El loro Tico Tango/The Parrot Tico Tango AUDIOBOOK

So in order to try and clean off my desk which is suffering under the weight of the many books that I have been wanting to share with you, I've decided to just dedicate this week to exactly that: BOOKS!

You'll probably remember how I feel about audio books, and the fact that I think they are an excellent tool for developing literacy skills. So I'm starting off with a couple from some of my favorite voice-over actors, The Amador Family (remember them from this feature?).

Published by Barefoot Books, The Parrot Tico Tango is written and illustrated by Anna Witte (who also wrote Lola's Fandango). But Barefoot offers the book with an accompanying CD featuring the book as sung by Brian Amador - with a little help from his family.

I LOVE this book. The story line follows a day in the life of el loro (the parrot) Tico Tango, as he flies about the rain forest stealing all the fruits from the other animals. BUT his pilfering ways don't last for long and soon he has to work his way back into the good graces of his forest friends. The story is predictable for children helping them to develop critical thinking skills as they anticipate what will happen next, all the while building to a climax that relieved my children who were worried that he'd get away with it all. :)

But the best part of this book is the CD and the fun and lively song that is sung by Brian Amador. Before I knew it, my toe was tapping and I was humming along with the song, as were my children. Learning is just so much better when you can do it to music, no?

The book is perfect for children in Pre-K and Kindergarten as it teaches the different colors and various animals found in the jungle, fruits, and sequence. But my 2nd grader enjoyed it just as much thanks to the music, the engaging story line, and the beautiful illustrations.

And you know what else? This book is also available in Spanish with the song perfectly done and using Witte's beautiful translation that is not word for word, but rather conveys the message and the emotion in a well-written manner.

You can hear an audio sample here on the Sol y Canto website. (Sol y Canto is the Amador's band.)

If you click on the titles (links) above, they will take you to our sister site, the Latin Baby Book Club, and my online store.

Con mucho cariño...

Disclosure: The books mentioned above were sent to me at the request of the Amador family. All thoughts and opinions expressed are strictly and fanatically my own. Ciao!

Music with Sara: más canciones en español {Giveaway}

Last year, musician Sara Horlick Quintanar asked me if I'd share her adorable music video with you. This month she has released her new album, Music with Sara: más canciones en español, with 18 songs in Spanish. I do love her music! Her versions of the selected Latin American children's songs are original and creative without sounding hokey (as sometimes kids' albums in Spanish can be), and I especially appreciate the cultural rhythms I hear. But you don't have to take my word for it! Listen to these samples from her new album...








THE GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the release of her new album, Sara is offering one of her CDs to a MommyMaestra reader.

To enter to win, simply leave a comment below.

The deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Thursday, February 23rd. The winners will be chosen using Random.org. and contacted via email - so be sure to leave a valid email address in your comment!

And to increase your chances of winning, you can:

1.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: Win a copy of the new album, Music with Sara: Más canciones en español, from @LatinMami http://bit.ly/zJBsar #Spanish #music #giveaway

2.) Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post in the comments below.

Don't forget to let me know by posting a separate comment for each entry!

By entering this giveaway, you agree to the Official Sweepstakes Rules. No purchase required. Void where prohibited.

¡Buena suerte!

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated for this post.

Juanita the Spanish Lobster from Maestro Classics {GIVEAWAY}

I'm so excited this week, because I will be running THREE giveaways! I've already shared one with you, and today's is another treat.

I am always looking for ways to introduce my kids to classical music. I have a nice collection of CDs that I play on a regular basis with classical pieces from Mozart, Grieg, and many others. A week or two ago, I clicked on a link that had caught my eye, and it led me to the most wonderful website: Maestro Classics.com.

You cannot even begin to imagine my delight to discover a company that produces educational materials centered around classical music - for young children! They offer a series of classical CDs, each one dedicated to a particular orchestral story. Inside each CD set you will find a short story (length varies depending on the particular story), a section about the story, another section about the music, and one or two bonus soundtracks. It also comes with an activity booklet.

You can also sign up for their Kids Club and receive monthly puzzles, games, and other activities in your email. January's email was focused on Swan Lake, and came with a video, music excerpt, link to their curriculum guide, and a coloring page. Yes, I said curriculum guide. Their awesome site also includes a section with education materials perfect for homeschoolers, teachers, and parents. Yay!

Intrigued, I purchased their album, Juanita the Spanish Lobster, and downloaded the MP3 version because, a) I prefer to be able to download it on my children's school computer, and b) I was too impatient to wait for the actual CD. The best description of this story is found on their website: 

"Juanita is an imposing Spanish lady lobster. Not content to knit seaweed with the other lobsters in the grotto, Juanita prefers to dance a fierce flamenco and sing about her troubles. She loathes her boring underwater life and longs for more excitement. Thinking she can find more fun on the land, she leaps into a fisherman’s lobster trap one day. Her admirer, a lovesick little lobster named Caradoc (as in the Arthurian knight) saves her from certain doom. In the end, a newly contented Juanita learns to love the grotto, and she sings about her marvelous life with all of the other sea creatures."

Not only did I love it, but more importantly, my kids loved it! They have been listening to it over and over. We sat and listened to the story, then learned about who created it and how, then listened to it again, then learned about the different music styles used in the story. It was just fantastic. The MP3 download came with a pdf version of the activity booklet, which was perfect because with two children, I was able to print up the same pages so that they could each have a copy to work on. It is filled not just with activities, but also with a History of Flamenco and Amazing Facts About Lobsters.

Now for the best part: They offer a Spanish version of this particular CD! Juanita la langosta española has been completely translated into Spanish by the very talented, Yanitzia Canetti, whose translations of children's literature I have admired for its smooth sophistication and the way in which it captures the essence of the story. 

The music on the Maestro Classics CDs are performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Simon. The narrator of Juanita the Spanish Lobster is Dr. Konrad Czynski (a.k.a. Yadu), professor of Humanities at Minnesota State University-Moorhead. (He has, in fact narrated several of the other CDs including Peter & the Wolf, Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice.)

But the narrator of Juanita la langosta española is Rosi Amador, lead singer of Sol y Canto. Rosi has narrated a number of childrens books, including recent releases by Barefoot Books (which I mentioned yesterday).

Below is a short video of Maestro Classics' co-creator, Bonnie Ward Simon, talking about Juanita la langosta española:

THE GIVEAWAY

Maestro Classics is kindly offering a copy of their Juanita la langosta española CD to one MommyMaestra reader.

To enter to win, simply leave a comment below.

The deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Monday, January 23rd. The winners will be chosen using Random.org and contacted via email - so be sure to leave a valid email address in your comment! 

And to increase your chances of winning, you can:

1) Visit Maestro Classics' website, then come back and leave a comment telling me which CD you'd like to hear most.

2) Follow Maestro Classics on Facebook

3) Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: Win a a copy of Maestro Classics' Juanita la langosta española from @LatinMami http://bit.ly/xtAwyq #Spanish #classicalmusic #giveaway

Don't forget to let me know by posting a separate comment for each entry!

By entering this giveaway, you agree to the Official Sweepstakes Rules. No purchase required. Void where prohibited.

¡Buena suerte!

Bilingual Books on Tape {GIVEAWAY}

This week is dedicated to audio books and the valuable place they have in our children's education. I mentioned last week that I'm committed to incorporating more audio books in our studies, and I'll be sharing resources for them over the next few days.

But I want to kick off this week with a giveaway. I have two sets of four CDs featuring the stories of author Alma Flor Ada. This set includes four books in Spanish, and one in both English and Spanish.

The first CD is collection of 29 songs for each letter in the alphabet and one original alphabet song. All of them are in Spanish and are from the book, Abecedario de los animales, written by Alma Flor Ada and Suni Paz.

The second CD is a series of stories read by the authors, F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada. It is their own versions of the 12 traditional tales that they wrote for their book, Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas. Some of the stories included are Blancaflor, Juan Bobo, Martina Martínez y el Ratoncito Pérez, El caballito de siete colores, and many others.

The third CD is actually in both English and Spanish. Once again read by the author. The Gold Coin or La moneda de oro is a beautiful book about generosity and transformation. You can read the moving and inspirational story behind this tale on Del Sol Books' website.

And our last CD is actually another collection of 27 songs based on the book, Gathering the Sun: An ABc in Spanish and English, written by Ada and Paz. These songs originate from simple poems written about the lives of Latin Americans; one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet. You can read a review here on the Latin Baby Book Club site.

I am so happy to be able to giveaway one of these CD sets to two readers. And I am especially grateful to Alma Flor Ada, for generously offering these as giveaways.


THE GIVEAWAY

I have two sets of each CD to giveaway and will choose two winners.

To enter to win, simply leave a comment below.

The deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Sunday, January 22nd. The winners will be chosen using Random.org. and contacted via email - so be sure to leave a valid email address in your comment! 

And to increase your chances of winning, you can:

1.) Leave a comment telling me which CD you are looking forward to the most!

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: Win a set of bilingual audio books for children from @LatinMami http://bit.ly/AeG1er #Spanish #reading #giveaway

3.) Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post in the comments below.

Don't forget to let me know by posting a separate comment for each entry!

By entering this giveaway, you agree to the Official Sweepstakes Rules. No purchase required. Void where prohibited.

¡Buena suerte!


UPDATE: A NOTE FROM ALMA FLOR ADA -

Dear Mommy Maestra readers:

I'm delighted to know that you will be able to share with your children some of the CDs that Isabel Campoy, Suni Paz and myself have created with great love. It would be nice to hear their reaction to the stories and songs. You can contact us at: http://www.almaflorada.com/, http://www.isabelcampoy.com/, http://www.sunipaz.com/. Do not miss visiting Isabel's new website! And let us know if you want a free subscription to the monthly enewsletter Smiles and Butterflies, with ideas on sharing books with children. All best wishes. ~Alma Flor Ada

Disclosure: This giveaway is offered in collaboration with the authors. I have not been compensated in any way for offering this giveaway, and it results from my contacting them and asking for a contribution to our Music in Education series.

This Weekend: Coro Hispano Celebrates Día de los Reyes

Last year, I told you about Coro Hispano's annual concert. This year is no different. In fact, this year they are celebrating 25th annual concert celebration in honor of Día de los Reyes. This weekend, if you are anywhere in the area, I hope you make time to attend. Their performances take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Admission is free on Friday and Saturday, and the latter's performance is a concert created specifically for children. You can find more information on their website.

MommyMaestra's Three Favorite Versions of the Las Posadas Song

When I searched Amazon for songs on las posadas, I got a whole list. But three in particular stood out in my eyes...er, ears. If you follow the link their Amazon page, you can listen to a sample of each one. I'm so happy to share these three inexpensive and very different versions that would delight any Latino household.

Las Posadas/Entren Santos Peregrinos by Donna Peña is a beautiful version that immediately brings to my mind the memories of my youth. Sung by adults, this slow and lyrical song might work best for more serious situations that demand a bit more sophistication, or as calming music before your child's bedtime. It is available on her album, Diciembre en Mexico ($8.99), or as a single MP3 for $.99. It is also available in a CD format ($36.75 and up).

Las Posadas with Violin and Guitar by the Stanley A. Lucero. This instrumental version would work really well as background music for an actual posada. I think teachers might also enjoy this version for teaching their students the song for a performace without the disctraction of the vocal accompaniment. It is available on his album, Fiestas y Cuento-Cantos ($8.99), or as a single MP3 for $.99. It is also available in a CD format ($20.36).

Con mucho cariño...

 Las Posadas by the Christmas Children's Choir. I love the joyful sound of children singing this traditional song! I can see how this particular version would be a hit in homes and classrooms around the world. It is available on their album, Villancicos de Navidad ($8.99), or as a single MP3 for $.99. It is also available in a CD format ($15.99).

6 Simple Tips for Helping Your Child Choose a Musical Instrument

Photo by Jorge Girarte

 
The following is a guest post by my friend, Angelica Perez, the publisher of New Latina, as part of a series on Music in Education.


At the age of 8, I distinctly remember being completely drawn to the sounds and look of the guitar. While my young friends were asking for the latest toys for the holidays, I insisted on getting a "real" guitar. I recall the day my guitar arrived by mail, in a long, triangular carton box. It was the happiest day of my childhood.

Raising my children with a deep love for music is something I've always wanted for them. The benefits of playing an instrument are numerous, ranging from enhancing cognitive skills to boosting self-esteem. What I personally enjoy the most is having our children play their instrument during a family get-together over the holidays or at a birthday celebration.
If you're considering introducing your child to an instrument. Here are some simple ways to help you help your child choose the right musical instrument.

1. Simply observe.

Some children are naturally musically inclined. Their little bodies move easily to the beat of a song, they can't help it. I remember once when my 3 year old was crying, frustrated at something she couldn't have, but moving to the beat of a song on the radio -- awesome!

Observing your child's reaction to music and musical sounds can give you great hints as to which instruments they naturally respond to and enjoy. Is he drawn to the soft musical sounds of the flute? Does she like the beat of drums?  Or the crisp sounds of the guitar? When dancing, to which musical instrument are they mostly dancing to?  Does she like loud sounds or quieter ones?  Is their an inclination for a particular tempo?

2. Visit a music store.

Taking your kids to a music store can feel like going to a toy store. Let your children browse through the various instruments. Encourage them to touch and hold them. Let them try them out. Notice where they go and with which instrument they spend most of their time.

3. Consider your child's characteristics.

Consider your child's age, size, personality, temperament, and readiness. Some instruments may be difficult to play for a beginner musician, while other instruments may simply be too big in size.  Consider also any health or physical conditions your child may have. The horn, for instance, may not be the best choice for a child with asthma.

4. Take your children to live music events.

There is nothing better than live music -- the pounding of live drums resonating all over your body, or the peaceful sounds of chamber music relaxing your inner soul.  Live musical events allow children to see and appreciate how instruments come together, and the end result of practice, practice, practice.

5. Don't push a particular instrument just because you like it.

Allow your child to figure it out by himself. We may have in mind a particular instrument for our child because we believe we know them well. Or, we may favor (or not) an instrument because we have certain judgments about it. Stepping back and letting your child naturally gravitate towards an instrument of choice is best.

6. Rent before you buy.

Choosing an instrument does not have to be a final decision. The first few months should be considered an exploratory phase, a time for your child to get to know the instrument and see if it's a good fit. For that reason, renting and instrument in the beginning may be best, especially if a new instrument could be costly (e.g., a viola or piano). In fact, the promise of purchasing a new instrument can serve as the perfect prize for the child who has shown enthusiasm, enjoyment, and commitment to a chosen musical instrument!


What musical instrument(s) do your children play? How did you help them choose?

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Angelica Perez, phd, is the creative force behind New Latina, an empowering lifestyle online destination.

Resources for Studying Music

Smithsonian's virtual exhibition: Música del pueblo

Do you take the time to study music with your children? Although we listen to it a lot in our home, I try to take time to deliberately study different types of music from around the world. This works especially well as a unit study, or as a part of studying world cultures.

Listening to music helps children to develop language and comprehension skills. It can also improve a child's reasoning abilities for math, science, and engineering.

I have found some amazing resources online for parents and teachers. Below are a few of the lesson plans, books, activities and other ideas for exploring this subject more in depth with your kids.

LESSON PLANS

Last spring, I put together this article for studying Spain's most recognized music and dance: Flamenco.

Putumayo Kids has a special section just for teachers that includes lesson plans, maps and song lyrics.

Smithsonian Folkways has a great website with a whole section dedicated to teachers that includes lesson, activities, folk life education kits, some really awesome interactive features (see photo), and more. 

OxFam also has global music site that has 20 stand-alone lessons, offering opportunities for singing, performing, composing, improvising, listening, and appraising. You can also explore rhythm, timbre, texture, structure, and pitch by using music from many cultures and countries.   

Kindermusik is a program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and young children. It teaches music appreciation and develops age-appropriate skills.

PBS offers a wonderful site for teachers with online lesson plans and activities for classical music based on their program, Great Performances. For elementary through high school.

For added inspiration, take a look at this fun video created by homeschooling mom, Marta Verdes Darby, and her children. You can find out more about their experience at the Walt Disney Concert Hall by visiting her blog, My Big Fat Cuban Family.

CD's

- Songs in Spanish for Children by various artists

- Cuban Lullaby by various artists

- Latin Playground by Putumayo

- Classics for Kids with music by the Great Composers.

BOOKS

Sing Along with Abuelita Rosa: Hispanic Lullabies/Canciones de cuna by Baby Abuelita Productions, illustrated by Oscar J. López. Perfect for small children, this musical board book features five traditional Latin American songs for children. 

Under the Mambo Moon by Julia Durango. A unique story that describes various types of Latin American music - from Colombia’s cumbia to the Dominican merengue to the candombé of Uruguay.

Diez Deditos & Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America by José-Luis Orozco and illustrated by Elisa Kleven. This lovely book includes the verses in English and Spanish, as well as the music arrangement for guitar and piano.

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers and Julie Maren. The inspirational story of the famous Cuban singer.

Salsa by Lillian Colon-Vila and Roberta Collier-Morales

Lola's Fandango by Anna Witte and Micha Archer

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart by Elizabeth Rusch, Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson

Cool Classical Music: Create & Appreciate What Makes Music Great! (Cool Music) by Mary Lindeen

Classical Music Stories by Cynthia Downs

Carnival of the Animals: Classical Music for Kids by Camille Saint-Saens, Barrie C. Turner and Sue Williams

Con mucho cariño...

Música amiga {GIVEAWAY}

I have long admired the work of authors Alma Flor Ada, F. Isabel Campoy, and Suni Paz. These ladies are certainly an inspiration to women around the world for their absolute devotion to children and education. When I began exploring Latino children's literature for my children and the Latin Baby Book Club, their work was some of the first I came across. They were then, and continue to be, my favorites. Both Alma Flor and Isabel have contributed to the Book Club's website with articles and descriptions of their books.

So as I was putting together this Music in Education series, their Música amiga collection immediately came to mind. So I contacted them asking if they would consider donating a set or one of their other works for a giveaway.

Their generosity is unbelievable and I am happy to say that MommyMaestra will be partnering with them over the few months to bring you some of their best educational materials for children. You can learn about these giveaways by following MommyMaestra's Facebook page.

To begin, the authors have offered two sets of Música amiga to MommyMaestra readers. One for a teacher and another for a parent.

Sra. Campoy once told me that she felt this series was their best contribution to Latino children. Written together with Alma Flor Ada, this incredible collection is made even more powerful by their collaboration with the talented Suni Paz, who arranged and sings all of the songs on the CD many of which are her original compositions.

This anthology of folklore and original poems uses the power of music and poetry to build literacy. It is available as a set or as individual books. Parents, teachers, librarians, and homeschoolers will find Música amiga to be a valuable tool for developing their students' phonemic awareness and supporting language acquisition; both basic foundations for reading success.

You can find a complete description of each book on the Latin Baby Book Club website as it was shared by Sra. Campoy. It is available for purchase through Del Sol Books.

THE GIVEAWAY

On this post, parents and teachers (ages 18 and over) may enter to win one set of Música amiga.

The authors want to be sure that both a teacher AND a family each wins this valuable collection, so...

To enter, simply leave a comment below letting us know if you are a teacher or a parent. (Por favor, if you are a teacher, do not sign up as a parent, too.) A winner will be chosen from each group.

The deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Monday, November 21st. The two winners will be chosen using Random.org. and contacted via email - so be sure to leave a valid email address in your comment! Open to United States residents only.

And to increase your chances of winning, you can:

1.) Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post in the comments below.

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: Win an entire set of Música amiga! http://bit.ly/vQ6PoE @LatinMami Spanish #reading #giveaway

Don't forget to let me know by posting a separate comment for each entry!

By entering this giveaway, you agree to the Official Sweepstakes Rules. No purchase required. Void where prohibited.

¡Buena suerte!

Disclosure: This giveaway is offered in collaboration with the authors. I have not been compensated in any way for offering this giveaway, and it results from my contacting them and asking for a contribution to our Music in Education series.

Inspiring Latinos You Should Know Series: Musicians

This week, as part of our Music in Education series, I'm happy to share with you three inspiring Latinos in the field of music. Maybe you've heard of some - or all - of them? I have been wanting to feature their stories for a while now and this seems to be the perfect opportunity. I would encourage you to share them with your students/children, so that they may see their faces reflected in our nation's history. I think most children love music so they will immediately relate to these fascinating people. And I hope that by seeing other Latinos who have followed their dreams and are passionate about them, will inspire your children to pursue their own.

Sonia Marie De Leon de Vega

Symphony and opera conductor, Sonia Marie De Leon de Vega, has been described as "a thunderbolt and a force to be reckoned with on the musical scene.” The first woman in history to receive a Vatican invitation to conduct a symphony orchestra at a Papal Mass, she is the driving force behind the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in L.A. Established in 1992, the orchestra strives to "share the beauty and inspiration of classical music with Southern California audiences, giving special focus to Latino communities that are under-served and underrepresented by the arts.”

Part of De Leon de Vega's passion is the education of youth, and as a result, she has created the orchestra's Discovering Music Program. The nationally- acclaimed program has been experienced by over 40,000 students in 35 schools. The goal of the two-year program is to introduce elementary students "to classical music, orchestral instruments, and the magic of the orchestra." In addition, it offers free violin lessons to students in middle school.

She is also the Producer and Music Director for the annual Opera Under the Stars concert in Los Angeles, a venue credited with launching the careers of many young operatic vocalists.

You can read more about De Leon de Vega on her website, deleondevega.com.

photo by Rachel Field

Suni Paz

Suni Paz is an author, lyricist, singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer of folklore and children's songs. Born to an Argentine Italian-Catalonian family, Paz began her musical career at 12 when she would perform for her family at parties. Since that time, Paz's upbeat and energetic performances have entertained and captured the hearts of children and adults all over the world. She has shared the stage with other famous performers, including Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Don MacLean and Richie Havens, to name a few.

In addition to creating her own beautiful, original songs, Paz also collaborates with the esteemed authors, Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy on an on-going basis. One of their best received works is Música amiga, a series of books and CD's that promotes literacy among Spanish-speaking children by developing their phonemic awareness and supporting language acquisition, basic foundations for reading success.

Most recently, Suni has contributed to the anthology, Wisdom Has a Voice by Kate Farrell. Her next project is a recording with Liz Mitchell of North American and Caribbean songs, which Suni has adapted into Spanish for Smithsonian Folkways. The CD is scheduled to be released next year.

You can learn more about Suni's life and accomplisments at her website, www.SuniPaz.com.

José-Luis Orozco

Born in Mexico city, José-Luis Orozco's wonder and love of music was developed at an early age, thanks to his abuelita. At only 8 years old, he joined the Mexico City Boy's Choir and traveled throughout Central and South America, and across the sea to the Caribbean and Europe. His Master's degree is in Multicultural Education and his books are used by thousands of teachers across America. I can't even begin to list all of the awards that Sr. Orozco has received, but I can assure you they are all well deserved.

His works are a gift to children, who will be engaged by the rhythm of the words and music. And your niños will greatly benefit from the interaction with you. Each book comes with lyrics in both English and Spanish, as well as simple arrangements for piano and guitar.

Some of his other books and CD's include, Diez Deditos and Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs, Fiestas A Year of Latin American Songs and Celebrations, Navidad y Pancho Claus, and Arrullos: Lullabies in Spanish, but he has SO many more.

Most recently, Orozco has been working on launching Caramba Kids, a new and innovative education program based on his music for children ages 8 and under. You can find more information on his wonderful website, www.JoseLuisOrozco.com.


Con mucho cariño...

This Week on MommyMaestra: Music in Education

Music is a large part of the Latino culture. From flamenco to samba, every Spanish-speaking country has a unique beat that often reflects the movement, thoughts, and passions of its people.

But all over the world, music is used to teach, soothe, and inspire. There's a reason that parents instinctively croon a sweet lullaby to their newborns. Children are instinctively rhythmic and their brains learn new concepts and sounds quickly when they are presented in a musical form.

MommyMaestra is dedicating this week to Music in Education. We have some fabulous articles on using music to teach language, tips for buying your child's first musical instrument, books on music appreciation, lessons and crafts, and so much more.

I hope you will bookmark this site and share it with your friends. And if you have found some fabulous music resources that you use with your own children or students, I hope you will share them with us!


Con mucho cariño....

Using Music to Teach Language

photo by Vectorportal

 
The following article is a guest post by Michael Fee, Managing Director of Lango, as part of our series, Music in Education.

At Lango, we teach foreign languages to kids ages 18 months to 11 years old. We do so with passion and enthusiasm, believing that every child should learn another language, and every child can learn a language. And we believe that language learning sinks in most deeply when students don’t just hear new sounds or even read new terms, but when they feel the new language, experiencing it deeply.

Music has the power to reach students deeply. Music has touched all of us; a profound musical experience can reach us on a visceral level, beyond superficial memorization. This is why, at Lango, music is part of every class, for every child – toddlers to tweens!

We’re hardly the first to suggest that language should be learned with one’s entire being; indeed, “Total Physical Response” (TPR) is an almost universally-accepted methodology that suggests that students learn languages best when they use not just hearing and speaking, but movement, tactile response and a full range of sensation. Meanwhile, language educators like Dartmouth’s John Rassias tell us that “the best way to learn a second language is to speak it and to live it; to involve both your intellect and your emotions.”  At Lango we believe the best way to experience a new language in such a way is through music.

When learning a new language through music, a student shouldn’t just listen, or even just sing along; she should dance! She should use her entire body to experience the rhythm and changes in pitch and volume that makes music so much more memorable than simple text, or even than a poem.

Music helps us teach new languages by ensuring that students acquire new sounds deeply, because music creates lasting impressions that make the new language easy to recall, but also because listening to lyrics forces a student to listen closely. During music-time in a Lango class, as students dance in time and in keeping with the content, our teachers cup their hands to their ears, reminding students to listen closely; invariably we see students nod vigorously as they pick up key words and begin to comprehend the thrust of the song.

But learning languages through music is about even more - more than learning with one’s entire self, or indelible impressions, or even comprehension; it reminds students (and us teachers!) that people exist behind the music and the language we’re hearing. At Lango we use toe-tapping, contemporary music we’ve created just for our lessons, but also traditional music, the music of the peoples whose languages our students are learning. For only by developing that richer understanding of the people who speak these languages do students truly grasp the depth of what they’re learning.

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Michael Fee, Lango's Managing Director, has spent his entire career in education, starting as a high school English Teacher with Teach For America in rural Arkansas. Since then, he has held various leadership positions, including running after-school tutoring facilities for Score Educational Centers and leading Intrax Cultural Exchange's study abroad and English-instruction businesses. He also earned his BA from Stanford and his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Most proudly, he is father to three children, all of whom are learning Spanish at Lango!