2011-2012 Schedule
Columbus, OH
Fall 2011 Sept 12 - Nov 12
Holiday Nov 14 - Dec 17
Winter Jan 9 - March 10
Spring March 19 - May 19
Summer I June 4 - June 30
Summer II July 9 - Aug 4
North Canton, OH
Green, OH
Fall Sept 20 - Nov 17
Holiday Nov 29 - Dec 22
Winter Jan 17 - March 15
Spring April 10 - June 7
Summer July 10 - Aug 2
Lincoln, NE
Fall Sept 20 - Nov 15
Holiday Nov 22 - Dec 13
Winter Jan 17 - March 13
Spring TBA
Summer TBA
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 A question frequently asked in social settings is: “Where do you work?”
Often, “stay at home moms” will reply: “Oh I don’t work. I stay at home with our children.”
“My response to that is a hardy giggle!” says Jo Kirk, founder and director of WeJoySing and former stay-at-home-mom, “I’ve been there, done that. Staying at home with our children was a ’24-7’ job. Collapsing in bed at night I’d often tell my husband (and God) ‘I NEVER worked this hard and felt this tired working outside the home!”
Washington Times columnist Carolyn Hax gives this description of the at-home-mom’s work day:
Continue reading Music Notes – February 2012
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Lisa McClatchy, Children’s Author, shares her “Sheer Excitement” as a WeJoySing Parent and Author
by Mrs. Donna
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 At WeJoySing, we know that a love of literature begins at birth. As we talk and read to our babies, we are introducing them to the art of storytelling and to good literature.
WeJoySing parent Lisa McClatchy is especially aware of this fact. As an author and mom, not only does she enjoy reading to her own children, she also brings new characters and stories to children everywhere.
Lisa has been working in children’s publishing since 1989. After graduating from The College of Wooster, she moved to New York City to work for Orchard Books, which she describes as “a fabulous children’s publishing company.” Her first year there, two Orchard authors, Gary Paulsen and Janet Taylor Lisle, won Newbery Honors. Lisa says she was inspired by their work and dreamed one day of writing a book herself.
Lisa is, most notably, the author of several “Eloise-Ready-to-Read”books, based on Kay Thompson’s beloved character (Aladdin paperbacks), but she’s thrilled to introduce WeJoySing parents to her new children’s book, “Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex” (2010, Random House). Continue reading Music Notes – January 2012
 The Holiday season is flavored with the joy of sharing and gift of giving. One of the most important “gifts” you can give to your children is the love and desire for reading. Surrounding them with the best in early childhood literature is an important step to this development.
As our Gift to you this Holiday, our WeJoySing Instructors have created a Holiday Gift List of their favorite children’s books. We KNOW your little one will LOVE these books! So, jot some of them down on your shopping list…and create wonderful memories with your child as you read and enjoy these treasures together. Continue reading Music Notes – December 2011
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Music and Literacy
“Inextricably Linked”
Dr. Karen Holinga shares
Words of Wisdom about Reading
by Mrs. Donna
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Your two-year- old is asking you to read “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish” for the one-hundredth time…today. Instead of rolling your eyes and suggesting a different book, take a deep breath, sink into the couch…. and embrace REPETITION!
Current research suggests that it’s not the quantity of books that children are exposed to that enables them to become good readers but rather high quality, multiple repetitions. When children know the story and know how it goes and can recite or paraphrase it back to you, they’ve truly learned the book and can connect ideas with words in print.
Continue reading Music Notes – November 2011
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 WeJoySing welcomes Mrs. Molly Rule back to our family of fabulous teachers!
Molly first learned of WeJoySing when a professor at Capital University recommended that his students volunteer with WeJoySing’s summer camp there, so that they could observe and be a part of “the very best” in early childhood music and movement. She was not available that week, but she says, “It planted a seed…”
A few years later, Molly’s sister told her about a great program she was taking her child to, urging Molly to come along, knowing she would love it. “Miss Molly” started teaching for WeJoySing shortly after that in 1999!
One of Molly’s favorite WeJoySing memories from those years came from an Upper Arlington class. One night, as she began singing, she realized the voices of the parents joining her sounded “different,” somehow. As she looked around the room, she realized that on that evening, the parents were ALL DADS, and they were singing an octave lower than she. Molly said it continued that way throughout the nine weeks. “For those Dads, it was their special time with their little ones. They wanted the moms to stay home so they could have all the fun!” Continue reading Music Notes – October 2011
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How does Your Child learn Best?
No worries, at WeJoySing, it’s Covered!
by Mrs. Donna
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 Recently, I was sharing a song with a friend, and she said, “Can you send me the lyrics? I’m such a visual learner…”
Another person I played it for had the lyrics right in front of him but never even looked at them. He preferred to listen and take it in, as if he were hearing the song “in concert” or on the radio for the first time. This person was obviously more of an auditory learner.
A third person might want to dance to the song to experience it fully, or grab a second guitar and strum along. That person would be more of a kinesthetic learner.
 These “styles” of learning are called “modalities,” and we educators and parents hear a lot about them. Every person has a preferred learning modality that suits him better than other modalities.
Excellent instruction employs research-based teaching strategies that use a variety of learning modalities in a given lesson. At WeJoySing, every class provides balanced activities that stimulate various aspects of brain development, accommodating various styles of learning.
Let’s see how modalities are addressed during a typical lesson in our 2-3’s age group. First, we begin singing “The More We Get Together.” Singing is auditory as well as kinesthetic. As we sway sided to side, larger muscle abilities are used increasing the kinesthetic experience. Enjoying and observing our friend’s movement during the song brings the visual aspect to the activity. Continue reading Music Notes – September 2011
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WeJoySing Music Experiences
“Set the Stage” for Life
by Mrs. Donna
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 Mary Byrne, mother and kindergarten teacher in the Bexley City Schools, recently contacted WeJoySing to say, “Thank you,” and to tell us that WeJoySing “set the stage” for her son’s (Johnny) accomplishments.
At age 16 and entering his junior year, Johnny is active in sports and loves to play football. He is equally comfortable onstage. He has been in 17 musicals, beginning at age 7 with his involvement at the Davis Center. As a sophomore, Johnny was selected into Bexley’s top choir, Bexley High Vocal Ensemble, which has performed at Carnegie Hall, toured in Chicago, and performed the National Anthem at a Cleveland Cavaliers game. Next year, the group will perform at the Notre Dame Cathedral as part of its Europe tour.
Mary and Johnny started attending Heart Strings at Capital University with Mrs. Jo when Johnny was 5 months old.
Continue reading Music Notes August 2011
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From the Heart
WeJoySing Family Testimonials
by Mrs. Donna
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 You may have seen the nationally touring production of the Tony-Award winning “Mary Poppins” that came through Columbus this spring, but did you know that the actress who plays Jane Banks is one of WeJoySing’s own?
The earliest foundation for eleven-year-old Camille Mancuso’s musical success was established at home and at WeJoySing class. TheColumbus Parent recently reportedthat “‘Mary Poppins’ is Camille’s fourth national touring production, after a start at home that included WeJoySing classes…” Several WeJoySing instructors attended “Mary Poppins” and celebrated Camille’s success and her visit home.
Even though most of our WeJoySing children will never tour in a national production or be recognized in magazines or newspapers, each of our students has one thing in common: their roots to musical success run deep, to a program that builds not only skills but a love for the arts and for people.
Continue reading Music Notes July 2011
 Kelsey spent the greater part of her first WeJoySing class crying in the hallway, afraid of a room full of strangers. For several weeks, she peeked out at the class from her hiding place behind Mommy. Her teacher, Mrs. Cathy (Hahn), says that eventually, she sat beside her mother, participating with “quiet reserve.”
Then one day, something changed.
“With no warning, Kelsey came barreling across the Heart Strings room to give me a good-bye hug,” Mrs. Cathy laughs. “Last week, her Mom informed me that Kelsey requested I come to her house for a sleepover!” What a transformation! All in fewer than 9 weeks. Continue reading Music Notes June 2011
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3 P’s to Music Literacy
All Found in WeJoySing’s Music & Me
by Mrs. Donna
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 What is at the heart of all that shapes WeJoySing programs? “The strength of our programs is the musical foundation that they are built upon, the music education philosophy and methodology of Hungarian composer/educator Zoltán Kodály,” states Jo Kirk, Kodály Specialist and founder of WeJoySing. Most of our readers are very familiar with ourHeart Stringsearly childhood program. This month, let’s take a closer look at ourMusic & Me, school age music literacy program.
Music & Me(Levels 1, 2, 3) is a high energy, hands on, joy filled music literacy experience designed for children ages 6 to 10. Your child will develop good vocal abilities and learn to read, write, sing, and play music in this fun filled environment. These abilities are learned through singing and listening games, folk songs, playing of instruments, and movement to music. Continue reading Music Notes May 2011
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