What is Funsical
Fun that builds bodies, minds and moods
Funsical builds strength, balance, endurance, character, confidence, coordination and calm bodies and minds.
Funsicology
The thinking behind the program, in Funsical's own words.
Curriculum
Progressive sequences of developmentally appropriate activities consisting of Musical, Physical, Vocal and Mindful methods for developing and maintaining optimal FUNctioning for early childhood, seniors and special needs populations.
Online classes and video series
Funsical provides a wide variety of audio and video routines, as well as educator resources and instructor training programs.
Research-based & interdisciplinary
Funsical provides programs that combine elements of music, dance, athletics, fitness, martial arts, yoga and tai chi with physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as mindful and motivational exercises, techniques and patterns into a harmonic blend of progressive routines.
All ages
Funsical was originally developed for early childhood applications, it has taken its research-based model and created additional programs for seniors and special needs populations.
What Makes Funsical Different?
Funsical differs from traditional music and movement programs by offering a more comprehensive blend of music, movement, vocalization, mindful thinking, storytelling, imagination, and active learning. Children are encouraged to move, think, communicate, create, and have fun while developing physical, cognitive, emotional, social, sensory, and communication skills.
Funsical uses original music along with carefully selected folk, soft rock, classical, and jazz standards, with simple tempos, rhythms, and beats that help children to listen, comprehend, and move accordingly. These elements are woven together into playful, progressive activities designed to help children "Move and Improve" while having fun with each progressive sequence.
What Is Funsical
The four methods
Unique, proven and progressive sequences of the following methods:
- MethodMusical
Rhythm, song and music that carry the movement.
Original class audio and prop music give every routine a steady beat to move, listen and respond to.
- MethodPhysical
Movement for strength, balance, endurance and coordination.
Progressive, developmentally appropriate movement patterns drawn from dance, athletics, fitness, martial arts, yoga and tai chi.
- MethodVocal
Vocalization, speech and sound play.
Vocalrobics and singing activities pair the voice with movement to support communication, vocal expression and language development.
- MethodMindful
Calming, focus and emotional steadiness.
The Chill Pill sequence and mindful movement patterns help participants settle, process and refocus.
The Four Priceless Gifts
Funsical routines provide activities to help people:
- Look Happy
Sensory motor
Grinnastics, Eyeball Dancing, Earobics
- Sound Happy
Vocalization
Vocalrobics · Good Vibrations
- Move Happy
Gross motor
loco-motor, non loco-motor, creative movement, adventurobics and chill out
- Think Happy
Attitude tuning
The power phrases, magic words and Funsical stories.
Techniques
Named Funsical techniques used across the routines.
- Vocalrobics
Making sounds and speaking in a variety of ways to exercise vocal ability, breath and articulation.
- Grinnastics™
Facial activities that increase smiling, reduce facial muscle tension and increase blood circulation to the brain.
- Visionastics
Visual activities that relax the eye muscles and build smooth, focused eye movement.
- Chuckle Jamming
A breathing and laughter exercise using repeated “ha”, “hee” and “ho” sounds to release tension and deepen the breath.
- Respirobics
Breathing activities for practicing deep, smooth, even breath.
- Earobics
Listening activities that relax and sharpen listening skill.
- Aromanastics
Activities using awareness of surrounding aromas to build sensory awareness.
- Tude Tuning
Attitude-tuning exercises for practicing positive thought.
- Scochiga
An eclectic blend of Tai Chi, Yoga, Egoscue, Brain Gym, Sillycise, Feldenkrais and more, used to encourage motor control, music appreciation, stability, balance and flexibility, especially for seniors and adult special needs.
- Chill Pill
The Chill Pill Prescription shares a martial arts calming sequence and processing method that encourages participants to settle, refocus and feel more at ease.
- Adventurobics
Funsical adventures to the jungle, city and the deep blue sea in search of animals and objects they can pretend to see and be!
Meet Scott Liebler (Scottee)
Scott Liebler (Scottee) is a teacher, writer, trainer and motor development specialist working primarily with early childhood, special needs and senior populations. He has been developing curriculum, teaching in classrooms, doing personal training and training other teachers, trainers and therapists.
Since 1985 he's been evolving Funsical, a fun and effective program for developing children's motor, communication and learning abilities using movement, music, vocalization, and mindfulness activities.
He has written and received numerous foundation grants to develop curriculum and provide training programs for early childhood professionals. He has collaborated with Colorado State University as the program director for Happy Feet, a physical activity training program for Head Start communities throughout CO. He was the full time fitness director for Crème de la Crème Learning Center for four years and has spent three years teaching English and developing the Funsical English program in South Korea.
He has been an adjunct faculty member of Front Range and Red Rocks Community Colleges in Denver, CO, a seminar presenter for the Bureau of Education and Research and has created a variety of on line CEU courses.
A former gymnast, radio announcer and professional clown, Scott utilizes his vast experience, knowledge and passions to: help children build a foundation for acquiring optimal skills and abilities; and help adults manage stress, build resilience and keep active and alert. His ability to entertain and connect with students and audiences is matched only by his dedication to lifelong learning.
Have Fun!
What people say
“We really appreciate how much of Scott's program is based in research. He made observations based on his teaching, then studied the foundations in depth as a precursor to developing Funsical. It's very interesting to learn how we can use music movement and vocal progressions to develop in new ways physically, mentally and emotionally.”
From the Holistic Moms of Children with Autism Network