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How do you keep students engaged in the classroom when everything about their world is consistently changing? We have emerged to living in a post pandemic world and its impact does not go unnoticed on our students. Many of our students find it hard to stay focused in school while also trying to understand and process their own emotions. At Keys 4 Success we see the importance of using music, movement, literacy and language as key components to further Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and help students living in this post pandemic world understand and express those emotions. SEL is the process of developing the abilities to identify, manage and understand the emotions of oneself and others. The objective of SEL is for children to be effective and confident communicators. The hope is that once students have the skills to describe their emotions clearly it will be easier for academic learning to occur in the classroom and for them to work cooperatively with others. Instead of teaching students reactive behavior, it’s more productive for young children to be able to recognize their own emotions and learn to effectively communicate and work through their emotions. Music Music serves as a creative outlet. When students learn about music they essentially begin to understand and experience how sounds can evoke different emotions in themselves and others. Musical components within the Keys 4 Success curriculum also allow students to create their own instruments and make their own music thus continuing to foster creativity and curiosity. Movement Like music, movement can also help us connect with our emotions. Feelings of joy, anger, excitement, frustration can be expressed on a healthy level through movement education. At Keys 4 Success it’s important to continue to provide comprehensive movement education as well as techniques that encourage healthy social emotional development. Language Teaching children how to associate words with their emotions is laying the groundwork for effective communication. Effective communication gives students the confidence they need to be resilient and work cooperatively with their peers. The Keys 4 Success program incorporates daily affirmations, expressions of gratitude as well as tools that help our students work through the different challenges they might face throughout the day. Literature The beautiful thing about literature is that it gives students an opportunity to learn about the world through different lenses. Books that are part of the Keys 4 Success curriculum as well as those we add to the classroom libraries help our students learn about culture, community and social skills. Technology Technology is now more accessible than ever. Teaching students how to responsibly interact with tech keeps them safe by promoting healthy engagement and helps expand their use of various tools that can impact their lives. SEL is extremely vital for every student. We not only care about what students are learning we care about how they feel while learning. In order to be critical thinkers, world changers and problem solvers students need to understand how to navigate and communicate their emotions in a healthy way. There are so many different ways SEL can be incorporated into the classroom curriculum and that is what we continue to encourage. Ways SEL can be Practiced in the Classroom • Set aside five minutes to have students listen to calm music. This task can be specifically useful after students return from recess or as they prepare for dismissal. • A read aloud accommodated by a sound app like Novel Effect is a great way for children to be engaged in storytelling and identify the emotions of main characters. • Having students create characters for musical performances where these characters are singing, dancing or playing instruments encourages students to use music and movement to demonstrate the emotions of their characters to others. The generation(s) before us did not have the access to the emotional support that students have today. It’s essential for children as young as 2 to begin the process of learning how to understand various emotions. The Keys 4 Success program provides those creative outlets for students to understand and channel the energy of different emotions, aiding their development and building their confidence for life.

How do you manage your emotions? This can be a difficult concept for children to understand especially while learning how to navigate social relationships within and outside of their school environment. Feelings of joy, sadness, frustration, and anger are expressed in different ways, especially in children. Fortunately, music and movement can be used to understand and express these emotions. With the help of social emotional learning tools and resources, children have the opportunity to refine the ways they address, explain and manage their emotions. Here at Keys 4 Success we believe music and movement education, infused with social emotional learning tools, can be a helpful resource in helping our children better navigate their social relationships and manage their emotional bodies. We promote social emotional learning within our curriculum by having students work in teams on musical projects and performances. Singing, dancing and making music together in collaborative and cooperative ways are great ways to leverage social emotional tools to teach social connection and encourage optimal brain development. We also make time to have students listen to various forms of music. Here students can learn to understand and describe different emotions evoked by the music. These exercises can be excellent for promoting further discussion on the various ways music can impact our emotional bodies. A read aloud accommodated by music is another great way for children to be engaged in storytelling. The music helps students identify the emotions of the characters and situations found throughout the story. Our students need the tools that allow them to manage the mental and emotional challenges that arise throughout their lives. Social-emotional competencies empower children to grow self-aware and confident, to manage difficult emotions and impulses, and to embody empathy, which translates to improved behavior as well as academics. It’s important to give our children access to quality programs that continue to impact their lives as they navigate life inside and outside the classroom.

There are so many people living in this world besides you and this is why multiculturalism is so significant. It encourages the idea of inclusivity amongst people from all ethnic backgrounds. Understanding this now opens conversation about the positive impact multiculturalism in music has on children when introduce in the classroom. In an excerpt from Milne Library’s “Music and the Child,” teaching multiculturally is described as inclusive, pedagogically sound, it raises awareness and is integrative. There are many different avenues children take to explore the world of music especially when they are able to make a personal connection to it. Check out some of the insight we received on multiculturalism and its significance in children’s education. Given your role in education, why do you believe multiculturalism is an important concept for children to understand in school? “You don’t have to travel the world to understand other cultures. Some students don’t get a chance to see the world outside of their own neighborhood. They don’t always have a safe place to ask questions about culture as well. I believe our classrooms can be that safe space.” Arianna Thomas (Foreign Language and ESL Teacher) How does K4S incorporate the concept of multiculturalism into its curriculum? Keys 4 Success Music and Movement program creates an inclusive cultural aspect to music education for students as young as 2 years old. By exposing students to various different cultures through sound and movement, students are able to explore different parts of the world with their imagination, and shape them individually at the same time. Our curriculum allows students to learn about different rhythms, beats, instruments, movement and so much more from various continents throughout the world. Learning from everything from the Erhu (China), to the Sitar (India), to Congo Drums and beats, we explore it all! Ms. Mona (K4S Program Coordinator) One of the beautiful benefits of multiculturalism is that it allows every student to feel seen. Who wouldn’t want to learn more about the culture of their best friend or peer from school? Just last week K4S students had the chance to learn about the celebration of Diwali and capoeira which is a form of Brazilian martial arts. Introducing these aspects of culture to students can sharpen their understanding of community, geography and history. As the world continues to change it is our greatest hope at K4S that students will be able to appreciate the differences in other people.

Many parents, administrators and educators are no strangers to conversations surrounding the topic of Music and art programs being non-existent in school curriculums or being slowly phased out of school curriculums. With this reality we believe it is important to highlight the benefits of music education as it pertains to “whole child” development. What are some of the benefits of music and movement education as it relates to educating the “whole child?” According to Northern Illinois University Child Development and Family Center, some benefits of music and movement for children include: - Development of small and large motor skills - Improves balance (coordination and rhythm through dance and other movement activities) - Refines listening skills such as changes in tempo and pitch - Encourages creativity and imagination - The Keys 4 Success program also helps to Sharpen concepts about the world by learning about different cultures/languages For many educators, teaching the whole child also means that every emotion, interest and concern of a student holds significance. At Keys 4 Success we consider this same approach and have infused our curriculum with social emotional learning components. One of the most rewarding things about music and movement education is the ability to witness these benefits as they occur in real time. For example, children learning to play an instrument are explicitly being asked to develop their motor skills as they pick up, move, pluck and otherwise interact with these tangible objects. Those same children working together in a band are also learning about group dynamics through cooperative experiences. This is why we believe supplementing existing curriculums with enrichment programs like the Keys 4 Success program better serves the overall development of our children. What makes Keys 4 Success such a dynamic program is that our curriculum is not limited to just the use of instruments as we also incorporate movement, technology, social emotional learning as well as exposure to different languages and cultures. Our curriculum is also designed to naturally complement other areas of study like math and reading comprehension as we stay true to our mission statement of “Unlocking unlimited potential through music education.” Our goal is to use music as a medium to educate the whole child and equip our children with the tools necessary for them to be able to experience life more fully as well as create and shape their unique perspectives within this world. Can we put a price behind the power of cognitive development, creativity and self expression that music and movement education helps our students to experience? By sharing some of these benefits we hope you too see that music and movement education has a positive impact on the overall development of our children. The Keys 4 Success program is the best way to keep quality and affordable music and movement education in our schools.

Did you hear? October is National Book Month! At K4S we understand the importance of literacy especially as children begin to learn more about the world around them. We also know that representation is just as important. In honor of this national holiday check out some of our favorite books that highlight music and diversity! I am Nefertiti By: Annemarie Annong This is a wonderful story surrounding Nefertiti who wants to join the band and play the drums. When Miss Potts shortens her name, Nefertiti begins to question whether she is good enough to play. This is a story were you learn to be confident with everything that makes you who you are including your NAME! Because By: Mo Williams Because is a story that illustrates a young girl’s journey to becoming a composer. Her song “The Cold” shows how it all gets started. Sing a Song By: Kelly Starling Lyons “Lift Every Voice and Sing” a popular song that is known from generations to generations is written by two brothers. One of them is principal of a segregated all-black school encourages the students to sing the song as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The Electric Slide and Kai By: Kelly J. Baptist We can guarantee the Electric Slide will be played at every family function. For Kai’s family this is the case for his aunt’s wedding. The question is will Kai be able to dance as good as everybody else? Finding the Music By: Jennifer Torres Figuring out how to fix her abuelito’s vihuela, Reyna learns about the beautiful stories behind his music. This bilingual story showcases the joy behind music, family and culture. When the Beat was Born By: Laban Carrick Hill This book is a Jon Steptoe New Talent Award Winner that tells the story of how the young Clive Campbell became DJ Kool Herc. His story illustrates how the love for music helped kids stop fighting and explore how music would transform culture and the world.

At Keys 4 Success we value providing opportunities for children to improve their cognitive development. The ability to think critically, use balanced reason, process information, and have improved memory are all aspects of cognitive development we can affirm are positive and useful life skills. By infusing our curriculum with a variety of STEAM related activities and class discussions that encourages critical thinking we are laying the foundations for continued cognitive development. According to Head Start Early Childhood and Learning Center, a child’s brain develops the fastest within the first few years of life. This brings up a lot of questions concerning how we as educators can best support children’s cognitive development during this vital time. One of the biggest misconceptions regarding children and cognitive development is that everyone learns the same thing at the same pace. This also happens to be the biggest critique of Jean Piaget’s a renowned psychologists study on children cognition. How does K4S support cognitive development? An advantage for K4S is the ability to utilize music to foster cognitive development. “Relating music and movement sessions to what students are currently learning in their curriculum allows our students to expand their language and processing skills on such a large spectrum of learning,” Mr. Shem says. Following the K4S mission, instrument exploration, music theory, and technology are resources used to help students gain the vocabulary and knowledge on how music is used in our every day lives. If you are an educator and interested in how your students’ cognitive development is progressing ask yourself these questions: 1. Am I doing all I can to give my students access to the quality programming needed to advance their cognitive development? 2. What forms of assessment am I using to gauge what my students are learning and where they need more improvement? 3. Are the students able to make real world connections to the content they are learning? We look forward to our students being the problem solvers of the future and believe that in order for this to happen we must continue to provide them with access to tools like those found in the Keys 4 Success music and movement program. We must continue to provide opportunities to help them sharpen their individual ways of thinking and processing information. Our children are our most precious gifts. Let’s do all we can to ensure them the most promising future.

The kids are back in school but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Whether the kids have a strong interest in music or just want to explore the city, this list of interactive and unique museums are definitely worth a weekend visit! You haven’t really been to New York if you haven’t been to Times Square and opening in Fall 2022 The Museum of Broadway will display artifacts and set designs from popular broadway shows like The Wiz. Interactive exhibits will allow visitors to explore how broadway shows are produced behind the curtain. Some of the greatest stories are the ones untold. Sugar Hill Children Museum of Art & Storytelling explores the history of the Sugar Hill neighborhood best known for its connections to the Harlem Renaissance. Its exhibits are likely to spark the curiosity and creativity of children from 3 to 8 years of age. Who knew the blues could sound so good? The National Jazz Museum in Harlem showcases the art of jazz through in person and virtual programs. Children of all ages can attend in-person interactive workshops like “Oom Bop Sh’Bam,” “Born in Harlem,” “Jazz Hands” and “Changes in Society.” This museum is also a great opportunity to learn the history of jazz greatness like Ella Fitzgerald and Eddie Davis. Children should learn and play and that’s what The Brooklyn Children’s Museum encourages. The Totally Tots exhibit allows toddlers to experience sensory play through nine different play areas such as blocks and dress up. Whether your child wants to be a store owner or baker anything is possible in The World Brooklyn exhibit created to imitate shops in the real world. The NEST is the perfect place for children to play outside and get fresh air. No matter the preference all of these museums offer an opportunity for children to learn something new and have fun while doing so. If you ever wonder where to take your children on the weekends check out one of these places! By: Briana Holliday

What is SEL? As everyone continues to figure out life post pandemic there is more discussion surrounding social emotional learning for children. The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines SEL as “how children and adults learn to understand and manage emotions, set goals, show empathy for others, establish positive relationships and make responsible decisions.” At Keys 4 Success we understand that SEL can impact students everyday academic experience. Using music as a conduit to teach students life skills, we are promoting healthy social development and emotional intelligence. Why is SEL an important aspect of Keys 4 Success curriculum? The National Education Association suggests that aligning SEL with academic objectives helps children learn how to better manage their emotions. Having SEL in the curriculum gives children the opportunity to be problem solvers because they learn how to express themselves, especially through music. When we realize that music is interwoven throughout our lives and impacts much of our life experiences we can be more conscious of what is seeping into our emotional bodies. As educators, what strategies do you use to implement SEL into your everyday activities with Keys 4 Success? At Keys 4 Success we incorporate SEL into our weekly lesson plans, through our class affirmations, breathing exercises, meditation and of course using the sounds of different rhythms and instruments. We allow our students to express and empower themselves through movement, verbal expressions, and other forms of creative expression. We believe it’s more productive for young children to be proactively taught to able to recognize their own emotions and learn to effectively communicate and work through such emotions. It’s important that our students are able to connect to what they hear and feel and use the tools they are learning to help navigate and manage their own emotions. How does using music as a creative outlet help students address their SEL needs? Music education incorporates so many tools essential to life such as discipline, patience and time management. This is seen through the students as they prepare for recitals and other engagements. We also get to see them blossom as individuals as they demonstrate their resilience beyond the music. Their personal development in the program as problem solvers and critical thinkers puts them on the path to becoming successful adults. What do you believe the long term impact of SEL will have on your students? Emotional Intelligence plays a major factor in the quality of our lives and that is why SEL is extremely vital for every student. The generation(s) before us did not have the access to the emotional support that students have today. It’s essential for us to support our children with the tools necessary for their continued growth and development. The Keys 4 Success program provides that nurturing and creative outlet for children, as young as 2, to better understand and manage their emotions, thus building their confidence and resilience for life. By: Briana Holliday

When I joined the Keys 4 Success team in 2015, I was joining a small team on a mission to make a very BIG impact among students ages 2 and up in New York City through music and movement education. We were only in a few  schools teaching select classes to see, measure and feel the impact of our curriculum. Fast forward to 2022, our team has grown, we teach over the 1000 students across New York City, our curriculum has expanded to include social emotional learning, STEAM, and learning about different languages and cultures in addition to music and movement. Even during a world wide pandemic, we were able to reach students all over the world through our online platform, exposing them to our exciting and engaging music curriculum. Keys 4 Success has created a curriculum that really allows each and every student to thrive, using their creative intelligence and imagination to explore the unknown. The social and emotional learning components that are instilled in our curriculum also allow our students to be better communicators, tapping into their emotional intelligence to express feelings and emotion that connect that with different music styles and sounds found in various cultures. Our teachers create a one on one relationship with each and every student, understanding who they are, what their passions are and how we can help them to unlock their unlimited potential. How does Keys 4 Success use technology as a helpful resource in the curriculum? Instead of the STEM curriculum we are real big advocates for the STEAM curriculum. We want to amplify that “A” in STEAM which is arts, music and movement. As an example, we use Bananas and alligator clips to create a “Banana Piano” were the children learn how electricity moves through alligator clips and works with an app to create sound. We use apps to show how you can use layers of different sounds to create a song one would hear on the radio or in a television show. This really encourages our students creativity towards learning to create their own melodies and rhythms. How does Keys 4 Success encourage parent involvement? At the beginning of the school year we proactively distribute papers to the parents informing them to follow us through our various media channels to keep up to date on the various exciting things happening at Keys 4 Success! The classroom teachers that witness the program first hand are our biggest supporters when it comes to encouraging parent involvement. A lot of classroom teachers keep us in mind and help us get referrals by reminding the parents about our private lessons and encourage them to look out for events with our program. What do you look for in teachers that want to be a part of the Keys 4 Success team? Our teachers are the face of what we do. We want them to have a passion for working with children as young as two with good classroom management and animation. We want them to have a passion for music. We want them to be good team players. We give our teachers a lot of creative freedom. We look to see how they display their unique creativity by making the lesson plans their own. We also want to be an enrichment program provider where our students can have a consistent teacher that is there to create and build a relationship with each student, helping them maximize their potential so great work ethic is a key for success in this role. What does Keys 4 Success means for THE Better Future? It means more students being creatively inspired. It means more students that are emotionally equipped to handle challenges that come their way. It means more students learning to work cooperatively, appreciating the different cultures their team members come from. It means more students finding an outlet for their passions and pursuing them. Keys 4 Success is building THE Better Future. By: Briana Holliday

It's fair to say, once the Memorial Holiday passes students and teachers are counting down the days until summer break. However, before we get too ahead of ourselves and flip to vacation mode we have a few ideas to consider and share with students to keep them musically active over the next few months. Take a read below: 1) Go on a Music Nature Scavenger Hunt Leave clues as you walk along a nature walk of the sounds you hear: such as a bird, woodpecker, bustling of winds, the cracking of twigs. This will allow your child to pinpoint the exact sound they are trying to identify. 2) Play a musical water game! Splashing water hard can create loud sounds, while splashing water sofly can create sound sounds. A great way to introduce dynamics to your little student with terms such as Forte and Piano! 3) Create Instruments and have a performance/ dance off Put some bells on your ankles and let's get to dancing! Create drunks and tambourines and perform a song along! Even get those pots and pans out! 4) Draw to music. This is a creative way to allow your student to express themselves through color and the sound of music that they hear. Communicate how it makes them feel and create a "art therapy" enviornment for them to thrive in! Tag us in your activities this summer so we can share on our social pages! Instagram: Keys4Success

Music has the ability to affect our mental state and raise our mood. Music can give us energy and motivate us in very powerful ways. When we feel deflated, music has the ability to re-inspire us! Keys 4 Success is a music and arts enrichment program offering opportunities for children to develop a healthy growth mindset through realizing and embracing their cognitive potential, as well as further equipping them to be empowered and fueled by challenges through our social-emotional learning experiences. By incorporating several components, such as instrument exploration, music theory, technology, cultural music influences, and so much more, our curriculums are designed to entertain and inspire! Why should Keys4Success be a part of your school's upcoming school year curriculum? One of the first things viewers see on our website reads, “unlocking unlimited potential through music education.” It’s appropriate to assume any and every educator, and administrator would want to provide the best experience for their students, and desire for them to excel and tap into their unlimited potential. The question then becomes, how do we do that? Research has proven that music education, especially before the age of 7, is one of the best things you can do for a child’s brain because it is an activity that engages the ENTIRE brain. As music professionals, parents, and educators Keys 4 Success focuses on cognitive development and social emotional learning through its dynamic curriculum. When children are challenged in these ways this allows opportunities for them to improve their communication skills, work cooperatively with others, effectively follow directions and engage with their teachers in very positive ways. Strategies for working with developmentally challenged children. According to statistics, In New York City, more than 200,000 public school students are eligible for special education, as indicated by having an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Some of the best results of the Keys 4 Success program have been with learning challenged children because of how well they acclimate to the program. These children are enthusiastic to actively learn, and they are focused and engaged with the activities. Under these circumstances, music education then becomes music therapy, affording the children in this category opportunities to learn while also providing an outlet for their creative expression. If we provide our children with the tools to increase their cognitive capacities then we can expect adults who will employ their genius towards creative solutions that improve the quality of life in our communities. If we provide our children with the tools to cope with their environments and stressful situations then we can expect to get adults who are equipped with tools and strategies to cope with their stressors of life in a healthier and positive manner. We continue to operate in the present with a focus on the future. The good that we expose our children to today will set them up for a bright and promising future. For more information on Keys 4 Success and how you can schedule your FREE DEMO visit our website: https://www.keys4success.org