A great strength of this program is that children and adults learn to make music and movements together in meaningful ways. For parents and caregivers alike, tools are provided that help to extend what is learned in class into the home environment. And teachers are well trained in Kindermusik philosophy and techniques before they begin to teach others, and this may be one distinctive difference between it and other competing programs.
The basic program allows students and parents to sing, dance, and move together while playing simple musical instruments. Parents come to understand the importance of gross and small motor movements and how their child must use both to develop and grow. Children exercise their bodies to music in ways that give them the building blocks of music and set the stage for what is hoped will be a lifelong love of music.
Every class has a plan of action and activities which can be taken home to try again. Parents are significant teachers in that they encourage continuing musical activities related to the classes during the week. Because children learn best with repetition and review, parents are tasked with these responsibilities. The movement and music activities are simply lots of fun, so families can find that the entire process is much more inviting than they may have originally anticipated.
Kindermusik educators are licensed and rigorously trained in the program. They come from many backgrounds. Some are music educators, some are preschool teachers, and others are parents with a love for music. Great care is taken to teach them the best in early childhood education thinking and classroom skills over and above the basic program.
The program began in Germany in 1960 using the research of respected musical educators such as Carl Orff, Maria Montesorri, and Sinichi Suzuki. Its curriculum was developed and the company was founded in 1978. It has been taught worldwide in 60 countries for over 1 million families. It is a program to consider if you have a child of the age it teaches. Its only shortcoming may be that it reaches such a limited age group that by the time parents become aware it exists, it may be too late for their families to take advantage of it.
Judy Greenlees, is an expert in fine arts enrichment activities for children and their families. She has 29 years of professional experience working with families to raise musical and artistic children.
Tags: carl orff, classroom skills, distinctive difference, early childhood education, early childhood music, maria montesorri, music activities, music and movements, music educators, preschool teachers