Legendary children's musician Laurie Berkner knows that all the parents, teachers, caregivers, librarians and therapists out there could use a little support right now. That's why she's offering Music in the "Classroom" 2: Engaging, Entertaining, and Educating in a Virtual World, a one-hour, live-streamed seminar of top tips for using her songs in educational play or structured learning at home.
Music in the "Classroom" 2 will take place LIVE on Thursday, August 27 at 6:30 pm Eastern Time on Laurie's Facebook page: HERE. This event is free of charge.
The August 27th seminar will be the second in Laurie's Music in the "Classroom" series. The wildly popular first session garnered over 80,000 views and distributed more than 3,000 Certificates of Completion for teachers to use for continuing education credits.
“This fall, teachers and caregivers are entering a new landscape of having to provide at-home teaching or using blended learning models to share music with kids," says Laurie Berkner. "I know they want to provide the most supportive experiences, but there's no guidebook! So, I'm excited to share what I have learned from being a performer and educator – both in person and in virtual spaces – to try to make their jobs easier during this uncertain time."
Laurie will address both virtual teachers and in-person caregivers, devoting 40 to 50 minutes to her presentation, to be followed by an interactive Q & A session.
Using her original songs, Laurie Berkner will present tips for actively engaging, entertaining, and educating kids, focusing on how to use music in virtual classes and settings. Through the lens of rhythm – both internal and external – Laurie will explain how to utilize songs to accomplish commonly-needed classroom goals like promoting physical movement, calming and focusing energy, transitions, and modeling positive and age-appropriate interactions (like taking turns).
A personalized Certificate of Completion will be available for anyone who watches the seminar and correctly responds to a quiz.
Though it isn't necessary to watch the first session in the series, Music in the "Classroom" 2 will build on those ideas, which focused on how to create a set list and class structure using music. The first session can be re-watched HERE.
"My music originated directly out of my work with kids in a classroom setting at Rockefeller University’s Child & Family Center, the West Side YMCA, and other preschools in NYC, so it's literally tailor-made for in-home learning, story-times, classes, and therapy sessions," explains Laurie Berkner. "One of my primary goals has always been to capture the natural musicality in every child and to help others inspire children to sing, move, and express their feelings."
One of the most popular children’s entertainers in the U.S., Laurie Berkner has filled countless venues nationwide with adoring fans. With an average of more than ten million monthly streams and millions of albums, songs, and DVDs sold, Laurie’s songs have become beloved classics for children worldwide. The first artist to ever appear in music videos on Nick Jr., Laurie Berkner was featured in nearly all the episodes of the channel's Jack's Big Music Show. Laurie recently created her own Audible Original Series titled Laurie Berkner's Song and Story Kitchen. She has released thirteen bestselling, award-winning albums and is a familiar radio presence on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live. Laurie has authored a number of picture books based on her songs, the most recent of which were published by Simon & Schuster. She has also written the music and lyrics for three Off-Broadway children's musicals produced by New York City Children’s Theater. Laurie has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, among many other prestigious venues.
Laurie Berkner has received tremendous critical acclaim. USA Today named Laurie "the undisputed queen of kindie rock." The New York Times dubbed her "the Adele of the preschool crowd." Time Magazine lauded Laurie as "a kind of sippy-cup Sheryl Crow ... Berkner inhabits a kid's curious perspective in her lyrics and pens folk-pop melodies that bear repeated -- very repeated -- listenings." The Wall Street Journal called Laurie "one of the most popular children's performers in America ... her music is distinctive because it speaks to kids without talking down to them, charming youngsters without boring grown-ups." NPR's All Things Considered declared, "Laurie Berkner is like a goddess to these children."
