A New Day.

Do you recognize the symbol above in the first picture? Kindermusik International used a similar symbol at conventions past with music = happiness, isn't so true that what we really feel is that music = love? Whether it's love for your students' eyes during class, love for memories you felt when you first heard a song, or love you feel when making music.

The pictures above are from an article featured in the New York Times. It showcases a band from Georgia, getting ready to march the Inauguration Parade next week and the challenges they've overcome to make this trip possible.

A new day is dawning in DC, and music is a big part of it.

Music for LIFE!

I saw an interview this week on "Charlie Rose" with Elliott Carter, the composer showcased above. Elliott turned 100 on Thursday. How did he celebrate? By debuting new music that he had composed! He writes every day. Simply amazing. His good beginning has never ended. Music brings happiness to his life even at the ripe age of 100.

Happy Birthday Elliott!

Click here for the NYTimes article.

Madison James Madison...

Cheer on my alma mater, James Madison University, and their marching band as they march on Thursday's Macy's Parade. They'll be on the air between 11am - 12pm EST on NBC.

I met my husband Tony while we were both students in the band - we'll be cheering on the MRDs from the streets of Manhattan.


Happy Thanksgiving!

A Radio City Christmas

I was in fifth grade when I first visited New York City with my father. It was a trip during the holidays and I quickly fell in love with the colorful windows, brisk walks in Central Park, ice skating, it was an amazing trip. On that trip we saw the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes. Their symmetry, athleticism, and beauty cannot be matched. Combine that with Christmas music and it's a pretty amazing show.

Yesterday Tony and I decided to get tickets to this year's show. It's been 22 years since my first trip to NYC and it will be the first time he's seen the show. As we stood in the Art Deco lobby of Radio City Music Hall surrounded by gilded ticket booths that bring you back to a completely different era, we realized that the show will also transport us, to a happy holiday moment.

The Rockefeller Tree is making its way into Manhattan today. The Lord and Taylor windows are open. The skating rinks are filled with children twirling and laughing. The holidays are here!

Wishing you moments of escape this holiday season. Ones that are filled with music, loved ones, old memories, or the making of new ones.

A Good Beginning Never Ends

I'm beginning to return to normalcy following a 4-6 week period of team preparation for Kindermusik International's Convnention in Raleigh, NC.

As usual, the amazing moments were the many connections made with faces that we so infrequently see.

Social Networking was a big theme this year. So I'm committing to recommit to the blog! You'll also find a large contingency of Kindermusik Educators on Facebook, so feel free to join us there!

Minneapolis

It's a rare and special day when I'm able to see Kindermusik in action. So when Helen Peterson of Kindermusik of the Valley in Minneapolis invited me to attend her training event with local Minnesota Educators, I was delighted to come.

It was a whirlwind of a day (and a glimpse of the life of an Educator). Helen and I grabbed a cup of coffee at 8:30 and then headed downtown where she and Sherry Grimsby do absolutely amazing work, full of heart. You may remember the video that Molly McGinn made that featured Helen and Sherry (minute 5):



It was a full morning where Helen and Sherry reach over 80 children on a weekly basis. And after a morning of rocking babies, rubbing backs, galloping like horses, and falling like leaves we headed over to Helen's studio where she hosted a training event that was attended by 16 educators from across Minnesota.

At the end of the event, Helen and I watched the last performance of the year of the Burns High School Marching Band where her children are in the drumline (it's her daughter's senior year).

It was a day filled with new friends and music, who could ask for anything more!

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