Editor’s Note: Kindermusik with Miss Brandi is a sponsor of chambanamoms.com.
Meet Brandi Lowe, owner, coordinator, and certified educator of Kindermusik with Miss Brandi here in Urbana. Kindermusik is a music and movement program for children birth through 7 years, and their caregivers.
Brandi grew up in the Quad Cities, graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Music Education, married here, stayed here, and is now raising a family in Urbana with husband, two children (7 and 10) and Danny Dog, the Pug.
Miss Brandi offers Kindermusik classes in Urbana for children ages 0-7. Photo provided.
Q: How did you become a Kindermusik educator?
I originally thought I would be a junior high/high school band director. But after getting my degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois and teaching junior high and high school band, I decided it wasn’t what I really wanted to do with my life. I moved on to teaching pre-school at a local Montessori school and found that I just “clicked” with this age group. When I had my first child, I discovered Kindermusik in the Urbana Park District’s Leisure Guide. After taking classes for a couple of years with my son, I decided that this was something I could really be good at. This fall starts my seventh year of teaching Kindermusik and I absolutely love it! I’ve never had a job this fun before. I’ve really found my calling.
Q: Your kids took Kindermusik classes? So, do you have a musical family?
LOL! Well, my husband played french horn in middle school. My son, who is 10, will start trumpet this year, but he mostly takes after his dad who is much more into computers and scientific thinking. My 7-year-old daughter is more like me. She loves to be in the spotlight and she could sing all day if you let her. But both kids loved their Kindermusik classes.
Q: What do you do when you aren’t teaching music?
Sing! LOL! Well, that isn’t too far from the truth. I love to sing and some of my favorite activities are singing with my church choir and singing karaoke whether that be at a local karaoke place or in the car with youtube. I also like to knit (which I picked up about a year ago), do yoga, read, and I’m trying to learn sign language. I’d also love to learn to play guitar, but I haven’t found the time yet.
Q: You sound busy like most moms we know. How do you balance work, family, and fun?
I suppose like everyone else. I guess if you really want to know, you should come see my house. It’s the place that gets the least attention. When I have friends over, I tell them that I’m such a good friend that I want them to feel good about themselves. That’s why I don’t keep a spot-free house. All of my friends feel better about themselves and their messy houses after they come to my house! LOL! I’m just that good of a friend!
Q: How can we find out more about Kindermusik?
You can see our 2012-2013 schedule on our website; you can also read my blog or follow me on Twitter: @KMusicBrandi.
Win a semester’s worth of classes with Miss Brandi for your child! This giveaway is for four months free (September-December), a $120 value. Winner must purchase materials ($50).
To enter: Leave a comment and tell us why music is special in your child’s life!
For an extra entry: visit http://urbana.yourvirtuoso.
Also, if you register for a class by Sunday, Sept. 16, you will receive a free award-winning Gertie Ball and a 10-credit download card from play.kindermusik.com (a $16 value). Please call Brandi (217-369-5844) to register to redeem this offer; make sure to mention the chambanamoms special. If you register and then win the giveaway, you will be credited.
Fine print: No purchase necessary. Contest will be wrapped up by midnight Sunday, Sept. 16. Winner will be picked at random by random.org. Winner must respond to email notification by midnight Monday, Sept. 17 or another winner will be picked. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older. Prize valued at $120 (no cash value).
Ready? GO!
My son loves to sing songs all day long. Now that he’s almost 4, kindermusik would be perfect for him!
Thursday, 12:45, is the best time for us.
My son makes up songs constantly, and he’d like to be a French Horn for Halloween. When I told him that might be a little difficult for me to pull together, he said “that’s okay, mama, I can be a trombone instead.”
My 5 year old daughter loves all kinds of music. Music is a huge part her day. She is on the autism spectrum, and music calms her and gives her a way to express herself and show her creativity– and she loves making up songs to go along with her routine! I think the 5 to 7 year old class would be perfect for her!
The Family Time class on Mondays at 6:30pm would probably work best for us. It’s a shame there’s no weekend classes, though!
Music is special and important in my child’s life because it allows my daughter to express herself and learn at the same time!! We would utilize music our time for 18 mo- 3 yr
My son has always been very excited by music. We spend a lot of time in the car driving to grandma’s house and music is a huge part of how we survive these trips. He also had several delays due to problems at birth and he has always responded to music in ways that he could not otherwise. We have used it a lot with his therapies.
Thursday at 6:30 works the best for us!
Both my kids (4 and 2) absolutely LOVE music. One of their favorite afternoon activities is putting on tutus and dancing around the living room to any type of music we put on! Would love for them to be able to experience Kindermusik.
Thursday at 9:30 am would work best for us!
I really want to foster the love of music that I see in my youngest child before she gets older and more self-conscious and hesitant to start with music lessons like me oldest child. Music offers such a great form of self-expression and emotional release!
The Monday class at 5:30 works best for me.
We love music in our family! Its something that our own parents cherished and was passed on to us and now to our children
We’d do the Wed at 10:45!
My little one is just 7 weeks old but she already loves to listen to music and quiets down to hear whenever I play it.
we would probably try the Thursday at 5:30
Mondays at 4pm would be perfect for us!
My son loves music… Of of his common responses when we ask him to settle down is “I’m just dancing mama!”
My son will be three in a couple months, so an evening 18 mos to 3, or the 12:45 pm for 3-5 year olds.
Lenora and I both love music. I started a Spotify playlist for her before she was born, and we listen to it together. We like to dance to our favorite songs, and I make up new songs for her (often by borrowing the melodies of pop songs from the radio and changing the words). One of our favorite events this summer was the Summer Band concert on the Quad. I admit that I encouraged her to play the flute when she gets older–Mommy needs a duet partner.
Her favorite toy is her jingle bell, and she also likes her blocks that make noise. We make music together–she plays the bell and I play the rattle, then we switch. I think Kindermusik would be right up her alley!
Also, I think the Thursday @ 5:30 class would be best for us! It might take some maneuvering to get us there since I can’t leave work before 5 PM on Thursdays, but we can make it happen.
We always have music on and my kiddos (6, 3 and 1) LOVE to sing and dance! I’m always looking for fun, new ways to integrate music into play time.
The Family time on Mondays at 6:30 would work perfectly for us!
My daughter loves music. She learns and memorizes through music. I think for myself you can loose yourself and let go to be free to truly find yourself and passions when you are playing an insturment and singing. Thank you for sharing your gift!
monday at 4pm in the young child class would be perfect!
My husband is our Director of Worship Arts and his entire family is involved in music. I have no musical talent (AT ALL:)) so I would love for my daughter to get involved with music at an early age.
My 2 year old loves to dance and sing while listening to the radio. She definitely has the hip shaking movement down pat! Even my 1 year old can barely contain herself when she watches her sister dance and sing. Music is a great way to keep both of them entertained!
The Kindermusik Family Time class on Wednesdays at 10:45am would work best for my family.
Kristin loves to dance and sing. She astounds me with her creativity. At 3 years old, she is writing her own songs. On paper it looks like she has scribbled squiggly lines across the page.
But when she’s filled the page, she asks me with excitement, “mommy, do you want to hear the song I just wrote!” “Yes,” I say, eager to get some insight into her thoughts and ideas. She can’t carry a tune well, but she’s a great storyteller. Kindermusik sounds like a wonderful program to foster creativity in young children.
Thursdays at 12:45pm: Kindermusik Imagine That