Early Childhood Program (Musikgarten) 

The Family Music Class is designed to bring the joy of music and movement to energetic young toddlers and their caregivers. Activities include singing, dancing, focused listening and simple instrument playing, creating an environment in which the child's musical aptitude is nurtured and skills such as listening, language, and balance are developed. 

Includes digital download and CD of music, as well as a Read-at-Home Book with lyrics and illustrations.  Parents may also purchase an instrument pack:  2 all-natural, wooden rhythm instruments, wooden rattle, peek-a-boo scarf and earth-friendly, cloth carrying pouch. ($20)

The Cycle of Seasons Class is designed to nurture the emergent independence and creativity of 3 - 5 year-olds. Children and caregivers participate together in activities which include lots of singing, chants and rhymes, listening games, patterns to echo, and movement games, all of which encourage each child's musical development while satisfying the child's need to learn in a holistic environment. 

Includes digital download and CD, as well as an Activity Book and illustrated picture cards in an earth-friendly, cloth carrying pouch.

The goal of the Music Makers classes is Music Literacy: Being able to hear what you see and see what you hear.  In this introductory class, children will become familiar with both the sound and the look of basic rhythmic and tonal patterns, building blocks of the musical language.

The class includes singing, creative and structured movements, playing instruments and ensemble work, ear training and guided listening. Using themes taken from the child's home environment and natural surroundings, Music Makers Classes present a developmentally sound approach to music literacy that builds symbolic thinking, concentration, memory, and self-expression. Music Makers I for ages 4 1/2 - 6 years. Music Makers II for ages 5 1/2 - 7 years.

Parents attend the last 10 minutes of class, to learn about the child’s progress, and how to encourage musical learning at home.

Materials include digital download and CDs of music, learning folders and game pieces, notation games, instrument pages and activity books. Children receive 4 packets throughout the 30-week session.

Music Makers at the Keyboard: This 3-year program is the final step on the pathway to music literacy!  In Keyboard Year 1, children come to the piano ready to play the songs they will learn to sing, dance and love. Small group lessons at the keyboard capitalize on your child's delight in making music with others and allow the child to gallop through beginning keyboard levels with delight.  Children learn basic theory, harmonization, improvisation and sight-reading skills. 

Keyboard Year 2 & 3 classes build on the musical skills gained in the first year, improving rhythmic and tonal understanding, expanding improvisation skills, reading and writing musical notation, as well as building the students’ repertoire of songs to play. Each class includes singing, dancing, rhythm instrument work, and time at the keyboard.

Children will receive 2 books, including 4 digital downloads and CDs of music and notation games throughout each of the 30 weeks.

Young children are learning to move and moving to learn! Every class has a balance between sitting and moving and playing instruments, which meets the needs of most children. Some toddlers have just learned to walk, and they do it almost constantly and at a high speed! Other children may quietly watch, observing but not participating for weeks on end. All children are learning if they are in the room! As long as your child is not posing a major distraction to other children and is not destroying anything in the room, let them wander, but model for them the activity we are doing. Most children eventually join in when they see how much fun you are having!

Our classes offer a safe, nurturing environment where very shy children often flourish. We believe in the Montessori principle of “Follow the Child,” so your child is never forced into an activity they are not ready for. Many children come out of their shell over the course of the semester and enjoy the community music making our classes provide. Children are especially motivated if their accompanying adult is participating in a relaxed, pleasant manner. Forcing a child to participate may negatively color his perception of music and music class. With patience and understanding shy children flourish in music classes.

A lot! Every activity has been carefully chosen for its musical, social, cognitive, aural, gross motor, fine motor and/or speech benefit to your child. Our classes use a lot of singing games, focused listening activities, simple instrument playing and movement to engage your child in the most beneficial way. The best part is, your child is having so much fun bouncing, dancing, singing, thinking and playing, they have no idea how many skills they are absorbing!

Research shows that ALL children have musical potential, and that it is highest in very young children! Aptitude in rhythm and melody can both be significantly developed through musical pattern activities and through joyful singing, movement, and listening to high quality music in early childhood. Frequent musical interaction between parent and child at home is a key to developing the child’s potential. When you enroll your child in a music class, you are helping them to develop the musical potential they already have, instead of allowing it to gradually decline as they get older.

I truly believe that children in these classes are building a strong musical foundation in the most developmentally appropriate way. Young children are much more interested in singing, dancing and trying out instruments than in intense, focused practicing 30 minutes a day. It is exciting to see them develop musical skills and literacy in this playful music environment. Usually they are far ahead when they do begin to study an instrument around the age of seven. Many children who complete the last level of Musikgarten instruction, the keyboard class, can play up to 20 songs with melody and chords, in several different keys, and can read song patterns in traditional music notation. A strong foundation has been laid, their ears have been trained, and the instrument is just another level to their musicality, which comes very naturally.