Still Smilin'

Despite a few obstacles getting started, we managed to have a nice class at Rosalie Hall today. We tried out some repeat songs to review last week's repertoire, as well as some new songs about numbers. The moms were all smiling and singing when we revisited Little Green Frog. It was nice to see one older baby crawling his way to a front row seat to view the guitar. It's these kinds of things that remind me that the kids are genuinely taking in the music and exploring their curiosity. Looking forward to next week's class!

A Great Start!

Today's first class at Rosalie Hall was full of singing and smiles! Though moms can sometimes be a bit shy at first to sing along with the instructor, these moms were happy to try it out. It seemed especially encouraging for them to see their babies moving to the sound of the music. As it was an introductory class, I made sure to introduce some Rainbow Songs Foundation classics, including Roly Poly, and I Wake Up My Hands. It was awesome to see that some of the staff and moms already knew the words and were singing along instantly. I'm looking forward to a great mini-session over the next four weeks!

It's A Party!

Our last class at Robertson House was a great success! There were many new families in attendance, as well as some familiar faces. For the first portion of class, we went over some of the "hits" such as Roly Poly and Sticky Sticky Bubblegum. These songs also served as great examples of the Rainbow Songs Foundation spirit for those who were in attendance for the first time. After some singing, movement, and jamming, the class turned into a celebration. Baked treats were served, along with some fruit, and a few of the kids danced to music playing over the stereo. Overall the session was a great success. The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves, and the moms had great things to say about their experience. One mom, who was pregnant at the start of the session and attended even before her baby was born, said the whole session was a really great experience. I felt privileged to have helped her introduce music into her son's life. Another mom commented that she wants Rainbow Songs Foundation back for two days a week! I was glad to hear such great feedback. Hopefully we will bring music to Robertson House again soon.

'Til We Meet Again...

We had a fun-filled end to our session. Normally the final class of a session is filled with requests, so I asked the group for suggestions. We played through all of their favourites: (ABCs, Old MacDonald...). Then, I brought out the Djembe for Five Little Monkeys. We took turns playing before our extended instrument jam.

Steel Pan Fun!

This week's class at Robertson House was well attended and very fun! The grown-ups and kids had a laugh trying to figure out which song I was playing on the Steel Pan Drum. Once they figured out that it was Hands Together, Hands Apart they all joined in with lyrics and actions. The kids also got a real kick out of trying out the drum as we passed it around. Great class!

Goodbye, My Friends!

We had a smashing last class at Birkdale today. A fairly good turnout, with both new and familiar faces joining in. We had a few requests from the crowd, and everyone sang along and seemed to really have fun. Our instrument of the week was the Shruti Box, for which all of the kids had a great time choosing notes to build very interesting sounding chords. Lots of moms were there for the entire class again this week, which made it an extra special last class. I handed out certificates and clappers, and everyone cheered for each other. We all wished each other a very nice Summer.

Last Dance

With summer coming up, this was our last chance to all be together making music, and we really made the most of it! Lots of dancing around to all the songs, more dancing throughout the jam, and seriously sweet moves during parachute. It was a great way to celebrate all of the great music we've been making together!

New Faces, Good Old Times

This week's class at Robertson House saw some turnover, with new faces joining the class. As a couple of families have left Robertson House, some have also arrived and were excited to be singing and dancing. It was great to see one boy, who was rather shy at first, open right up over the course of the class. Music seemed to really put him at ease in his new environment. His mom was also clapping and singing along, which was great to see! Looking forward to more great classes!

Hoppin' and Boppin'

We needed a little extra get-up-and-go this week, so we got moving early on in class and just didn't stop! Jumping and hopping was the favourite – we did it as bunnies, monkeys, and frogs! Our parachute session at the end was also just a big, beautiful dance party; it was just what we needed.

Sharks and Crocodiles and Pumpkins... Oh My

We had a very exploratory session today, with one new participant who had a lot of questions, and another returning participant eager to go with the flow. We had a lot of fun suggesting things we might see by the river for Listen to the Water. We flowed through songs on a whim, according to comments and suggestions that were made.