Kindermusik for ages 0 to 7
What if. . .there were a place where learning felt like play?
What if. . .there were a place where children were free to be themselves?
What if. . .there were a place where exploration and delight were the rules?
Kindermusik at Allegro School of Music is just that place!
Stop and think for a moment. How did you experience music as a child? Were you encouraged to explore hoops, parachutes, percussion instruments, balls and scarves with joyful abandon? Were you encouraged to develop and use your imagination? Or were you simply instructed in the "correct" way to make music? Is there anything you would change about your experience?
Now think about the goals you have for your child. Depending on his or her age, it may be to start crawling or walking, to gain enough independence to attend preschool, to learn the letters of the alphabet, to learn to read, to gain social skills, or to learn to play an instrument. You may have all of these goals. You may have different goals altogether. But did you know that Kindermusik can help with every single one of them?
"But isn't Kindermusik just playing around? How do I know that my child is actually learning something?" You would be amazed at everything that your child is gaining from a Kindermusik class! On the outside, it all just seems like play. But wrapped up into every song, chant, movement, story, sign and activity is a ton of skills that young children need to learn in order to be successful in school, in social situations and in life. Kindermusik develops fine- and gross-motor skills, language skills, reading skills, social skills, cognitive skills, emotional connections, and--of course--musicianship. Classes are led by fully-trained, licensed educators who are early-childhood development experts.
"But why should we do a general music class? I want my child to learn to play a REAL instrument." Your child will! We use real instruments in all of our Kindermusik classes. But because it is age-appropriate to provide young children with opportunities in which they will be successful, we use mainly percussion instruments for the younger levels. Children in our upper-level classes (Kindermusik for the Young Child) are ready to learn the glockenspiel (a pre-keyboard instrument), the dulcimer (a string instrument) and the recorder (a wind instrument). And throughout all of the Kindermusik levels, children develop the greatest instrument of all: their own voices.
"But my child is interested in playing the guitar or piano right now! I'm afraid if I wait to sign up for private lessons, he won't want to do it anymore." You are not alone--many parents share this same concern. Consider the outcome you desire. Do you hope for your child to gain a lifelong love and appreciation for music? Do you hope for your child to go farther into lessons than you did yourself? Do you even hope for your child to become a world-class performer? Honestly, the best way to shut down any of these dreams is to put your child into lessons before it is appropriate. Playing any instrument well takes considerable fine-motor coordination and strength. Playing any instrument well involves learning to read music, which requires similar skills to reading paragraphs of words. Playing any instrument well involves great focus and an attention span of at least 30 minutes, as well as a commitment to practicing regularly throughout the week. Learning to play any instrument well takes many years of dedication. Children placed into lessons before they are ready are much more likely to progress slowly and ultimately want to quit, due to frustration and boredom. Your child is much MORE likely to gain a love of music--and a desire to pursue private study in the future--if he experiences music at a level that is enjoyable for his age. And when he does eventually begin those private lessons, he will progress VERY quickly, since he will already have a vast amount of musical knowledge and skill under his belt!
What if. . .there were a place where children were free to be themselves?
What if. . .there were a place where exploration and delight were the rules?
Kindermusik at Allegro School of Music is just that place!
Stop and think for a moment. How did you experience music as a child? Were you encouraged to explore hoops, parachutes, percussion instruments, balls and scarves with joyful abandon? Were you encouraged to develop and use your imagination? Or were you simply instructed in the "correct" way to make music? Is there anything you would change about your experience?
Now think about the goals you have for your child. Depending on his or her age, it may be to start crawling or walking, to gain enough independence to attend preschool, to learn the letters of the alphabet, to learn to read, to gain social skills, or to learn to play an instrument. You may have all of these goals. You may have different goals altogether. But did you know that Kindermusik can help with every single one of them?
"But isn't Kindermusik just playing around? How do I know that my child is actually learning something?" You would be amazed at everything that your child is gaining from a Kindermusik class! On the outside, it all just seems like play. But wrapped up into every song, chant, movement, story, sign and activity is a ton of skills that young children need to learn in order to be successful in school, in social situations and in life. Kindermusik develops fine- and gross-motor skills, language skills, reading skills, social skills, cognitive skills, emotional connections, and--of course--musicianship. Classes are led by fully-trained, licensed educators who are early-childhood development experts.
"But why should we do a general music class? I want my child to learn to play a REAL instrument." Your child will! We use real instruments in all of our Kindermusik classes. But because it is age-appropriate to provide young children with opportunities in which they will be successful, we use mainly percussion instruments for the younger levels. Children in our upper-level classes (Kindermusik for the Young Child) are ready to learn the glockenspiel (a pre-keyboard instrument), the dulcimer (a string instrument) and the recorder (a wind instrument). And throughout all of the Kindermusik levels, children develop the greatest instrument of all: their own voices.
"But my child is interested in playing the guitar or piano right now! I'm afraid if I wait to sign up for private lessons, he won't want to do it anymore." You are not alone--many parents share this same concern. Consider the outcome you desire. Do you hope for your child to gain a lifelong love and appreciation for music? Do you hope for your child to go farther into lessons than you did yourself? Do you even hope for your child to become a world-class performer? Honestly, the best way to shut down any of these dreams is to put your child into lessons before it is appropriate. Playing any instrument well takes considerable fine-motor coordination and strength. Playing any instrument well involves learning to read music, which requires similar skills to reading paragraphs of words. Playing any instrument well involves great focus and an attention span of at least 30 minutes, as well as a commitment to practicing regularly throughout the week. Learning to play any instrument well takes many years of dedication. Children placed into lessons before they are ready are much more likely to progress slowly and ultimately want to quit, due to frustration and boredom. Your child is much MORE likely to gain a love of music--and a desire to pursue private study in the future--if he experiences music at a level that is enjoyable for his age. And when he does eventually begin those private lessons, he will progress VERY quickly, since he will already have a vast amount of musical knowledge and skill under his belt!
So why Kindermusik?
Children need to MOVE!
Kindermusik offers plenty of opportunity for children to develop their emerging physical skills and get the proprioceptive input that their bodies crave. Children are never expected to just sit quiet and still.
Children need to build CONFIDENCE!
Kindermusik uses instruments that children naturally know how to play and can easily experience success with. Kindermusik provides a safe environment in which children can try new ways to do things without fear of failure. Kindermusik is a welcoming place where children can feel free to engage or disengage as they need to, which validates their feelings and builds emotional maturity.
Children need ONE-ON-ONE TIME!
Kindermusik offers what too many other activities don't -- quality time for children with their special grown-up. We live in a drop-off society, where kids at a very early age are shuffled off here and there to experience things without a parent. Give your child the gift of time. There will be plenty of opportunities to do things alone once they hit the elementary and teen years! Setting aside the time to attend Kindermusik together is not only incredibly rewarding for parents, but it communicates to children that quality time together is a valuable priority. (This can be increasingly important for younger siblings in a larger family OR for older siblings who have a new baby in the house!)
Children need to EXPLORE and develop their IMAGINATIONS!
Kindermusik teachers never approach things from a one-size-fits-all mentality. Consider other activities that are offered for children at this age. Many of them, such as ballet classes or soccer, are dedicated to instructing children on the "proper" way to do something. (Think back to the exercise listed in the first paragraph--sound familiar?) How can children learn to be creative and to stretch their imaginations if all of the thinking is already done for them? In a Kindermusik class, children are always encouraged to find a different way to do something. Children who learn to be comfortable with thinking freely tend to have much more confidence and emotional security when trying new things.
Children need FUN!
Kindermusik is fun! A child's job is to play, and children learn best when they are encouraged to do simply that -- play. Musical knowledge and all of those other great skills will emerge naturally and easily through participation in a Kindermusik class. What could be better than that?!
Read more about the benefits you receive from participating in a Kindermusik class at Allegro School of Music.
The next Kindermusik session will begin in September 2011; schedule and registration will be available very soon.
Children need to MOVE!
Kindermusik offers plenty of opportunity for children to develop their emerging physical skills and get the proprioceptive input that their bodies crave. Children are never expected to just sit quiet and still.
Children need to build CONFIDENCE!
Kindermusik uses instruments that children naturally know how to play and can easily experience success with. Kindermusik provides a safe environment in which children can try new ways to do things without fear of failure. Kindermusik is a welcoming place where children can feel free to engage or disengage as they need to, which validates their feelings and builds emotional maturity.
Children need ONE-ON-ONE TIME!
Kindermusik offers what too many other activities don't -- quality time for children with their special grown-up. We live in a drop-off society, where kids at a very early age are shuffled off here and there to experience things without a parent. Give your child the gift of time. There will be plenty of opportunities to do things alone once they hit the elementary and teen years! Setting aside the time to attend Kindermusik together is not only incredibly rewarding for parents, but it communicates to children that quality time together is a valuable priority. (This can be increasingly important for younger siblings in a larger family OR for older siblings who have a new baby in the house!)
Children need to EXPLORE and develop their IMAGINATIONS!
Kindermusik teachers never approach things from a one-size-fits-all mentality. Consider other activities that are offered for children at this age. Many of them, such as ballet classes or soccer, are dedicated to instructing children on the "proper" way to do something. (Think back to the exercise listed in the first paragraph--sound familiar?) How can children learn to be creative and to stretch their imaginations if all of the thinking is already done for them? In a Kindermusik class, children are always encouraged to find a different way to do something. Children who learn to be comfortable with thinking freely tend to have much more confidence and emotional security when trying new things.
Children need FUN!
Kindermusik is fun! A child's job is to play, and children learn best when they are encouraged to do simply that -- play. Musical knowledge and all of those other great skills will emerge naturally and easily through participation in a Kindermusik class. What could be better than that?!
Read more about the benefits you receive from participating in a Kindermusik class at Allegro School of Music.
The next Kindermusik session will begin in September 2011; schedule and registration will be available very soon.
