Week 2
High and Low
Home Activities
In some of this week’s activities, we experienced High and Low sounds and movements. Learning in contrasts by pairing High and Low helps children to understand in context. Using more than one sense (visual, kinaesthetic, oral, auditory) will increase learning and understanding of these new concepts.
"A B C D E F G. Even before the brain research findings, teachers and parents have taught the alphabet to children with the help of a song. Now, based on the research, we understand why. With the help of cat scans, we have been able to see what happens to the brain when listening to music. Each component of music affects a different part of the brain, e.g. a familiar song activates the left frontal lobe, timbre the right frontal lobe, and pitch the left posterior. One side of the brain processes the word while the other processes the music - activating the whole brain ensures better retention. Short-term memory has the ability to hold only seven bits of information. If bits of information are bonded together, as in a song, it can be processed as one piece. By condensing the information, the brain is able to receive and process more."
- Maryann Harman, M.A. "Music and Movement - Instrumental in Language Development"
Did you know that the greatest window of opportunity to learn sounds and words is until age 1.” Children will make sounds that are common to humans universally. Over the first year, they begin to produce only the sounds heard in their own culture. Newborns can perceive any phoneme they hear, but this ability is most easily learned in the first year. This is the reason why music from many countries using different languages and phonemic sounds should be played for children in the early years. This prepares the brain for the ability to use these sounds later in life in whole language. It also exposes the children to the sounds of different cultures. Think of priming your babies phoneme bank as inputting data in long-term storage. It will be there when they need it.
Besides the fact that playing with sounds is such fun for both baby and grown-ups alike, you are setting the course for future success academically and socially, as language and communication are the basis for your child's future higher level reasoning skills. So enjoy yourself and feel secure that you are giving your baby the best possible start to a bright future.
HOME ACTIVITY WEEK 2 SUGGESTIONS
- Use bird chorus motifs Chickadee and Cuckoo for vocal and movement high and low fun.
2) New to Kindermusik? Here are your First Class Documents
- Click here to download your Feathers PDF Journal
Click here for your copy of You See/We See
- Click here to download your Biography Form to complete and bring to class next week.
- Click here for your copy of Foundations Helpful Guidelines
Here is a Sign Language Website for your reference throughout the semester.
3) Mark Your Calendars - 2025-2026:
- October 27-31: Halloween Dress-up week
- November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break
- December 5: Caroling and Cocoa 6:00-7:00 at FPC
- December 22-January 9: Holiday Break (3 weeks)
- January 26-30: Spring 2025 curriculum starts
- March 23-27: Spring Break
- May 11-15: last week of the school year
- May 19: Kindermusik Graduation
- TBA - 2026 Summer Camps
3) Listen - listen - listen to your NEW music. Familiarize your baby (and yourself) with some of the songs we will be singing over the next few weeks by listening to your class music in the car, at Grandma’s, the sitter, everywhere!
Where Music and Learning Play!
(608) 576-6688 MusicalPathways.net