MusikGarten
When music and movement are a natural, joyous part of childhood, children benefit greatly in many areas of life. Language development, self expression, memory skills, concentration, social interaction, fine motor skills, listening, problem solving, teamwork, goal setting, and coordination are all impacted by early music and movement education. What's more, as a child learns to play music, other areas of development — creativity, family bonding, self-esteem, confidence, emotional development — are also positively impacted. Musikgarten's philosophy is steeped in this understanding. Movement and music activities are perfect for child development. Music immerses the child in language, evokes movement, stimulates the brain, and fosters physical coordination — all in a group setting that builds community — a truly holistic experience.
Family Music for Babies (Prenatal to 16 months)
(30 mins weekly lesson with parents)
Designed for parents and their babies to take together, these weekly classes help you learn how to play musically with your baby. Each class features bouncing and rocking songs, wiggle and peek-a-boo games, and other fun activities for the two of you. When you go home, you can continue the fun with a superb CD recorded by a fine children’s choir and outstanding instrumentalists. Using your parent guidebook along with rhythm sticks, a Musikgarten rattle, and colorful scarf will give you both hours of enjoyment.
Musikgarten's musical play for babies:
Increases your baby’s curiosity about music
Develops listening skills and a sense of beat
Establishes a foundation for singing and musical thought
Helps you form a closer bond with your baby
Gives you and your baby a chance to interact with other parents and babies
Family Music for Toddlers (16 months to 4 years)
(30 mins weekly lesson with a parent)
These weekly classes are action-filled for toddlers - full of energy, often on the move, always exploring and learning - and their parents. Together you’ll sing, chant, move, dance, listen, and play simple instruments, all activities that bridge the natural connection between music and movement through four wonder-filled semesters.
Each lesson features movement activities for coordination, body awareness and control, exploration of space, and instruments such as rhythm sticks, jingles, rattles, drums, and resonator bars.
Additionally, you’ll receive a wonderful CD, a parent activity book, and an instrument or scarf to use at home for more fun time together.
Cycles of Seasons (For Children 4 - 5½ years old)
(45 mins weekly lesson with parents’ sharing time)
Celebrate your preschooler’s growing independence and love of the outdoors with activities involving the four seasons in The Cycle of Seasons.. Developed to build attention and self-expression, activities include singing, chanting, moving, focused listening, musical games, exploring musical instruments, creative movement and storytelling. TheCycle of Seasons nurtures your growing child’s ability to use language and participate in dramatic play within a musical context.
Fun family packets including wonderful music CDs are included for use at home to increase family involvement in the learning process.
Introduction to Keyboard (age 5½ – 6 years)
(50 mins weekly lesson with parents’ sharing time)
Parents and children get their first-hand experience of playing-by-ear in this class. Songs loved, sung and experienced in previous classes are translated into playing on the keyboard. Fun activities of music and movement and percussion playing are still very much a part of this course. Written musical patterns are introduced here, beginning with the rhythm patterns and tonal patterns that the children have been singing in the class since there were babies.
Music Makers (age 6 – 8 years)
(60 mins weekly lesson with parents’ sharing time)
A three year learning program for children to experience activities that lead to ‘Musical Literacy’ and readiness for individual instrumental learning. ‘Musical Literacy’ means ability to play by ear and by reading notes. These programme also includes singing to nurture the child’s aural development, creative as well as structured movement, playing instruments and ensemble work, ear training and guided listening. This developmentally sound approach to music literacy builds symbolic thinking, concentration, memory, and self-expression. The children start to work with written musical patterns, too.
Music Makers lays the groundwork for keyboard success.
Year 2 and 3 introduces much-love piano repertoire, develops and enhances comprehensive musicianship at the keyboard, refines body control and ear tuning, improve the ability to read and play with fluency, further challenges the child to acquire and master more advanced technical skills and continues to build foundation for life-long instruments playing.
Benefit of learning keyboard in group:
develop children's confidence and skills
overcome nervousness of performing for others
respond spontaneously
inspire motivation by learning from each others
developing teamwork and cooperation
refine discipline and patience
encourage creativity and innovation
build the interest in music and in practice
improve hand coordination in handling musical instruments
* opportunities to explore and experiment various types of musical instruments
Making music can also raise young people’s aspirations and achievement at the school, provide wider personal and communication skills in real life, not least the skill of continuous learning.