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!