Let the celebration of children and family begin!
From April 12th-18th The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has it’s Week of the Young Child.
Events include Music Monday, Taco Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday and Family Friday! That’s a lot of excitement to share with the family, so let’s get started!
Day one is Music Monday.
As Rockness Music expert rockstars you are going to knock this one out of the park. We already know that music helps children with their math, reading and language skills. Let’s dance and make up lyrics to a popular kids song Thingamajig, by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMZ_MPxydMI. Post the video on NAEYC Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/NAEYC. We know you will represent Rockness Music proudly.
Taco Tuesday!
We want all want our children to be healthy and happy. Here is a great way to keep them on to path nutritional stability. Just create your own healthy recipe and post it to twitter with the tag #woyctacotues At Rockness Music we love to add several different kinds of chopped up greens and some homemade guacamole to our tacos! Yummy! Don’t forget the fresh lime juice. Also cooking together is family wonderful time to bond as a family..
Work Together Wednesday
This should be no problem for this magnificent group. Let’s come up with our own magical creations. Whether it’s cardboard boxes or just taking sheets and pillows and making a fort in the living room, you can turn most any safe household item into a building project inspired by you and your child’s creative genius. Again, post your pics on the NAEYC’s Facebook page.
Arty Thursday will be a glittery masterpiece.
This will give your family a chance to be it’s own Da Vinci or Picasso. Paint, glitter, crayon and clay are just a few items to consider when working on a project. Whatever sparks your child’s interest is great place to start. Don’t forget to post your creations on Twitter using the #woycartsy hashtag.
Finally Family Friday will be your victory lap.
We love teaching and growing with your children in our toddler music classes but we know who is number in their hearts. Now is the time celebrate your family and some of the unique experiences you share together. Use NAEYC’s Facebook page or post to Twitter using the hashtag #woycfamfriday
We can all learn a lot from NAEYC a wonderful organization that supports the educational growth of young children. Get to it, Rockstars.
For even more ideas to engage with your child:
http://www.naeyc.org/woyc/activity-resources
SHAKERS!
Here at Rockness Music, we love shakers and we Love spring time. They both represent a time to relax and renew. Warmer weather gives us time to head outside – playing with shakers gives you an excuse to let loose and have fun with your toddler.
We rock out with shakers all year long. Now that spring is here we see a whole other level of dancing and grooving in our music for toddlers classes. The snow is finally melting off the car and we can take our sneakers out of the closet and get back to playing outside. That awesome energy translates into our classes as everyone is excited to dance, shake and celebrate with the warmth and sunshine. With songs like Growin’ Bigger we learn what plants need to grow and how to act out the growth of a plant. Together we usher in warm breezes and beautiful flowers.
Shakers provide a forward motion feeling that really moves the song along and keeps the babies and toddlers bobbing their heads to the beat. Their rattling sounds are a perfect accompaniment to the rhythm of a song.
But where do these magical instruments come from?
The term shaker applies to several instruments throughout history such as a rainstick and maracas. Maracas were originally dried gourds that had dried beans inside of them and were initially very popular in Latin American countries. Rainsticks were bamboo, or cactus cylinders that were filled with pebbles and had a slide like design inside to slow down the movement of the pebbles. Possibly originating during the time of the Aztecs rainsticks were meant to encourage the rain for the growth of crops.
We’d love to hear from you? How can you use shakers outside of Rockness Music classes.
Before bed, maybe to burn off some energy with your children. Turn on Shake Around, a classic Rockness Music song (written by founder Michael Napolitano) and dance the end of winter away. Before nap time you can do a little shaking and dancing to Shake It another Rockness Music favorite before the baby gets in a couple of ZZZ’s.
You can find shaker sounds in music all over the world including popular american music such as Jazz, Pop, Funk, Rock and Dance. Now that’s a lot of shaking. So head outside, turn up the tunes, and get to shaking!
Bonus:
Make your own shaker, with a small Milk Carton, dried rice and some tape. You can even decorate the box!
Spring is here and what a better way to spend time with your family then dancing, singing and playing music. Now we’re not all Mozart’s…yet, but there are a ton of fun ways to get going with music and get the whole family involved. Introducing the UKULELE. We’re sure you have heard of it. You can’t turn on the radio without hearing at least one great song filled out with the sound of the Ukulele’s nylon strings. Or head over to YouTube where you can hear any popular song ever recorded done with a Ukulele and a sweet voice.
Now where did the Ukulele even come from?
It has Portuguese origins from a instrument called the machete played by immigrants who came to work in the sugar canes fields of Hawaii. The Portuguese wowed and amazed the Hawaiian people with it’s magical sound. It was later redesigned and renamed Ukulele or “Jumping flea”. It became a cultural sensation representing Hawaiian’s love of the land and it’s people. That was over a 125 years ago and the rest is history!
That’s a lot of history for one little instrument. But the Ukulele is a perfect companion for summer camping or time spent one on one with your children. The strings are soft. The nylon feel is a lot easier than the metal strings of the guitar. Your toddler will instantly gravitate to it’s playability and pure sound. It’s also very light and easy to hold so it won’t be overwhelming for your child to engage with it.
Did we mention it’s easy to get going making music?
The “C” chord is one note. Yes, one note! It also only has 4 strings as opposed to the guitar’s 6 strings so there is a lot less to maneuver.
The Ukulele is also a great way to get you or your child into an instrument and not spend too much money. It’s very inexpensive. So what are you waiting for? Those beautiful family afternoons and nights around the fire are begging for the sweet sounds of the Ukulele played by you and your child.
We’d love to hear from you!
Bonus points: learn to play Rockness Music’s “A little Breath in” on the Ukulele”
http://www.museumofmakingmusic.org/ukulele-history
Let it go on Ukulele:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48E4sS8K-bM
There are so many magical times in parenting. You may not see it at first, but getting your child to sleep at night or hoping that the mid-day nap will keep them on schedule is all part of this glorious process. As you watch your child grow you begin to see a them become a little person with their own thoughts, feelings and a beautiful precious smile. As lovely as they are we all know how frustrating it is when your child just will not sleep! Perhaps a little music will send them to sleepy land.
“Sleep tight Baby, sleep tight, let’s call it a day.” is a line from the Oscar winning song The Lullaby of Broadway by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. The classic song provides a musical backdrop to this new melody of parenthood. With it’s soaring melody and tales of the big city it also mentions not sleeping till dawn and the rumbling of the subway. Are the writers talking directly to our Rockness Music toddlers and babies in our modern day lives? We are living in a fast paced world with plenty of stimulation. It may be difficult for a child to settle and sleep. Babies and toddlers want to stay up and be part of the party! Good for them. Not so good for you.
How about schedule changes and priorities? What your child needs tends to change your life constantly. What was once important to you no longer compares to family time or watching your babies do their first anything.
Michael Napiltano, the founder of Rockness Music, has a new song that speaks to the parent and child relationship. Tiny is a beautiful duet with Michael and his daughter that highlights the strong bond between a parent and a growing child. In our music classes for babies and toddlers, everyone rocks out to this lush song. It’s our new anthem for the parent/child relationship. Even as your children grow they are still forever connected to you and will always be the star of your hearts. Now how about that nap?
What fun things are going on in your home as your baby develops into a wonderful person?
Changing nap times? New favorite foods? Singing them a certain lullaby? We’d love to hear from you!
The Lullaby of Broadway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxWRlr431Rw
Developing your child’s musical sense of self and confidence right in front of your eyes!
Hello Rockness Music Family! While braving the cold and chasing our way to the spring sunshine we can’t help but think of you and your wonderful children. We love that each child brings their own special self to our toddler and baby music classes. Or should we say “Jazzy self”!
Jazz, a truly american art form that gave us the greats from the brilliance of Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong to Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart’s standard My Funny Valentine. In our music classes for toddlers, the standard for your child is a path of development and individuality. What a perfect fit for the sounds of Jazz!
Let’s explore! What a Wonderful World, a Louis Armstrong favorite is a melodic tune that highlights a positive feeling and yet steps outside the bounds of regular pop music. Mr. Armstrong sings, “I see friends shaking hands, sayin’, ‘How do you do?’ They’re really saying ‘I love you’.” Nothing is being held back in this line, and similarly we love how your toddlers really go for it in class, as they dance and sing their hearts out. Now that’s jazzy!
Rockness Music students and families uniquely thrive to sounds and to songs. A unique jazz standard My Funny Valentine describes a person who is less than perfect and yet still the best person to love. Well, none of us are perfect, but we all exude a glorious glow and we relish sharing in that each week in our mommy and me classes. Like we said—pretty jazzy!
Rockness Music’s – “Winter Wonder” Children’s Music Class CompilationOn the soon to be family favorite, Farm Dreams off the new album Spring Sings you can hear Rockness Music founder Michael Napolitano scatting away to the sounds on the farm. A jazzy twist added to a rock song is just what we crave!
We’d love to hear from you! What unique things do you and your family bliss out to?
Playing board games, inventing new dance moves or even just cuddling up to your favorite new book, tell us how you march to your own jazzy beat! See you at our kids music classes, show, or a birthday party real soon!
- What a wonderful World Louis Armstrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM
- My Funny Valentine Frank Sinatra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Are-c0BLyIg
- Farm Dreams Rockness Music
Related info on jazz:
http://delightfulchildrensbooks.com/2011/01/16/jazz-music/
Developing your child’s musical sense of self and confidence right in front of your eyes…
Hello Rockness Music family! This week we are talking about classical music and its profound effects on young children. In our classes, children and toddlers come alive while being exposed to many new types of music. Whether we are banging on the drums, dancing with our family and friends, or experiencing a new genre of music for the first time, our teachers have the delight of engaging with you and your kids as their eyes and hearts open wide from the new sounds they are hearing. Now if only we can get them to open their mouths when being introduced to their veggies!
It’s no surprise that classical music has its way with all of us.
From Beethoven to Bach, each composition has a hidden treasure that will peak your child’s interest. From a foreboding piece such as Sonata Number 14 aka Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven that has elements of intrigue and mystery, to the joyous Brandenburg Concerto Number 4 by Bach that can turn a crying baby into a smiling ray of sunshine, classical music has a great effect on the soul and the brainwaves.
Who knows? You might even love it too! So next time your little one is being fussy, try putting on some Bach and see where the journey takes you.
We’d love to hear from you.
What styles of music does your child respond to at home? From the latest Bruno Mars jam, “Uptown Funk” to one of the old classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by The Supremes, let us know some of the hits your family rocks out to.
May we suggest…
Rockness Music’s founder, Michael Napolitano’s music has it all!
Music Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU Moonlight Sonata Beethoven
https://vimeo.com/68907403 Bach Brandenburg concerto number 4
Related articles:
http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/building_babys_brain.htm
I remember the summer camps of my youth. I looked forward to seeing my camp friends every year. Rockness Music visits many schools and camps bringing our awesome preschool music classes and shows. This year we have expanded our offerings to include topical shows, enrichment classes, educational seminars and activities for campers ages 0-12. There are options for small groups, large groups and families.
Please check out a few of our offerings included below. If you are interested in a topic or concept not included below please inquire. We would be happy to accommodate any and all requests. We love to rock in the summer!
***Please ask about multi-class or show and non-profit discounts!
Shows
(1-4 Performers, Ages 1-8, 45 Minutes, 20 – 200+ Children)
Fully engage the children this summer! During our shows the stage disappears and everyone is a part of the action.. An ideal activity for a summer camp looking for something exciting, entertaining, and educational!
Our shows incorporate sing-a-longs, movement, imagination and dramatic play. All of the songs inspire immediate participation from the children. They will grow like trees, sing like birds and dance like robots. Filled with non-stop action and hip-shaking music the children and staff will be thrilled! Great for children through 8 years old.
Conflict Resolution/Emotional Development Show<
(1-4 Performers, Ages 1-8, 45 Minutes, 20 – 200+ Children)
In this Rockness Music show we create a sense of community filled with compassion and understanding of one another. At the conclusion of our show we hope to leave every child feeling a sense of kinship with their peers which will accompany them throughout their lives.
We will address simple conflict resolution with fun and simple exercises within the songs. We will paint imaginary hearts and launch them into the sky. We will explore ourselves and the world around us. The children will collaborate in these activities to create a sense of unity while dancing, laughing and singing along the way! Great for children through 8 years old.
Rockness Music – Animal Show Set List
(1-4 Performers, Ages 1-8, 45 Minutes, 20 – 200+ Children)
From our Hello song to Goodbye song we sing and talk about animals on the farm, the jungle, the range, the desert and beyond! Watch the children as they act like animals and sing along to our hits like, Cowboy Song, Monkey’s Don’t Talk, The Safari Song, and Growing Bigger.
Using unique instruments (slide whistle, bird whistle, groove wah, and others) we imitate the sound of animals while learning about new instruments and how to make these new sounds with our voices. This show is a huge hit with farm, zoo and animal themed camp weeks! Great for children through 8 years old.
Classes & Seminars
Musical Enrichment Classes- Recurring (2 to 10 weeks)
(1 Teacher, Ages 0-5, 6-20 children)
Enhance your program with our weekly or bi-weekly musical enrichments. By exploring new music and new instruments weekly we incorporate many areas of learning with music.
Using fun and educational songs and age appropriate instruments we encourage dramatic play, movement, group performance and language building. Rockness Music introduces the basics of preschool math and science with our weekly instrument discovery show and tell. Each week we discover new instruments and new activities. During our group drumming exercises we incorporate group performance, listening, and pattern study.
Please inquire for a sample curriculum of our 30-45 minute class. Great for babies, preschools and kindergartens.
Single Musical Enrichment Class
(1 Teacher, Ages 0-5, 30-45 Minutes, 6-20 Children)
Unable to commit to a recurring engagement? This summer bring in an abridged version of our preschool enrichment program that incorporates many areas of learning with music.
The children rock out with one instructor and shake, dance and act along. Rockness Music engages the children with unique and exciting instruments in a show and tell forum. We perform together using shakers, dancing props, and individual drums and sticks for our toddler drum circles.
Please inquire for a sample curriculum of our 30-45 minute class. Great for babies, preschools and kindergartens.
Music and Science – Discovery Instrument
(1 Teacher, Ages 2-12, 30-45 Minutes, 6-20 Children)
Using intriguing handheld synthesizers, guitars and other unique instruments we explore the anatomy and physics of the instruments, discover its origin and the sounds it delivers.
Using drums (Djembe, Bongo, Cajon) and percussion instruments (Thunder drum, Vibratone, Vibraslap, Flexitone) we discover terms like sound waves, vibration, tone, resonance, and tension. We conclude the seminar by supplying each participant with drums and sticks to performing group drumming in our beginner’s drum circle.
World Drum Seminar
(1 member, Ages 2-12, 30-45 Minutes, 6-20 Children)
What is the oldest instrument in the world? A drum! What was it used for, what is it used for now? How does it work?
As we investigate the djembe, ashiko, talking, cajon, udu, bongo, and snare drums. The children learn about the cultures they derive from, and their place in the world. We also investigate the anatomy of the instrument, discover how it works and allow everyone to have a turn playing them!
We conclude the seminar by supplying each participant with drums and sticks to performing group drumming in our beginner’s drum circle. Group drumming reinforces listening and verbal skills, offers creative collaboration, and a celebrate of life.
Everything Makes a Sound
(1 member, Ages 2-12, 30-45 Minutes, 6-20 Children)
Using a loop sampler and everyday objects we create musical pieces live.
Children (or teachers) choose everyday objects from the room (keys, paper, a plastic bottle). We discuss the makeup, shapes and what sounds the object will make. We then perform the object, in rhythm, into a microphone and sampler. The sampler allows us to create multiple layers of sound with the different objects. This creates a piece we call ‘Everything Makes A Sound’.
Please see the YouTube Link for an example of Everything Makes a Sound. The clip also includes some of our mystery instrument discovery segment: http://www.youtube.com/Rocknessmusic
We hope to see you this summer. Please contact us with any questions about the offerings above. If you have any requests we will do our best to fulfill them.
A Simple Holiday
I do love Thanksgiving.
There are no gifts, there are no blinking lights or lavish decorations. There are no fairytales, no gimmicks, no bells, buzzers and whistles. Its a time to say – THANK YOU!
I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to work with children and families every day. I find great pleasure in watching the children laugh, dance, smile and grow. Through my youth, Thanksgiving represented a wonderful time of family, friends and food, a lot of food. Sometimes I do forget that the story of Thanksgiving symbolizes peace and unity. In this spirit I’ve written down some rules that I try to abide by regularly. This holiday season I thought it would be nice to share this with our families at Rockness Music . As I give thanks for my beautiful family, my loving friends, and this beautiful earth I will continue to abide by these three activities this holiday season.
1. Focus on family.
Put away the phone, the computer, and the television. Sometimes I wonder, can I remember what it was like before the digital world had turned our focus away from this physical world?
When I am with my family I will stop checking my email, Facebook, and Instagram. I will take the iPad away from the children and turn the TV off. What will replace all of these activities? One will be surprised as to what comes of this!
Years ago, when I was a child we put on performances for the adults. Everyone had to do their “piece”. One child sings, one child dances, and our Uncle tells a story about the first Thanksgiving. I want to bring it back to simplicity. To remember what it is like to be part of a family and to participate in activities void of digital devices.
2. Drive with kindness.
Driving is something we all do. The daily traffic we experience can be very frustrating. We are all trying to make it on time to our engagements or to get last minute items from the store. Let’s take a little breath in and pause.
This holiday season lets put the phone down, drive, and drive slow.
How do I drive with kindness? I always try to put on my favorite song and take my time. I often let someone turn in front of me, I allow pedestrians to cross the street, and I allow someone to merge in my lane. I find great happiness when I drive with kindness, not aggression.
3. Give:
Might you have items that you do not use regularly? Offer these items to a needy family. There is someone who will make good use of these items: Toys, coats, clothes, televisions, mobile phones, hats, shoes, household supplies. There is someone who needs help, and without spending a dime, we can help them. Please do!
Here are a few charities in that will pick up your donation this holiday season.
http://www.purpleheartpickup.org/
http://www.donationtown.org/
http://www.pickupplease.org/
From all of us at Rockness Music thank you for being part of our program and believing in us. We are so Thankful for having you in our Rockness Music family. Have a safe and happy holiday season and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Love, Michael
We all love carving pumpkins and with Halloween right around the corner we wanted to share a few last minute musical carving ideas! What does your pumpkin look like this year? We want to know!
Rockness Music’s Shows are Heating Up!
As the summer months heat up, so does Rockness Music!
Join us as we rock out with our acclaimed Rockness Music shows at schools, street fairs, festivals, and libraries across New Jersey and New York! Our high-energy, entertaining and engaging shows are an ideal way for children and families to enjoy the beautiful days of spring and summer together.
We will be performing for babies, toddlers, kids, and parents at Hoboken’s Movies Under the Stars, the Metuchen Sunflower Series, the Middlesex County Fair and more. We will also be rockin’ out at the legendary State Theater in New Brunswick on Saturday, August 16th @ 3pm!
Binoculars out! We are also extremely excited to announce that we will be searching for animals and singing our favorite songs when we return to perform at the one and only Bronx Zoo!
Join us next week for some very exciting Rockness Music shows:
Tuesday, August 5th * Warren Township Library * Warren, NJ * 3:30-5:30pm
Tuesday, August 5th * Hoboken National Night Out * Hoboken, NJ * 5-9pm
Tuesday, August 5th * JCC of Central Jersey * Scotch Plains, NJ * 6:30pm
Wednesday, August 6th * Sunflower Series * Metuchen, NJ * 6pm
Wednesday, August 6th * Movies Under the Stars * Hoboken, NJ * 7pm
The fun continues next weekend:
Friday, August 8th * Middlesex County Fair * 5-7pm
Saturday, August 9th * Bronx Zoo * 11:30am, 2pm, 3:30pm
Sunday, August 10th * Bronx Zoo * 11:30am, 2pm, 3:30pm
We hope to see everyone all week long!
For information on how to book us at your school, festival, or library for a Rockness Music show, please contact us at info@rocknessmusic.com or by phone at 732-205-1971.
For a complete list of our shows and engagements throughout the summer and into the fall, please visit: http://www.rocknessmusic.com/shows.
We can’t wait to perform our unique brand of children’s music with kids and families all summer long!
Keep Rockin’,