The Joy of Kindermusik

Posted by kmwithsarah on 22 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: All that other stuff, KM Information, Useful Information

Musical learning is a joyful and enriching way of helping your child to develop to her full potential - in music, in school, and in life!  Check out this wonderful video of children newborn through age seven experiencing the joy of learning with Kindermusik.  This video features children in all of the age groups we offer, and does a wonderful job of showing how the Kindermusik experience grows with your child, building on previous experiences to support and encourage your child in every area of development.  Its so much more than music, and something I am very proud to be a part of when I enter the classroom each day.

Hat tip to fellow Kindermusik educator Merri Williams, who has a fantastic blog devoted to her passion for music education and all things Kindermusik.  While not always accessible from Beijing because it is hosted on Wordpress, its a delightful thing to read (and watch!) if you get the chance.

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Sichuan Earthquake Relief

Posted by kmwithsarah on 14 May 2008 | Tagged as: All that other stuff, Useful Information

As some of you may know Kara Waddell, a Kindermusik with Sarah parent, leads the NGO Operation Blessing here in China. She is now in Chengdu to coordinate relief efforts, and I hope our community of families and schools will be able to support the work she and her team are doing to assist children in the quake affected areas. Operation Blessing is partners with the China Charity Federation and China Foundation for collecting funds legally in China and for coordinating disaster relief activities. Collection of needed goods is also normal for this type of disaster, and Operation Blessing will be making arrangements for this type of aid to be sent in the coming days from partners here in Beijing.

Here is a message that came through from Kara this evening. Details for assisting Operation Blessing are included after her message. If you are in a position to do so, this is an excellent way to ensure your donation will reach people who need it most through a very trustworthy and experienced organization.

Children’s Hope Int’l and Operation Blessing with the Children’s Social Work Association and Red Cross are focusing on children at risk and checking on foster homes, orphanages, and other children in hard hit areas. We’ll be in touch with needs.

It’s amazing here - everyday people driving their cars full of supplies and going themselves… we had 11 cars of Chengdu citizens crammed with supplies that went to Dujiangyan today. Another team in Mianyang who will spend the night. It’s wonderful to see everyone helping. Foreigners are not currently allowed to go to these impacted area.

Please be aware that disaster relief unfolds and twists and turns in bizarre ways so one’s plans change every few hours, it seems. Currently, Operation Blessing China relief workers have established a dual response:

Mianyang City - where 3000 are being reported dead, 18,000 buried in rubble which could greatly increase the death toll; we have a partnership there with an official government church and government officials in this area. They are reporting greatest needs are shelter and food. We can purchase in the region so cash donations currently most helpful. Large scale food or shelter supplies please contact me directly (corporate donations already in China).

Dujiangyan City - we have a 2-year old friendship with the Red Cross from a district in this city. We are making local purchases of relief supplies and will help distribute with the Red Cross.
We also intend to check on foster homes or orphanage facilities in the area. Anyone aware of a foster care facility in need in impacted region please contact Operation Blessing.

The roads are extremely bad and in my opinion the government is not in error to focus on getting its military and government aid workers into the more remote, mountainous areas first without allowing other NGOs initially. We are keeping in close contact wtih the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation as well as the China Charity Federation for coordinating
response.

Donations really are needed. Schools that are interested in putting together donated disaster relief kits (ziploc bags iwth certain supplies) can likely also give us drawings and cards that we can give to schools in the area. Kits may or may not be used in this relief in Sichuan but any
cash donations made will be used. I hate to always ask for cash but all relief experts are right - give to whoever you trust, but cash in response scenarios really, really helps.

CORPORATIONS interested in helping with in-kind product donation or cash donations;
China tax-deductible receipts are available
catherine@obchina.org (Chinese)
chiawhui@obchina.org (English)
6466-9296

SCHOOLS interested in helping with in-kind product donation or cash donations, please contact:
chiawhui@obchina.org

CASH DONATIONS in RMB 1000 RMB and under:
Please drop off at office on Liangmaqiao Lu - beside the Canadian International School; the link below contains directions:
http://www.obchina.org/contact/beijing/
6466-9296 (office on Liangmaqiao Lu); keep trying the number if busy
heidi@obchina. org

CASH DONATIONS of RMB 1000 or more:
Tax-deductible receipts and/or gift pick-up may be possible.
http://www.obchina.org/contact/beijing/
6466-9296 (office on Liangmaqiao Lu); keep trying the number if busy
chiawhui@obchina. org

ONLINE DONATIONS:
https://www.cbn.com/giving/obChina/option.asp
Domestic and international credit cards can be used. 100% of funds dedicated for use in China although funds collected in the U.S. All funds received this week online we’ll dedicate to this earthquake relief, recovery and development efforts.

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New Article in tbjKids!

Posted by kmwithsarah on 08 May 2008 | Tagged as: Barbara, KM Information, Only in Beijing

At first glance into Beijing’s Kindermusik program, you can’t be sure if you’ve wandered into a children’s band, a dance class, or a small miracle – 11 babies, and not one of them crying.

That’s not a miracle, its the power of music!

Mother and Child, photo credit Simon Lim, tbjkids.com/Truerun Media

Check out the fantastic article in the May 2008 issue of tbj Kids all about Kindermusik! The article features the voices of the Tuesday morning Our Time class in Shunyi and some fabulous pictures of Barbara’s Tuesday morning Our Time crew at Central Park in the CBD.

Thanks to Jessica Pan and Simon Lim for taking the time visiting our classes and share such a beautiful portrait of what we do at Kindermusik.

Would you like to visit us too? Book a free preview class today, and find out just how Kindermusik can help you bring musical learning into your family this summer. Summer classes begin June 1st! Register early to avoid disappointment.

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Mumtrepreneurs of the world unite!

Posted by kmwithsarah on 06 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Julia, Only in Beijing, Useful Information

balance imageThe China Daily has published an article on a local women’s entrepreneurship group I am a member of here in Beijing, focusing on how we balance self employment and family life. Its an interesting read, if only to realize that working parents face many of the same issues.  Oh, and that I know some really cool people doing great work here!

Click here to read the article in full, and see a somewhat unflattering picture of Julia and I at the Temple of Heaven. Unfortunately we were fresh out of staged photos of us merrily singing and cleaning instruments together while I am typing, answering the phone, and reheating leftovers.

This image lovingly borrowed from www.thestayathomemother.com website.

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I’ve Got the Tomb-Sweeping Blues . . .

Posted by kmwithsarah on 02 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: All that other stuff, KM Information, Useful Information

Getting Behind QingmingJust a reminder that this Friday, April 4th is Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Festival) and a brand new national holiday here in China. As many of our families have made plans for this new long weekend, there will be no Kindermusik with Sarah classes this Saturday, April 5th, 2008. An extra week of classes will be added in June to make up for the sessions missed this weekend.

What is Qingming, you ask? Well, a whole lot of things apparently! Danwei.org has compiled a great article on the historical roots of Tomb Sweeping Day and its related customs. As one delightful Kindermusik mom explained to me this week, “its the day we go to our family’s graves to celebrate the fact we aren’t in one yet!” Now there’s a hoilday I can get behind!

Looking for something else to do? Come visit us at the Beijing Expat Show at the China World Exhibition Hall in Guomao. Lots of family fun to be had, over 150 exhibitors, a community blood drive, and much more. We’ll be at booth 43A in the School section, in partnership with BabyGro and Dkids. Free souvenir photos courtesy of Dkids, fabulous imported children’s products, and lots of musical fun to be had as well. Stop by to say hi, see the new Summer 2008 Class Schedule and get a free temporary tattoo to share your love of Kindermusik with everyone!

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