Sneaky Statues... More Than Just a Game!

by Cindy Wilkinson

I was recently watching a group of kindergarten aged children playing a game of Sneaky Statues and I had somewhat of an epiphany.  First, the way you play Sneaky Statues is like this:  one person is "it" and is in the center of the circle while other children move about as the child who is "it" has his back to them.  You need to complete your movement without the "it" child seeing you, otherwise you are out of the game.  It is interesting how much you can learn about a child while watching him play this game.  Some children will cautiously move a few inches, making sure that they are never seen, but also are barely moving at all.  Other children will confidently zig and twirl about, knowing that there is a greater risk of being seen and less chance of winning the game.  But, what really got me thinking was the sideline coaching of the children's teacher, DCTA instructor Lindsay Taylor, with her repeated comment of, "make a bold choice!"

This phrase is really the key to any kind of performing, and here, these children, being only 5 and 6 years old, were learning this very important lesson.  You must have the confidence and vision to make a bold choice if you will succeed in any kind of performance discipline.  At the risk of making a bit of a cheesy analogy, how often have we heard Randy Jackson's critique of an American Idol contender with the comment, "You just gotta make the song your own?" Playing it safe and singing a song the way it has been sung hundreds of times before may provide for a safer environment for the performer, but is less likely to be seen as meaningful to the audience.  Bold choices will make the difference between a technically strong performance and one which will make the audience laugh or cry, to feel something they may not have felt before.

Last fall, I had the experience of taking an adult public speaking class from Ms. Taylor.  Our breathing, phrasing, and eye contact were all things we worked on.  And developing confidence was also a key component.  In one exercize, we were asked to draw another person in class.  You could hear the comments muttered under the breaths of each of the students as we struggled to not embarass ourselves with our drawing skills.  Of course, the purpose of this exercize was not to provide us with any actual drawing skills, but was rather to make the point that we all were filled with self-doubt while we drew our pictures.  Rather than confidently drawing our classmate, we mumbled and stammered, "I can't do this", "I have never been able to draw", and so on and so on...

My head filled with memories of my 7th grade art teacher tearing up my drawing of a tree at the front of the classroom and tossing it into the trash can.  This experience has made a lasting impression on me, one which I obviously remember decades later.  As traumatic as that was for me, it is likely that each member of the class had something similar in their childhood which evoked the same sense of failure inside of them.

It is something that even professional actors struggle with.  The core of all acting is in making a choice.  Children have a better ability to stay in the moment and are less likely to judge themselves, as opposed to their older counterparts.  "Hanging on to that inner spirit which we see in young children" is a goal for the seasoned actor, says Ms. Taylor.  "It's all about hanging on to believing in yourself."

Theater classes for young children promote this kind of thinking.  In the game Magic Rocks, children are asked to turn into different kinds of objects.  Here again, the children are called upon to make a bold choice, "without judging themselves, letting go of whether something is right or wrong."  They may be asked to move like an old shoe or a drop of rain.  This is a time for letting go of any particular expectations and encouraging the child to use his mind and imagination.

We all need to be reminded to let go of that self-doubt inside of us.  Go out into the world each day with confidence and make that bold choice in everything you do!!

If you would like more info on the awesome classes at the Denver Center Theatre Academy, here is the link: http://denvercenter.org/education/education-main.aspx

Overcoming Fear

by Cindy Wilkinson

One of the greatest benefits of arts training (whether music, drama, dance, or any other artistic discipline) is the opportunity to take risks and overcoming our fear.  I have had the great pleasure of teaching with the Denver Center Theatre Academy as part of an array of multi-talented teachers, most of whom are professional actors.  This seemingly simple task of joining the faculty of the DCTA was, for me, an act of great courage, one in which I took a huge risk.

My educational training is in the area of Early Childhood Education and my professional background as a musician is in the area of folk music.  When I first approached the DCTA about the possibility of adding a musician to their children's drama faculty, the idea intrigued them!  So, after much brainstorming of what new influences and skills a long-time folk musician could bring to their table, I soon found my niche with this top notch organization.

I was very much out of my comfort zone and yet, this journey into new territory was thrilling.  My greatest qualities as a teacher are the abilities to think on my feet and especially, to think outside the box.  Being called upon each week to come up with something completely new could be daunting for some, but was a welcomed challenge to me.  My creativity had never been at a higher level.  And, I was teaming with some of the best arts educators in the country!

My learning curve in the area of theater education has been dramatic and I have always strived to continue challenging myself to learn more about the craft of acting.  During the past 13 years, I have struggled through several acting classes.  Clearly, my strengths seem to serve me better as a musician and songwriter.  My monologue for a beginning acting class was equally painful for those in the audience as for me myself, and I seem to have no natural aptitude for acting at all.  In another class, the teacher teasingly asked me to perform my monologue from the piano bench, and in doing so, I actually did much better!  These experiences have been frustrating at best.  But, in learning more about the nuts and bolts of acting, I have learned so much that has helped me to be a better teacher and to offer even more to my students whom I work with at the DCTA. 

Stretching ourselves as far as we can may seem grueling and perhaps even a waste of time.  The result for me was to once again come to the realization that I will never be a great actress.  Yet, there is so much that I have also gained, some things which have nothing to do with acting at all.  I remember once auditioning for a folk festival in which only a dozen or so musicians would be accepted out of the 100 acts showing up for auditions.  After I performed, I told a friend that I had felt really great about my work that day, and that if I wasn't selected it was likely because they had not needed a "Joni Mitchell singing, dulcimer player" as myself.  It wouldn't be because I had an off day and didn't do my best.  My friend responded by saying, "To me, that just sounds like an excuse to justify failure." 

Some people will always play it safe and never put themselves out there in a situation where they do risk failure.  But then, we would be spending our lives never growing or finding joy and fullfillment in the pursuit of new accomplishments.  All artists, whether they are actors, musicians, dancers, or painters will forever take these kinds of risks with each new work that they create.  In creating something new and different, there are no guarantees what the response will be to that work.  And, that is the challenge and joy of creating new works!

Arts education is an avenue, for children and adults alike, to begin taking these kinds of risks through classroom experiences and performing.  If you are interested in pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, check out the new winter classes at the DCTA.  Here is the link:  http://denvercenter.org/education/education-main.aspx

Check back later this week for more about how arts education can help your child in taking risks.  I will be featuring Lindsay Taylor of the DCTA.  See you then!

Music Classes For the Little Tykes

by Cindy Wilkinson

I love advocating for arts programs for children and this month I had a great opportunity to do just that.  The previous month I was interviewed by a writer from Colorado Parent Magazine for a story focussing on the importance of music classes for young children:  my favorite subject!!  So I spent a good half hour discussing all of the finer points of selecting the right class for your little one, finding the best teacher for a budding piano student, all the way down to keeping a child motivated when they grow discouraged and want to throw in the towel on their musical pursuits.  It is impossible to know which, if any, of my comments from such a lengthy conversation would actually make it into the article. 

To my delight, as I anxiously opened this November's issue, I found a wonderful story recapping many of my thoughts and philosophies about music education for kids, along with more advice from some esteemed music educators in the Denver area.  This article, The Harmony of Kids and Music by Julie Christensen, is jam packed with information regarding the "why is it important" side of arts education, along with suggestions for which types of classes are available and recommended for different aged children. 

Follow this link to read the entire article: http://flashedition.com/publication/?i&l=1&m=2663&p&id=2159  Go to pages 24-26.

I have written many blogs relating to musical classes and training for young children.  But, I was especially reminded of one story I wrote in my blog, Choosing the Right Music Teacher For Your Child, which I published back in September 2009.  One of the topics featured in that blog was finding the best teacher for your child's age group.  After discussing such issues as a teacher's training, personal preferences, and experience with a particular age group, I recalled a memory of working with a kindergartener who was an amazingly enthusiastic piano student: 

I was giving a private piano lesson to a 6 yr old and we were discussing how line notes skip the notes in between (thumb, middleman, pinkie) and the same for space notes (pointer, ringman, etc).  My student stopped me and said, "I like skipping, but I really like galloping.  But my very, very favorite part of PE is the chicken dance!" 

Now as frustrating as this may be for a teacher, I know that this is actually a perfectly normal train of thought for a kindergartener.  And I had the experience and capabilities of getting my student back from "skipping, galloping, chicken dance" to "thumbkin, middleman, pinkie" once again.

Another teacher may have been thrown by this experience, but it brought a smile to my face and great joy to my day!  My student's shortcomings in her attention span were more than made up by her enthusiasm and perseverance.

To read this entire blog, go to:  http://jumpinwithcindy.blogspot.com/2009/09/choosing-right-music-teacher-for-your.html

And, it is because of experiences like this, that I so love being a music educator.  What a gift to be able to equip and empower our next generation of budding musicians!!

Jacques d'Amboise: Changing Children's Lives

by Cindy Wilkinson

I first became aware of the amazing work of Jacques d'Amboise and his National Dance Institute nearly two decades ago.  While I was teaching at the Swallow Hill Music School back in the mid-90's, a colleague of mine was raving about a workshop being presented in Pueblo, CO the following week and led by Mr. d'Amboise himself.  It would be "life changing", she said.  After learning more about Jacques d'Amboise and the work he had been doing, not just in the U.S., but around the world, I too became inspired by this man and his mission to provide all children the opportunity to "experience the joy and power of the arts."  NDI describes their goals as "to engage and inspire youth to achieve their highest potential, using dance as a catalyst."  And, it has indeed changed the lives of millions of children! 

This past year Mr. d'Amboise wrote a book called "I Was A Dancer".  It is filled with wonderful stories of his childhood in Washington Heights, NY, of his days as a dancer with the New York City Ballet, and of his marriage of 53 years to his beloved Carrie.  He tells of his work with many in the dance world such as Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine.  He shares stories about his children: George, Christopher, Charlotte, and Catherine, and even includes a photo of his children's former caregiver, Diane Smarr, whom he describes in the book as "sent by the gods to enrich and transform our lives."

Of course, my favorite parts of his book involve his work with children and his creation of the National Dance Institute.  He tells of how people come up to him in all kinds of places, whether in a restaurant, an airport, or on the street with comments of how their child was influenced by being involved with the NDI.  One story which he shared especially hit home for me. 

He recalled of being on a northbound train near SoHo when he noticed a "ferocious toughie" who was staring at him.  Others on the train had moved away from the menacing looking young man who soon began speaking to Mr. d'Amboise.  The young man told of how he had been a tomato in a show involving dancing vegetables.  Immediately they began reminscing about this experience and the young man was quite impressed that his former teacher had remembered him so many years later.  The man went on to say that he was no longer dancing, but was now a musician, then thanked him as the train approached his stop.

While reading this story, I began thinking about all of the children I have had the great pleasure of working with for the past three decades.  In our fast paced society we live in today, it is easy to lose touch with those we have worked with years before and we often never see how our influence may have touched their life. 

But, I then remembered a young girl who I had worked with long ago.  She had attended a school where I taught and many of the children there had suffered some form of abuse or neglect.  This little girl was filled with rage and often threw her lunch plate across the room, sometimes at the heads of the other children.  It was heartbreaking to think of what she had endured in her life to cause such anger in such a young child.  I lost touch with her over the years, but she was always one of those children who I thought about often and wondered what had become of her life. 

One afternoon, while attending a performance of the Messiah, I noticed her name in my program as a violinist in the student orchestra.  Upon asking others in the audience who knew this young woman, she was considered a bit of a prodigy and had been accepted by our state university as a music student where she would be recieve a full scholarship the following year. My heart filled with joy knowing that this young woman had found a passion in her life. And I could see in her eyes, as she played Handel's masterpiece, a confidence not there so many years before.  Here, indeed, was another example of how the arts can truly change someone's life!

I highly recommend the book I Was A Dancer by Jacques d'Amboise.  Here is the link to read more about it: http://www.amazon.com/I-Was-A-Dancer-Jacques-DAmboise/dp/1400042348  You will find an array of interesting behind-the-scenes stories of the world of ballet, but more importantly, you will learn of the many ways Mr. d'Amboise has empowered children to strive for excellence in their lives.  You may find yourself inspired to influence a child whom you know.  And perhaps, that child's life will be changed for the better because of it!!

To find more about the NDI, here is the link: http://nationaldance.org/

Tribute to my sister, Carole Glenn

by Cindy Wilkinson

Today is a very special day for me.  It is my birthday... but that is not the most important part of today's significance.  My youngest sister, Carole, was born on my 11th birthday and we shared this birthday for 45 years.  September 13 has been a popular day in my family as I also have a nephew, Geoffrey Deter, who was born on 9/13 as well. 

Sadly, last December, Carole died after fighting cancer.  She was an amazing person: a devoted wife and mother, a dedicated teacher, a loving sister, and friend to many.  

Her humor was what set her apart from the pact.  A favorite memory we have of Carole is her tradition of gathering the children or young adults from our family during the Thanksgiving holiday and going to homes in the area who had already decorated their yard with Christmas lights.  They would all gather round in some unsuspecting neighbor's yard, posing while someone took a group shot of them with a digital camera.  What fun they had showing off all the photos to the rest of our extended family upon their return!

You are likely wondering why I am putting this story in a blog regarding arts education.  Well, there is a reason; an important one.  Everyone deals with the grief of a family member or close friend in a different way.  And for me, knowing that my birthday was coming and I wouldn't be sharing it with my sister had made me very sad.  So, I did what was not unexpected for the creative, singer/songwriter that I am.  I wrote a song for my sister.  There isn't a recording of it yet as I can't seem to get through much of the song without crying.  But, I wanted to publish the lyrics today, with the promise of posting a link to the recording soon.

Here is my song for my dear sister Carole, titled Happy Birthday To My Angel.  I hope you like it, and perhaps through this song, you can get a glimpse of how extraordinary my sister was.  And, how through the legacy of her two children, her spirit will live on forever!

Happy Birthday To My Angel

by Cindy Wilkinson

When I was just a child, many years ago 

It happened on my birthday, I was 11 years old

A baby born that day, a sister there for me

No more glorious birthday gift could ever be.

Happy Birthday, to the angel in my life,

Bringing joy and laughter as you fill my heart, my life.

Happy Birthday, to my angel shining bright,

Showering your love for all to see.

God made a miracle in you,

I feel your love and your light shining through.

God sent a glorious gift to me, in you.

You grew into a mother and a wife

Cherishing your children, your husband, and your life.

And although I know this sounds a bit cliche,

You've spent your years making this world a better place.

Happy Birthday, to the angel in my life,

Bringing joy and laughter as you fill our hearts, our lives.

Happy Birthday, to our angel shining bright,

showering your love for all to see.

God made a miracle in you,

I feel your your love and your light shine through.

God sent a glorious gift to me, in you.

My heart it broke in two, when I heard the words that you

were leaving this world all too soon.

And, no amount of crying could change that you were dying

Oh God, I beg, I plead, I pray for strength, please give me strength

To say good-bye to you, say good-bye to you.

Today I spend my birthday here alone

Feeling only sadness, my joy has gone.

Then I look into your children's eyes and see what you have left behind

And I feel you here in me, your love within us, and your light we see.

Happy Birthday, to the angel in my life,

Bringing joy and laughter as you fill our hearts, our lives.

Happy Birthday, to my angel shining bright,

Showering your love for all to see.

God made a miracle in you,

I feel your love and your light shining through.

God sent a glorious gift to me...

Happy Birthday... to my angel watching over me.

Jumpin' Activities to Promote Fitness

By Cindy Wilkinson

Any child who has ever had me as a teacher or heard one of my children's CDs knows that I am a firm believer in the power of jumping!  In my two previous blogs, we learned about how hip hop dance and appalachian clogging can provide children with some much needed physical exercise.  Now, we will explore some great movement activities using my two kid's CDs: Jumpin' Up to the Moon and Jumpin' On Down the Road.  (At the end of this blog will be info on where to find and purchase these CDs and featured songs).  Jumping and other forms of movement such as twirling, stomping, and even wiggling, can help little ones develop their large motor skills.  And, as Lawrence Curry discussed in my hip hop blog, waking up different body parts is an important part of fitness. So, read on to find some fun activities to entertain your child while also providing a kid's sized cardio workout!!

Children LOVE jumping!!  One of the really fun things you can do with a jumping activity is to divide it into two parts: a sleeping part and an awake part(jumping part).  I use this progression for two of my songs: the Jumping on the Bed song and the Jumping Sheep.  This activity is a hit with children who are as young as toddlers and is still fun for kindergarten aged kids.  To do this activity, have the children start by getting in sleeping position.  Then, let them know their cue for the jumping part.  In the Jumping on the Bed song, the cue is "Oh, No".  In the Jumping Sheep it is "The sheep are jumping".  Both of these songs just progress back and forth from sleeping to jumping throughout the song.  Children find this to be very humorous!  It not only provides a physical outlet for kids, but also promotes listening skills.  This activity has been a long-time favorite of my music students and your child will likely love it too!

Another fun activity is Everybody Dance.  In this song, children follow the directions to different verses such as "everybody's gonna jump" or "everybody's gonna twirl".  The children will get to practice different kinds of movements other than just jumping and use all the parts of his or her body.  The final verse is "everybody dance" which provides the participants a chance to use their imaginations and creativity to move about in whatever way they like. 

If you are looking for a great hello song, Say Hello is tons of fun.  The first part of the song sings to a particular person or group such as, "hello to my friends" or "hello to my family".  Then, when you hear the words, "jump up high and touch the sky", the members of that group can do just that. Jump up high and touch the sky! When using this as a hello activity for circle time, or just as a fun activity with a few kids, you may choose to sing each of the children's names.  For example, sing "Hello to Timmy".  Then when Timmy hears the "jump up high" part, it is his turn to do that action.  In my experience, kids seldom tire of this song and you could keep it as your welcome song on a regular basis.

Finally, here are a couple of less structured songs to do with your little ones.  The Wiggle Worms is a fun song where your child can shake his booty as well as other parts of his body (ears, nose, tummy, toes).  And, my Jumping Beans song, which was featured on the Best of Westword award winning CD WHEEEEE!! features, you guessed it... even more jumping!  Once you hear it, your child will quickly figure out the actions to this hilarious song. 

Here are the links to these awesome songs:  For Jumping on the Bed, Jumping Beans, & Wiggle Worms go to my Jumpin' Up to the Moon CD at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/wilkinsonc1  For Jumping Sheep & Everybody Dance go to my Jumpin' On Down the Road CD which is available either as a CD or downloadable singles at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/wilkinsonc2 or http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jumpin-on-down-the-road/id387749422

I hope you and your little one have fun with these songs! And, most importantly, keep on jumpin'!!

Clogging for Kids

By Cindy Wilkinson

This blog continues the series of finding new ways for keeping our children fit.  Today we will learn about creating our own clogging board to use in your home and also, how to create your own tap/clogging shoes to use with this fun activity.  For those of you not familiar with clogging, it is a folk dance in which the dancer makes rhythmic patterns by striking his toe, his heel, or both on a wooden floor.  Clogging orignated in African-American dance, European dance, and even with the native American tribe, the Cherokee.  It is great exercize and tons of fun!!

There are clogging classes available in nearly every part of the country.  But, to get you started, here is a video which teaches the basics of this dance.  Once you click on the link, you can link to specific techniques that you would like to learn.  http://www.monkeysee.com/search?term=how+to+clog   When I was a beginner clogger, the first pattern I learned was "shuffle-step (right foot), shuffle-step (left foot), shuffle-step (right foot), step (left foot), step (right foot).  Then repeat again starting on the left foot."  If you get the melody of the Lone Ranger in your head, this will really help.

To get set up for this activity, you first need two things: the proper shoes to create a rhythmic sound as you dance and a board to dance on.  You can check out what inexpensive sheets are available at Home Depot or other building supply stores.  It is important that you find something smooth and that your shoes will slide over it's surface.  Some suggestions I would make are very thin sheets of hardboard or fiberboard (used for wall paneling).  If you want something more authentic, you can go with a thicker sheet of wood and even elevate it up on blocks or bricks to get a really cool sound.  When using the thin sheets, you can just place the sheet right on the floor, even on carpet.  This is a great solution for those who may not have space in their home for a mini-dance studio, anywhere will work!

When finding the right shoes, you can definitely use tap shoes if you have some.  If not, I use a simple pair of flat boots with hard soles to dance in; just make sure that they can slide about and will not stick to board, (not rubber soled shoes).  Another thing you can use is any flat shoe or boot, then attaching a washer to the bottom of each shoe (using an elastic strap to attach), thus creating the cool sound as you dance.  Here is a link to a website giving directions to making these shoes: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/terrific-tap-shoes-672503/

Now that you have your clogging board and shoes, you are ready to dance!!  Here is a link to some traditional cloggers dancing.  It is really a great dance, and did you know?  It is the state dance of both North Carolina and Kentucky!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yKno6YYfek&NR=/traditional  You may want to put on a CD of bluegrass music for your first try of clogging.  But any kind of music is great.  Let your child try out different kinds of rhythms with different kinds of music. 

If you are working with that especially fearless dancer, then you may want to try a more aggressive approach.  A few years ago, there was a clogging group performing on America's Got Talent.  They were totally awesome!  Here is an amazing video of their performance to inspire your child to get up and moving.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpjXY8WKmQA  The most important thing is for your child to explore creating rhythms in a new way.  He or she may even want to try using their clogging moves to a popular hip hop song.

So, go out to your local hardware store and get equipped for introducing clogging to that young dancer in your family.  I have used this activity for assemblies with all ages of kids, preschool through tweens, and it is always a hit.  It is something which will entertain your child while providing him a great cardio workout at the same time.  See you again soon for more ways to keep your child fit!!