Library sessions are some of my favorite to facilitate.

I love the calm atmosphere and getting to know the librarians and patrons through our classes.

We’ve been offering Rockin’ and Readin’, Baby & Toddler Rock and Holidays with Wholesome Harmonies for various branches of the Miami Dade Public Library System since 2010.

And recently, we expanded to branches of the Adams County Library System in Biglerville and Carrol Valley, Pennsylvania.

Mark your calendar because we would love to see you at an upcoming session in Florida…or in Pennsylvania!

Holidays with Wholesome Harmonies
Facilitated by Ms. Lorena at Lakes of the Meadow Branch (FL):
Halloween Session was on October 13, 2022 @ 4:30-5:00pm
Thanksgiving Session – November 21, 2022 @ 4:30-5:00pm
Christmas/Winter Holiday Session – December 22, 2022 @ 4:30-5:00pm

Toddler Rock
Facilitated by Ms. Lorena at South Miami Branch (FL):
November 22, 2022 @ 12:30-1:00pm

Toddler Rock
At Lakes of the Meadow Branch (FL)
January programs are being scheduled now!

Rockin & Readin
Facilitated by Ms. Amy at the Carroll Valley Branch (PA):
December 13, 2022 @ 10:00-10:40am

Sessions are FREE and open to the public, but you must call the library branch to register.

We look forward to seeing you there and making music together!

The post Holidays with Wholesome Harmonies at the Library appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Things sure have been busy around here!

My baby is now 10 months old and is cruising all over the place like a champ. It’s a lot to keep up with, but she is just so much fun I can hardly stand it!

{Check out my guest blog post over at Listen & Learn Music, where I share how Brooke and I sing our way through the day. You might even get a few ideas from some of the piggyback songs I mention!}

Today I want to share another song I’ve been singing with Brooke and one that I’ve been using in my Baby Rock & Toddler Rock sessions at the Library.

(What is Baby Rock & Toddler Rock? Miami-Dade County Public Library has hired me to come in during baby and toddler story time to facilitate mommy & me music classes at various library branches throughout the county. I LOVE leading these sessions and the best part is that my husband and Brooke have been able to attend a few times!)

Since we are in Miami, I always try to incorporate some Spanish songs into my repertoire.

“Dos Manitas, Diez Deditos” is a song by Jose-Luis Orozco and is sung to the tune of “Ten Little Indians.”

It goes like this:

Dos manitas, diez deditos,
Dos manitas, diez deditos.
Dos manitas, diez deditos,
Cuentalos conmigo.

Uno, dos, tres deditos,
Cuatro, cinco, seis deditos.
Siete, ocho, nueve deditos,
Y uno mas son diez.

Movements: dos manitas (wave hands side to side); diez deditos (wiggle fingers); uno, dos, tres deditos, etc. (touch each finger as you count).

Translation:
Two little hands, ten little fingers,
Two little hands, ten little fingers.
Two little hands, ten little fingers,
Count them all with me.

One, two, three little fingers,
Four, five, six little fingers.
Seven, eight, nine little fingers,
And one more makes ten.

Music: I like to give this song a Latin feel by setting my keyboard auto accompaniment to a samba beat. (Find out how to do this by watching the video here!)

This is a great song to incorporate into Mommy & Me music sessions since it is a piggyback song. Parents are already familiar with the tune of “Ten Little Indians,” and they quickly pick up on the lyrics as we repeat them a few times.

I hope you enjoy using this one in your sessions as much as I do!

The post Dos Manitas, Diez Deditos appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Things sure have been busy here at Wholesome Harmonies! Since the beginning of the new year we’ve added two board-certified therapists to our team started twelve new clients. Hooray! We offer a variety of services to those in and around the Miami area: group and individual music therapy, music lessons, and developmental music programs.

Today I’ll be sharing some information on the developmental music programs I provide at the libraries here in Miami. These stemmed out of my creation for young children: Rockin’ and Readin’ at the Library, which targets literacy skills through music, movement, and song stories. You can read more about my Rockin’ and Readin’ at the Library program HERE and more about how to start your own program HERE.

Mommy & Me at the Library is a developmental music program that I offer at various libraries throughout Miami Dade County. We use the term “mommy and me” casually – daddies, grandparents, and caregivers are all most welcome to join! We offer programs for both babies and for toddlers. In these groups, I utilize developmentally appropriate songs and activities to encourage interaction between caregivers and baby or toddler and to work on basic developmental skills.

Babies and toddlers will explore instruments, scarves, shakers, singing, and movement to music to work on growth in the areas of social, communication, physical, and emotional development. All songs are original to ensure they are goal-oriented and live musical accompaniment is provided on guitar, keyboard, and omnichord. It’s always a rockin’ time!

Last month sessions were held at Miami Beach Library Branch. This month sessions are being held at Key Biscayne Library Branch. I hope you can join us! Here are the details for the next session:

When: Monday, March 31, 10:30 – 11:15am
Where: Key Biscayne Library Branch
Who: Babies & mommy/daddy/caregivers are all welcome
Cost: FREE!

I am especially excited about these programs now because I am expecting my own little one…scheduled to make an appearance June 24th! I can feel her moving around every time I strum my guitar and sing. Looking forward to seeing you and your little one on March 31!

The post Mommy & Me at the Library appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Today is an exciting day! Wholesome Harmonies, LLC has been expanding the services we provide beyond just music therapy and music lessons (although that is quite enough on it’s own!) We now offer Rockin’ and Readin’ programs at local libraries, music therapy groups through the Down Syndrome Association, ukulele lessons, and music at birthday parties. Now we can add Toddler Rock to that list!

This afternoon, I’ll be off to Miami Beach to lead our very first Toddler Rock session. Toddler Rock is a mommy & me group where I’ll be using developmentally appropriate songs and activities to encourage interaction between mommy and toddler and to work on basic developmental skills.

Toddlers will explore instruments, scarves, shakers, singing, and movement to music to work on growth in the areas of social, communication, physical, and emotional development. All the songs I use are original and I’ll be using live musical accompaniment on guitar, keyboard, and omnichord. It’s going to be a rockin’ time!

What do these sessions look like? Here are the activities I have lined up for today:

1) Hello Song

2) Movement to music (patting, clapping, and tapping on various body parts)

3) Peek-a-book with scarves

4) Book ‘n Song: “Ten Little Fingers”

5) Shaker Song

6) Tickling/Kissing/Rocking with Mommy song

7) Dance song

8) Goodbye Song

It will be a session filled with music and hopefully lots of laughter and giggles! I can’t wait!

Action time: I’d love to hear from YOU – leave a comment below and let us know your one favorite activity to use during Mommy & me groups . Care to share?

The post Toddler Rock! appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.