Articles by John Henneberger on ArticleSnatch.com

Exercise Goal Setting for Kids

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:12:51 -0400

Exercise for kids has many positive benefits that can help them mentally and physically in many aspects of their life. Although goal setting may not be the first thing on their mind when playing an entertaining game of basketball, making sure a child continues to be challenged is an important aspect of their physical and mental development. Goal setting for kids is an essential element that can bring about a successful achievement. Exercise, as with any project a child or an adult takes on, should have goals to be met. Setting these goals is essential in taking steps to reach them. It also gives the child motivation to work harder to progress. An exercise goal for kids could be as simple as being able to do five push ups. It could also be more complex such as working on skills that will help them out on the soccer team. There are two types of goals to keep in mind when supervising a children’s fitness program, short and long-term. A long-term goal should be the ultimate objective that the child is working for. As an example, it could be to participate in a mile long kid’s road race. **End Summary** Topics: kids songs]]> kids video]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus, also Enjoy the Kids Fitness Video Jump Up by Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident while learning and sign-up for the Silly Bus Newsletter

Writing Silly Bus Kidsâ Songs

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:40:44 -0500

A lot of work goes into the writing of a Silly Bus kids’ song. Our approach in Silly Bus is to write songs that appeal to both kids and parents, and finding that balance of sound and style that appeals to both generations is not easy to achieve. Let’s take for example the song, “Teddy Bear Boogie.” The concept of the song was to write a song with a very youthful theme, and we wanted to emphasize the letter ‘B’ because we were writing songs to align with an alphabet curriculum. We also wanted the song to have a lot of movement. The need for movement was to keep kids entertained while listening to the song both at home and at our shows. We have found that if we write songs with a lot of movement, kids feel that they can participate with the songs, and they respond more positively than to songs with less movement. Taking into account all of the requirements we wanted to incorporate into our song, we came up with a theme about a dancing teddy bear. A dancing teddy bear certainly met our desire to create a song with a youthful theme. **End Summary** Topics: kids songs]]> kids video]]> children's music]]> kids music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Music Education - Effective Rehearsals in the Class Room

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:36:20 -0500

An efficient rehearsal is dependent upon a stimulating, interesting, and well-planned rehearsal with maximum use of rehearsal time. Use of rehearsal time and pacing are important factors in producing a successful rehearsal. Time management includes starting and ending the rehearsal at the appointed times. Use every second of the rehearsal time to achieve rehearsal goals. Long-range goals and individual rehearsal objectives are an important part of making the most of the rehearsal time. If we don't know where we want to go in rehearsal, valuable time will be lost and less will be accomplished. Make connections between what is known and what is to be learned whenever possible. Where are the musicians in their musical, physical, cognitive, and emotional development? What is the attention span of a specific age group? What are their language and music reading abilities? What do they need to learn, experience, or review in the next rehearsal? What activities are most suitable for teaching a musical selection, skill, or concept? Answers to these questions provide the backbone of the rehearsal plan. Planning and providing references to previously learned musical concepts or skills saves rehearsal time. **End Summary** Topics: kids songs]]> kids video]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Music Education - Musical Learning and Transfer

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:33:02 -0500

The common definition of transfer is to carry or shift from one place to another. One of our goals in music education is for students to become knowledgeable about music and to be able to transfer that knowledge from one musical setting to another. As you read this article, view yourself as a parent or teacher involving the child in constructive and enjoyable musical learning. The transfer of skills and knowledge takes place as children progress from one level of understanding to another. Refer to the child’s previous experience and performance of the musical elements to aid the transfer process. The way we plan and implement transfer processes impacts the choice of music activities. Select teaching strategies that will provide ample opportunity for the children to make musical connections. Involve the child in discovering and exploring the relationship between the new learning experience and his or her current knowledge. For example, understanding that two quarter notes tied together equal one half note. Many years ago, one of my choral students, who was musically literate and conversant with reading music notation from basic choral scores, decided to join band. **End Summary** Topics: kids songs]]> kids video]]> children's music]]> kids music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Childrenâs Music - Repetition in Music and its History

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:32:55 -0500

In a previous article “Repetition and Musical Learning,” the focus was on various ways to use meaningful repetitions to enhance musical learning. In this article we look at the history of repetition as it evolved through the centuries of music development. Repetition of tones and patterns is an innate part of all music. Repetition encompasses a large variety of types and forms. Repetition gives structure and meaning to help us understand the music. It is a very important principle in composing or improvising music. How does this relate to children and music? Repetition in melodic patterns is very prevalent in children’s songs, i.e., “Frere Jacques” or “Are You Sleeping.” Repetition may take the form of exact imitation or be a variation of a melody. The spectrum of repetition in music extends to repeating entire sections of a musical selection. Carl Orff, renown German composer and music educator, and his collaborator, Gunild Keetman, outlined a process of introducing music to children. The process parallels the development of Western music. Using a single repeated tone (pedal), a simple accompaniment is created to add elemental harmony to a melody. **End Summary** Topics: kids songs]]> kids video]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Kids Songs - Marketing Opportunities with Educational Media

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:29:42 -0500

Educational Media, like kids songs and videos, is an effective medium to engage children and their parents in a meaningful and positive way. Videos and songs can be paired with brands to give back to the community, promote healthy behaviors and to just let kids have fun while learning. Different types of media coupled with an effective marketing strategy to create campaigns can be done on-line, during event marketing, or used together to drive engagement with a fan/consumer base. Marketing content can be delivered quickly to the consumer with social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Businesses can create differential and ‘sticky’ consumer experiences through these types of push/pull campaigns. For example, a push strategy sells directly to the consumer by using promotions and advertising as typical ‘push’ tools. A pull strategy, on the other had, is one that creates demand from a consumer to ‘pull’ them to your product or service. Usually this requires a lot of marketing investment to create consumer demand. TV ads can create pull or demand for a product, especially when advertising toys to children for example. **End Summary** Topics: kids songs]]> kids video]]> children's music]]> kids music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Kids Songs - Making Meaningful Music

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:32:02 -0500

In 2005, I co-founded Silly Bus, a multi-media company specializing in fun, entertaining and educational children’s songs and videos. Up to that point as a songwriter, I had focused predominately on the usual pop/rock topics – love, loss, redemption, etc. Although early in my career I experienced moderate success, nothing could have prepared me for the rewarding life of a children’s songwriter. Ever since joining Silly Bus, songwriting has been more meaningful. Simply put, it feels great to write songs to help children learn the alphabet, health & fitness, math and other fundamentals of life. The songs have a purpose beyond self—to enrich the lives of children and their families. An unexpected, but welcome result of Silly Bus’ success has been the opportunity to work with our favorite nonprofits. This work has allowed us to expand our repertoire through the production of unique multi-media combining partner messages with our creative handiwork. “Heroes and Angels” is one such song of which I am particularly proud. Inspired by and written for Connor’s Heroes Foundation, Heroes and Angels discusses childhood cancer, the unique issues associated therewith and the heroes dedicated to helping children with cancer and their families. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Kids Music - Fun Fitness for Kids

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:15:57 -0500

Exercise and fitness for kids can be both physically rewarding and fun at the same time. One of the biggest challenges facing youth today is childhood obesity. Due to a more sedentary lifestyle, this is a growing problem that will take some solutions that deal with children’s attitudes toward exercise. In today’s age of technical innovations and new ways to entertain children, the growing trend is a lower level of physical activity. More time is spent in front of the television watching movies, surfing the internet, or playing video games. Activity and exercise have given way to the latest sports video game and online adventure. These forms of entertainment seem to have caused today's children to have an increasingly negative attitude towards real exercise. With a little positive guidance this doesn’t have to be the case. One way to encourage children to exercise is to change the way the think about exercise. Instead of the notion that exercise is nothing but hard work, emphasize the fun aspect of it. Show children what fun it is to play basketball. A fun time can be had when shooting hoops. Look at it as playing a game instead of a chore. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Kids Music - Branding Through Educational Media

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:09:13 -0500

As consumers we are drawn to familiar brands that consistently provide great products and services. Brand loyalty is sometimes inherited from our parents (i.e., Do you prefer Pepsi or Coca Cola?). It is also earned through a company’s dedication to quality. Even the best products and services, though, can go unnoticed or be forgotten. Competition is fierce, and no matter what a company’s line of business, there is almost certainly a comparable provider in the market. To raise awareness and to stay fresh in consumer minds, companies should break the mold and think of creative ways to make a lasting, meaningful impression. Branding through educational media offers just that. Educational media, as used in this article, refers to kids songs and kids videos containing substantive messages designed to teach children subjects like math, science, fitness and green living. One way for companies to make an impact, raise brand awareness and grow goodwill is to supplement the traditional “pushing” of products with educational media. Educational media through kids songs and kids videos enables companies to use radio, television and bandwidth for the greater good. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Kids Songs and Music - Major and Minor Tonality

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:31:38 -0500

Music is very much a part of our lives. It touches us in many ways and evokes various emotional, cognitive, and physical responses. Music can convey many themes and ideas. Music communicates with us in terms of our own thoughts and feelings. The early Greeks believed that certain modes (scales) or tonalities elicited specific emotions. Let’s visit two of the most commonly heard scales in Western music (the major and minor tonal systems) and the responses that these scales may elicit from the listener. To readily hear a major scale, play from C to the next C using only the white keys of a piano. To hear a minor scale, play from A to A using only the white keys. For the child, the difference between major and minor is a difference of mood. Major scales tend to increase feelings of happiness and joy. Minor scales are more somber and tend to dampen one’s spirits. Children often describe songs in major as sounding bright or cheerful. They describe minor as sad or spooky. While teaching music to young children, I discovered that they can sing songs in a major tonality more easily than songs in a minor tonality. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Kids Music - Repetition and Musical Learning

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:29:30 -0500

Mastering musical concepts often requires much repetition. Repetition of patterns in songs reinforces content and retention of words and melodies. Since all children do not learn in the same way or at the same rate, much repetition using a variety of learning strategies is important. When planning repetition strategies, they should be chosen with thoughtful consideration in order to maximize the learning opportunity. Meaningful learning and music-making experiences are the result of well-thought out plans for teaching a song. Avoid mundane drill-like repetition. Add something new and engaging to each repetition. Do it again, but in a different way. High repetition enables the child to develop an appreciation and enjoyment of a song or musical selection. Repetition reinforces the memory of the listener which, in turn, lays the foundation for comparing new musical material. Repetition aids clarity and understanding of music and words. Through repetition and multiple applications of their musical learnings, children enhance their abilities to transfer new concepts with understanding from one musical setting to another. Follow an orderly, sequential plan for high repetition. The process should include modeling, a positive feeling tone, and lots of variety. The repetitions should always be meaningful to the child. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Making a Difference with Educational Music

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:41:19 -0500

At the beginning of 2005, Silly Bus was nothing more than a start up small business. Today, they have released nationally four CDs, and multiple music videos, which can be heard and seen on stations throughout the United States. They have played for numerous benefits, kids’ expos, and schools. They have also worked with well known companies, such as Radio Disney, XM Radio and NBC. You may be asking yourself, ‘So, how is their music making a difference?’ What distinguishes Silly Bus from other kids music is their focus on educational content. Their first CD release focused on Standard of Learning (SOL) content for young children (Kindergarten through 2nd grades). The songs on this album cover a range of topics, including math, grammar, science, physical fitness, and history. For their second and third CD releases, they teamed with preschool educators to write songs geared towards learning the alphabet. These songs incorporate both phonics and whole language techniques. The song Turkey Time has fast become a national favorite having been featured on NBC’s Today Show the past two years on Thanksgiving Day. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

How to be a Rock and Roll Dad through Kids Music

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:40:30 -0500

I was your typical traveling musician back in the 90’s playing rock music up and down the East Coast. After years of living the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, I eventually found myself working a full time office job for extra income. Articles about my band changed from titles about headlining clubs to titles about being a banker by day and a rocker by night. Over time, life took some additional twists and turns, and I found myself yearning to be that late night rocker while in reality I had settled down as the parent of three kids. The question that kept echoing in my mind was, ‘How do I satiate that desire to continue music while dedicating the time and energy necessary to be a good parent?’ The answer to that question ended up being right in front of me in the form of knee high kids running around me daily. Who could be a better and more dedicated audience than my own kids? With that in mind, I co-founded Silly Bus, an educational media creations company specializing in fun, educational kids music and videos. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kids music, kids video, kids songs, video games, children's music and much more all available at Silly Bus , an educational media company established in 2004 to help children feel confident, successful and happy while learning. You can buy from our iTunes Store

Reinforcing Healthy Habits with Kids Music and Videos

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:20:30 -0500

Kids music and videos are great tools for teaching and reinforcing habits essential to a happy, healthy life. The invention of the iPod, satellite radio and on-demand programming has made it easier than ever for parents and educators to teach and emphasize healthy choices. Whether in the home, in the car or at school, children can watch, listen and learn. Simply by taking the time to select and share kids music and videos, parents and teachers can enrich the lives of children. All music and videos, however, are not created equal. Kids music and videos should be chosen based on theme and feel. To encourage healthy living, parents and teachers should select music promoting healthy habits. Habits every child should know and follow include: (i) Getting rest through naps and a good night’s sleep; (ii) Washing hands and regularly bathing; (iii) Brushing teeth and flossing; (iv) Exercising regularly (running, dancing, swimming, playing with friends, etc.), (v) Good nutrition (healthy meals and healthy snacks); (vi) Keeping your room and clothes clean and (vii) Wearing sunscreen. Parents and teachers should instill these habits in their children and students at a young age to ensure a lifetime of health and fitness. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Educational Music for Busy Families on the Go

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:16:04 -0500

These days, families are busier than ever balancing work, school, activities, and simple household chores. This makes it difficult to find time for additional learning activities outside of school. Additionally, this time constraint makes it challenging to effectively prepare preschool age children with the fundamentals needed for kindergarten. Families are often faced with the reality of both parents needing to work. Forty years ago, this was not as prevalent since mom often stayed home to raise the kids and could devote the time to supplement educational activities. The time spent at home gave children a boost when it came to preparing for and engaging in elementary school. The foundations put in place at an early age provided the needed head start. This allowed generations of children to begin their schooling successfully and to continue on through high school and college with the same success. To help parents and guardians solve this challenging issue, parents should consider leveraging educational music and videos for use in the car or during times when there is down time for their children. There are multiple companies that offer this type of content and media for children. **End Summary** Topics: kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> kids music]]> kid music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

How to Find Great Music for Kids

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:18:45 -0500

We all know that the internet has become a dominate force in helping find things and answering questions quickly. One of the questions that arise for parents is “how to find great music for kids?” Ten years ago people took the time to stop by the local music store and search for music. Stores readily provided a highlight of top selling CDs. This provided a good starting point for people to discover new music enjoyed by others. As we have moved farther into the Internet Age, more and more music has become available to anyone having access to a computer. This has been good from a content perspective. However, it can make finding great music for children a challenge given the volumes of songs and artists available online. To find great kids music online today, the most popular resource by far is to simply utilize search engines like Google or Yahoo and enter key words such as “Kids Music.” This will yield pages of results, but you can leverage the first page or two in the same way that the record store was used ten years ago. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Welcoming Music: Using Kids Music as an Educational Tool

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:15:47 -0500

Playing background music, or "Welcoming Music," as students enter, exit and return to class is a great way to create a fun, conducive learning environment. Teachers may use Welcoming Music to set classroom tone and to establish atmospheres complimentary to daily schedules and lesson plans. Upbeat, lively kids music may be used to energize students for a day of learning. Slower, soothing kids music may be used to calm rowdy students returning from recess. Properly selected Welcoming Music can achieve any desired environment. Welcoming Music is also a great way to introduce students to new topics. Teachers may use kids music to spike interest and to acquaint students with educational material. When preparing for class, teachers should consider selecting content specific children’s songs to accompany class activities. Welcoming Music is not just a tool for teachers. Parents may strategically use Welcoming Music as well. Just as in the classroom, playing kids music at home prepares and excites children to perform any number of tasks. Welcoming Music encourages otherwise reluctant children to do homework, take naps, wash their hands and get ready for bed. In addition, parents may use Welcoming Music to reinforce lessons learned in class. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - Audiation and Learning

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:39:38 -0500

An important building block for learning music skills and concepts is audiation. You may be familiar with the term inner hearing. The term audiation (inner hearing of music or silently hearing music) was coined by music education researcher Edwin E. Gordon. Audiation is Gordon’s term for hearing music in the mind with understanding. It is the process of thinking music and comprehending music in the mind. Gordon describes audiation as the foundation of musicianship. Audiation is the process of mentally hearing and comprehending music, even when no physical sound is present. It is a cognitive process by which the brain gives meaning to musical sounds. In essence, audiation of music is analogous to thinking in a language, as said by Edwin E. Gordon Mary Ellen Pinzino states that audiation is a way of knowing in melody and rhythm. It is a unique human capacity outside the realm of words. To audiate is to "think" music, but in melody and rhythm rather than in words. Audiation is another way of knowing. Audiation is the musical imagination. It is the man-made music of the mind. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - Lyrics, Melody and Memory

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:20:27 -0500

While observing a student teacher in a first grade music class recently, I was struck by the phenomenon of students chanting a poem and then asking if they could add a melody to the poem. When the teacher asked comprehension questions about the poem prior to adding the melody, student responses were general. When the same questions were asked after adding a melody to the poem and singing it, student responses were more specific. They often sang their responses. Adding the melody to the words seemed to help ingrain in their memories the meaning of the poem. Perhaps it was the simultaneous action of the right and left sides of the brain which helped the students to recall additional information from the poem after a melody was added. This observation reminded me of my own music teaching at the elementary level and the frequency with which I would add melodies to poems, chants, and stories to help students remember key educational themes. Many times, classroom teachers would tell me that because students sang songs about the fifty states, math concepts, historical facts, rhyming words, etc., their students were more successful in remembering and recalling this information. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - Enhancing A Companyâs Brand with Educational Music for Children

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:17:23 -0500

In today’s competitive landscape it has become increasingly important for companies to differentiate themselves from the competition. One of the ways this is being done is through the use of brand and marketing programs that support families and children. Campaigns focused on this not only allow companies to show their support of families, but also create lasting images that allow market positioning with the next generation of customers. A children’s educational marketing campaign is one way to enhance brand and market position. Educational agendas create connections with families and children across demographic groups and are viewed as very positive in the minds of both existing and potential customers. Topics promoted in this type of educational campaign can include the ABC’s, basic math, health and fitness, and energy conservation. Educational Media Creations Company, LLC (EMCC) is on the forefront of developing these types of integrated promotional campaigns. Through its Silly Bus brand, EMCC works with companies to develop one-of a-kind music and videos for kids. Silly Bus products are easily promoted in CD, DVD and digital download formats which allow companies to keep cost low while providing tangible product and brand placement directly into the hands of their customers. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - Maximizing Learning through Music

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:10:49 -0400

Singing, dancing, playing instruments and listening to music involve a reaction to a mental conception. How can we facilitate these mental conceptions? When we observe how children perceive and participate in musical activities, we can better nurture their growth as musicians. In this article we will briefly touch upon the elements that enhance the learning of our children and generate a successful, productive musical experience. One very important key is to know the child’s age, cognitive, and physical developmental levels. Create a physical environment that stimulates and increases student involvement and enhances student learning. Involve children in discovering and exploring the relationship between the learning experience and their current knowledge. Invite the child’s input as to expressive and musical qualities needed to enhance their performance and participation. His or her input will give ownership to the learning experience as well as indicators for the parent or teacher to assess the child’s understanding of music skills and concepts. Use a wide range of involvement strategies and learning styles--visual, auditory, kinesthetic (movement), tactile (use of puppets and other manipulatives), analytical, creative, and descriptive. We need to be able to speak to the many needs of our children. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - The Magic of Music for Kids

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:10:49 -0400

What’s so great about music? We all know that music can make us want to jump, dance, and tap our feet. But did you know that music has been linked to math scores, brain development, and anxiety relief? During the critical young ages of learning while the brain is still developing, the impact of music is at its greatest level. But even beyond the younger years, music can still play an important role, providing instruction for pre-teens, anxiety relief for adults, and even therapy for Alzheimer patients. Psychologists and Educators are just beginning to uncover the many benefits that music provides for our mental health. While we all may be somewhat familiar with the idea that loud and fast music makes us feel different than quiet and slow music, research is showing that the predictable ways that music can influence us goes beyond altering our moods. Some studies show that we can predictably alter many of our mental states, and even heal damaged brains. Another study has found that students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) were able to improve their focus, given neurofeedback results while listening to background music. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - Discovering and Maximizing the Benefits of Children's Music

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:26:25 -0400

Numerous articles have been written about the positive effects of music on early childhood development. Known for promoting succinct communication, enhancing comprehension and encouraging learning, music is regarded as an essential teaching tool. The use of music for educational purposes, however, should not be limited to the classroom. Childrenâ€™s music offers a unique opportunity for parents to support their childâ€™s development. Content specific childrenâ€™s music may be used to teach and reinforce traditional preschool and elementary school material. Such music also may be used to instill healthy eating and living habits. Parents should carefully select childrenâ€™s music containing substantive, educational messages to maximize their childâ€™s learning potential. Childrenâ€™s music also offers a unique opportunity for parents to enhance their childâ€™s communications skills. Kids learn by mimicking sounds and internalizing messages. Parents should expose their children to music containing correctly pronounced words, speech patterns and sentence structure to ensure proper development. To take advantage of these benefits, parents should not only select the proper music to play, but also determine the best times to play it. Children benefit from consistency and repetition, so setting a music routine is essential. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - The Benefits of Educational Music for Kids

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:38:42 -0400

It is interesting to observe how fast children learn when they are young! Research supports our observations that learning experiences must begin in the early years from birth to age five. This is a critical time in a childâ€™s musical and cognitive development. The benefits of music and movement in the preschool years have been well documented. Research studies show that music enhances brain development and academic learning. Music affects many areas of brain function and neurological development. Many levels of neurological readiness exist in children, and music is a powerful enhancer at each stage of neurological development. The earlier a child is exposed to music and movement, the better. Research findings include: â€¢ Children who receive early music training score higher on standardized tests. â€¢ The use of music during learning can increase a childâ€™s IQ. â€¢ Young children who take music lessons show different brain development and improved memory over the course of a year compared to children who do not receive musical training. â€¢ There is a link between spatial reasoning and participation in music and movement activities. Preschool children are at the beginning of the learning spectrum. **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.

Kids Music - Best Suited Music for Kids

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:53:04 -0400

In todayâ€™s busy world, it is increasingly important for parents to optimize quality time with their children. As mentors, educators and playmates to their newborns, toddlers and preadolescents, parents shape their childrenâ€™s social and intellectual development more than any other influence. Educational childrenâ€™s music offers parents the unique opportunity to positively impact their childrenâ€™s lives through simultaneous entertainment and education whether at home or on-the-go. A childâ€™s mind is a clean slate. Early impressions, especially if routine, act as the childâ€™s foundation and are essential to his or her long-term success. As such, parents should carefully select the experiences to which their children are exposed. We all know that music is a powerful and pleasant experience as well as a medium for communicating feelings, emotions, and information. Music nourishes the positive elements of our nature. It is, therefore, very important for parents to use music in creating and nourishing the positive virtues that are essential for their kidâ€™s healthy development. The question now arises, what kind of music is best suited for kids when they are in the early stages of development, especially when they are between 1 and 10 years of age? **End Summary** Topics: kids music]]> kid music]]> kids video]]> kids songs]]> children's music]]> music for kids]]> music for children]]> childrens music]]> kindergarten]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Silly Bus is an award-winning educational media company that specializes in the creation of fun, educational music and videos for children. Our team of media, business and educational professionals also partners with companies nationwide to create one-of-a-kind multi-media to help kids learn.