Young Child

Students explore many facets of music—speaking, singing, moving, listening, creating, playing instruments and learning about reading and writing music. Creative movement or dances are interspersed with quiet activities like drawing or focused listening. The curriculum introduces the thrill of the glockenspiel, a pre-keyboard instrument, and the wonder of string and woodwind instruments like the dulcimer and recorder. The capstone of Kindermusik, Young Child is the perfect pressure-free preparation for private instrumental instruction. Learn more by download a flyer (pdf).

Children 5 and 6 years old love to sing and DANCE and the experts inform us that although your young child is rarely ready for the physical demands and commitment of formal musical training, he/she is ready to learn sophisticated musical concepts involved in instrument instruction. Experts agree that the single best choice for your child at this age is Kindermusik vs. Private Instruction.

Through the 2-year program of instruction, your child will learn authentic wind, string and pre-keyboard instruments. Upon graduation from Kindermusik, we will then be able to beautifully transition your child into private instruction on the instrument which he/she shows greatest joy and aptitude. Piano, violin and voice instructors are constantly telling us how "unbelievable" their Kindermusik students are in comparison to children who missed the Kindermusik opportunity.

Your child will begin their musical journey learning pre-keyboard techniques, hand-positioning, ensemble development, and vocal development. Because Young Child is concept-specific, children gain an understanding of rhythm, notation, musical symbols, music vocabulary, and composition, as well as music history and styles. Can you imagine a 5 or 6 year old taking "rhythmic dictation?" Young Child is the place for just such magic!

Kindermusik is designed with total child development in mind: cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical development. As movement is the window to learning for your child, MOVEMENT games and dances fill each class. That fun and learning is then related to more sophisticated musical, academic and social skills. Movement first is the way!

Year Two — Semester 3 begins the exploration of your child's first "stringed" instrument, the dulcimer. Along with the glockenspiel, we will utilize these instruments to learn musical concepts that include 'call and response', improvisation, meter, and further advance notation-building on first-year skills. Some favorite themes include "Music of Appalachia," "Music of the Sea," and "Native American Music and "A touch of Tchaikovsky.. You will see your child's skills soar. You will play and sing your child's compositions and arrangements. This is truly an exciting year as we prepare your child for private instruction on in piano, voice and violin post graduation from Musical Pathways in the Spring of 2009.

You'll both love the At Home materials

Remember that what we begin in the classroom turns into "lifetime" learning in the home. Great fun and bonding occurs as you play together, learning the musical skills with your child in the comfort of your own home week after week. Yes, even if you have never had a music lesson, you too will be learning right along with your child. Consider Young Child a "buy one-get one free" curriculum. FUN!

• German Glockenspiel w/ Carry Bag for YC1; Dulcimer for YC3
• Home CD
• Children's Activity Folder
• Parent's Weekly Home Activity Cards and Related Manipulatives
• Games Bag with Rhythm Sticks
• Family Song & Coloring Book
• Child's Canvas Carry Bag

View current schedule.

• Critical vocal development skills are built.
• Musical concepts develop by learning musical structure.
• Children learn in small group sessions without the pressure of performance.

For your budding musician, Young Child provides a pressure-free, developmentally appropriate transition where she can musically succeed before taking on more formal instruction. In small, movement-oriented classes, your child develops, her greatest instrument—her voice—while she learns the symbols and vocabulary of music-making.

Through creative learning activities, she begins to read music and to create musical compositions—tangible accomplishments that instill positive emotions about her own musicality. Soon, a request of "Mom, I want to take piano" may surprise you.

What does ongoing musical training offer young children beyond the music itself? According to the experts, here are a few of the benefits:

• Improved basic Kindergarten skills
• In general, higher IQ scores
• Enhanced language development and reading skills
• Improved listening skills
• Higher self-esteem
• A greater aptitude for personal expression and creativity
• Overall boost in academic achievement
• Better eye-hand coordination
• Enhanced abstract spatial abilities