Summer 2009 Session - June Callwood Center

instructor: Matthew Macleod

Week 1

The parents were very enthusiastic.  I thought that they had perhaps been to a Rainbow Songs Foundation class previously as their participation and ability to learn songs were
outstanding.  The children were also very interested in the class and the older kids were
very active at dancing during the jam session.

Some of the songs we began to learn were:  Roly Poly, The Flea Song, Hands Together/Hands Apart, The Grand Old Duke Of York, What Shall We Do With A Sleeping Baby, Old Macdonald, Wheels On The Bus, Sticky Bubblegum and Clean-O. Twist and Shout and Shake It Baby Shake It were highlights during our jam session.  Zoom Zoom Zoom was definitely a favourite.  

Everyone enjoyed the parachute which we finished off the class with.  I noticed that some of the parents came in seeming a little tired (as I know that having a new baby is a lot of work) and most left seeming upbeat and more energized from our class.  I am looking forward to next Monday's classes!


Week 2

Our second class of the Summer Session at the June Callwood Center was another successful class.  One of the lead staff members told me that some of the parents are coming to the center on Monday afternoons specifically for the Rainbow Songs Foundation class being offered.  We had 5 returning parents from the first class.  The class, like last week's, was mostly babies with 3 toddlers.  There were 7 kids, 7 parents and 3 staff members in total.  

I brought a set of "Wooden Frogs" as instruments of the week which everyone seemed to enjoy as we sang "5 Green and Speckled Frogs" and "Little Green Frog".  Old Macdonald was another popular hit that seems like it will be a regular part of our repetoire.  Zoom, Zoom, Zoom was very energetic and the children's expressions were full of joy.  I continue to be impressed by the participation of the parents as there are some natural singers.  The three toddlers smile, dance and sing throughout class and bring lots of laughter to the young at heart!


Week 3

Today was a great class of 11 kids in total, each with a caregiver and 3 staff in attendance.  Three of the participants have become regulars at the class and are coming to the center specifically for the Rainbow Songs Foundation class being offered.  "K", age 2, is one of the regulars.  He is quite a dancer once the music begins and makes the whole room light and joyful.  The highlight of today's class was the jam session.  We learned "Shake It Baby Shake It" and  and also did a medley of "ABCD..., Baa Baa Black Sheep and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".  There was a new mother in attendance who did not speak any English. She was accompanied by a translator and seemed very interested in the sign language aspect of the class in songs such as "Sittin' In My Highchair" and "The Rooster Song".

The parachute is also a highlight.  I did a guitar accompaniement to the parachute session today to help teach "Shake It Baby Shake It" through repetition.  I am really enjoying playing at the June Callwood Center and feel like the class flies by.  It is very fulfilling to be part of this impressive center and to offer classes here.


Week 4

Today was a very dynamic class of 7 kids in total, each with a caregiver and 2 additional staff in attendance. Four children returned this week for the Rainbow Songs Foundation class which helped to increase participation amongst the children because they are becoming familiar with some of our top 20 songs.  "Roly Poly" was very dynamic as was "The Wheels On The Bus" and "Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum".  "Bathtime" was a hit and the mothers were very helpful at leading the motions and helping the children sing the chorus.  Two year old "F", whose first language is Spanish, was smiling for the entire class and very active at participating and dancing.  I can see great value in language development, especially for children and mothers learning English as a second language.  The Rainstick was our instrument of the week, which seemed appropriate given all the rain we've had lately.  The children were very excited using the instrument during the song "I Hear Thunder".  Next week I will introduce the Thunder Tubes for instrument of the week.
The jam session and parachute continue to be very popular.  I'm looking forward to our next class!


Week 5

Today the class was 7 kids in total with two staff in attendance.  The class was a split of babies and 1-2 year olds.  The mothers are very active participants and many of them are coming to the June Callwood Center specifically for the class.  "Old Macdonald" is a favourite of the parents and children who keep me on my toes with the animals they introduce into the song.  "The Rooster Song", with it's sign language was very popular and I am impressed with the attentiveness and enthusiasm of the parents.    Our instrument of the week was the "Thunder Tubes" which the children really enjoyed with alot of enthusiasm.   

The jam session continues to be a highlight of the class and we have some children who are
very interested in the drums particularly.  We played "I'm In The Mood For Singing", "ABCD/Twinkle, Twinkle/Baa, Baa Black Sheep" and "Twist and Shout" during the jam session.  The parachute is always a highlight towards the end of the class and I like to play "Shake t Baby Shake It" with my guitar as it works well with the parachute and helps give structure to the actions of lifting the parachute up and down and making it start and stop.  

I look forward to our next class!


Week 6

Today the class was a mostly older class of seven 1-2 year olds which was an interesting experience.  Initially, the energy in the room was a bit heavy, in part to the hot and humid summer Toronto conditions outside!  Once we got warmed-up I noticed a real shift in the energy of the room in the parents particularly.  "How Now, Brown Cow" was a popular number which we turned into a Medley to include "I've Been Working On The Railroad" and "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom".  "Shake It, Baby Shake It" was very popular in the Jam session. The children loved "Roll The Ball".  One mother left at the end of the class with a smile on her face after seeming a bit down at the outset of class.  I can see how connected the children are with the parents and the value of our music classes to engaging both the children and the parents.  There are two twins who are becoming regulars and smile and laugh throughout class.  A is a 2 year old girl who has been coming to most of the classes and continues to amaze us with her enthusiasm and dance moves!  I love these classes!


Week 7

Today the class was made up of six kids (five 1-2 year olds and one baby).  There were 5 mothers and two shelter workers also in attendance.  We began the class with "The Flea",
"Eensy, Weensy Spider" and "Roly Poly" which were very popular and songs that the mothers can sing and do the actions with their children at home.  One mother chose to attend though her baby was sleeping so she could learn some of the repetoire.  She was very enthusiastic.  

Two brothers were very interested in the instrument jam session.  They both loved playing the drums and were a great "rhythm" section on favourites such as "The Lion Sleeps Tonite" and "Twist and Shout".  "Roll The Ball" continues to be a highlight and the excitement on the kids faces is really wonderful to see.  There was a new child in the class today who was a very great dancer and was very happy to take part in all the songs, especially "Wheels On The Bus" and "Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum".   It was a small class today but there was very good energy and participation throughout the class and I still felt like it was very worthwhile although I look forward to higher numbers in the class in the fall session.


Week 8

Today the class was made up of 9-10 children, ages 1-3, and their mothers plus Melissa (the June Callwood Staff Leader).  We started our warm-up with "Roly Poly" and "Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands".  There were a couple of latecomers so I decided to "Roll The Ball" early in the class which brought everyone's attention back.  The ball, the instrument of the week, the parachute and the jam session instruments are always excellent tools to bring the class yogether.  We did a great version of "Old Macdonald" which the parents and older children were very enthusiastic about.  This class, once we warmed up, was ready for some dancing and moving about.

We started out with two train songs ("I've Been Working on the Railroad" and "Train Is A Comin") followed by "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom".   Asaiah, a 2 year old girl who has been at almost every class, helped to lead "Shake Your Sillies Out" before we sat back down.  Two children from Mexico, who are still learning English, joined us for the first time and were very excited to do the actions to "Baby Shark" and "Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum".  The instrument jam was very popular and the class had very good rhythm with the maracas and drums.  It was encouraging to see our numbers up and it will be nice to have 8-12 more regular students in our fall session.