Lesson #1

What a great first day of Sand and Sea! I hope you and your child had as much fun in class as I did! Here are a few reminders that will help you get the most out of our time together in class:

• Bring your workbook and scarf to every class.
• If your child is disrupting the class please take them to the hallway for a little break. 
• Please turn off your cell phone during class and focus on your child.
• Please be sure to download and listen to your music often. The kids always have more fun in class if the music is familiar to them! You can do it on your Yoto Player if you have one!
• Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have throughout the semester. (Texting is best.)
  

Tuition is due today and is $90 if you have one child and $110 if you have more than one. You can pay via Zelle using my phone number (preferred because I don't have to pay fees), or pay via Venmo @musikandme.

I will be posting a blog-style newsletter for this class after each lesson. Just so I know you read this post, please reply and let me know what your child's favorite song is so far! Or you can let me know which of the following videos you found the most helpful for you. If you have a child under 2, please watch the baby videos (below) for ideas of how to participate with your child during class. 

Our 7 foundational elements are proven to aid in a child’s development. We will incorporate most, if not all, in each of our Sound Beginnings classes! I encourage you to read through the "Parent Page" in your book more thoroughly at home.

What songs should you listen to at home? I'll let you know here in case you want to be ready with the ones we'll use next class. The more familiar you and your child are with the songs, the more fun you will have in class! Next class we'll sing these songs:

• Name, Name, What's Your Name?
• ABC Song
• Over the Deep Blue Sea
• In My Class I Have Some Bells
• Bickle Bockle
• Charlie Over the Ocean
• Over In the Meadow
• Baby Shark
• Waves On the Sand
• Aquarium

Besides musical skills, Sound Beginnings also introduces children to kindergarten concepts such as name recognition, letters and numbers, and literacy skills. Among other concepts, the Sand and Sea semester will specifically focus on letters/sounds, sea animals, counting, and feelings.

We will use tone bells in class to introduce children to important musical concepts. Using them with solfege syllables and hand signs will help to build an understanding of pitch relationships.

Optional home fun activity: Do the Name Recognition activity on page 3 of your workbook. (Remember, these activities are optional but can be a great bonding experience to do with your child during the week.)

Now that you know more about what to expect in class, here is a video that will help you to know what Sound Beginnings is all about and how it will benefit your child. This was created by another teacher and she was generous enough to share it! (Where it talks about Instrument Day on lesson #15, we will be doing it on lesson #8 for this shorter session!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=qgaNL1HOMOI

Here is a video that will give you ideas for how to participate during class. This was created by another teacher who was generous enough to share it! https://youtu.be/IxZrTdk0pVk

Here are some quick videos for specific ways you can participate with your BABY in class!

Baby - positions: https://youtu.be/8nyS_nQlpE0

Baby - tapping: https://youtu.be/BLTrFKg-qRs

Baby - moving: https://youtu.be/F0_ME4fGTrU

Baby - instruments: https://youtu.be/HjThTkKdmQo

Sound Beginnings is education through musical play! It prepares children for success in Kindergarten and Let’s Play Music. Sound beginnings provides research-based elements that stimulate growth in the areas particularly crucial to the development of the young child. These elements make up the foundation of the Sound Beginnings curriculum.  Here is just one:
	A child learns when he or she feels loved. In class, purposeful touching, eye contact, partner activities, and generational nostalgia help develop the all-important parent/child relationship.