It can be challenging to guide children into understanding how to define and integrate the character-building value of KINDNESS.  Kindness is one  of those broad general words like “nice.”  Through the creative arts, family and teacher role modeling as well as choices in specific school curriculum,  we can teach the true meaning of kindness.  We can encourage kindness towards one self and with each other within every environment. We can encourage self-motivated “random acts of kindness” in all ages. With ourselves as role models, by using specific books, poetry, storytelling, creative writing, meaningful song choices, rhythmic rap, role play, verbal encouragement and awareness/consciousness teaching,       children will learn to live the true meaning of the word, kindness.  My concert, “Peace Begins with You and Me” teaches this specific value, and I      look forward to sharing my meaningful program with you in the near future.

“Respect” in my generation often meant being unseen, unheard, and stifling hurt or angry feelings.   Montessori schools have a unique and positive approach towards respectful communication and conflict-resolution that begins in early childhood.  The Peace Rose is integrated into every day classroom life of conflict and resolution.  Children who are experiencing conflict are encouraged to face one another, and the child holding the peace rose shares feelings.  The other child listens with full attention, and feeds back what they heard.  When the “peace rose child”  feels heard and understood, it is time to give the other child a turn.  In this way, active listening and I messages are taking place, respect and           conflict resolution are evolving, verbal skills are blossoming, and children are taught how to create a world of RESPECT for themselves and each     other.  Native American tradition has the talking stick as a way of teaching respectful communication and listening.  We can integrate these             approaches into our lives and the lives of the children.  Teaching respect IS possible and begins early.  Bullying and by-stander silence will no  longer be an unsolvable issue if a child learns early the effects of words and actions, and learns to listen and express respectfully.   I would love to  be part of your approach towards reinforcing the value of respect though my “Peace Begins with You and Me” Concerts, my character-building CD’s or by having older children perform my school musical play.  Let’s use conflict as teachable moments for ourselves and for teaching children.  Here are helpful videos, websites and books that can add to your “teaching respect” toolbox.

Cheryl Melody Children’s Award-Winning CDs  www.cherylmelody.com

Tolerance seems like such an impatient word.  Why wouldn’t we be “tolerant?”  Even the most broadminded person often is aware of internal prejudices, stereotypical judgments and bias.  We may have been raised a certain way or absorbed the bias as we were growing.  I believe that step one is to be aware and truthful with ourselves each time we notice a thought or feeling that indicates intolerance, and then teach children to continue to be open, loving, accepting and joyfully curious and respectful of all others who are different from us.  Teaching children tolerance early in life prevents harassment, bullying, by-stander silence, teasing and gossiping later on.  Let’s teach children that differences are interesting to discover and share with one another, and also emphasize that we are all the same…everyone breathes, bleeds, cries, smiles and has feelings in the same way…let’s celebrate our diversity and our similarities by example, as well as through stories and songs that emphasize acceptance, love and tolerance.  My “Peace Begins with Me” Concerts reinforce the value of tolerance within a “one planet” philosophy, and I look forward to sharing my teaching concert with you. This concert is available for preschool, elementary school, intergenerational and for adult gatherings. 

Cheryl Melody   Award-Winning Performing artist for children and adults  www.cherylmelody.com

Once upon a time there was a child who was bullied, teased and talked about whenever she was going to school, was in school or was coming home from school.  No one knows the exact reason.  Maybe it was because she belonged to a minority religion, maybe it was because her family didn’t have a lot of money, maybe it was because she didn’t wear “the right” clothes, maybe it was because some members of her family spoke another language, maybe it was because she was too tall, too short, too smart, not smart enough…maybe, maybe, maybe…

Maybe it was because they just “could” bully.   The saddest part of this story is that this child was silent through it all…she didn’t talk back and she didn’t tell a trusted adult.  She kept all the hurt to herself.  Just as sad was that the kids who saw and heard the bullying were also silent. 

Now this child is an adult and sometimes thinks back to those days…if only I had told a trusted adult, if only I hadn’t been silent, if only the kids who were by-standers hadn’t been silent…then my life and the lives of the other kids would have been bully free, safe and fun.

This “child” in the story is ME asking anyone who is reading this to be “Silent No More” in your own life now, and to reach and teach children to do the same.  

Cheryl Melody   “Peace Begins with You and Me” Teaching Concerts www.cherylmelody.com

Mean behavior starts early.  We need to be proactive and start early to stay on top of insensitive actions and reactions exhibited by children. Role modeling is the most effective teaching of all.  Scary how we have to stay on top of our own behavior, but it is the greatest teacher of all.   Children have radar, and how we say what we say, how we act, our tone, our own actions and reactions…even our thoughts…are absorbed by children like sponges.

Simultaneously, we need to stay on top of a child’s exchange with themselves or with others. We need to encourage positive self-esteem.  As my song, “The No More Bullying Rap” says…“the nicer you are to yourself, the less you’ll pick on somebody else.”  At the same time, encourage children to realize that everyone has feelings.  Encourage them to realize that their words, thoughts and actions have a positive or negative impact on others.  

It takes constant vigilance to encourage intrapersonal and interpersonal respect, but it is the key to being the changes we want in the world, (Gandhi)… because peace is not about the world out there somewhere…it is about you and me, and every word, action, thought and feeling helps to create a respectful and respected life for everyone. 

Cheryl Melody www.cherylmelody.com   B.M.Ed., M.A.   30 years of experience as teacher, performer, composer, writer, playwright, Parents Choice Winner, 2010 Kidlutions Preferred Product Winner

This may seem strange for a musician to say, but sometimes I don’t want to hear any of my favorite pieces of music.   I don’t want to sing, or compose or go to a concert, or have a conversation, or DO anything.  I just want to BE!  Do I sound anti-social and reclusive?  Yes, sometimes I could label myself that way, and I am okay with it.  I believe that there are times that everyone needs to invite the music of personal space and elusive silence.   I know it may be difficult to set aside time for this. There are always to-do lists that revolve around personal and professional multi-dimensions of our lives.   That part is wonderful!  We are all alive and vibrant human beings with much to offer, see and do!   However, silence and time out are crucial for recharging,  revitalization,  centering, for feeling the moment…taking in all the nurturing we can absorb from the gifts of breath and Nature, just “being” …without labels and to-do’s and chatter.  In silence, look up at the night and day sky and feel its expansive beauty and know that you too have unlimited possibilities!  Step on the earth and really know that the roots of the earth, its energy, can provide you strength and courage to move forward in the world with confidence and empowerment.  Allow the sounds around you…life’s symphony…to nurture your soul.  This is a need we all have, but we often push it aside.  It is as important as drinking water.  Silence IS golden, and with all the technology and dividing of ourselves into multiple pieces, we seem to move away and ignore the gift of time, space and silence.  It takes discipline and willpower to invite stillness and slowing down into our busy lives.  Even 3 minutes every so often during the day will help calm, and do wonders for your spirit! 

Cheryl Melody    www.cherylmelody.com 

Peace is a deeply emotional word, and I’m often asked what I personally mean by Peace Concerts.  My non-political definition is that peace begins with you and me.  I believe that every word, thought, action and feeling creates a vibrational effect on our entire planet. I had this awareness even as a little girl. I marveled at how similar people were, and I wondered how humanity could become more curious, respectful and filled with listening hearts about each other’s differences.  This longing for unity, harmony and spacious tolerance has led to the many dimensions of my life’s work.  As an intergenerational “Peace through Music” performing artist, the creative arts can teach compassionate dialogue and understanding, forgiveness, inclusion, respect, manners, caring and love.  Each of us is faced with moment to moment choices, and I believe in the essence of Chief Seattle’s poem: …”whatever we do, say, think and feel affects all living things.”  Peace is about living our lives with our highest vision and version of ourselves, and being conscious of how our reactions, thoughts and words contain a power that will positively resonate throughout our planet. We may or may not be able to visually see the rippling planetary effects of our personal choices, but if we listen with our intuitive sensing and knowing, we will quietly and confidently continue to walk the “peace begins with me” path, realizing on a deep level that the cliché is true…”each of us does make a difference” and “peace begins with you and me.”             

Did anyone ever tell you that you should just mouth the words, or “don’t quit your day job?” Has it paralyzed you from singing for yourself, or for your child? Well, take the rebel out, and hum and sing anyways-in tune or out of tune, it doesn’t matter. It is your birthright to sing, and scientific studies show that you are massaging your cells from inside-out by releasing vocal tones. How else can you get a massage from INSIDE-OUT? Did you know that a good hum, or sounding the vowel of AHHHH, massages your hypothalamus, and it is the ONLY way to massage that important part of your brain! Humming, toning, singing, elongating vowels of ahhhh, ohhhhh, ommmmm, eeeee, iiiiii, lip buzzing, going la la la, or TA-DAAA, or sounding like a siren and going up and down with your voice…are all ancient forms of SOUND HEALING. You are in fact healing your body, mind and spirit by singing, humming and toning. 

If you have a child to sing along with, I share with you from my heart as a mother, musician, teacher and sound healer…your child LOVES YOU FOR YOU and needs to hear your voice.   We are the role models for everything, including transcending any negative patterns or inhibitions, and setting ourselves free. Your mood and energy will be raised to a higher level through the vibrations of sound, and even your heartrate will increase, without any aerobic exercise!  It’s true!  

Just like any aspect of negative habits, we want to role model constructive healthy patterns for ourselves  and for our children, so sing as if your life depends on it, because it does!