Consistency Counts!

Let's face it, our world is busy and face-paced.  We can communicate with people across the globe within minutes.  Our schedules can be filled with a multitude of events within minutes.  Our babies, toddlers and children become part of our busy lives.

That's where Kindermusik comes into play.

It's 30-45 minutes of consistency each week.  

You can unplug from your busy life and leave your worries at the door while watching your little one be the person who they are.  You can count on us to remember your child's name, welcome you with a great big smile, sing new and familiar songs, introduce new activities and review old favorites all within a comfortable space where you can kick off your shoes and participate at your own comfort level.

In our busy lives we see things like, "no-contracts", "pay-as-you-go" or "no commitment" but taking time to commit is a true gift for our children and families.  Children learn best through consistency and that's what our Kindermusik classes offer your children.  Even at a young age attending a class consistently makes a difference.  Children gain confidence and understand the routines.  By hearing familiar songs, sounds and patterns, they begin to internalize and recognize them.  Consistency builds a foundation children can grow from, not only in music but in life.  

Grab your child's hand and join in a weekly class that will make a lasting impact!

To learn more about all of our studio offerings please visit:

www.first-roots.com

First Roots Music Studio

109 South Main Street, Manville, NJ 08835

      

Imitation: Sincerest Form of Flattery

One of the definitions of IMITATION is:

Imitation (noun):  The action of using someone or something as a model.

Yesterday I received a link to a video of a friend's son who has attended my classes for a long time.  In it he had his stuffed animals all lined up.  He sat in front of them with his children's ukulele singing goodbye using each of his stuffed animals.  He even sang to each of them by name just like I do for the Hello and Goodbye song each class. 

When I watched it, I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.

A few weeks ago I received a beautiful letter from a Grandparent who attends classes with her Grandchildren.  She told me the effects the class had on her older Grandchild on a very busy weekend.  She said turning on the CD in the car helped turn her tired, cranky Grandchild's mood around.  

As I read the letter, I was all choked up with emotion.   

THIS IS WHY I TEACH MUSIC!

THIS IS WHY I OFFER BABY, TODDLER, PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGE CLASSES!

Children are naturally engaged and captivated by music.  I love to encourage an interactive music program where children are surrounded by live and recorded music.  It's fun to give them new ways to play with a prop or instrument and they watch them being creative.  Many of our activities start from imitation where they follow my lead and then we develop ways to improvise.  Watching this process is a wonderful treat.  I see their eyes light up as they show me new ways to sing, dance and play.  I watch them giggling and laughing with the caregivers that they love so much!  Seeing the process of children learning from their music classes let's me know that the activities I'm doing are building those future music and life skills.   Children are such natural music lovers.   

It also solidifies that I have found my passion:  Sharing music with families.

I always love your pictures, videos and stories of how your experience made a difference.

Thank you for believing in me!

Remember:  You are always your child's best teacher through life!  Be their imitation!

  

   

Promoting Children's Music: Baze and His Silly Friends

After several years of teaching Kindermusik and searching Itunes and the internet for fun children's music, I discovered my local "Kindie" Music Scene.

I believe that children should experience live music with an opportunity to interact by dancing, singing and playing instruments at their comfort level.  I have designed my classes around this philosophy.  I also love to bring in current music that help teach concepts or that parents and children can connect to.  Through his performance at the Hillsborough Public Library during the summer of 2014 I met Jason Didner, the lead singer of Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam.  Through our friendship he introduced me to this local Kindie Music scene and we worked together to promote his music in my Winter Classes.  It ended with a fantastic concert!

For my Spring Session, I decided to work with Marc Bazerman from Baze and His Silly Friends!  His upbeat and original music was perfect for Spring!  We started out as butterflies as we flew around the room with scarves to "Fly: A Caterpillar's Tale".  We learned nursery rhymes by listening to his "Old Mother Goose" song.  We pretended to be superheros and took basket rides listening to his "Riverside" song.  It was a memorable Spring.  His full album is available through Itunes.

As a highlight to our Spring classes, First Roots Studio sponsored a FREE concert at Manville Public Library on July 18th at 3pm.  Baze performed a solo, interactive show for our guests who danced, sang and played tambourines!  It was a wonderful performance!

First Roots studio will continue to bring fun, local musicians to our community and sponsor concerts.  Music making is a community experience and all children should have live musical experiences.

Our photos below show the rockin' good time we had!

For more information on First Roots Studio please visit:

www.first-roots.com

Ms. Jenni's FIRST School Assembly!

As an educator and entertainer, I've done classes and shows at a lot of venues.  I regularly run classes for libraries and for the past two years I have done a sing-along at the Somerset County 4-H Fair.  I am often hired for Birthday Parties where I can accommodate the needs of the client - sometimes it's a more "class-like" and other times it's entertainment based.  I am no stranger to performing.

A few weeks ago, a client contacted me looking for a program for her child's elementary school.  Her family had been in my family classes a few years ago so I was beyond honored that she considered hiring me!

On Friday, May 1st, I set off to Hillcrest School in Franklin Township, NJ to do an assembly for the children in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.  I did 2, 30-minute assemblies and both groups were fantastic!

I performed many of my original songs, and even included a new "kindie rock anthem" that I wrote that the children responded to so well.  There is nothing better then having kids enjoy to songs that I wrote.  Many of the songs I write include ways for the children to learn through music by moving, counting or learning about a concept.

If you are looking for a live music program for your childcare center, preschool or elementary school, please give me a call at 908-552-9338!

Making Music with Pool Noodles

I'm the music teacher you will find browsing the dollar store for ordinary objects that we can use in music class.  I get excited looking at each Oriental Trading magazine the shows up in the mail.  It just gets my creative juices going.  These props extend the concepts being taught and create unforgettable moments in class.  I always want the class to leaving singing a song and saying they had fun!

I follow a lot of blogs and I heard that some music teachers were using pool noodles.

I thought, "How much fun is that?!"

Most of my students are 6 and under right now but I thought this could work for them too!

It most certainly did!

Toddlers, Preschoolers and young Grade School students LOVE stop and go games.  When I brought out the pool noodles we tapped them on the floor.  They would follow me tapping at the speeds I did.  Then I'd randomly make them freeze.  Then we also rolled them on the floor with our hands like we were making cookies.  These activities are so good for developing a steady beat, coordination, listening skills and fine and gross motor skills.  The kids just have a blast!

Then we pretended they were flowers to balance gently on our hands.  In future classes, I would challenge them to hold them in different ways.  I love being the DJ and setting the mood with various songs.  Just think about what you want to focus on and use the pool noodles as an enhancement.

With older kids you can allow each child to start your beat and call out freeze.  You can also have them echo patterns.  You can have them read patterns that you write on the board or posters.  Team up older children with a partner to tap the rhythms.  If you have enough, use 2 for each child like large rhythm sticks.  Listen to their ideas too! 

I cut mine in half which saved on the cost and made them a bit more manageable for little hands.

Don't forget to set your ground rules and expectations.  Follow through with what you say!

"No fun if we don't follow directions!"

Go ahead and go to the pool in music class with your new, inexpensive props! 

To learn more about our studio visit www.first-roots.com

To view our interactive music videos Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

A Rockin' Concert by Jason Didner!

Jason Didner is the lead singer of his kindie group, Jason Didner and The Jungle Gym Jam.  He brings his rock and roll style to children's music by creating upbeat and fun songs that also teach lessons.  On Saturday, March 14th at 4:30pm he ROCKED THE HOUSE at First Roots Music Studio in Manville, NJ!  

Jason performed along side his amazing wife Amy, who also co-wrote many of their songs, and his adorable daughter Holly.  Amy and Holly played along by creating a drum beat on cajon drums.  His concerts show how music connects families and communities.

I heard about Jason's performance last summer at Hillsborough Library and when I opened my new studio location, I wanted to bring in a live artist to perform for the families.  One of the first people I contacted was Jason and he was THRILLED to be part of the opening events for my studio!  After seeing his performance and watching the excitement in my own children and guests, I started to think about incorporating his music into my classes.  Featuring his music seemed to be the best way.

Jason's solo concert was the highlight to our Winter Semester at First Roots Music Studio.  We enjoyed rocking, clapping, shaking and dancing to his exciting music.  We even made a train around the studio to his Window Of The Train Song!

In my classes children experience a variety of styles of music in addition to live music.  I accompany on the guitar but we also sing acappella and add in recorded music as well.  This helps give children their musical start.  We focus on a joyful musical experience through lots of fun activities that introduce musical concepts.  What better way to have fun family time while adding in a great learning experience!?

To learn more about Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam, 

please visit his website at www.junglegymjam.com

You can get on his mailing list and join him for local shows!

We look forward to working with more local kindie artists in the area to promote their music and enjoy a live concert at the end of the semester.  Creating a community of children's musicians through classes and live events is the best way we can share the joy of music with our own families!

This Spring, we will welcome the music of Baze and His Silly Friends and enjoy a June concert!

Thanks for coming to First Roots Studio, Jason!

First Roots supports Music and our Schools Month!

Everyday I teach music, I feel like I am changing the world for one person.

Way before I owned my own studio where I focus on giving babies, toddlers and preschoolers a start in music, I was a classroom music teacher.  I taught high school and middle school first but found my niche to be elementary music.

For me, being a music teacher changed my life.  The best feeling in the world was doing what I love and seeing students learn to love it as much as I did.  The more I poured my heart and soul into each class, the more the children benefited.  I loved creating meaningful lessons that tied into math, language arts, speech, science and history.  The amazing thing about music is, so many "core subjects" are already woven into it.  Writing and reading music incorporate basic math concepts, singing helps children develop speech and grow their understanding of vocabulary, and most pieces of music cover various times in history which all become teachable moments.

Most music teachers, especially elementary, wind up teaching most of their schools population.  You learn names quickly.  Many times you have to spend your day toting around your teaching supplies from room to room because you don't have your own space.  You learn how to create a music classroom anywhere.  You are creative - always finding new and exciting ways to create music.  You know the importance, value and quality of life music brings to children.   You know how to pull out the energy in a circle dance after you've done it with 5 other classes that day!  

You teach music because it's your passion.   

While I am not currently in an elementary school, I know how hard our music teachers work.  I know that music and the arts give our children an outlet to learn and be creative.  I support the music teachers in our communities because I was there once too.

As a studio owner focusing on early childhood music, it is my goal to share with the community the importance of starting music early.  Children who start music early are very often more successful academically.  Early music classes also prepare for classroom experience by learning how to transition from activities, share and be in a social experience.

How do I support my school district's music program?  I donate my time to share with the students whenever I can throughout the year.  I support the arts program by attending events. 

Music is around us in our everyday lives.

Give your children a musical start.  Make sure your schools continue to support it!  

     

A connection between Music & Literacy

I was honored to be asked to read at my local school's Read Across America program on behalf of my music studio, First Roots Music Studio.   I offer classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids that include a full-range of musical activities to develop the whole child.  I want to engage their entire body and mind into creating music.

I've be a music educator for over 10 years and I've focused on early childhood education for at least 7 of those years.  In my classes, I always bring in a wide variety of material, including literacy.

For young child, the benefits of singing and listening to music are so amazing.  By learning and hearing songs, they are being introduced to new vocabulary.  Music is a natural way for children to develop fluency while speaking or singing.  Rhythm is another thing children in music class are exposed to and it also helps them as they begin reading.  Singing, listening and interactive music activities also are wonderful way to develop emotion.  These are all components that can help children with reading.

I read the children a book called "Jenny Jenkins" which was written based on the song.  The story features a little girl who is asked what color she wants to wear.  Each time she is asked, she comes up with a silly rhyme about why she won't wear that color and says "but I will by a foldy-roldy-tildy-toldy-roll a Jenny Jenkins roll."  These silly repetitive words end each page which is nice for repetition.  By the end of the book, she does decide on the color.

After reading the story, a teacher held up the book for the children to tell me the colors.  Then I sang each verse with them.

We also had the opportunity to view the video I put together.

It was a great day reading and singing for Read Across America!

I am really blessed to be able to share music with so many families in my community.  Seeing the positive effects first hand is the best reward.  It helps me continue to look for creative ways to bring songs, stories and rhymes to life to give children the best musical start - which also helps them academically!

Ms Jenni shares the gift of music!

It's no secret.  I love to sing.  I love to make music.  I love to share that with everyone.

Two years ago we moved our family to a small town which was a very hard decision.  After having meetings at the school to prepare my children to be enrolled and ensure their IEP was followed, I found some of the most kind, dedicated and amazing staff members.  Each day when I picked my kids up they always took the time to tell me about their day and create a connection with my children.  These teachers would go out of their way to ensure their students were getting the best.

Once they learned that I am a music teacher, I started sharing my music with them and coming in for special events. 

Singing You Are My Sunshine!

One of the highlights was the wedding of Q&U.  What an interesting experience for children!  They not only learn some QU words that I even have trouble saying like Quadrilateral but they learned about weddings, speaking and having various parts.  I was honored last year to be asked to participate and be asked back to be part of the Quartet. 

Q&U Wedding Pictures:  Ms Jenni is 1/4 of the quartet.

I love being able to be a part of my own children's lives and the lives of their friends.  I enjoy sharing live music because of the joy it brings.  As I play and sing I see smiles, kids rockin' out and being in the moment of making music.  Over my years of focusing on early childhood music I have learned what engages them to actively participate.  Being able to create musical moments is the best!

I am so very thankful for the teachers allowing me to come in and make music! 

The one thing I can give you is the gift of music!