All posts in Music

summer learning activities for kids, CWIST, summer learning fun,

Free Site for Summer Learning Activities for Kids (CWIST)

June 3, 2013

I received an email from CWIST, a free website for parents and kids, and was intrigued by their idea:

  • Challenges or “cwists” are crowd-sourced from parents, educators, mom bloggers and experts and posted in the cwist library.
  • The cwists can be anything from organizing a community clean-up, researching fun facts for an upcoming family trip, completing a summer reading list or mastering good manners over time.
  • Upon successful completion of a cwist, kids choose parent-approved rewards which can range from a sleepover, day trip, toy or gadget they have wanted or something completely unique and original.
  • This seems like the perfect source for summer learning activities for kids!

Music and Science Fun for Kids

I was pretty impressed by the featured CWIST that was emailed to me. It’s a DIY craft CWIST with a science and music twist. Read more…

Comments: 10 Posted by: Categories: Music, Science, Summer Learning
jake shimabukuro, ukelele

Amazing Ukelele Virtuoso: Jake Shimbabukuro

May 4, 2013

With 11.7 million YouTube views, you must see this performance by Jake Shimabukuro, a ukulele virtuoso known for his complex finger work. Be sure to watch the last minute where Jake plays a pretty incredible sequence.

My husband gave found Jake on YouTube and my kids loved watching him play, especially my son who plays the guitar. My son then had his guitar teacher, a graduate student from the New England Conservatory, watch the video. His teacher had not heard of Jake but he was also impressed. He told us that Jake used Flamenco guitar techniques on the ukelele so, of course, my son wanted to try it himself.

The second video is instructional. Jake breaks down his fingering techniques. Though he’s very clear on how to do it and makes it look easy, it looks pretty difficult to emulate. Still, my son was inspired by Jake’s accessibility as a performer and watching him play makes my son play his guitar more. If Jake ever comes to Boston — he’s on tour now — we’d make a great effort to catch him.

What do you think of Jake? Did you ever imagine the ukelele could sound like that?

Read more…

Comments: 2 Posted by: Categories: Music
gift guide music toys for kids, music toys for toddlers, musical instruments for kids, musical toys for kids, musical toys

Gift Guide: Musical Toys for Kids

November 11, 2012

Wooden Instruments and Other Music Toys

There are such a great array of musical toys for kids of all ages starting with infants who can get exposed to classical music through Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes. Toddlers enjoy hands on (and I mean Hands On) playing and manipulating instruments. Preschool kids can make their own band either with clever toys or with friends. There are even authentic wooden instruments for young elementary school kids to try out before they start lesons. Read more…

Comments: 8 Posted by: Categories: 1) Infant & Toddler, 2) Preschool, 3) Grade K-2, Gifts That Won't Break the Bank, Music, Product Reviews
how to get kids children to practice their musical instrument, advice from parents, http://PragmaticMom.com, Pragmatic Mom, Josh Nakazawa

How To: Get Your Kids to Practice Their Instrument

October 10, 2011

How to Get Kids to Practice Their Instruments

My girls’ wonderful flute teacher sent me this link and also weighs in as both a parent and teacher on how to get kids to practice their musical instrument.  I don’t know about your experience, but I found that it’s the rare child who will practice his or her instrument consistently without constant prodding and nagging.  My younger sister, who is now a piano teacher, studied classical at a rigorous studio that included monthly performances and many, many competitions.  Despite this pressure to perform, she wasn’t a kid who liked to practice.  I think the reasons are many: Read more…

Comments: 0 Posted by: Categories: Music, Parenting
Sounds of the Orchestra iPad app, music for kids children, http://PragmaticMom.com, PragmaticMom, Pragmatic Mom, iPhone apps for education kids children families education moms

Music App for Kids on Sounds of the Orchestra

October 7, 2011

Introducing Orchestra Instruments App for Kids

I had to reach back into the recesses of my brain to remember junior high school orchestra.  I played violin for a few years, but actually my younger sister is the talented musician in our family.  She studied classical piano and competed successfully as a kid and is now a piano teacher in Southern California where she teaches out of two locations.  She told me that her young children like this app very much!  I’m not surprised because my sister is an early technology adopter and this app combines two things she’s really into: her iPad and classical music. Read more…

Comments: 0 Posted by: Categories: 2) Preschool, 3) Grade K-2, 4) Grade 3-5, Educational Apps for Kids, Music
Benjamin Garcia 1/8 guitar Suzuki Dad Pragmatic Mom

Roundup of Helpful Links: Multicultural Books and Writing for Kids, Apps for College!

September 29, 2011

Best Blogs for Moms

Delightful Children’s Books is a blog that I’ve just started following and it’s great! She has a wonderful post on International Children’s Picture Books by Country with Crafts and Recipes. She covers all the continents and has great resources on additional book lists. Read more…

Comments: 3 Posted by: Categories: 2) Preschool, 3) Grade K-2, 4) Grade 3-5, Education, Friday Find, Music
how to pick a music teacher, best music teachers,

How To: Select a Music Teacher

March 24, 2011

How to Hire a Music Teacher for Your Kids

My sister is a piano teacher in California. She has a three-year wait list and her students have rich and rigorous experience that includes not just the requisite recital, but monthly performance workshops, classical musical competitions, and juried piano recitals to earn certifications of merit. Her students are serious about piano and practice everyday and the time commitment is a significant one.

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Read more…

Comments: 0 Posted by: Categories: 3) Grade K-2, 4) Grade 3-5, How To:, Music, Parenting
Josh Nakazawa, child cello prodigy, gifted children as likely to fail in life, http://PragmaticMom.com, Pragmatic Mom

Gifted Children Just as Likely to Fail Life

October 4, 2010

Are Gifted Kids More Successful in Life? No!

I told a reader that I’d post this article and just happened upon it again after failing to locate through several Google searches. Are exceptionally talented kids more likely to succeed in life?  Are the cards dealt early?  This article says otherwise and it does make sense:  the first child to walk is not necessarily winning gold medals at the Olympics.  Early readers are not the highest scoring children in literacy at elementary school.  It turns out, according to this article at least, that the future  success of exceptionally talented kids is highly dependent on good parenting — not the pushy kind. Read more…

Comments: 5 Posted by: Categories: Music, Parenting