"Get You Insturments and Play Along!"

Families sang, drummed and played along to the Bongos Collection this fall. The children really enjoyed playing together on the large gathering drums, but their favorite activity was the jam session at the end of class.

The "Hello" song remains the all-time favorite. In fact Max's mom reported that one morning she found him lining up all his stuffed animals and singing the "Hello" song to them. When she asked what he was doing, he told her he was having music class! "See How I'm Jumping" was also a favorite, especially for the kids in the morning class! Lilly's favorite song ("On Top of Spaghetti") was not part of the collection, but we always include whatever song a child loves. Skyler is especially fond of "See the Ponies Galloping". She dressed as as cowgirl for Halloween, so we just had to sing her favorite! Noel and his sister Veronica loved Bongos so much that they wore out one of their cds!

It was heartwarming to see several of the children develop friendships in class. In fact for Natalia, one of the biggest reason she loved going to class was seeing her new friend Lynsey!

Winter semester begins January 9th. Class times are 9:30, 10:30, 4:45 and 5:45 on Mondays. Contact me at tunesntales@hotmail.com for more information.

Happy Holidays and a wonderful, tuneful New Year!

Music Together at The Mill in Greenville: Sizzling Summer Fun!

Families beat the heat this summer making cool Music Together with Anne-Marie at The Mill in Greenville RI. Cameron and Ben's favorite song is the "Hello Song." Cameron's mom reported that they greet him every morning with the "Hello Song," which always brings a big smile to his face. Maria and Grace like the "Me, You, We" song, and Sklyer loves "See the Pony Galloping." Mckenna prefers "Marching and Drumming" which her mom says they love to do at home. Rachel likes "I Had a Little Frog" and Abby is fond of "Old King Cole." Leyton's dad reported that Leyton likes to shake along to "Tingalayo."

But the all time favorite song that everybody loves is "My Ball." Bjorn's grandmother says that when he hears the song at home, he mimics the push, clap, clap rhythm pattern we use before we get out the balls. Jude is learning to roll rather than throw the ball and Aiden enjoyed rolling the ball to his mom.

I was surprised and delighted to see so many dads accompany their families to class on Victory Day, August 8th. Parents are the role models for their children, and the fact that so many of you dads came to class on your day off speaks to your commitment to your families and good parenting. Thanks.

Our last class is August 15, but the music doesn't have to stop. You can always make Music Together at home with or without the cd! Fall classes will begin again September 26th. Once again the classes are on Mondays at 9:30, 10:30, 4:45 and 5:45. To enroll, please email me at tunesntales@hotmail.com for information.

Thanks again to all the families that participated this summer. I enjoyed getting to know you and sharing Music Together with you all.

Spring Music Together Classes End on High Note!

We have had a wonderful spring making Music Together! In the 9:30 class Max loved to check out his moves in the mirror. Skyler loved to sing and greet all her friends during the "Hello" song. Gia's grandmother reported that Gia loved the "Hello" song too, and sings it all the time to her stuffed animals at home. Nathan's favorite was "Jack Be Nimble" because of all the silly sounds we made when we bumped our toes and other body parts. Emmet and Zach started the semester sitting in their mothers' laps, but by they end, they were scooting around and keeping their moms on their toes. No longer little babies! Gia learned to walk during this semester too. During play along, Spencer created his own multi-drum kit from lollipop drums, bongos, shape drums and tambourines.

In the 10:30 class, Daniel loved the blue maracas. He and his brother Joseph loved to sing "Frere Jacques". Jaicee often acted as my lovely assistant, passing out sticks and scarves. Her brother Jackson's favorite activity was the play along. He also loved "Jack Be Nimble," touching his toes and falling down. He was always cheerful and boisterous and made me smile.

During the 4:45 class Veronica and her brother Noel had fun jumping and making their shoes light up during "Jumping Josie." Kolbie and Reanna loved dancing with the stuffed animals to "Dancing with Teddy." In fact they just loved dancing whenever they could. Colin and his brother liked rolling the balls around to "Roll That Little Ball" from the Sticks collection. Ian is getting really good at bouncing the ball in time to the beat.

Lilly and Kayla in the 5:45 class loved "Jumpin" Josie." Brielle prefers"Train to the City." Eben has become quite the dancer and jumper, and he really likes the play along instruments.

The last class is winding up tomorrow, but you can always make "Music Together" at home, in the car, on vacation and all summer long. Perhaps if you sing in the park or at the playground some new friends might join in.

Happy summer!

Summer Music Fun at The Mill in Greenville RI

I'm looking forward to sharing a summer of music with friends old and new. My Music Together classes will begin Monday, June 27th and continue through August 15th. Class times are 9:30, 10:30, 4:45 and 5:45. For more information, contact me at tunesntales@hotmail.com.

"Spring has sprung now how about you?"

"Smells so green and skies so blue, Spring has sprung and now me too!"(From the Music Together Tambourine collection)

Our new Spring 2011 class has sprung into action. Classes began April 4th at The Mill in Greenville. The collection this semester is Maracas. We are having fun hopping like frisky squirrels, dancing with our teddy bears and playing along with our instruments to "Goin for Coffee."

There is still room to join the fun in the 10:30 am class, so if you're interested, please shoot me an email at tunesntales@hotmail.com.

I will be offering summer classes June 20 to Aug 1 on Mondays at 9:30, 10:30, 4:45 and 5:45 (no class on July 4th. Enrollment begins May 1.

Enjoy spring!

Warming Up Winter in RI with Music Together at The Mill

28 families meet with me on Mondays at my studio in Greenville, RI (Music at The Mill) to sing, dance and play away winter weather blues. The Music Together collection this semester is "Sticks". We are learning the Spanish names for various body parts--hands, fingers, arms--in a silly song about "Don Alfredo" and accompaning the play-along tune "Mix It Up!" on a variety of rhythm instruments.

Snow storms have not stopped us! In fact we've been inspired by the snow outside to create colorful indoor blizzards with scarves, whirling and swirling to Vivaldi's Winter Music Suite. Mr. Frosty, a puppet with the sniffles, leads us in a chant called "I'm Freezing" about the perils of winter.

The winter semester ends in just 8 weeks, and spring will have sprung! The spring semester begins the first Monday in April (April 4 - June 6. Enrollment for the new semester begins February 28.

My Music Together classes are held on Mondays at 9:30, 10:30, 4:45 and 5:45. The fee is $173.00/family (maximum 2 children per family). Program includes songbook and cds, plus a free make-up class. For more information about enrollment or to arrange a free trial class, please contact me at tunesntales@hotmail.com.

Music Together is a family music program for babies, toddlers and children up to 5. It is a wonderful program that gets you singing, dancing and making music with your child. The program includes 10 weeks of classes, music cds and a songbook. This semester the collection is called Flutes. For more information on Music Together please visit their website at www.musictogether.com

I will be teaching classes this fall on Mondays at 9:30, 10:30, 4:45 and 5:45 pm in Greenville RI. For details, please email me at tunesntales@hotmail.com.

On Sept. 22 at 10:30 I will be giving a free Music Together demostration class at the Greenville Library. Please contact the library for details and registration.

I will be appearing at the West Warwick Library on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 10:00 performing my Tunes-n-Tales for Tots program. This program is free and open to the public. For registration, contact the West Warwick Library.