Jersey City is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in New Jersey. It has some of the most breathtaking views of Manhattan from the gorgeous waterfront. It has also become such a family friendly town. We have been holding our children’s music classes and baby classes in Jersey City here for nearly a decade! There are plenty of fantastic family and children’s activities in Jersey City. Our children’s music classes in Jersey City are such a great choice for your awesome children!

For activities for kids in Jersey City and Jersey City music classes, one thing that most parents want is walkability. Our location, Three Little Birds, is conveniently located on Erie Street, around the corner from the pedestrian promenade near the Grove Street PATH station. This fun, mellow and groovy space is where you’ll find some of the best classes for kids in Jersey City. Rockness Music’s baby music classes in Jersey City, inspire creativity, confidence, and freedom. You won’t believe what an exciting experience our baby classes in Jersey City are!

We sometimes also do special Pop-Up Family Jams which are a lot like our toddler music classes in Jersey City. We sometimes partner with a local business like JCFamilies and hold them at different venues than our regularly scheduled Jersey City baby music classes. Our Pop-Up jams and Jersey City kids classes are exceptional, rockin’ and just so much fun!

We love doing children’s music classes in Hoboken! It’s such an awesome city with a great vibe and wonderful young families! There are lots of activities for kids in Hoboken and residents feel a real sense of community there. Families that were once moving out when they had kids are now staying and just moving into something bigger. Hoboken kids classes have really grown with the city. Families have often told us that we are one of the most unique children’s activities in Hoboken.

So, if you’re looking for Hoboken music classes or Hoboken baby music classes, we’ve got you covered! Sometimes you might want to walk to your children’s music classes. Whether you live uptown, midtown or downtown, Rockness Music has music classes all over Hoboken on most days of the week. Our baby music classes in Hoboken are some of our most popular. There are so many new moms in town that are ready for to take their babies to their first class and make some new friends for them both! Our toddler music classes in Hoboken are also a smash hit! It is an active music class for your active toddler. We have original, rockin’ music, dancing and dramatic play. Our kids classes in Hoboken have instrument discovery and drum circles too!

Whether you are new in town or a long time resident we want to meet you! Our Hoboken classes are filled with some of the coolest, friendliest families and have the most talented instructors. For baby classes in Hoboken or a kids class in Hoboken, you’ll be so glad you checked us out. Making music and kids smile is our passion!

Are you thinking that it’s time for your baby’s first class and considering children’s music? Is he or she becoming more interested in the outside world and you’re seeking activities for babies? Our music classes for babies are specially geared for our youngest rockstars. Rockness Music parent and me classes are the perfect introduction to music for your little one.

Music for babies? Yes! Babies naturally love music, so our mommy and me class allows you to enjoy it together. It’s such an awesome thing to experience with your child and strengthens the bond you have already started. Our baby music classes introduce new instruments , songs and sounds each week. The younger babies start, the more they gravitate to the instruments and become more engaged. We do so many fun activities in class that help develop fine motor skills. This is the baby class everyone is talking about!

Searching for activities for a 1 year old or classes for a 1 year old? You’ve come to the right place too! Our music class offers original, rockin’ music that you won’t hear anywhere else. For a preschool music class, that can be pretty hard to find these days. We always make sure every child has a great time and gets to dance their little hearts out!

Just as every child is unique, every family decides to celebrate their baby’s first birthday differently. When thinking of ideas for a birthday party, some parents definitely want to have a theme and order elaborate edible favors. Some parents blow up photos from the baby’s first 12 months of life. Other parents like to keep it simple, just inviting a few family members over for cake. When you’re planning parties for babies, there’s really no wrong way to do it, because it’s your party!

1 year old birthday parties are our most popular at Rockness Music. We create a true celebration atmosphere! We engage all ages of children, older cousins and adults. We bring age appropriate instruments for the children to play and drums for the older kids. If you’re considering an entertainer for first birthdays, we’ve got the best around! When parents think of ideas for a first birthday party, we are honored to say, they often think of us and refer us to their friends.

A birthday for baby is truly a momentous occasion. It’s a time to reflect, rejoice and have a dance party! We would love to chat with you about any birthday ideas for a baby that you have. We are flexible and can accommodate any special requests you might have. We love what we do and want to share it with you.

Of course you want to find that perfect thing when you’re searching for activities for birthday parties. How does a parent know what to choose for baby birthday entertainment or toddler birthday party entertainment? We’ve been there! Music entertainment for birthday parties is such a fantastic choice for children of all ages! Kids love music. A birthday party entertainer captures the audience and then leads the show. All you have to do is enjoy the music and the smiles on your child’s face!

Everyone has fun and is engaged at Rockness Music birthday parties! One of the things that makes us special is our amazing musicians! You won’t find a better entertainer for birthday party than from our amazing rockstar team! We engage everyone and bring out special instruments for the children to explore and play. There is always an exciting drum circle and an awesome dance party at the end!!

Have a baby turning 1? Rockness Music is the perfect choice for baby birthday party entertainment! We love babies and families and know how special first birthdays parties are! They are an important milestone to be celebrated and remembered. We have very intuitive entertainers who know how to adjust the entertainment for babies first birthday parties if it is a mostly younger party crowd. If you are looking for entertainment for toddlers first birthday, look no further. We love making music and making kids smile! We hope you’ll reach out to us for your birthday party entertainment.

The Napolitano family is a drumming family. I know I have mentioned this before.

My father played late nights and weekends as well as having a full time job in a factory when I was in my early childhood. I barely saw the man, so when I had the chance I attended the rehearsals and shows he would play.

Music was hard to break into even back then, but my father proved to be successful. He toured in caravans up and down the east coast with the likes of Franky Valley and other New Jersey superstars. Before he met my mother he played with Joe Pesci in a touring show which included a comedian, three dancing ladies, a guitarist (Joe Pesci), drums and a Hammond B3 organist. Prior to that he was hired to play with swing super star Louis Prima and turned down the gig to go to college. This would have completely changed his life, and I probably would not be writing this right now.

Later, I would attend my oldest brother’s shows. He is 10 years older than me. His band was called Holy Sin. They were an Iron Maiden cover band. Truly light hearted for an aspiring 7 year old musician. This band set a few stages on fire with bad pyrotechnics (which was potentially more interesting then the show itself – sorry Anthony!).

I didn’t know the difference, but to be honest I still do not like Iron Maiden. I am more of a Black Sabbath guy. Regardless of the music being played, I daydreamed every day of being on the stage with my father and brother.

The hard rock life continued. My first shows at 10 and 11 years of age were Van Halen and AC/DC. No complaints here, I still love these bands.

When I was a tot there was no Music Together, Rockness Music, or Music for Aardvarks – there were only parents and school teachers. There is no question in my mind that my ability to play music well and my love for music stems from being in the first Rockness Music classes – the rehearsals with my pop and shows with my brothers (minus Holy Sin).

So what about making music to MADE music?

My father began to teach me how to play drums at age 8. I had already taken some piano and had been playing drums since I could hold a stick.

My level of attention was poor. I had no concentration and found lessons incredibly boring. I never practiced. The child who sat for hours at age three spinning record after record was beginning to dislike playing music.

My father did notice and stopped the lessons all together. Soon after my brother gave me a set of headphones, four tapes and a cassette player- a device that actually spins tape to replay pre-recorded audio – and told me to play along. The albums; Led Zepplin IV, Back in Black, Black Sabbath and Boston were the cassettes I learned to rock with. My drum teachers were John Bonham, Phil Rudd, Bill Ward, and Sib Hashian. I learned more from playing along with headphones than you could imagine.

I suggest the same activity for my children and your children. Put on your, or their, favorite music and sing and play along. No matter your child’s age, this activity will stimulate there sense of musical timing, rhythm, beat, melody and more. The best thing about it is that it is free!

I would love to see you every week at our children’s music classes but if you can not make it, here is a great alternative that I have proved to be successful.

Now get out there. It’s time to make music to made music.

Why be a butterfly?

I remember the days when my mother or grandmother made my Halloween costume. Do you have the same memories?

I remember dressing as a dog, a pilgrim, a clown, a custodian, a postal worker, and a monster. Each of these costumes were hand-made by my family. Theses costumes were passed down through the ages. My younger cousins, and their cousins wore these costumes. The happiness these costumes delivered is the same amusement I receive every day seeing the smiles of children in music classes and shows.

So why don’t I make Halloween costumes?

Since my daughter’s birth, 8 years ago, I have never made a single costume. Not all of the costumes were purchased—we do recycle with friends (which is a fabulous idea if you have never thought of doing so) but they are still store bought costumes.

I remember the hour long glass-breaking screams of my adorable 3 month old in her butterfly costume. All trapped in the constricting costume body of a butterfly. She didn’t know she was a butterfly, she just wanted to be free like a butterfly. Perhaps if I put a funny hat on her and a clown nose she would have felt more at ease.

Still, since their birth my children have been outfitted as warriors, princesses, butterfly princess ballerinas (I think we made that concept up at least), archers, ladybugs, Little Red Riding Hood & The Big Bad Wolf and more.Just recently (IN AUGUST!) we started receiving brochures displaying the variety of costumes available this year. (A side note: Not a shocker but the number of zombie costumes outweighed any other available attire combined – zombies are good fun, but everything in moderation.)

Getting back to my main point. I am really disappointed in myself. Even after writing this article I am still not going to make a costume and I know it. So why am I writing this? I don’t know, stop asking!!!

This is just a metaphor for the state of parenting. I am just patting the back of former generations. They were tough. They worked harder, partied harder, grew their food, made their own clothes and complained less.

My parents and grandparents stayed up until all hours of the night stitching, sewing and preparing. Me, once the kids are in bed, so am I.

Life moves fast. Faster by day. The digital age is making way to something new, and the adjustment will last decades. As we slowly approach Halloween from many weeks out, I want to remember my grandmother and the doggy costume she made me. I want to remember the effort put forward by previous generations. Doing more, asking for less. Not everything needs to be perfect, and that is the beauty of life. Life is art, and sometimes I forget this while combating piles of lunch boxes, homework and bills.

This Halloween I am going to celebrate life. Like my 3 month old daughter of 7 years ago: I want to be free like a butterfly without being trapped in its costume.

Happy Halloween, stay safe and rock on.

Love, Michael

Ladies and Gentleman! Boys and Girls! Welcome to your child’s first toddler music class!

WooHoo! What a glorious day to be a parent. We here at Rockness Music love when new babies and toddlers first enter the classroom. We know that shaking, dancing and some rocking songs bring much joy to our little rockers and all of us who surround them. There is nothing like seeing a child groovin’ and rockin’ their head to uplifting sounds.

This is a perfect time to show your childish side. Make music, feel free, and make silly faces together in a safe and fun environment. It is proven that early exposure to music leads to excelling in studies, boosting self confidence and developing aural and auditory skills.

Now when you’re not shaking it off to Maroon 5, we know you are breakin it down to Rockness Music’s Dance Party. Not only will you be strengthening your child’s rockability but you will be strengthening their confidence. Coupled with music and movement and hands on musical play to develop their fine motor skills.

We see it in the children ‘graduate’ from babies stretched out on their parents laps to three-year-olds rocking out, drumming, singing and stomping their feet.

So get ready! Get excited! Music is fun.

At Rockness Music we’re all singing and dancing together. We’re laughing and moving together. This fun and enriching baby music class is an excellent way to get your child learning.

We want to hear from You: Outside of class, what ways do you incorporate music into your child’s development?

Here in the Rockness Music family we use bells to sing and dance with in our music classes for toddlers. Bells have such defined sound and are great for the children to easily produce vibrations and music.

Bells have been a huge part of music for thousands of years.

They were used for communication between governments and their people. They were first used in China and spread throughout Asia to India and Japan. They were a form of broadcasting messages from long distances. Once the possession of only the most wealthy, bells became instrumental in the arsenal of many musicians and artists to express their deep devotion to god and their art.

Let’s take a look at some of the worlds most famous bells.

The Liberty Bell rang in our American Independence in July of 1776. It’s located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Do you know it cracked before it was even finished and had to be recast twice?

Right here in the US we also have the World Peace bell in Newport, Kentucky. Up until 2006 it was the world’s largest functioning bell. It weighed 30 tons!!! That’s more than 60 thousand pounds! Whoa! Well the bells we discover in our classes are not that heavy but they do pack a powerful punch.

Finally don’t forget the dinner bell so we can keep our energy up for singing and dancing in our baby music classes.

For a first hand example of bells check out the Pirate Song on Rockness Music’s upcoming CD Michael and the Rockness Monsters. It features bells in the introduction. Collect your treasure everyone and get to ringing! You and your child will truly enjoy your class time together.

http://www.historyofbells.com

http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-is-the-liberty-bell-cracked

I consider myself quite lucky.

Since the inception of Rockness Music I’ve had the pleasure of being around the early development stages of young children. It’s such a pleasure to watch them grow. I love to watch the relationships between parent and child grow and change. I’ve had thousands of young mothers with infants come through our doors and entertained hundreds of one-year-old birthday parties. I have even had children born into class. Children’s music classes, or any class for that matter, is a moment for the child and parent to bond. This is a time when it is possible for them to explore, learn and participate in activities together.

In Rockness Music’s music classes we have developed a program that inspires participation within each song, with numerous types of instruments and props. The more our parents participate with their children, the more the children experience out of the class. When a mother tells me, “my child imitates you at home”, or, “we rock out to your music every night”, it fills me with great joy.

On this Mother’s Day I’d like to say thank you to all the mothers who have come come to Rockness Music to share the joy and love of music with their children. To all mother’s who realize the power of music, and of art I say, “Thank you!”.

A big hug to all of our rockin’ moms out there, most of all my wife and mom who both totally rock.

Happy Mother’s Day from Rockness Music!