Music teachers, parents, and child care providers have known
intuitively for generations that music benefits even the youngest
members of society. Grandpas have bounced their little ones
on their knees, Grandmas have rocked and crooned to their infants.
Dads and Mums have waltzed around the room, and flown through
the air with happy babies in their arms. And what big brother
hasn't attempted to teach baby sister to do the raspberries
or encouraged her to beat on the drum? Anecdotes abound from
musicians who have given birth to children who seem particularly
"tuned in" to music following an active pregnancy
during which they performed regularly.
Now, thanks to the focus of new research on the importance
of the developing child during the first three years of life,
we are beginning to have scientific evidence to reinforce what
we have suspected: music does make a difference.
We already accept that:
music shapes attitudes towards a lifetime appreciation of
the arts
music is SO MUCH FUN!
music is a precursor to future formal music instruction
by providing experiences in singing,
playing instruments, movement, and listening
music is a link to understanding humans in context of their
culture.
Now we are also beginning to recognise that:
music establishes patterns of brain development unknown
to us before
music is crucial to language development
music through movement is a vital connection to reading
readiness
music provides tools essential for problem solving
music fosters emotional bonding and self esteem
music activities are helpful in developing the eyes
and so much more.
Kindermusik Village stresses the interactive nature of the
total development of the whole child in body, mind, and spirit
by naming and claiming these benefits of music education for
society's littlest members. These Kindermusik Foundations of
Learning are incorporated into every Kindermusik Village lesson
in writing, in discussion, and in home activities.
Kindermusik Village babies are in a "receptive" mode
of development. Kindermusik Village lessons acknowledge this
by providing a wide array of sounds, images, tactile and movement
activities for Baby to experience. Parents and caregivers are
encouraged to enhance every activity by imagining yet another
way to position Baby to view his world, another sound or movement
to try, and are invited to observe, notice, and even document
Baby's preferences, antics, and responses in a specially prepared
Home Journal.
Babies in this multi-age class are changing more rapidly than
at any other time in their development. Therefore, each activity
presents features and choices for lap babies, crawling babies,
and walking babies, each participating at his own level. The
crawling baby may be walking by the end of the course, and the
lap baby may be crawling. Diversity is expected and welcomed.
There is never the need to ask: "Am I doing it right?"
Kindermusik Village teaches "your baby's way is the right
way." Watch and take note. Then enjoy exchanging ideas
and observations with other parents.
Kindermusik Village is a community of parents and babies, sharing
and caring for each other. At no other time in their child's
life do parents need affirmation, educations, and community
more than now. In particular, isolated new parents want to know
if their baby is "normal," or if they are making the
"right choices," and what's coming next. Kindermusik
Village classes provide a small group, a safe environment, and
a trusting atmosphere where Baby is enriched and Adult is affirmed
and encouraged. Gathering Time, parent interactive dancing,
and many activities provide opportunity for the development
of relationships between adults.
Kindermusik Village takes pride in using only the best in quality
materials for our babies. Most of the song literature is taken
from the rich folk heritage of generations of music makers.
All of the art has been specially commissioned to attract the
attention of the developing eyes of our babies and uses bright,
bold, contrasting images and colours. The Kindermusik Village
home CDs and literature books will be treasured for years to
come. The Home Activities/Journal provides a unique opportunity
to document the Kindermusik Village experience in photos, drawings,
poems, and stories.
Kindermusik Village blends the intuitive knowledge of artists
and the science of neuropsychologists to create a delightful
experience for baby and adult. The licensed Kindermusik educator,
trained by Kindermusik International Institute Faculty, brings
the curriculum to life and into the lives of families in villages
all over the world.
A child is born and time changes forever. From this new bundle
of joy sprouts a family's self-conscious awareness of new ways
to spend time together: cooing and babbling, rocking and singing
lullabies, laughing and smiling. Yes, feeding and bathing, too.
A short year or so later time spent with the child, now a toddler,
changes dramatically as the child enters the arena of peers
in the day-care, church nursery, or Kindermusik classroom, full
of wiggles and giggles. Parents play chasing and hiding games,
bouncing and twirling games, and spend time reading and chatting.
"How precious our time is together. And when I spend time
with other children and their parents, our time becomes even
more special", says an admiring parent. All too soon, it
will be time for the child to leave home and enter a time of
his own.
It is with a sense of wonder and reverence for "our time"
that Kindermusk Our Time has been created for children 1 1/2
- 3 years of age and their parents. Parents and children, learning
and growing, loving and laughing, enjoying their time with music.
We have known intuitively for generations that music benefits
even the youngest members of society. Now, thanks to the focus
of new research on the importance of the developing child during
the first three years of life, we are beginning to have scientific
evidence to reinforce what we have suspected: music does make
a difference.
We already accept that:
music shapes attitudes towards a lifetime appreciation of
the arts
music is SO MUCH FUN!
music is a precursor to future formal music instruction
by providing experiences in singing,
playing instruments, movement, and listening
music is a link to understanding humans in context of their
culture.
Now we are also beginning to recognise that:
music establishes patterns of brain development unknown
to us before
music is crucial to language development
music through movement is a vital connection to emergent
literacy
music provides tools essential for problem-solving
music fosters emotional bonding and self esteem
music activities are helpful in developing the eyes
and so much more.
Kindermusik Our Time stresses the interactive nature of the
total development of the whole child in body, mind, and spirit
by naming and claiming these benefits of music education for
society's toddlers. These Foundations of Learning are incorporated
into every Kindermusik Our Time lesson in writing, in discussion,
and in home activities.
Because of its focus on the development of the total child
in body, mind and spirit, and because the authors of Kindermusik
Our Time are dedicated to providing developmentally appropriate
activities, this curriculum features a steady stream of integration
of movement, music and literacy.
Children this age require enormous amounts of individual attention.
They must actively choose what they will do and how they will
do it. For this reason, Kindermusik Our Time provides ample
time for parental input into helping the child explore and learn.
Opportunities abound for parents to take the lead in playing,
dancing and singing with their child in an unhurried manner
and in their own special way. Helping parents help their children
on their journey toward becoming independent thinkers through
the use of "scaffolding" is a central goal of Kindermusik
Our Time.
Temper tantrums, irrational fears and fierce independence coupled
with hugs, clinging behaviours and boastful "Me do it"
statements point to the emotional turbulence surrounding children
aged 1 1/2 to 3. At no other time, except perhaps during the
teenage years, do emotional development issues surface with
such force. Emotional stability links directly to later success
in school and any teacher working with children in this age
range must identify age-appropriate goals with regards to emotional
development. Kindermusik Our Time authors have selected and
formed activities in the curriculum to foster growth in these
particular areas.
Kindermusik families will appreciate attention to these vital
school readiness characteristics and their own resulting greater
understanding of emotional development.
Kindermusik Our Time takes pride in using only the best in
quality materials for our toddlers and their families. Most
of the song literature is taken from the rich folk heritage
of generations of music makers. All of the art has been specially
commissioned to attract the attention of the children. The specially
designed home instruments are unique only to Kindermusik. The
Kindermusik Our Time Home CDs, literature, and instruments will
be treasured for years to come.
Kindermusik Our Time blends the intuitive knowledge of artists
and educators with the science of neuropsychologists to create
a delightful experience for toddlers and their parents and caregivers.
The licensed Kindermusik educator, trained by Kindermusik International
Institute Faculty, brings the curriculum to life and into the
lives of families all over the world.
Children thrive in a Kindermusik environment where individual
development and learning is promoted and enhanced. A thorough
understanding of the interests, skills and learning methodologies
for three- and four-year-olds, combined with a curriculum of
suitable activities, constitute a developmentally appropriate
environment. The Kindermusik learning setting offers concrete
experiences as well as invites ideas, curiosity, investigation
and discovery. Opportunities exist to use newly acquired expressive
language skills and establish positive and caring relationships
with adults and other children in the Kindermusik environment.
Addresses the Development of the Whole Child
Each child's physical, emotional, social, cognitive, language
and musical development is supported and enhanced by the carefully
integrated selection and development of activities. The lesson
plans, combined with careful and discerning observations by
the educator, set the stage for optimal learning experiences.
Child-Centred
Every child is a contributor to the development of the activities
in Imagine That!, bringing to class an abundance of gifts, experiences,
thoughts and ideas! Through respect for the child and knowledge
of age-appropriate expectations, the educator provides a secure
environment for the child to explore, learn, grow and contribute.
Every class is unique, filled with wonder and surprise.
Process, not Performance
Rather than being concerned with an outcome, product or performance,
a process approach places more value on the experience itself.
For three- and four-year-old children, the educator facilitates
the Kindermusik experience by embracing play, discovery and
challenge as the tools that lead to meaningful learning.
Inclusive of Parents
The preschool-aged child is learning to be self-sufficient
in a group setting of peers, while many times still needing
the affirmation and emotional security provided by the parent.
Imagine That! fulfils both needs by incorporating time for peer
interactions and time for parent participation during Sharing
Time. Kindermusik respects the need of the parent to be a vital
part of the child's learning experience by providing class involvement
and parent education through 'Foundations of Learning' Statements
and At Home Materials.
Quality Materials
Imagine That! Teacher's Kit and At Home Materials facilitate
the engagement of the imagination, individuality and the learning
process. A remarkable blend of songs, activities, music, art,
instruments and literature of the highest quality represent
current and extensive research in fields related to early childhood
learning. At Home Materials are an integral part of the Kindermusik
program. They allow the class experience to continue in the
child's most comfortable environment - at home with parents.
Fun for the Child
The new world of expressive language and budding friendships
creates the climate for joyful interactions and playful learning,
sprinkled with silliness and humour. An educator who sees the
world through the eyes of a preschool-aged child has a classroom
filled with spontaneity, creative ideas, laughter, learning
and fun.
It is the culmination of the Kindermusik experience - an all-important
step in your child's musical growth. Young Child provides
opportunities that can have many positive effects on various
aspects of your child's life. The following are some of the
skills and experiences your child will develop and enjoy on
his journey through Young Child.
Vocal Skills:
Expansion of vocal range
Opportunities to develop confidence in independent singing
Tonal Awareness:
Familiarity with specific pitches and intervals
Familiarity with a variety of musical modes or palettes
Rhythmic Awareness:
Fluent use of specific rhythm language (including ta, ti-ti,
etc)
Reading and performing simple rhythmic patterns
Movement Skills:
Ability to use expressive movement to experience and convey
musical concepts
Increased fine motor control through instrument playing, writing,
and drawing
Reading and Writing Skills:
Reading and writing standard music notation including:
Melodic notatioin (pitches such as c, a, and d
on the treble staff)
Rhythmic notation in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 meter
Original musical compositions
Instrument Playing Skills and Knowledge:
Familiarity with orchestral instruments and their families
Experience playing a broad range of child-appropriate percussion
instruments
Focused skill development and ability to play songs on three
instruments:
Glockenspiel - keyboard instrument experience
Dulcimer - stringed instrument experience
Recorder - wind instrument experience
Focused Listening Skills:
Ability to identify orchestral instruments and their families
by sound
Knowledge of composers and masterworks of the western art music
tradition
Knowledge of music and instruments of lands such as the Pacific
Islands, Europe, Africa and Central, North and South America
and Australia
Awareness of Musical Concepts:
Knowledge of basic musical structures (such as musical phrases)
Knowledge of expressive qualities in music (such as dynamics
and tempo)
Command of a vocabulary to name and describe elements and
qualities of music
Social Skills:
Working with others to create musical ensembles, for example,
composing "Sounds of the Sea"
Co-operating in dances, partner activities and playing party
games, such as "Mexican Hat Dance"
Creativity:
Expressing individual creativity through composition, drawing
and movement
Making choices in creating instrumental ensembles
Enjoy the Trip!
Between the ages of 4 1/2 to 7, the young child learns best
when he is actively engaged in making music. While the need
for more concrete information and skill development is at hand,
play remains the primary way the young child learns.
Throughout the Young Child curriculum, there is a consistent
effort to balance active learning that combines feeling with
the reasoning aspects of your child's development.
Young Child is not an end product, but rather a bridge
between the music play of early childhood and the more formal
musical experiences of the middle childhood years. Kindermusik
brings to your child a journey of learning through song, laughter,
listening, and performing. The journey of musical learning can
last a lifetime. Enjoy this part of the trip with your young
child!
Music class for families with multiple children ages newborn
and up.
In one semester (16wk programmes available), you'll play instruments
together, dance together, share, and take turns, and see how
music can bring you closer as a family.
A one-room schoolhouse approach to music. With older children
ready to show the little ones how it's done and the younger
ones eager to learn, Family Time becomes a multi-layered learning
environment. Each week, a Kindermusik Educator will introduce
basic musical concepts and then give you the instruments, and
the structured free time to put those concepts into play.
Your children will listen to instruments and to each other,
learn from their peers and older children, and enjoy music and
movement with hoops, scarves and tumble-around play. Story time
and family jams, puppet play and happy singing-all the Family
Time activities encourage discovery and exploration and foster
sharing and social skills too. In this special place for musical,
social and emotional learning, your children will strengthen
their ties with each other and with you-and they'll start developing
the skills they'll need in school and on the neighbourhood playground.
Benefits for you and your child:
One convenient class that families can take together
Introduces musical concepts and develops musical skills
Allows each child to develop social skills-such as sharing,
and turn-taking-in a multi-age, multi-child environment
Strengthens the emotional bond among family members
Enjoy the Journey All Week Long
Each family receives a set of At Home Materials designed
to integrate the classroom learning experience with the fun,
Friday night activities you do together as a family.
With music from class, story books, and creative play ideas
and trivia, At Home Materials help your children associate
learning with the unique time you spend together, bonding
as a family.
Repetition and family involvement in a child's learning
is a fundamental cornerstone of the Kindermusik philosophy
because we believe the parent is the child's most important
teacher and the home is the most important place for a child's
learning to take root and grow.
Family Time At Home Materials are designed for two children:
