Dear Friend of Music

Hi, and welcome to the first edition for 2005 of our new E-newsletter MusicNotes.

MusicNotes is for preschool and primary teachers, caregivers, parents, therapists, community members and anyone who loves music and is passionate about music for children and all people - regardless of age or background! If this is you, please read on. If not, simply reply to this email with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line and we will remove you from our email list.

Phil and I have had a busy couple of months since we last spoke getting our new early childhood album completed called ‘Funkey Monkey' and planning a number of teacher workshops and Artist in Schools programs for this year.

Tomorrow morning at 4am (would you believe), we head up to Mt Isa in Northern Queensland to work with Teachers, then with 150 kids at a school over 2 days and followed by 2 evening community singing workshops with adults. We then fly down to the Gold Coast for a teacher workshop and an afternoon workshop in a preschool centre in Byron Bay . Over the following weekend we are co-ordinating the first National Speakers Association Youth Leadership Convention for kids between 10 and 16, to help give them the skills to find their uniqueness and greatness.

National Review of School Music Education

A fantastic government initiative is taking place in Australia for the first time in history.

There is a National Review of School Music Education and if you are a parent, studio teacher, classroom teacher, preschool teacher or anyone passionate about music education please go to www.schoolmusicreview.edu.au and fill out the survey.

The deadline is 30th April and unless we all make an effort to fill this in and make the time to be counted – the opportunity may pass us by. Did I mention that I began my Masters in Music Education last year at Melbourne University and I'm thinking seriously about doing my thesis around an Orff based Improvisation course? In other words I want to be able to help teachers and ultimately children to heighten and develop musical freedom, creative expression and confidence through improvisation – how does that sound?

Phil and I are working hard on our website and are updating it all the time.

Please visit it on a regular basis and we promise to eventually have articles there for you, free music for you to download and information about our workshops and programs.

We will be emailing Music Notes every 2 months and welcome your feedback and/or any questions or issues you would like to discuss. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions to help us bring you the most useful tips and information.

Funkey Monkey
- new early childhood album now available !

Our brand new album, Funkey Monkey is an exciting and original collection of rhymes, songs, games, dances, musical stories and instrumental activities for children up to 8 years.

It comes with a CD (and several Baktraks) and a Teacher's Manual with music, words, guitar chords and extensive notes on how to use the material.

Tracks include; 'Groove Train', 'Bossa Beat', 'Copycat', 'Funkey Monkey', 'Cuddles Koala', 'Lo Yisa Goy', 'Rockin' Rhythm' and many more.

“Susie and Phil have done it again; they've released another album of exciting, colourful and musically inspiring songs. Their creativity and imagination in words and music produces a high quality resource for anyone working with young children.Each song has multiple possibilities for exploring musical concepts including beat, pitch, rhythm, harmony, syncopation and ostinato. As the name implies, ‘Funkey Monkey' is a funky album with infectious songs and fabulous arrangements. So get on board the ‘Groove Train' and move to the jazzy sounds of this splendid new collection of songs from Susie and Phil.”

Kathryn Bullen
Classroom Music Teacher, Grimwade House,
Melbourne Grammar School

Hear sample tracks off Funkey Monkey on our website at www.welcometomusic.net

Workshop Dates for 2005

For all preschool and primary school teachers, caregivers, family day care workers, therapists and parents. Exciting, energetic, motivational and interactive music workshops featuring the brand NEW Album for 2005 Funkey Monkey.

Check our website regularly for updates at a glance.

Why is music important?

• Music is easy
  
• Music is fun Music is for everyone. All children can contribute to the experience regardless of age or ability.
  
• Music is unique as it can develop a person holistically.
  
• Music can develop all areas of learning.
  
• Music offers joy, beauty, connection and community.
  
• Music develops creativity and self expression.
  
• Music promotes children's confidence and self esteem.
  
• Music enriches lives by providing an integrated experience through singing, saying, moving, dancing and playing.
  
• Music crosses language barriers, it is an alternative form of communication.
  
• Music is active as well as passive .

If we hear, feel, think and do - we will remember and understand.

Music is a wonderful vehicle through which children can learn about their environment, their heritage, their world, other cultures and of course themselves. So together let's foster this natural love and excitement about music that all young children have and watch it flower and blossom as our children grow. As adults, we don't need to have a musical background or a fabulous singing voice, just a willingness and enthusiasm to share in our children's love of music by singing, dancing, listening and creating together.

On-line shopping now available!

On our website you will also find sample songs and pages from our teacher's manuals plus information on our workshops and school programs, PLUS we now have on line shopping for your convenience – It's quick and easy and school orders and credit cards are welcome – check it out here!

We hope we see you at a workshop in your area soon!

Yours in harmony,

Susie and Phil

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