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Questions and Answers
1. What if I want to enroll my child in gymnastics, dance, soccer, karate, or preschool?
As children reach the age of 3½ to 4, a world of possibilities in the community opens up to them. We can send our children to any number of wonderful activities, but they don't all involve the family. Being able to enjoy our families in a rich musical environment is priceless. These days children are being pushed out into the world at younger ages than ever and it's nice to have an activity where family involvement is celebrated. Many of the benefits of the other activities, such as promoting physical coordination and social skills, providing a structured routine, building self-esteem and developing talents and cognitive abilities, are all encompassed in a Kindermusik class. PLUS there is the added benefit of a development for a love of music that will last much past the time the dance shoes and karate gees are put away - in fact, as we say at Kindermusik, "A good beginning never ends." The opportunity to creatively express their individual imaginations through art, vocal, dance and instrument activities is unique to Kindermusik.
Ten frequently asked questions . . .
2. I plan to have my children take music lessons when they are older. Why should I bother with a music class when they are so young?
Instinctively, we know that music belongs in the life of young children: young children are ready for music, they are in their critical period for developing a good foundation in music, and musical potential is often lost if it is not nurtured and maintained in these early years. Anyone who works with young children, even infants, knows how eager and receptive they are to appropriate musical experiences. Additionally, recent brain research has pointed to non-musical crossover benefits of early music study and to how important early music exposure is to a baby's normal development. In a Kindermusik class, parent-child interaction is fostered, socialization with other children is encouraged, fine motor and gross motor development is enhanced, and language skills flourish. Kindermusik helps each child develop musically at the right time and in the right way, and a Kindermusik graduate has a solid foundation and a giant head-start when they move to instrumental, voice or even dance lessons.
3. Honestly, how do BABIES really benefit from their own music class?
Let a Kindermusik mom, Petra, tell you in her own words: "My son, Alex, was a Village baby from 10 to 18 months. Alex loved the classes and so did all of the parents and children who were with him. I will try to sum up why it worked for us:
1. Our teacher fully believed in the program and it came across to the parents. She regularly integrated Foundations of Learning statements and helped us see what benefits our children were deriving from the activities. She also constantly gave suggestions for how to participate in the activities with different age groups. Everyone had ways to participate appropriately for their baby.
2. The different ages in the class were wonderful. Parents with infants were enjoying seeing the activities of the older ones and the older children interacted so cute with everyone. There was so much sharing and kindness between the children and parents. We were constantly amazed.
3. The children felt so comfortable with the teacher and all of the parents that many times children would walk or crawl to the teacher or to the other parents and sit with them. No one was ever bored in class. We had more wonderful experiences than I thought possible.
4. The thing that really solidifies my belief in the Village program is seeing my son at home and what a lasting impact the classes have made. He is now 20 months old, so he has been out of Village for a short while. We still listen to the music regularly. He cries to have his Kindermusik CD put on! The Armenian Lullaby from "MOO" is THE thing that puts him to sleep. He has chosen it as his favorite lullaby. The other day he was listening to the FEATHERS CD while playing and suddenly he was lying on the floor, not moving. I wondered what was wrong, but he just looked at me as if inviting me to join him. Then I realized a Quiet Time song was playing. I was stunned. He had never done that at home before. It was not a fluke. He did it again later in the CD. Yesterday during mealtime and the DO-SI-DO CD, he stopped eating during a Quiet Time song and resumed eating when it was over. Later he was looking at a book and the Tango, Cha-Cha! song began. He did not see me watching him move his book side to side in rhythm to Cha-cha-cha. Because of his delight in the music on the CD's, we are now able to take long road trips! Music is now a huge part of our lives, while it wasn't before."
These experiences are what parents come to cherish about the Kindermusik Village class.
4. Let's talk finances. Why doesn't Kindermusik cost less?
When you buy an outfit, you don't just pay the flat cost of the materials it cost to make the outfit. You also pay for the time it took to make the outfit, the person who designed the outfit, the cost for marketing and shipping and getting it into the stores, the equipment used in making the outfit, etc. You also pay for the name brand that is associated with the outfit. Similarly, the fees that you pay to attend Kindermusik cover a multitude of items. For instance:
a. Kindermusik is the leader in Early Childhood Music and Movement programs. Being a part of "KINDERMUSIK" ensures that you are getting an internationally tested and tried product that works and is the leader in the field. It is the "Designer" label as opposed to a local or "in-store" label.
b. Kindermusik regularly consults with experts in the field of Early Childhood development, music and movement as they develop their curricula, such as: Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect; Melissa R. Johnson, pediatric psychologist; Anne Green Gilbert, author of Creative Dance for Children; Claudia Quigg, founder and executive director of Baby TALK; Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, author of Raising Your Spirited Child; Patricia Campbell, author of Songs in Their Head: Music and Its Meaning in Children's Lives, and others. These experts, along with an amazing Creative Team, bring their knowledge and experience into your lives. No other program can boast of such backing. This is worth a lot.
c. The materials produced by Kindermusik International are of the highest quality. The CDs, literature and other home materials are unsurpassed. The talented artists, musicians and arrangers make the music come alive. You only have to listen to one CD to know that this is no ordinary children's music CD. Music learning with the family in the home is a fundamental cornerstone of Kindermusik and this is accomplished best through the use of home materials. Other programs may offer no or optional home materials which makes it hard to continue the experience at home. Very worthwhile.
d. Ms. Suzanne brings to the classroom over 22 years of experience working with children as a choir director, a piano teacher, a Kindermusik teacher, and, of course, a parent and grandparent! She is committed to continuing education by attending regional and national conferences and workshops, upgrading and maintaining certification, and keeping current with the latest research on children, brain development, and music. Experience counts!
e. When you take Karate, Gymnastics, Dance or even music lessons, there are always uniform and costume fees, recital fees, instrument rentals or purchase and music fees, etc. When comparing total prices, Kindermusik is often less expensive than these other programs.
f. A variety of instruments, props and equipment are necessary to provide a wide range of learning experiences in the class - Inventory costs.
g. "You get what you pay for!" - and more! To quote Carla Hannaford, author of Smart Moves: "Kindermusik is elegant in its integrated approach to a child's development. Physiologically, touch, movement, rhythm and sound are the keystones to optimizing brain growth. The importance of having families working together, where everyone benefits from the sense of belonging, gets directly at the heart of what we, as a society, need at this time to raise healthy, loving children. All of this is provided in the Kindermusik program." Priceless!
5. I feel my child is ready for piano instruction NOW. Why should I choose Kindermusik over a keyboard program or other private lessons?
Many parents have found that this is not an "either/or" choice. Kindermusik and keyboard lessons are not mutually exclusive; in fact, Kindermusik supplements and enriches piano lessons tremendously. In addition, several Suzuki components, as well as other methods, are used in the Young Child program. The appropriate developmental nature of Kindermusik activities ensures that learning is never "too much, too fast." Many piano instructors say that a child who begins lessons before age 7 or 8 is not any further ahead of the child who begins at a later age.
6. My child and I have a lot of fun in Kindermusik class, but sometimes I wonder . . . is she really learning anything about music?
To the casual observer, it might indeed look like we are just playing and having fun. While the approach is necessarily playful, every aspect of the Kindermusik curriculum is built upon a solid musical and developmental foundation. While playing and singing, children are improving their rhythmic competency, developing a sense of steady beat, achieving the ability to match pitches, becoming acquainted with timbre, learning a repertoire of songs, experiencing many different instruments, increasing their ability to listen, and of course, gaining a love of music that will last throughout their life.
7. My child loves Kindermusik class and sings all of the songs and does all of the activities at home, but when we are in class, he just sits there.
Not to worry! Although this is sometimes frustrating to parents because of our performance-oriented society, developmentally, pushing children to perform has no place in an Early Childhood program of any kind. We believe the parent is the child's most important teacher, and the home is the most important place for that learning to grow. When you think about it, success should be measured more by what a child does all the rest of the week than what he does in the 45 minutes at Kindermusik class. And remember that Kindermusik is about Process, not Performance. Every child can be successful in a Kindermusik class no matter what developmental level he is on.
8. My child has special developmental problems. Is Kindermusik for her?
Absolutely! Autistic children, children with Down's syndrome, hearing impaired children and those with other physical, emotional and learning disorders have generally thrived AND improved in Kindermusik. It is very helpful to discuss your child's needs in detail with Ms. Suzanne prior to coming to your first class. Any suggestions and advice you can give her will be greatly appreciated at any time during the semester.
9. What about siblings in class? I have trouble finding sitters.
Ideally, Kindermusik should be a one on one experience with parent and child. This is the ideal, and what we all hope could happen. Unfortunately, we all know that the ideal often cannot happen! A basic tenet of the Kindermusik philosophy is its emphasis on family music making, I hate to turn away prospective families because of sibling/sitter problems. However, because of the time, space, and instrument limitations during Kindermusik class, and in order to be fair to the other families enrolled in the class, it is essential that I am able to plan for siblings who must attend and involve them appropriately. If I know about your sibling situations at the time of enrollment, I can plan accordingly to accommodate you. There is a $75 charge per semester for babies who cannot remain in a baby carrier during class or for older siblings who are regularly participating in class. Exceptions to this policy will be made if an older sibling can occupy himself and not be a distraction. This policy creates a better learning environment for everyone.
10. This really sounds TOO good to be true. It can't really be all that wonderful!
I would be lying if I told you that every class is a dream. Because we are dealing with very young children, there are of course some days that are chaotic and crazy. Every child is unique and no one acts the model child all the time. But, I can honestly and in all sincerity say that the curriculum works beautifully. It works because it is perfectly developmentally appropriate. Each child learns at his or her own level and ability, and in most cases revels in it! There is not one standard of performance that anyone is trying to meet, and the WHOLE child is developed through music. It's truly magic!
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