UpBeat Music Together

Sign Language Browser

2009-07-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

This American Sign Language Browser out of Michigan State University is one of the best sites I have seen for user-friendly access to looking up words in sign.

This week in your class, when we signed The Water is Wide, I just looked up the key words and moved my hands while we sang...so easy...so fluid...so beautiful. You can look up the words to your favorite simple songs here and then teach them to your child.

Enjoy!

New location!

2009-06-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Lots has happened and is happening with Upbeat Music Together!

Firstly, I have moved to the beautiful Colville-Kettle Falls area. Unfortunately, this has meant moving Upbeat Music Together from Spokane to our new area. Sounds like one of our teachers may be able to teach classes and start her own business in Spokane.

Looks like we’ll be taking the summer off to get situated in our new physical location. Next class should be in the Fall.

The website is being migrated to http://www.geolucid.com/upbeat. The old address http://www.upbeatmusictogether.com will still work when the migration is complete.

The new blog is at: http://upbeatmt.wordpress.com/

I’m sad to leave the Spokane area, but am very excited to begin in the Colville area this Fall.

Thank you everyone for your support!

-Melinda

Have you seen these Singing Horses?

2009-06-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

They are incredibly cute and funny...click on each, one at a time, to bring them in...change the order for variety, but try to feel the rhythm to get them all in sync...FUN!!

A musical tidbit from the sea...

2009-06-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

We have been getting from Netflix, the old Cosmos series. Wonderful! One episode explained of the amazing songs of humpback whales...they will sing part of their song in winter waters and then after traveling to summer waters, will pick up the same song on the very next beat, measure for measure...Truly Amazing!

Sia here singing and signing....

2009-05-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

So if you moms and dads haven't discovered Sia yet in your probable periodic search for new adult music for your IPod? Then...yes...wow....time to have a listen! This Aussie artist is just absolutely incredible and I have been listening to her for some time now.

In this video, she also signs in Sign Language while performing.

For a true taste of her style and personality, search for "Sia KCRW" on You Tube and listen to some of these really casual radio shows. She's just a delightful person.

Register Now for our Spring/Summer session

2009-04-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Add some beautiful family music-making to your lives, your homes and your outdoors this spring and summer with a Music Together session at the Spokane Yoga Shala studio. Nine weeks starting May 4th. Join us!:)

Bob Marley audiating...

2009-03-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

Here's some Marley groove for your day...about halfway thru this home video, he actually starts audiating....he leaves out a word at the end of each phrase...letting his brain (and yours) fill in! Audiation is part of the means of developing Basic Music Competance: the ability to sing in tune and keep a steady beat.

Groovy or what??

BONGOS Feedback

2009-02-24T17:34:00.000-08:00

A huge thank you to all you BONGOS families, for completing the online feedback survey after the BONGOS collection in the Fall. As Music Together is a research-based program, your input is valuable to the National Office, for evaluating the effectiveness of Music Together classes. On a more personal level, though, when I get the surveys back, it helps me ensure that we are delivering a quality experience to you. I want you to feel like you are getting your $ worth, as well as that you and your child are getting the most out of the program musically, emotionally...on many levels actually.

After the BELLS collection this winter, you will again have the chance to complete the online survey specific to that song collection and specific to your current teacher!

Final Updates

2009-01-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

Our Saturday class is now full as well!
You are welcome to contact us to be put on the waiting list for either class and be sure to check for updates for Spring Session and register early!
We will be adding more class times if possible!

Happy day to you!

Class Updates

2009-01-11T23:54:00.000-08:00

Well, our Tuesday class is now full for our Winter Session starting Tuesday January 27th. Still have four spots left for the Saturday class though, if you'd like to make Music Together with your little one this winter.:)

Family Music Making right here in my living room...

2009-01-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

So, even after teaching Music Together for two years now, I experienced something very cool tonight with my own kiddos.

It's wintry and dark and they have lots of energy that needs to go SOMEWHERE when we can't get outside. My very wise hubby suggested we put on some music and do some calisthenics! It was sooo much fun! We were hopping around the room to John, the Rabbit (from yellow SUMMER SONGS 2) and running and swaying to Tailor and the Mouse which is a Sam favorite (from green STICKS)...Soo much fun to make music as a family! WOW!

Hope you have registered for Winter Session, as the spots are going fast!

We'll see you soon again, and then we'll make music together again...

Melinda

Winter Registration Now Open!

2008-12-22T07:28:00.000-08:00

Winter Registration is now open! Hooray! We look forward to having you and your child in one of our classes.

Read the bios of our awesome teachers here: http://www.upbeatmusictogether.com/teacher.html Sign up today in order to get a spot! Spaces will be limited this winter and so will go really fast.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Folkmanis Puppets

2008-11-21T14:51:00.001-08:00

The bumblebee, the ladybug and the caterpillar/butterfly were all made by a great Puppet Company called Folkmanis!:)

Week 9-Waaaaa!

2008-11-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

Well, our Fall 2008 classes are coming to an end. What a fun collection this has been!
You are still welcome to makeup any missed class this week if you want to take a scenic drive to Liberty Lake (Friday 9:30am) or join us on the South Hill (Saturday 10:45am)

After your last class, I will be emailing you an online survey to fill out so you can provide class feedback. Since Music Together is a research-based curriculum, this is valuable data that will be compiled and evaluated. The link to the survey is here: and the Organizational Number to enter is 1944.

Thanks for taking the time to respond and...
"we'll see you soon again and then we'll make music together again..."
Winter Registration will be opening soon. Stay tuned!

Melinda

Bessie Jones and Pete Seeger leading Little Johnny Brown

2008-11-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

Here is the video I referenced in class of the way Little Johnny Brown is traditionally played as a game! It's fascinating to explore the ROOTS where music has sprung out!!

oh and LOL, my two announcements were:
1) Bring your songbook to class next week
and
2) Hop over to Spokane Community College this weekend for the Fall Folk Festival...multiple stages of multi-ethnic music of all kinds...a real treat all under one roof!

Songbook Love...

2008-10-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

Is your little one loving their songbook yet?

Week 3

2008-10-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Music Together Families!

Well...how's it goin' at home?? How fun that you are probably seeing your child respond to and recognize the music on the BONGOS CD! I always love to hear anecdotal stories about what you are observing at home and sometimes we share those in class.

All new families this semester received a Parent Guide that is now on DVD format. If you are a returning family, you may still want to view the information and you can do that here! Interviewed are Ken Guillmartin and Lili Levinowitz, the founders and researchers at Music Together in Princeton, NJ. So take a look and meet them too:)

Opening Pandora's box

2008-09-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

A Music Together family-friend recently introduced me to www.pandora.com via her blog.

What an awesome concept, to be sitting at your computer, listening to the kind of music you most want to hear in that moment, in a radio format, randomly selecting that same genre of music, but some that you may or may not have picked out yourself.

So for example, my Sam is laying out here on the futon almost asleep, so wanting something sort of soothing...I type in Enya and it starts me off with Watermark (my favorite Enya composition) and then...I get to hear something new: a song called "When I See You Again" by a group called 2002 on an album called Deep Still Blue.

Really lovely.

Up-to-the-minute-availability...

2008-09-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

My South Hill Classes are now full...you may email me to be put on the waiting list, as sometimes a family needs to change/postpone and I also can let you know about winter pre-registration....

Liberty Lake classes still have room, though.
These changes will be noted soon on the website:)

"We'll see you soon again and then we'll make music together again..."

South Hill Fall Availability!

2008-08-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

Monday morning is full!
Saturday morning has 3 spots!
Plenty of room in Liberty Lake.

And two sample classes left this summer:

Monday August 25th at Mobius 11am (although you have to pre-register with them and pay a small fee)

and

Friday August 29th at the Liberty Lake Library 1pm

South Hill Fall Availability!

2008-08-13T07:32:00.001-07:00

I have one spot left for the Monday class and 5 spots left for the Saturday class....

Drum Roll Please.......

2008-07-23T02:31:00.000-07:00

Fall Registration is now open!

I am streamlining a bit this semester and offering only limited openings (3 classes only). Sign up today for your preferred class!

We'll get orange books this time (one of my favorite colors!) and this super fun collection is called BONGOS!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Teacher Melinda

OOPS!

2008-07-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Sooo sorry if you tried to access the website while it was down...we had a billing snafu and I didn't even realize it was not accessible.

Steve (do you all know my hubby? Web designer extraordinaire, Gonzaga Graduate Student in Counseling Psychology and super daddy)...will be uploading Fall Registration tonight!

And then we'll make music together again!

Fall Schedule...

2008-07-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Miscellany...

2008-06-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

For classes next week...don't forget to bring a Teddy Bear (or rat or doll or other favorite thing to hug) and your songbook....

And...here are the dates/places for our Summer Sample Classes:
Mon. 6/23 11am @ Mobius - Downtown
Fri. 7/18 10:30am @ Liberty Lake Library
Thursday time, date and location to be announced for Northside families
Sat. 8/16 10:45am @ City Yoga
Mon. 8/25 11am @ Mobius- Downtown

Summer and Fall....

2008-05-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

So I have decided to take a break for the whole summer! WooHoo! So many of us all have summer plans including my other teachers Erinn (she's goin' back East for a visit) and Shannon (she's finishin' her thesis)...so we three will be taking a teaching break.

If you find yourself missing Music Together tooooo much, you are welcome to join us for one of our few sample classes that we will be holding in various parts of town...(and if you are a Mobius member, watch for a class or two there)

Otherwise, have a superb summer season and we'll see you for class in September. Stay tuned for pre-registration for the Fall...it will be happenin' online very soon!

Where did you get those (fill in the blank)?

2008-05-10T22:09:00.001-07:00

Many of you have asked where I purchase things we use in class.
Here are some ordering links for you:

1) Step Bells

2) Animal Casinets

3) Those favorite red drums!

Wahoo for Spring!

2008-04-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

As the weather will be getting nice (again) and hopefully staying nice, think of which songs from this collection will be great to sing OUTSIDE!

May there always be sunshine...and blue skies

Cloud Song-lay on your backs on a grassy hill and find pictures in the clouds!

Sad Little Puppy-have you hugged your dog today?

Hop Old Squirrel-on your nature walks, at the park, in your backyard

Hello Everybody-don't forget to say hello to the sun!

South Hill Monday 9:30am...

2008-04-16T23:31:00.001-07:00

is now FULL!
We still have availability at other classtimes however.
Registration continues next week!

2008-04-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

Check out this amaaaaazing story of a young musician!! Heartwarming and inspiring!!!

Demo Class in Liberty Lake

2008-04-09T17:29:00.001-07:00

Want to try out a class?
We'll be doing a demo class at the Liberty Lake Library during their Storytime
on Friday, April 18th at 10:30am.

It's a great way to experience Music Together!

Registration for Spring '08 is now open!

2008-03-15T16:15:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! Meet our new teacher at Upbeat Music Together!!

Erinn and I are excited to have you in class!

Melinda

P.S...and Happy St. Patty's Day!

Sneak Preview on Spring-MARACAS

2008-03-06T17:09:00.001-08:00

Hi All,

My web designer hubby will be adding Spring Registration this week, but wanted to first post all that MARACAS info here:

Spring Classes start in Mid -April beginning with our very first Saturday class on April 19th on the South Hill. Erinn Epp, my new friend and colleague right from Princeton, NJ, will be teaching that class for me. Stay tuned for her bio...she was trained by and worked right with Ken Guilmartin, the founder of Music Together, for several years. We are sooooo lucky to have her!

I'll be teaching the remaining classes at the same times and locations beginning April 21st:
South Hill classes will be on Mondays again at 9:30am, 10:45am and 4:30pm.
Northside class on Thursdays at 10:15am and Liberty Lake on Fridays at 9:30am.

Next semester's classes run 9 weeks as well!
Stay tuned!
Melinda

African Music from the Week...

2008-02-28T16:45:00.000-08:00

Husha My Baby is towards the end of your CD, so make sure you are getting to those ending songs...isn't it a beautiful story-song?

Some of the other music you heard in class was from Ladysmith Black Mambazo...off their Warner Bros. Collection:

and also from the South African Story thru Music, Gift of the Tortoise:

Week 5

2008-02-22T06:59:00.001-08:00

We are approaching week 5 out of 9 of the STICKS collection...are you noticing that your child is becoming more and more familiar with the songs in her book? Does he ask to listen to the CD constantly? Repetition is the mother of all learning, hence the reason I encourage you to listen/sing/read the songs often. They are making the connection now that they know the songs we do in class!!! I love this timeframe of our learning together.

You can continue to help your child experience a love for music by:
1) playing the CDs in the car and at home...start it in the middle or push random too!
2) reading through the songbook like a regular book on her bookshelf
3) turning the CD off sometimes and playfully singing with your child a capella (without any other music-just your voice)

The goal to all of this is that your child achieves Basic Music Competence, which is the ability to sing in tune and keep a beat. But really, it's not a goal...because the playful, non-performance approach that we take helps it all occur naturally!

As Yoda says:
Do, No Try!

Valentine's Week!

2008-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

So this Valentine's week in class, we'll be doing some songs about love that are not in the STICKS collection...like the traditional sweet children's song:

A tisket a tasket a green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love but on the way I dropped it
I dropped it, I dropped it, and on the way I dropped it
a little boy picked it and put it in his pocket

As far as Music Together music, we'll be free-dancing to the Love Song of Kangding before we try some Tai Chi with it next week.

See you soon!
Melinda

Roll That Little Ball Round the Room...

2008-01-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

Well, mamas and papas, I am gearing up for the start of the winter session (which begins the week of January 21st) ...and I just have to share my most recent purchase for our class: these adorable balls from Crocodile Creek, out of Durham, NC...

They are so cute and the best part: natural rubber, no PVC's, vinyls, etc.

I love supporting companies that care about our kids and our environment!

See you soon!
Melinda

WINTER 2008 Registration is now open!

2007-11-23T14:02:00.000-08:00

Join us this Winter for Music Together!!!
We'll have 9 weeks of music and movement
with the STICKS Collection.

Classes start Monday, January 21st on the South Hill-choose 9:30am, 10:45am or 4:30pm
Thursday, January 24th in North Spokane -it's a 10:15am class
Friday, January 25th in Liberty Lake at 9:30am.

Register now online www.upbeatmusictogether.com/register.html
or print out the form on that page and mail it in!

Come and warm up with your little one:)

Movement is important for Music Learning

2007-11-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

Here's an article from the NY Times about movement and music! It is the biology of the brain to get up and move when we hear music, NOT to sit still!

Hooray for Music Together classes around the world, where children are enoucouraged to move to music!

Happy Spookaween!

2007-10-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a link for the old African American Spiritual version of this song
we'll do this week in class!

NINO Percussion

2007-10-13T08:21:00.001-07:00

I'm sooooooooooo excited to have just purchased some additional instruments for our Play Along Basket...a set of NINO Percussive Instruments:

NINO is considered the industry standard for the highest quality percussion instruments for children available on the market. All of the NINO products have been tested by the Landesgewerbeanstalt Bayern, Germany (LGA), Institute for the Testing of Goods and Quality Monitoring. All the NINO instruments have been awarded the LGA Test Certificate which certifies that they comply with the European Community Directives 88/378/EC and 87/357/EC for safety and quality—much stricter directives than their American counterparts.

Most of NINO's wooden instruments are made of Siam oak. This fine hardwood is grown on plantations in Thailand, most of which were planted long ago for the production of latex. As a result, Siam oak meets all of the international standards (including CITES regulations) for environmentally friendly woods.

Fall is in the air and Classes are around the corner!

2007-09-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year...and the Flutes Song Collection which we will be using has some lovely fall songs.
Please note that the 10AM Monday class is now full! I still have some room in each of the other three classes, however.

"We'll see you soon again and then we'll make music together again...."

Interesting article!

2007-09-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

ARTICLE
Even in people who are genetically pre-disposed to perfect pitch, exposure to music as a young child is still the key!

Schedule

2007-08-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

Fall Registration is now open!
Please note a couple of things:

1) The other South Hill class will be offered on Mondays as well...from 4:30pm-5:15pm.
It starts getting dark so early, that this should be a nice time that working parents might be able to join us without running too late.

2) 10% off this semester for returning families!

Hope to see you the first week of October!
Melinda

See you in the Fall!

2007-08-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

One of these mornin's,
You's gonna rise up singin'
Then you'll spread yo' wings
An' you'll take to the sky.
But till that mornin',
There's ain't nothin' can harm you
With your Daddy an' Mama Standin' by.

Ahh...those harmonies were pure heaven!

2007-08-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

Doing "She Sells Sea Shells" in a round was absolutely beautiful last week!!!! The harmonies were lovely and at the high point, created a wonderful GooseBump moment! WOW!

We're going to do it again in classes this week, but families can try the same thing at home since we sang against the CD.

You can read a little anecdote about the history of this tongue twister here:

The Summer Song Collection has begun!

2007-07-23T23:15:00.001-07:00

This session is only six short weeks, so we have a lot of music to pack in!:)
HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR:
Monday night is full with Daddies and that is so awesome! What a great thing for these little ones to see and remember their dads making music right along with them.
Tuesday morning is one full class! But we are loving all the mamas and babies!
Remember, you can always feel free to make up a class that you must miss at any of my other classes including Wednesday morning in Liberty Lake, where we have a truly intergenerational experience with all the grandmas that join us!

Happy Week!
Melinda

Final Semester Goodbyes

2007-07-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

What fun we had during the last week of classes!
In case you all are wondering what exactly was that song you heard during the Bubbles (you know, the one that made you remember in that instant why you love your child so very much...)...well, that was Isreal Kamakawiwo' (see his bio) singing a mix of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World. Several years ago, the Volkswagon folks did a great commercial actually of a little person in his carseat, riding along...blowing bubbles...just enjoying life! Children are incredible reminders to us to do just that...ENJOY LIFE!

Have a great summer if I don't see you for Summer Session...which by the way starts the week of July 16th! Register online now!

Semester Highlight for Me

2007-06-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

I have to say that breaking a guitar string while jamming with my Monday class on "This Train" was way cool!!!! That makes me kinda like a Rock Star, ya?

Only two weeks of Spring classes left...I've already planned my last session's tearjerkers as I have loved my classes this semester and hope all the mamas (and two da-das, and a grandma and a grandpa) and all the little ones have loved them too!:)

Summer Registration Now Open!

2007-05-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

New Families: Welcome to UpBeat Music Together.
We invite you to join us for a demonstration class in our currently enrolled Spring Session.
Registration for Summer Session is now open for South Hill and Liberty Lake classes:
www.upbeatmusictogether.com/classes.html
*****************************************************************************
Returning Families: Continue to make beautiful music with your child! Next semester brings you the excitement of a new Music Together Song Collection - it's the yellow Summer Songs book and CDs.:) I've added a Monday evening class for South Hill families who have a night owl. Pajamas required!:) The morning class will be Tuesdays 10:45-11:30am.
See you this summer!
*****************************************************************************
Special Summer Rates are as follows:
$95 for first child/$65 for each additional child (siblings 8 months or younger are free)
Your cost includes a beautifully illustrated Songbook, two CDs of the Summer Song Collection - one for home and one for the car- one a Parent's Guide to Music and Children.

Germs!

2007-05-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Instead of just separating and sanitizing instruments that have been mouthed by our little babies, I've decided to throw them all in together after class and sanitize them all, since toddler hands can be pretty germy, too!

So, just an FYI, Mamas!!!:)

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy....

2007-05-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

People are already asking about Summer Session, so I need to decide some dates:)
I'll add an evening class on the South Hill as well...the days get longer and the warm light sticks around...(in the real South, as in Georgia and North Carolina, the warm light actually does stick to you-hot and humid!)

Stay Tuned for Summer Pre-Registration!

Spring Classes in session!

2007-05-04T15:33:00.001-07:00

Spring Classes have begun with the Music Together Tambourine Collection!
The first two weeks we were getting used to each other while learning some of the more spring-y songs of the collection.

The next several weeks, we'll venture into the rest of the collection before returning to some of our favorites! While practicing "See the Pony Galloping", my Benny has really started approximating the words ALL TIRED OUT! Complete with a huge smile on his face!

Welcome to the UpBeat Music Together Blog!!

2007-04-13T12:22:00.000-07:00