Baby Music of Abilene begins Soon

     Baby Music classes begin January 11, 2011.  Classes meet for one hour each week.  A deposit of $43.00 holds your place in class, and pays for your CD and booklet which your child hears daily.  Call 325-829-4440 or 325-668-3189 for more information.

Bring your Child to this Free Class

December 15, 9:30 a.m. at 1214 N. Mockingbird Lane (the library branch)

Wear comfortable clothing.  One parent (or helper) for each child, age birth-three years. 

One hour of music, activities, skills and fun! 

For more information: 

325-829-4440, or 325-668-3189

Baby Music's first evening

Tonight we had three children and seven adults in our class.  Two were infants of six months and the third, a two year old toddler girl.  All three were very engaged in the activities, although our toddler was quite distracted by the toys in the room.  The good news is that same toddler LOVES having a mallet in her hands!  And she sings and loves books.  We read "Goodnight Moon", but didn't turn out the lights since it would have been total darkness and we didn't want to startle anyone.

My favorite activity with the the children tonight was dancing to the Minuet with scarves.  The parents were all very good about playing with the children and being creative and rhythmic, so the little ones were very responsive and smiling.  Toddler A was clearly voting for the glockenspiel, lollipop drum, and xylophone activities as her favorites.  She took a turn voluntarily on each, and would have played more.

This is sooooo much fun!  Our brochures are printed and folded and being distributed.  The CD's and booklets for the curriculum are ready to sell. Our sign up sheet has three interested families.  I'm ready to teach and so is Caitlin!  We even have a couple of students who want to be helpers with us.

If you want more information about Baby Music of Abilene classes, the curriculum or skills, please contact us at 325-829-4440, or 325-668-3189.

You're Invited!

Our first FREE class is December 2nd at 6 pm. at St. James Child Development Center.   Please RSVP to 668-3189 since class size is limited to 15 students, each with a parent or two, of course.  

Free Class!

BABY MUSIC OF ABILENE

Suzuki Early Childhood Education

St. James Child Development Center

December 2, 2010, 6:00 p.m.

http://suzukibabymusic.blogspot.com

For more information please call 325.829.4440, or 325.668.3189

First Class is Free!

Enjoy an hour of curriculum enriching your child’s music, social, reading, and motor development

Suzuki Early Childhood Education

Hi,
We are a new business in Abilene, TX opening in January 2011.  I am a violin teacher, parent, grandparent, wife and daughter.  You can read more about me here by clicking on the "About Me" page. My partner in Baby Music of Abilene is Caitlin, a former violin student of mine who just earned her undergraduate degree in Music Education from Hardin Simmons University.  We can't wait to teach your children, ages birth-three years, fun ways to enjoy music.

This is what we believe:
Every Child Can Learn
Ability Develops Early
Environment Nurtures Growth


This is what we want to teach you and your child:
Children Learn from One Another
Success Breeds Success
Parent Involvement is Critical
Encouragement is Essential 


Watch this site to learn more about Baby Music of Abilene. 

Our First Demo Class

After a long day at her day care job, Caitlin arrived at my house before 6 pm.  Unfortunately the instrument shipment we were tracking by UPS that was "out for delivery" since 8:00 am had NOT arrived.  We sorted all our instruments and supplies, moved all the furniture except one table and the piano out of the music room and fed the four grandchildren earlier in the day.  At 6:15 pm my friend Amanda and her almost 11 week old baby, Savannah, arrived for the class.  After assessing our physical space we made a quick call to a high school classmate of my daughter Becky, who also happens to have children in the day care where Caitlin works inviting them to participate too.  They could make it!  Perfect We had all the right dynamics for a small class--a lap baby, an infant, two two year olds, two four year olds, and a five year old.

Since the xylophone and glockenspiel had not arrived we planned to use the piano as a sub for the glock and just since the falling thirds keeping the rhythm on our knees.  Rolling the ball, our first activity was a bit spirited since this was an evening class and all children were trying hard to keep themselves awake with hyperactivity.  By the time we started singing "Cuckoo" they were all catching on to following directions much better.  The lollipop drum was a huge success with almost everyone taking their own turn.  Baby Savannah watched it with animation.  Tommy Tucker, Pop Goes the Weasel, Michael Finnegan, and Humpty Dumpty went fairly well for our first attempt, especially since I have laryngitis and Caitlin was leading almost every activity vocally.  The children didn't seem to mind and little Lexi, our lap baby, was patting her legs in anticipation for each rhyme.  Dancing with scarves was a huge success!  And while we were dancing, the instruments arrived!!!  That UPS man was the hero of the day!

We actually accomplished the high/low/up/down listening with the piano, subbing for the glock while Muffin, my dear husband/grandpa/photographer opened the packages and assembled the xylophone.  I ran in the other room and removed all the bars we didn't need and brought it in to Caitlin just in time to sing while she was teaching all in the circle to tap right and left knees and sing the instructions.  After that it was all smooth sailing with tremendous kudos from the Moms who loved watching their children be so animated and engaged with the activities.  Everyone helped to fold scarves as well.

As a note to this class I need to mention that Roo, one of our twin granddaughters, was uncomfortable with participating after a few songs.  It was all a little too social and we had not properly prepared her for interacting with children she did not know well.  The adult/child ratio was a bit off too; my three daughters were there with four children, Lexi and Little Jonah's Mom attended without her husband, and Savannah's Dad was flying tonight.  Grandpa stepped in to help and Caitlin and I helped as well, but the uncertainty of who was paired with whom attributed to Roo leaving the class. However, she returned to peer through the French doors of the room during the last activities.  The best part of the evening was hearing three of my Grands tell me that they loved "Marmee's Music Class."

Ultimately I see a dream fulfilled on several levels: establishing a music school to build music education from birth to high school in Abilene, teaching parents to love their children and to honor one another in their families, and nurturing Dr. Suzuki's dream through his godly principles in education of  changing the world through music. He never intended for all violin, piano, cello, viola, bass, guitar, or flute students to be professional musicians, but that they would be more noble persons who would honor one another and never again engage in war against one another. This is a small beginning, dropping a pebble in the water in the pond that is Abilene, TX to create a wave touching many shores.

And the icing on the cake is that I am now officially registered.