Music for Life

Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood

Music for Life is excited to be taking part in a neighbourhood initiative on February 18th and 19th. Your Sister's Market will be located at the Riverdale Hub on Gerrard East. There will be local vendors, including refreshments, and music provided by me! Lots to see, buy, and do, and at no entry cost. You're not going to want to miss this oportunity to support and connect with your community.

~Happy music making!~

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Music for Life is currently undergoing a few structural changes, while continuing to offer many of the same high-quality musical opportunities:

    -Music for Life circle times are offered at Lil Bean 'n Green every Friday at 11am. This   neighbourhood favorite often draws a crowd, so come early to get a good seat!

    -Violin lessons are in full swing--Eva has room for one or two more students, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you're interested in lessons.

    -Music for Life classes are no longer being offered at the Highfield Road studio. Sorry to those who have inquired about taking part, and many thanks to those who were a part of making these classes a wild success for the past few years!

    -Private Music for Life classes are available for daycare centres and preschools. Get in touch to discuss adding this vibrant musical experience to your programming.

Who can usher in changes better than this incredible musician? Take it away David Bowie.

Keep making music a part of your every day!

Join In!

Fall is flying past and Halloween is almost upon us! We've had a blast so far with Music for Life classes, enjoying music making, instrument playing, dancing, and all that good stuff that people love about these dynamic classes.

Fall Session two starts in November! Classes run weekly for seven weeks: Wednesday morning classes begin on November 2nd, and Monday classes begin on November 7th, both 10:00-10:45am. (Click here for more info). And of course Friday classes at Lil' Bean 'n' Green, a Leslieville favorite, will continue weekly at 11am.

Sign your baby or toddler up for the fun, and tell your friends too! Music enriches life and aids in development from the earliest days, it's never too early to start. Songs, friends, instruments, dancing, rhythm, movement, community--don't miss out on all that Music for Life has to offer. Sign up now!

 

Music for Us, Help for Somalia

I hope that you and your family are enjoying this outdoors-centered time of year as much as we are. Music for Life has wrapped up its first Summer Session and will be launching the next set of these lively, interactive classes on August 15th. A few weeks later, the first Fall Session will get going, with more of your favorite songs, rhymes, and instruments. Click here for more info and to sign up to join the fun!

In other news, you have probably heard by now about the current crisis in Somalia and the horn of Africa. UNICEF Canada describes its particularly horrific effect on children: "A deadly combination of drought, on-going conflict and escalating food prices has placed over 11 million people in need of life-saving aid in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. Over 2.5 million of them are children under the age of five."

                                                                                                        Image courtesy of here.

We in Toronto are so fortunate that we can provide our little ones with food, shelter, clothing, and safety, and we have a chance to help those children who are suffering so badly right now. To try to help out in a small way, Music for Life is going to donate 10% of all profits until September 10 to the UNICEF Horn of Africa Crisis relief. UNICEF is currently matching donations dollar for dollar, so it's a great time to give.

Spread the word that relief is needed, spread the love of music, do what you can do!

~Happy music making!~

Family Time!

One of the key goals of Music for Life is to encourage families to make music together. Music-making promotes cooperation, interaction, and creativity--all things that help to build closeness and mutual affection. Music does not have an age limit, nor a required skill level, so it's something that groups of people can do together and all contribute to and benefit from. From simply shaking a maraca to the beat to weaving in harmonies, there's something for everyone!

One of the ways that Music for Life classes help this togetherness is by introducing songs that are fun for kids and adults alike. Some of the music is very simple, singable for toddlers, but there are also songs with more words and notes; songs for adults to sing and for little ones to grow into as they learn more language and develop their musical abilities. By offering a range of songs, the classes are both easy to approach and give kids room to grow. That's the beauty of family music!

Speaking of family music, want to take a warm little getaway during these cold winter months? How about a trip to Jamaica? On his Grammy Award-winning kids' CD, Family Time, Ziggy Marley delivers warmth and laid-back fun, that can brighten a dreary day. Marley's description of the CD echos the Music for Life philosophy closely:

"I know how important music can be in a child's growth and development, and in a parent's connection with their children," explains Marley, whose own brood recently grew to five. "This record represents my daily family life and is inspired by my three-year-old daughter Judah and baby Gideon. It was a joy to make and opened up new avenues in my creativity."

Check out the album when you get a chance, and in the meantime, enjoy this video from the title track:

 

~~Happy music making!~~

News & Registration

Music for Life classes have been on hiatus for the past month, as a new addition to the Music for Life family was welcomed into the world. We're thrilled to announce that baby Rosalie joined us on November 11, 2010. Many joyful songs have been sung!

Regular Monday and Wednesday classes will begin again in March 2011, and registration is now open. (See Class Schedule for more details). Come join the fun as we get back into the swing of things. There will be lots of familiar Music for Life music and routines that students have come to love and look forward to, plus some new songs, new instruments, and new faces!

Also, starting in January, Music for Life classes at Lil Bean 'n' Green will resume, every Friday at 11am. These classes offer a chance to get out into the neighbourhood, relax with a cup of coffee and tasty treat, and enrich your wee one's day, all in one trip! Click here for more information.

From newborn through pre-school age, little ones learn and absorb what they're exposed to; music helps with cognitive development, social skills, and creativity. Beyond that, attending classes is a great way to get involved in your community and make lasting connections, for both adults and children.

Click here to sign up now!

The Most Wonderful Time...

It's cold outside!

Winter is an amazing time of the year. In Ontario, it means the coming of snow, ice, and frigid temperatures, and all of the trials and delights that come along with them. Nothing is quite as magical as sitting in a warm house, looking out the window at the snow gracefully falling down. In different regions, the weather has other things to offer: rain, sun, wind. But in most parts of the world, winter brings with it a multitude of festive occasions. For various reasons, people find winter a great time to celebrate holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years, Winter Solstice, and other celebrations all take place in the winter.

And what is one of the greatest and most time-honored ways of celebrating these holidays? Singing, dancing, and making music! Songs passed down through the years, and even centuries, weave a lasting tradition through time, tell stories, retell of customs done by those before us, and garner excitement and anticipation for the festivities to come. Singing holiday songs is one of the most coherent and consistent customs that Western culture continues to practice. What a special tradition.

Though Music for Life classes are on hiatus, there are lots of ways for you and your family to keep music-making alive for the winter: Try to remember your favorite holiday songs, and teach them to your kids. Give musical instruments as gifts, and play them together. Put on your favorite holiday CD and have a living room dance party. Gather friends and go carolling, spreading cheer to your neighbourhood. The possibilities are limitless!

What are you doing to stay lively and creative this season? What are your family traditions?

~Happy holiday music-making!~

 

So Long, Summer, It's Been Swell!

The shifting of seasons is upon us once again, and as we look forward to the cooler temperatures and new routines that fall brings, it's also great to look back on the fun that was had over the past few months. This was one of the hottest summers on record around these parts, so much time was spent at the beach and pool, finding shade in tree-filled parks, and escaping the city for camping trips and cottage visits.

When you have kids, summers can be a whirlwind of activity, some of it fairly hectic, some more relaxing. Seeing little ones develop from year to year, and discover more and more about their world from one summer to the next, can be really invigorating for parents, helping us to rediscover little joys that we'd forgotten about over the years. After a fun-filled summer, it's good to look back and think about all the picnics had, sandcastles built, bugs discovered, flowers picked, and campfire songs sung, and to realize how enriched our lives are by the presence of these feisty little folks that are our children.

One rediscovered joy that this summer brought was the excitement of searching for (and finding!) life in tidal pools on the coast of Vancouver Island. 

Under every rock live dozens of crabs, which quickly scuttle away once the rock is overturned. And each little pool teems with life, from barnacles to colourful coral, from hermit crabs to countless kinds of kelp. Walking and hopping around on the slippery and often jagged rocks is an adventure in itself, one filled with the reward of successfully balancing, and the fun of discovering hard-to-reach areas.

And having the opportunity to reach out and interact with this fascinating ecosystem? Absolutely invaluable.

What adventures have you gone on and what discoveries have you made this summer? Take a moment to reflect--you'll be glad you did.

As Music for Life prepares to shift in seasons as well, there are lots of great summer memories to look back on. The summer-themed classes were loads of fun, and lots of new faces meant fresh friendships and new voices added to our ongoing songs. Fall promises to hold excitement as well, as we settle into new weekly routines and enjoy the changing colours, smells, and sounds of autumn. Fall classes will begin the week of Sept. 13 (see Class Schedule for more info), and will be filled with the songs and activities that people love and associate with Music for Life.

So, enjoy this time of transition, and don't forget to take time to reflect.

~~Happy music making!~~

A Dreamy Diversion

Music for Life classes are on a brief summer break! The next Summer Session right around the corner (beginning the week of August 16th, click here for the schedule), and the Fall Session is quickly approaching. In the meantime, a little downtime has arrived, but that doesn't mean that the fun has to end. Here's another gorgeous video for your viewing pleasure!

This is something I've been looking forward to sharing here, filmed and put together by the very talented Nora Danielson and Themba Lewis, and featuring the music of folk musician Vashti Bunyan. If you aren't familiar with Vashti Bunyan's story or music, read about her here and download her album (legally, of course!). You won't regret it. Her tunes are simple and beautiful, her voice is enchanting, and her song arrangements are timeless.

The video will captivate your whole family, and perhaps inspire some goose-watching or folk-singing of your own~~enjoy!

~~Happy music making!~~

Fall Session--Sign up Today!

Don't worry, summer isn't over! But in case you're looking ahead to September and wanting to plan some fall fun for your family, the Fall Session of Music for Life is now open for registration.

Classes will begin the week of September 13th, and will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Highfield Studio. Head over to Sign Up Now! for registration details, or visit Class Schedule for complete dates and times.

There will also be weekly classes at Lil' Bean 'n' Green--every Friday at 11am, starting on August 20 and running through October.

After October, Music for Life classes will take a brief hiatus, as a new little life is welcomed into the world! But classes will resume in the spring--watch for more details to come.

In the meantime, continue to enjoy your fun in the sun!

~~Happy music making!~~