Instruments Around Us

One of my goals a music educator is to show parents how they can incorporate music in their child's daily routine.  It's not about setting up a specific music time at home or running a mini-class with your child in your living room.  It's about incorporating music into your life - naturally.

I bring in everyday items to show parents how they can make music at home or anywhere! 

To an adult, these are food storage containers.

To a child, they are an imaginative drum set!

We all have containers around the house.

We all have to cook dinner.

Step 1.  Get out your containers, make a drum set and have a musical dinner time!

Step 2.  Take one of our songs from class and play along.

Step 3.  Let your child naturally explore their new instrument.  Tap loud, soft, scrap, roll, open, close....

So many ways to explore and make music!

For more information about our classes visit:

www.first-roots.com

First Roots Studio is located at 109 South Main Street, Manville, NJ, 08844

We offer music classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids!

Live & Love to the Fullest!

Today I think I smiled more than any day I can remember because I was surrounded by these amazing, fun-filled families!

The reason we were all gathered was to help a long-time friend who recently found out she has a rare form of cancer.  It seems to be something I'm hearing from more friends - it's either them or their children.  It's heartbreaking.

The one way I can help is to bring joy through music!  For me, music always has a way of creating a moment.  Today I used music to make joy.  There was definite joy in the form of big smiles, laughter, hugs, dancing and lots of silly moments!  (Even some of the grown-ups were sad to clean up the instruments.)

The one thing I am learning through life is to be passionate about everything.  My kids teach me to live in the moment, look for the small joys all around and love everyone like I want to be loved.  I am glad I get to make music each day and share it with amazing people!  Watching babies smile to big kids sing or play an instrument inspires me.  I'm giving them the gift of music.  A joy that they can turn to anytime.  Music brings us together as friends and family.  I love to share that!

<3 Live, Love and Cherish The Moments!  <3

A Preschooler's Musical Creativity

Have you spent time with preschoolers?

They are amazing.

Watching preschoolers play and learn shows you how much creativity little ones have.  A box becomes a boat.  A scarf is a rocket ship.

What I like about teaching music is that I get to enhance that beautiful creativity.  I get to give them a chance to express themselves.  I know they want to move.  We get to tiptoe, march, run and jump.  I open up the opportunity for them to make decisions - what ways can you move?

Wow!  I have just asked THEM to lead ME!  They are now the teachers.  They are creating the music.  They are coming up with the ideas.  They are IMPROVISING!  Did you know you can spin jump?

That's one of the things I love about teaching preschoolers music - that no fear, carefree, creative ability to have a blast making music.

One of the many lifetime goals is for them to take that youthful creativity they learn in music class and apply it to their lives as they grow and learn.      

Happy New Year from First Roots!

Time flies when you're having fun!

Since creating First Roots, LLC in the summer of 2013, things have really started to take off!

In the Fall I added a new library to our schedule!  I love doing the library programs.  There are so many wonderful families I have meet.  It feels great to provide such an important class to each of the communities!

In January I teamed up with Hillsborough Recreation to offer a Music & Movement class!  The first class met on Monday, January 6th and it had great attendance.  I look forward to presenting exciting and stimulating music programs for the residents of Hillsborough.  

PS - Non-residents can also sign up!

I also teach at some preschools in the area.  

It has been great getting to know the children and watching them learn and grow through music!

As the year progresses, we will have some more great new changes coming up!

I look forward to making music with you!

Why are we First Roots?

Welcome to 

FIRST ROOTS, LLC!

 First Roots is a music and movement studio based in Hillsborough, NJ.  We create classes for children ages newborn and up.  You might enjoy as at the library, a preschool, an event or a birthday party!

OUR NAME

FIRST - because we start children out beginning as newborns to enjoy, learn and play through music!  For older children we develop the tools to enjoy and create music.  We strive to provide a musical foundation to grow from.

ROOTS - A root helps attach a plant to the ground.  It provides nourishment.  It's the lifeline for a plant.  The word "root" is also used in a way to describe the start or source of something or history of people or places.  In music it is the building block for a chord.  It is the lowest note of the triad or other chord.

Thus, we are FIRST ROOTS.

We provide a FIRST music experience with foundation of music as the ROOT!