Category Archives: Tweens

February 25, 2020 · 9:09 am

International School of Music: Lessons in All Instruments & Giveaway!

[This is a sponsored guest post contributed by International School of Music.]

Does your child love to sing or pretend to play a guitar? Are they the next Mozart or Justin Bieber?

If your kid loves music — or maybe you want to introduce them to it in a fun way — there is a school whose specialty is just that!

International School of Music, with two locations in Bethesda and Potomac, is the premier provider of music lessons in all instruments and voice to students of all ages and levels. They bring together a community of dedicated, experienced, world-class faculty that offers personalized lessons in piano, guitar, voice, violin, viola, cello, flute, drums, saxophone, clarinet, harp, recorder, trumpet, trombone, bassoon, ensembles, group classes, toddler and preschooler music classes and amazing performance opportunities.

Their teaching methods are student-centered and focused on individual learning styles and personal goals to help each student reach his or her full musical potential. With a flexible curriculum that rewards practicing and achievement, their students get to explore music they are passionate about, whether they play classical, rock, pop, jazz, folk, etc. And with our same-time sibling scheduling, the families enjoy convenience and flexibility!

Music lessons teach kids valuable skills that they can carry with them through life. Children practice basic math when they count the rhythm, reading comprehension as they learn how to read music, and creativity as they figure out how to express themselves. Bonus: They also benefit from better concentration, self-discipline, self-expression, and confidence. Even more, all of these skills are mixed in with fun music making!

Check out International School of Music to see how you can book an introductory lesson for your child, try classes yourself, or make it a family affair!

Giveaway! Three KFDC readers can win a half-hour private music lesson at the International School of Music in any instrument or voice with one of their amazing teachers! Want a chance to win? Simply leave a comment below telling me what kind of music your child loves to listen to. Get an extra chance to win by entering on the KidFriendly DC Facebook Page, too! Contest is open to new students only. This giveaway will run through Wednesday, March 11, 2020, then a winner will be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter. Good luck!

For more information about International School of Music and its programs and performances, visit their website.

This post is sponsored by International School of Music, however, I only promote programs, places, and services that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

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Filed under Class, DC, Giveaway, Gradeschoolers, Maryland, Music, Preschoolers, Teens, Tweens, Weekdays, Weekend

Tagged as Children Learn to Play Instruments, Giveaway, International School of Music, Music Instruction Bethesda and Potomac, Music Lessons for Kids in Maryland

February 11, 2020 · 1:40 pm

{Review!} Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth at Imagination Stage

Photo courtesy of Imagination Stage

[Note: This review is by KFDC contributor Emily Moise, who saw a performance of Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth with her 3-year-old daughter.]

Come for the Adidas sweat suit-clad, hip-hopping rabbit, stay for the life lessons. I had no idea what to expect at Imagination Stage’s Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth; I had only skimmed the Nigerian folktale (which has an entirely different ending) and the brief show description online (which doesn’t do it justice!). But a special opening night showing, where many kids were likely out past their bedtimes, made me think my daughter and I were about to see something special. And indeed it was.

From the start, that aforementioned rabbit named Zomo captivates the audience with nothing but his Run DMC-inspired energy and ensemble. He engages children and adults alike in his locally-spun, ill-fated quest for power that takes him through Washington, DC — complete with Metro rides and a dash of political humor. You will find yourself compelled to immediately start clapping and foot stomping along with the beat of his rhymes, and that continues until the end as the audience participates eagerly, both solicited and unsolicited. My preschooler lit up when it was her (and every kid’s) turn to stand up and show off her hip-hop moves.

Photo courtesy of Imagination Stage

Zomo’s journey involves a series of suspenseful, young-child-relatable wrongdoings. Namely, taking things that aren’t his. We follow him to the DC Waterfront for a dance-off with a breakdancing fish, to the National Zoo for an encounter with a graffiti artist cow, and to Adams Morgan for a jam session with a DJ leopard. He does some soul searching along the way, contemplating whether or not he’ll have more with the power he’s seeking or the friendships he’s building (that now need repair). Find out what he decides — and what your children decide for him — and how cultural barrier-breaking hip-hop was born according to the legend of Zomo.

Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth is running now through March 22 at Imagination Stage, located at 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD. Tickets are $15-$35. Recommended for ages 4+.

PS: Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth is playing in repertory with Thumbelina, opening next weekend. Stay tuned for a review!

Friends, Fun, & STEM at Boolean Girl Summer Camps

[Note: This is a sponsored guest post contributed by Ingrid Sanden, Co-Founder of Boolean Girl.]

Boolean Girl Camps have been recognized multiple times as a “Best Camp” by local and regional media outlets and, more importantly, by our campers. Here, girls entering Grades 3-8 develop new friendships and have fun as they learn about computer science and engineering in a welcoming, play-based environment with a series of unique projects and creative challenges.

Camps and classes are designed using a holistic approach to learning, with a goal to blend play and programming through hands-on instruction and sustained meaningful exposure to computer science and engineering. Our camps are part of a broad set of lessons and activities designed to encourage girls to progress from beginning coding to building electrical circuits.

While the girls learn a lot at camp, they are not just sitting at their keyboards and looking at screens. We play games, listen to music, play outside, and just be kids. Our instructors are a mix of teachers and female college students from schools like Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, and University of Maryland, and our interns are local high school students. Boolean Girl instructors and interns complete curriculum and classroom management training, as well as first aid certification and background checks.

Fridays at Boolean Girl Camps are special as we celebrate our week of STEM discovery. We have pizza, the campers show off their creative work, and we are joined by one or more Boolean Girl Ambassadors — local women working in STEM careers like electrical engineering and computer science — in the afternoon. Ambassadors share their experiences, lead a short project or challenge, talk about STEM education and careers, and of course they discuss the girls’ projects with them. Parents are always welcome to join their children for the project showcase at the end of the day.

In 2020, we are offering four different types of camps in Arlington, Fairfax, and Montgomery counties, as well as Capitol Hill. Each camp has an age or grade range recommendation, and we caution pushing kids too quickly, even if they’ve coded previously.

Not sure our camp is right for your daughter? Give our Clubhouse a try! Sponsored by Boolean Girl and Virginia Tech, the Clubhouse will meet on the fourth Saturday of each month from 1-4pm, starting January 25. Check our website for more info. And if you have questions or are just not sure, send a note to info@booleangirl.org or give us a call at 202.996.8241. We love talking to parents and are happy to guide you to the appropriate camp for your daughter!

To learn more about our camps and register your daughter, visit the Boolean Girl website. See you this summer!

This post is sponsored by Boolean Girl, however, I only promote programs, services, and events that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

Registration is Open for Summer Camp with Washington Waldorf School!

This post is sponsored by the Washington Waldorf School, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will be of interest to KFDC readers.

KID Museum’s Invent the Future Challenge

Photo Credit: Edwin Remsberg Photography

[Note: As I mentioned in my recent post about Dr. Jane Goodall coming to DC, I want to highlight local ways that kids and families can take action against climate change. As Goodall suggested, this action can begin with everyday choices — what we buy, what we eat, what we wear, etc. However, this guest post by Emily Moise from KID Museum shares a way for kids to truly take things into their own hands.]

KID Museum, the creative, hands-on learning space in Bethesda, MD, is challenging middle schoolers across the region to create an invention that will solve an environmental problem.

The Invent the Future Challenge, now in its third year, is part of the museum’s invention programming amplified by a district-wide partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Almost 1,000 kids participated in last year’s challenge, and the museum seeks to double that this year by reaching more schools and students beyond MCPS.

The challenge question is a big one — What will you make to protect life on this planet? — but the guidelines are simple:

Form a team of 3-6 middle school students and one adult team coordinator.

Make a physical representation of your invention.

Spend no more than $60 on materials for your invention.

Present at the Challenge Summit in May for a chance to win awards & prizes.

Photo Credit: Edwin Remsberg Photography

Kids can get involved in the challenge through STEM-focused clubs and teachers at school, or on their own with a parent coordinator. School groups can visit KID Museum for Invention Studio field trips — skill-building sessions in design, engineering, electronics, coding, and prototyping — or through Invent the Future weekend workshops at the museum.

Previous award winners include a “smart tree” for early-detection of forest fires, a coded water-rationing device for showers, and solar panels that double as advertising on buses and buildings. Winners received tickets to local amusement parks and awards to display at their schools, and were invited to exhibit at FutureFest, KID Museum’s annual family festival.

And for the grown-ups, there are other ways to get involved in the challenge and support KID Museum’s mission to inspire the next generation of changemakers. You can serve as a mentor at an Innovation Exchange or as a judge at the Challenge Summit. The Summit is also open to the public and should make you very hopeful for the future!

Visit kid-museum.org/invent-the-future for more information and to get started today. Registration is open now through January 31, 2020.