The first hour at the Redwood this time was a bit of a smaller group, but it was great to keep getting to know the kids better. We started off with some mindful breathing exercises, and focused on counting while breathing in and out for extended periods of time. That certainly helped calm some of the energy in the room (along with a rendition of Shake Your Sillies Out), and we were able to spend some time getting into the musical elements of the kids’ favourite songs from last week. We tapped out the rhythm of one of the songs, and because the song is a rap that increases in speed over the course of the song, we used that opportunity to talk about rhythms in double time and half time. The second hour was quite rhythmic as well, and I was amazed at how focused and thoughtful the kids were when talking about music, and during our Rose Bud Thorn check in. They’re not shy at all about singing and sustaining their notes together, and I can feel how excited they are to learn more!