. The song was so admired that it was repeated at Christmas.   There are actually 4 original verses.  Just imagine attending that first event, full of the spiritual meaning of the celebration, and hearing these verses.  What a surprise !  No wonder it became popular.

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells  Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride  In a one horse open sleigh  (2x)

A day or two ago
I thought I’d take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot.   (Chorus)

• A day or two ago
  The story I must tell
  I went out on the snow
• And on my back I fell;
• A gent was riding by
• In a one horse open sleigh,
• He laughed as there I sprawling lie
• But quickly drove away.
•  
• Now the ground is white
• Go at it while your young
• Take the girls tonight
• And sing this sleighing song;
• Just get a bobtailed bay
• Two forty as his speed
• Hitch him to an open sleigh
• And crack! You’ll take the lead.

 

 Here’s a surprising fact I didn’t know.

“Jingle Bells” was the first song broadcast from space, in a Christmas-themed prank by Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra, December 16, 1965. They sent Mission Control this report:

“We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit … I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit … “

The astronauts then produced a smuggled harmonica and sleighbells and broadcast a rendition of “Jingle Bells” (Smithsonian Magazine, December 2005 pp25ff). The harmonica, shown to the press upon their return, was a Hohner “Little Lady”, a tiny harmonica approximately one inch long, by 3/8 of an inch wide.  Read the whole story here. 

My 5 year old daughter is now repeatedly singing the “batman” version that I remember from my childhood.  Does every child singing this song have to repeat it incessantly ?

“Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg.  Batmobile lost a wheel, and Joker got away.”  Actually, she is singing it “and Joker takes ballet”.  When did that get added?

So, children love to come up with new words to this fun song.  What a fun activity to do while traveling together in a car, or during a meal together – maybe something we’d rather hear.    To encourage you to do so, I’m offering a Gift Certificate for $40 towards tuition of a full semester of Kindermusik  for the winner of this Jingle Bells contest.  Just enter in your new words by Jan. 4^th, 2010, here with your name and email address.  I look forward to many new laughs !!!

 

Christmas Bells – The Sound of Pure Love

Bells for hundreds of years have served many purposes.  Bells call people to worship and prayer.  They sound warnings and alarms.  They beckon ships to safe harbors.  They celebrate birth and new life, and they peal in announcement of death.  They are rung during Christmas to announce the arrival of the season, to proclaim the birth of Christ.

I loved this description from the website, www.HolidayInsights.com     

Ringing of bells can be traced back to pagan winter celebrations. During those times, noisemakers were used to scare away evil spirits in the night. Among those early noisemakers were bells. People had fun ringing the bells and making noise. It was too much fun to just use bells to scare demons away. So over time, bell ringing was incorporated into other events and activities. Bells are rung at churches to call people to gather, as warnings, and to bring people together to make announcements.

From these ancient roots, the ringing of bells began to be used in the Christian Christmas season. The soft, cheerful tones blended well and enhanced the sounds of the season. Today, they play an important, traditional role during the holiday.

Carolers soon began bringing bells to accompany their voices, both hand bells and jingle bells were used.  It became such a tradition, a song was written about it.  In this video, Nat King Cole sings a smooth-as-butter version of  “Christmas Bells are Ringing”.

In the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, a ringing bell is associated with an angel earning his wings – sharing the idea that it is a celebration of personal growth.  You might incorporate that idea by having a bell in your home that is rung whenever anyone in the family achieves personal growth.

Here in our midst, as well as around the world, there are many who struggle every day.  The bells they hear at Christmas brings them hope, in Christ, and in some much needed help from those who can give.  Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote a song “Bells Are Ringing” to help draw our attention to those in need.  It is a beautiful song, and a touching video.

When you hear the bells of the Salvation Army, keep in mind that each of those people ringing the bells are giving of their time to be there, and that the money raised is as important NOW as it has ever been. 

Let the sound of the bell ring in your heart as the sound of celebration, the sound of hope, … the sound of pure love.

Children Cherish TIME with Family

Oh, YES !  Children do strongly anticipate the gifts they receive during the holidays !  It may be one of the most talked about topics during this month, and maybe for a few weeks into the next year.  But what do children cherish and remember MOST as life goes on?   Special times with mom, dad, or even the whole family!

This may be as simple as listening to, and singing along with a favorite CD of Christmas songs as you travel around in your car, or at home.  Every year, in our family, the familiar music is a reassuring background as we gently unwrap each of our special items for the Christmas tree, flooding us with memories of each person that provided us our unique ornaments.  My children and I listen to my favorite, the Charlie Brown Christmas Album, as we make a special ornament each year with their pictures.  Many of my ornaments bring special memories of my past customers.  (Thanks again for the ornaments – You know who you are !)   

Contact me for an E-newsletter that describes how you can get a FREE Kindermusik Holiday CD to enjoy with your family.

YOUR family’s cherished memories may be from attending the annual events in our community, such as the Christmas Parade (one of our favorites), or seeing Santa (in so many ways), or even experiencing SNOW in Florida at the annual Snowfest.  Check out my blog’s list of Holiday Happenings in Lakeland this week.  WOW!  

OR perhaps your family chooses gifts that bring about special family times throughout the coming year.  Two years ago, our family decided to focus on gifts that bring our family together.  Last year, everyone in our family received hiking supplies, and maps to the Geo-cache locations around Polk County , along with a Scrapbook to fill with memories of our adventures together.   Our favorite hiking songs, “The Ants Go Marching … “,  “Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In”, and “Walkin’ – Yes, indeed, I’m Talkin…”

Many of my Kindermusik families, past and present, have shared with me that their weekly Kindermusik classes, and the continuation of these songs and activities throughout the week with the home materials, provide their family with cherished moments and cherished memories.   

Two weeks ago, I was talking to a wonderful customer from years ago, Beth Kingham.  She shared with me that the times she and her children spent in Kindermusik were so joyful, so beneficial for her family, and that the family routines, and FRIENDS that were made at that time, are still so much a part of their lives today.   I left with tears in my eyes from her appreciation.  I am so grateful to be able to share the power of music with children and families.   And I am so grateful for all my customers who have made these times special for me as well.  I LOVE watching families grow through music.

Consider giving the gift of Kindermusik this year to set up months of ongoing special times for you and your children.  It may not be as much of a WOW factor under the tree, but it will bring many cherished moments throughout the year.  It will bring your family together, enhance your child’s development, and you just might make some long term friendships.   The power of music has the potential to make a true difference in the LIFE of a child.   A good beginning never ends.

Check out my schedule for Spring Semester on my Website, http://musiconnx.yourvirtuoso.com , and contact me to schedule a time to visit a class for FREE.   You will soon see that it is the BEST choice for a long lasting gift.

From my heart, I wish you a healthy happy holiday season with your family and your traditions:  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, a special Kwanzaa, Happy New Year…  May your season be filled with many memorable moments with your family.  And may you be surrounded by many Merry Melodies during the coming year !

Sincerely,  Debbie Mondale

Holiday Happenings in Lakeland, FL

Wow !  So much holiday fun, perfect for children,  is planned for this week, I thought I’d share what’s going on in town.  Plus, I’ve found some excellent online resources for keeping up with local events.

Snow? In Lakeland? Believe !

Events planned for the 1st week of December:

• TUES.  -  Dec.  1 @ 6pm – 20th Annual Holiday Walkabout

This annual event in Downtown Lakeland celebrates the holidays with shopping, dining, music, horse-drawn wagon rides and more! Holiday music from many area schools and churches create a festive atmosphere. Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a kiddie train ride, pony rides and lots of holiday shopping complete the picture!

Explorations V Children’s Museum, 109 N Kentucky Ave., is open late with hands-on activities for the kids!  Hot cocoa/apple cider for $1 donation.

• THUR.  – Dec.  3 @ 7pm – 28th Annual Lakeland Christmas Parade        Theme:  “Festival of Lights”        See the Parade Route.       My family will be on the route near Barnett Park.

• FRI.  -  Dec.  4 @ 6pm – First Friday “Holiday Happenings”

Downtown Lakeland stays open late for holiday shopping and cheer.   Enjoy photos with Santa, holiday music and entertainment.    School groups performing!  Explorations V open late with hands-on fun!

• SAT.  – Dec.  5 @ 10 am – 2 pm   Snowfest at Lake Mirror

This year’s event will feature the traditional Snow Mountain and also a Snow Slide!  A visit from Santa Claus, children’s entertainment, inflatables and food vendors will complete the day.

Price for admission to the Snow Mountain and Snow Slide will be a donated canned food item or a $1.00 donation.  Admission to the inflatables will be $1.00.

• SAT.  – Dec.  5 @ 7:30pm – Florida Southern Christmas Gala
Each year, FSC’s talented musicians present a wonderful gift to our community: the best of the season’s sacred and secular music.   Branscomb Memorial Auditorium    Single admission ticket: $15

And that is just THIS week !  Check out the following online resources for even more holiday fun !

Downtown Lakeland Partnership Website provides a list and description of activities happening in the downtown Lakeland area.

Lakeside Village Website shares the options for music around the Village as well as Saturday Breakfasts with Santa.

I hope to see you around during some of these fun events !  If you have any more to share – PLEASE ADD your comments !

Over the what? To whose house?

The traditional Thanksgiving song, “Over the River and Through the Woods” is a classic.  Just singing it helps us older folks feel connected to generations of our family.  But can our children relate?  When was the last chance they had to experience freezing their ears and nose in a horse drawn sleigh?  Why not write some verses that can help them relate to how THEY experience family fun at Thanksgiving.

 Although you might have some fun writing new words, I know you will love this version of the song by the Juke Box Band (turn up the volume, it is a bit low).

For some creative ideas with the younger set, please check out my previous blog posting:  Over the River, and Through the Woods, to Kindermusik we Go.   Here are the original words:

• Over The River & Through The Woods
•  
• Over the river and through the woods,
• To Grandmother’s house we go.
• The horse knows the way
• to carry the sleigh,
• through the white and drifting snow.
• Over the river and through the woods,
• Oh, how the wind does blow !
• It stings the toes
• and bites the nose,
• As over the ground we go.
•  
• Over the river and through the woods,
• Trot fast, my dapple gray !
• Spring over the ground
• like a hunting hound,
• For this is Thanksgiving day.
• Over the river and through the woods,
• Now Grandfather’s face I spy !
• Hurrah for the fun !
• Is the turkey done ?
• Hurrah for pumpkin pie !

Enlist the help of your children in writing  your own words that relate more to your family’s experiences.  Take a piece of paper and write down how your family celebrates Thanksgiving; 

• Where do you meet? 
• How do you get there? 
• Who will be there? 
• What is your favorite parts of the meal? 
• How do you show your gratitude for all your blessings?

You can just change some of the words to the original song to make it fit, or rewrite the whole thing using the same melody.  Children LOVE to have their ideas included in a song.  Younger ones really LOVE to have their NAME in the song.  The more personalized to your family the better.

Then make sure to write down your verses and keep them so you can sing them year after year.  Add pictures of all of the family.  You may even want to catch it on video, or let Gramma watch via the webcam.  Have some fun. 

Here’s are three different ”starts” to give you some ideas.  It can be serious and reflective, or it can be funny. 

• Over the Freeway, and passing trucks,
• To Grandmother’s house we go,
• GPS know the way, so Daddy won’t stray
• On the long and winding roads, OH !

 

• Into an airplane, and through the skies
• To Aunt Nancy’s house we fly
• We’ll see tiny towns, on far away grounds
• Cause we’ll be up so HIGH !

 

• Into my driveway, and ‘round the gate
• to my house, my family comes.
• I jump, scream, and shout, when my cousins get out.
• Gram and Gramps will like my drums.

I would LOVE to read, hear, or watch your family’s song.  Let’s have a contest.  Post your song here as a comment by Nov. 28th.   The best new verse will be awarded a gift certificate for $40 tuition for an upcoming Kindermusik semester here in Lakeland, FL.  If you live elsewhere, or are not able to take a class, I will send you a FREE Kindermusik Holiday CD.

Sing Peace Around the World

My 5 year old daughter has been singing a beautiful song about peace that she learned at school (Lakeland Montessori).  From the teacher’s weekly email, I followed a link to find all the words, and found a lot more than that.  This song travelled the world in 24 hours – on the International Day of Peace – Sept. 21, 2009.

Sing Peace Around the World 

Light a candle for peace,
Light a candle for love,
Light a candle that shines,
All the way around the world.

Light a candle for me,
Light a candle for you,
That our wish for world peace,
Will one day come true

Sing Peace Around the World  (4 times)

This simple song (not rock, pop, or jazz) is being sung by millions of children around the world, and is serving many purposes.  

In this song, this calming melody and these heartfelt words, children are introduced to the idea of peace - placing in their heart a desire to live in a peaceful way.  Throughout the year, during each Montessori school day, they learn specific ways to spend their time peacefully and productively.  They also learn to resolve conflict in peaceful ways.  We all need this.

Children singing in unison create a strong feeling as being a part of a unified group.  This instills a feeling of belonging, and a feeling of a group purpose.  These feelings help children be strong emotionally, and to feel safe.  This allows their psyche to be free of stress and worry so they can concentrate their energies on learning; independently, and from each other.   The same processes occur in our Kindermusik class room as we sing together, and enjoy circle dances with each other.  

The same processes can also occur within the family as you sing together at home or in the car.  These songs you sing together help you share your values with your children, and help the bonds between the family members become strong, creating memories strong enough to last a whole lifetime, and help children overcome life obstacles.

As children realize that the song they are singing is also being sung by children in so many different countries, they start increasing their awareness of, and feeling connected to the rest of the world.  Cora and I enjoyed seeing the videos of children around the world singing the SAME song, and, of course, after a bit of listening, we sang along (when in English).  Her vision of the world is so much larger than mine was a the same age.  The Montessori system is fully developed in countries all over the world, and this world vision is an important part of each child’s ongoing education – at every age level.  We are very fortunate to have such a quality school in our community.

Kindermusik also had a larger world vision.  Cultural music from around the world has been studied and collected, and added to the compilations of quality music on the CDs parents take home, as well as to the curriculum of our class activities.   Kindermusik classes are being taught in 60 different countries, and our semesters coincide.  For example, the Our Time class (toddlers)  is now enjoying the Wiggles and Giggles semester, no matter where you live.  Children in Germany, Canada, South Africa, and Japan are all enjoying moving and dancing with their partners singing ”Love Somebody, Yes I do!”

Music truly can make a difference and create a positive impact on people, on so many different levels:  personal, family, community, and globally.   That’s why I am so glad that my daughter is part of the Montessori learning methods.  That is also why I named my business Music Connections, and started teaching Kindermusik over 11 years ago.

Do something special with your child.  Learn this song together, and sing it with all your heart.  Sing it as a family.  Talk about children all over the world singing the same song.  Watch a few of the videos and feel connected.  Together, learn to live in peaceful ways, and share this with others.  Soon, we may all be Singing Peace Around the World.

Do you have a favorite song of peace that you sing with your children?  Please Comment and Share which song helps your family connect and feel at peace.