Glimpses of a Busy Weekend in Adelaide

A couple of concerts and a family outing

Ghana in Groove

Bridge over the river Torrens

A visit to see Wang Wang and Funi

at the Adelaide Zoo

St Peter's Cathedral

glimpsed at while wandering through the Autumn evening

"Yeah they were all Yellow"

Tell me how many beads there are
In a silver chain
Of evening rain,
Unravelled from the tumbling main,
And threading the eye of a yellow star: -
So many times do I love again.
~Thomas Lovell Beddoes

The lovely Nina of Nö's Familie was given the challenge to find seven light blue things around her home which you can see here. She has passed the task on to me to find seven yellow things here. At first I was very challenged at the thought of the colour yellow as it is perhaps my least favourite colour. I do not wear it well at all. Yet as I have been enjoying working with a bit of yellow of late, I knew I'd accept that challenge.

The yellow pansies blooming beneath our budding roses were the first yellow things that came to mind. Nearby I see the bright yellow faces of the Johnny Jump-ups, jumping up year by year and endearing us all to them once again.

While in the garden I also discovered some bright yellow gumboots often worn by the owner of the sweet little yellow watering can as she accompanies me around the garden, now requiring more and more water as the days warm. It is definitely Spring here now.

As soon as Ess came home from school, we were all on the hunt for yellow things. We found this buzzy bee, a recent garage sale purchase made by Ess for little Eee who was in need of a moneybox. She absolutely loves placing money in through the slot, opening the bottom to watch it all fall out and resuming the task of refilling once more.

The bright yellow duckies in our bathtub bring smiles to all. Some were gifts as Ess was born yet the two smallest were kept by my Mum and passed on to me. They were mine as a child, loved especially by Mum as "they float so well and don't have a hole allowing them to fill with water and hence mould", she recalls!! Daddy even found a few more things in our bathroom on his return. Not so pretty to photograph!

I have loved watching Ess wear this sweet little vintage dress with yellow ladybugs all over. The cotton is so soft, no doubt worn thin by the many times I wore it as a child.

The bright yellow ribbons I made for Ess to wear on her Sports Day earlier this year.

A bright bowl of fresh fruit - bananas and lemons from Grandad's tree - sitting on our Spring time table outdoors. Finally it is warm enough for us to dine al fresco (and not yet too hot!)

And a highly coveted mango, fresh from Australia's Northern Territory, much loved by myself and my daughters. Sadly my Generous Gentleman never seems to get a look in when these are around.

I am sure I have found at least seven things!!

All the while I have been singing this Yellow song in my mind. As I reflect, I note that all these yellow items represent the things in our home which are important to me: my family/my children, my garden, wholesome nutritious, fresh food.

Thanks Nina for a lovely challenge. I'd like to pass this challenge on to Diane, alecat and Jackie to find seven red things. Have fun! And of course, if you have a red song, I'd certainly love to hear that as well!)

"Look how they shine for you" ~ ColdPlay

Hippo Drawstring Bag for my Musical Staff

Music is an essential part of everything we do. Like puppetry, music has an abstract quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a wonderful way that nourishes the soul.” -puppeteer Jim Henson

My very faded plastic Myer bag which was used to store my homemade life-sized musical staff was long since overdue for replacement. When I found some sweet hippopotamus fabric in this Etsy store I knew immediately what I would do with it. The tiny little black hippos with their rounded bodies reminded me beautifully of musical notes and would perfectly suit the admirations of a group of 5 yr olds.

A simple drawstring bag was all I needed to house my five black rope lines to be laid out on the floor for the staff. The main part of the bag is made from a white curtain remnant which is quite sturdy so I didn't line the entire the bag, rather just the top few inches with some of the hippo fabric as a feature.

A ribbon threaded through a casing provides ample fastening for a soft bag with its soft contents. A little clear pony bead helps to hold the opening closed.

The musical staff would have to be one of my most favourite music education tools as it brings to life that rather abstract notion of musical notation. Once grasped it is very simple, however it can be quite daunting when one does not understand the relationship between all those dots, lines and spaces on the page. I use discs made of card covered in black contact which children can place between lines in the spaces and also around the lines to represent notes on the lines. (see how complicated it can become!) What is more fun however is when children actually jump and run through the lines and have swimming races and perform balancing acts on top of the lines in order to familiarise themselves with the notions of line and space. I love to play the 'Musical Machine' game whereby children actually physically become musical notes by standing on the lines and in spaces. I crank up the machine and hope for the best when I tap each 'note' on the head encouraging the children to sing the note they represent (with guidance from me where needed). I am always amazed at the results. Sometimes the machine doesn't work so well, it plays incorrect notes (on purpose ;) ) and leaves gaps of silences. It is simply a matter of cranking up the machine again and we are off creating musical melodies with our voices. All due to the inspiration of a simple musical staff on the floor.

Due credit must be given to the authors of Kindermusk for the Young Child for the inspiration of aspects of these wonderful games.

The French Horn

The discovery of song and the creation of musical instruments both owed their origin to a human impulse which lies much deeper than conscious intention: the need for rhythm in life… the need is a deep one, transcending thought, and disregarded at our peril. ~Richard Baker

It had been a while since since we had seen Grandad so we took the scenic route to visit him at his house. I am certain there was some enticement by a comment conveyed to us through my Generous Gentleman: "Apparently he has something for us all, he won't say what it is, but he wants us all to visit." I too had been gently nudged by the remark, "it's been a while since you've visited me", last time he phoned. It's true, time had flown. It's been winter and hanging out at Grandad's is best done outside which is not so enjoyable during winter, as you might imagine.

We collected oranges from the orange tree, lemons from the lemon tree, observed his Gouldian Finches and had fun exploring sticks and twigs, gumnuts and goldfish. All the delights of a grandparent's home.

At some stage during our visit, a French Horn appeared. I was very bewildered as I know Grandad, my father-in-law, as a guitar/banjo cum harmonica player. Never had I imagined that he might own a French Horn. 'Twas a pity as it would have been useful last semester when my Kindermusik for the Young Child class and I were exploring brass instruments. The thought crossed my mind to ask whether I could borrow it for a week, yet not knowing the origins of this horn and how precious it might be, I left my thoughts awhile.

Grandad decided that we simply had to listen to Beethoven's Romanzen via LP, yes an old record, on his brand new record player, with wonderful surround sound speakers. So we all sat and enjoyed this marvellous work sounding very rich and full and with those lovely old scratchy sounds a record makes.

Upon our departure I noticed that the French Horn was coming with us. All of a sudden I made the connection between the horn and the comments about us needing to visit him, and his having something we all needed to be there to receive. I am not sure why the giving was very understated, yet there are some things we just don't understand about our fathers-in-law and some things we just don't ask ;) Especially after I asked where it came from, to which I received the reply "Nanna's dead boyfriend's brother!" Goodness only knows!

So now we are in possession of a very old French Horn. I would love to know exactly how old it is. It certainly needs a polish. However that has not taken the shine off the enthusiasm of my precious Ess who enjoys playing it as often as she can. Each evening she enjoys playing Lucy Locket and Bell Horses and other wondrous explorations on her glockenspiel for Daddy. Now we endure, rather enjoy, the dulcet tones of French Horn blowing....um playing. Perhaps this little video tutorial will come in handy for her at some stage. Do let me know if you have any wonderful French Horn resources at the tip of your tongue. Come on, I know you all do! ;) I'd personally love to be able to understand all the meaning lying behind the symbols of the trademark. I'd love to be able to play a tune or two, but with all those overtones, it is very challenging.

Meanwhile in order to nurture my children's creativity, I can see I am about to develop a passion for the French Horn.

I teach a fun music program!

“A child sings before it speaks, dances almost before it walks. Music is with us from the beginning.”-writer Pamela Brown

Along with my numerous creative pursuits we enjoy lots of music in our home. I think the most wonderful parenting education for me prior to having my children was being a Kindermusik Educator. I learnt so much about how children learn through music and movement and of course, I implement all I learnt into our daily routines in our home. Singing accompanies almost every activity we do from hanging out the washing to tapping our fingers newly clad with plastic game markers which fit perfectly on a toddler's tiny fingers.

Currently my primary focus is on teaching my own children and ensuring they have all of me that they need and love, however I am still teaching one of my favourite curricula - Kindermusik for the Young Child for children aged 5 - 7 years. We are currently loving exploring our glockenspiels and delighting in the fact that the songs we sing can be played on our glockenspiel using the notes we are learning to read, create and 'be' with our whole bodies. C, D and A is all you need to know to be able to fluently and efficiently play Lucy Locket. However I am not seeking fluency and efficiency, I am seeking a specific process. I desire that each child explores creatively and makes connections across all key learning areas which are being stimulated. We play, read, write, sing, move, explore, listen and more. You are certainly most welcome to join us or another local Kindermusik educator in your area. Whether you have a baby or a young child, Kindermusik will enhance your life. And if you are past that stage, or not quite there, then perhaps you'd like to become a Kindermusik Educator.

Not sure! This video will show you what it can truly be like in class for both parents and children.

Sharing My Musical Heritage - Part Two

If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.  ~Gustav Mahler

Once again my lovely brother, David has posted some music and written about the musical heritage we share.  So I thought I should let you, my devoted readers, know again in order for you to feast your ears.  [Oh, I should tell you, David thought that you might prefer to listen to his own song Unchangeable Truth rather than his Awesomesauce after my last musical post.  I think I agree!]

The first piece in David's new post, Past Life Melodies, is very evocative of the Australian Outback and uses wonderful vocal techniques to carry you there.  Sarah Hopkins is renowned for delving into the world of harmonics in her compositions.  I think I agree with David about the title of the work however.

Go, have a listen!  Take some time and space with you, let the music surround you, immerse yourself, be renewed, energised, feel the music, the goosebumps.  Feast yourself on the lovely harmonic singing at the end of the piece - created purely with voice.  Enjoy the music!

The next track is Great Southern Spirits which takes you right to the heart of our nation, to Uluru.  Once again you will hear some wonderful harmonic singing.

Meanwhile I am off to my nappy change:

After my nap and before I can play

A nappy change is always well on its way.

It's the rhythm, the rhythm, the rhythm of my day.

No, not mine, my darling little Eee's.

A happy musical sunshiny weekend to you all.

Sharing Music and my Heritage

A painter paints pictures on canvas.  But musicians paint their pictures on silence.  

~Leopold Stokowski

Whether it be that music does not have a photogenic canvas or that I have not yet explored how to upload mp3s to my blog, the result is that I don't tend to share something which is a very important part of my day to day routine here.  That is, singing!  After all, I am a Kindermusik educator!

Singing with a toddler and a young child in the house means there is a beautiful way of dispersing negative attitudes and behaviours and instantaneously converting them into something fun, entertaining and lightening.  Did you know singing releases endorphins? I spend much of my days singing "toys away, toys away" and Incy Wincy Spider, Little Miss Muffet and Baa Baa Black Sheep.  Yet I also sing my own songs to just about everything I am doing - saying (or rather singing) Good Morning to my blossoms and changing a little nappy, cooking meals and hanging out the washing.  I just love this appropriate rhyme:

We are clothes in the washing machine

we wiggle and we giggle until we are clean

then Mama shakes us out to dry

And hangs us on the clothes line high.

~anonymous

and this one:

I'm a little teapot short and stout,

Here is my handle, here is my spout,

When I get all steamed up hear me shout,

tip me over and pour me out.

followed by:

Here's a cup, and here's a cup

and here's a pot of tea

Now pour a cup, and pour a cup

and have a drink with me.

~anonymous

Of course bikkies, cakes and muffins follows this.  Do you know the Muffin Man?

It makes the routines so much more fun and also helps a whingey little toddler when Mum is busier than she'd like.

I come from a musical heritage.  I don't remember not being able to read music, I sang with my brothers and sisters from a very young age and regularly directed performances in the home when we were very young.  We were all in the same choirs in our youth and from here is where I want to share something special with you.

My brother recently posted about his (and my) heritage as "a choir boy" :) and has uploaded a couple of songs from albums we created.  So pop on over and have a listen.  It's a treat, the albums have won awards - ARIA awards for classical recordings.  My favourite of his pair is definitely Autumn Song, by Peter Sculthorpe, a contemporary Australian choral work.   Enjoy it before this delicious season is over.  While you're on his site search a little and you're likely to find a few gems my brother has created himself - like Awesomesauce.  Hmm, I think that all the time I am devoting to my children he is songwriting - just a wee bit jealous am I.  Still I would have it no other way.  My children are my gems.  Now back to creating things for them.

I am From

Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee

Calls back the lovely April of her prime.
~William Shakespeare

Today is my mother's birthday.  She is away visiting her sister who is also celebrating her birthday today.  My aunty is 80 years old, she is 13 years my mother's elder.  Knowing they are celebrating getting older makes me reflect and think about where I am headed and where I am from. 

I recently read this post of Kellie's on Don't Look Now!  I thought it was lovely that she was from a similar place to me but never thought I'd write my own poem.  Then, at times unsuspecting, the poem sprouted and before I knew it my poetic juices were flowing and I had my own history penned.   So if you think you cannot, you will not, I encourage you to let go and see what might flow.  It is actually quite cathartic.  If you do write your own "I'm From" poem please let me know so I can join you in learning more about where you're from.  If you follow the links from Kellie's poem you will find the original from whence it came.

So here's a sneak peak of some of me.

I’m From

I’m from tireless pioneers, hard-working farmers and long dusty trails. From blacksoil plains, deceptive mirages and vast, tree-studded horizons.  From small country town, regional farming community and “townie vs cockie” the former is me!  From Mehi River, Gwydir River, where rivers meet. 

I’m from maternal ancestors trekking across seas, across lands; from England to South Australia, into northern New South Wales, up to central Queensland.  From sheep grazing, wheat farming then cotton as well. Corrugated iron sheds, blue-topped cotton modules, and seasonal “snowy” cotton lined roads.  From worshipping in a country church built by relatives of friends.

I’m from aesthetic beauty: flowers in the garden, arranged in vases, floral shows as well.  From cakes carefully decorated by my mother’s own hand, from embroidery, crochet, sewing, handmade.  Fixing loose threads on my clothing, “not the good scissors!”, stashes of fabric, buttons, binding and ribbons.  Always dressing well to go out.  From Sylvia’s fabrics, pattern hunting and fabric matching.

Paternally from Denmark to Australia, right into Queensland, freezing to heat.  From food production, apple orchards, vegetable growing and home baking.

From awkwardness, confusion; leadership and faith.  From silliness and laughter with my treasured brother and sister.   From independence and competence, achievement and success.

From “hugs and kisses”, “hugs and kisses” among siblings at the end of car journeys, upon arrival at our holiday destination, the “Uh-oh better go to bed” and “I wear my sunglasses at night, to keep my panties on tight” fun play with siblings.

Photo found at  www.Redbubble.com

I’m from the bright yellow daffodil, pretty pink poppy and rich red rose, the calm Carbeen tree, breezy Belah and the beloved, guarded unique Leopard Tree.

From the smoking besa block incinerator in the backyard, the besa block “barby”, begrudged family trips to the dump.

From oranges, mandarins and almonds in the garden, lawns always watered through hot summer months.

From home-sewn school uniform and Dad-knitted navy cardigan, from tights keeping legs warm from pesky, shivery Jack Frost on our front lawn

From Sunday roast dinners and baked beans on toast, salad plate lunches, toast fingers with soup.  From Potatoes La Jolla, Herbed Chicken pieces from “promite, not vegemite” or “vegemite not promite” sandwiches in lunchboxes.

Piano lessons during lunchtime, then through swimming lessons in high school. Piano duets in my best friend’s Mum’s bedroom on weekend retreats from boarding school.  Boarding school challenges, fun and successes.  Singing and singing, and singing some more, “Yes, Jesus loves me”, Christmas carols and rhymes.  Renaissance polyphonies, madrigals, and contemporary and sacred choral works.

I'm from sharing my music, from teaching tiny littlies, imparting my intuition and knowledge to the families I meet.  From meeting my beloved and sharing in our union, from bearing two treasured, precious daughters who now ofttimes lead me in my journey.

And now I am me, here today, returned to the start, growing veges and living down south in South Australia from whence my ancestors came, living and loving creatively, following my Creator.

Farm photos courtesy of my brother and sister-in-law. 

Music and Language Skills

Follow this link to view a 3 minute video showing some segments from a Kindermusik for the Young Child class.  Also, more importantly some independent research showing how the early study of music impacts the development of language.

Delightful Sounds.

Early music education is definitely very important for our little ones.  Music training has a pervasive effect on the nervous system.  Music is a fundamental part of education.  If you are fortunate to be able to study this privately this is magnificent.  I hope our schools here continue to value the importance of music education.  I wish it stood alongside Maths and English in primary schools rather than being just something special you went to another room for.  For its best effect music education needs incorporation in the classroom into everything children do.

Teaching Kindermusik for the Young Child again

I have decided to teach again in the new year.  It will just be one class - the one Ess will participate in.  I intend on gathering some of her friends to make a small class.  If you are around our area and would like to join in please contact me via email or with a comment here so we can be in touch.

The class will be held here on Tuesdays at 3:15-4:15pm commencing 3 February 2009.

For further information have a read about Kindermusik for the Young Child on our website.

Kindermusik for the Young Child is my favourite program of all that Kindermusik offers.  It provides little ones with the opportunity to really get involved in learning the rudiments of music in new ways.  They begin to understand symbols and hence start to read and write music of their own.  They develop their already keen aural perception of music.  They have the opportunity to take what they hear internally and reproduce with their voice, to various instruments to create melody, rhythms, accompaniment etc.  They create ensemble with their peers and enjoy what music making is truly about - self expression with a unique language understood worldwide.

My aim in teaching is to develop in children a lifelong love of music, as well as a passion for learning.  I intend to nurture bonds existing within the family by being informative for parents so that the family environment is a place, which is supported by Kindermusik, to arm wholly developed children to participate in our world in a fully interactive and integrative way.

Dream Pillow Fancies

"Knowing that everything we do, no matter how simple, has a halo of imagination around it and can serve the soul enriches life and makes the things around us more precious, more worthy of our protection and care... In a life that is animated with ritual, there are no insignificant things." ~ Thomas Moore in "Care of the Soul"

I have recently finished my favourite Kindermusik Village unit with my baby entitled Dream Pillow. I love the variety of musical ensemble in this unit which encourages us to sing and play together using the musical concepts of ostinato (in Aiken Drum), round singing (with O How Lovely is the Evening - in which Eee accompanies us beautifully on the chime bar) and speech ensemble (with Wee Willie Winkie).

Aiken Drum is a favourite with many babies in the class enjoying playing the "in the moon" ostinato on a collection of drums. I personally enjoy singing the round in harmony with our Kindermusik Educator, Mr Geoff, and the alternate melody on the CD. Eee enjoys watching the drum playing as we move around the circle together. She is certainly an observant learner.

The energetic and enthralling dance, Tants Tants Yidelekh, is a sure favourite with everyone every time I have participated in Dream Pillow. It is like an aerobics session with lunges, deep knees bends and the grapevine but despite the energy required to dance this dance, it entices all. The babies absolutely adore it too. They get to be moved around in such a variety of positions and are stimulated very much visually as well as physically in Mum's arms. It has become a favourite at home for all of us - in particular when we hear a whingey little Eee. Picking her up and reviving us all by enjoying dancing the dance renews everyone, and positive energy flows again.

We have been taken by a few of the lullabies also. Eee always begins her nap as I sing Softly Softly music fills the air now, as well as a favourite lullaby such as O Hush thee my Dove.

A sure way to capture an active, engaged mine is with the songs Sarasponda and Listen Listen. The rhythm of Sarasponda and higher pitches of Listen Listen evoke a sense of wonder and delight. I sing both songs when exploring new sound sources and also when needing a distraction such as when a certain small baby is sick of being in the high chair during meal times.

Music is such a part of our everyday lives. It is the way we enjoy each other, distract each other and also the way we share creativity with one another. Kindermusik supports and encourages this and we love our creative girls being nurtured in our weekly lessons.

There are more favourites...

I must mention the gorgeous Maypole Dance to Gavotte in G by J.S. Bach.

It was also during Dream Pillow that Eee discovered how to massage herself. She has enjoyed a massage ever since she was newborn. She loves it in class as well as after her bath as a little nudie. One evening as I sang her massage song she spread her fingers and rubbed her own hands over her tummy to join in and help me massage her - so very cute. She continues to do this sporadically.

...Oh Watch the Stars...we sing this and watch the torch making stars on our ceiling with Ess every evening before bed.

All these musical activities serve to beautifully embellish the halo of imagination surrounding all our daily rituals. How dull life would be without them.

Now we look forward to all next term has to offer with the fun-filled activities of Zoom Buggy! If you are yet to participate in a class yourself you can get a free class preview voucher. Don't miss out!

Blossom Dearie revives Oklahoma in me

During an interview I listened to recently I heard a dear old song which invoked nostalgia, hearkening back the days of my childhood. The song was “Surrey with a Fringe on Top”.

The interviewee, Lisa Forrest, remembers it fondly and states she often sings it to her children at night as they request it frequently: “chicks and ducks, chicks and ducks” they call. The first line of the song being “chicks and ducks and geese better scurry”. This enticed me to sing it to my two, indeed they have fallen in love with it too with Eee accompanying me on the piano and Ess requesting we sing it again and again as she bops and dances.

The song comes from the musical “Oklahoma”. While I don’t recall Mum singing it to us like this, Mum often got out the record she had of this musical, acquired after watching it during high school, and played it when we were kids. I am sure that as I grew older I would have put it on the old record player myself.

The recording I heard this time however was not from the original musical. It was sung by a female, was jazzier and somehow smoother, richer and creamier. I liked it, really liked it, and have since discovered it was a recording of Blossom Dearie singing it in 1958. How have I lived my life without hearing Blossom Dearie before? So now I have purchased her album Once Upon a Summertime and will play it for my daughters with fond recollections of my own childhood; all the while creating new memories for my girls to last a lifetime.

Pictures sourced from

Swan Lake

Sadly we were unwell during the holidays. One thing that soothed however was the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky and the magnificent choreography of Graeme Murphy in The Australian Ballet’s recent production of Swan Lake.

Ess has particularly enjoyed the ballet. Each night she has been listening to The Story of the Ballet written and narrated by Ann Rachlin with The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn. The story Ess hears is quite different to that portrayed in the recent production, fortunately. It tells of how true love can rescue good from evil: the traditional story of Swan Lake as an old legend found in Greece, Germany, India and Russia.

This contemporary production portrays images etched in the minds of today’s audience of the story of “the disposable princess who became the people’s princess” Read Shirley McKechnie’s review in The Age.

Nevertheless the music is absolutely beautiful, amidst the drama it is so calm and peaceful to have in the house as the family rests. The dancing is wonderful, so emotive. One becomes truly engaged in the story. What a powerful narrator is one’s own body!

I am thrilled to see my daughter delighting in the classics, and in this ballet in particular, which will no doubt remain close to her heart as she grows older.

Pictures sourced from The Daily Telegraph and The Age.