7 THINGS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW BEFORE CHOOSING A PRESCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM

If most preschool music programs use singing, small percussion instruments
and creative movement, aren’t they pretty much all the same? Does it really
matter at which place you decide to enroll? YES! There are several things that
can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the
amount of extra work and hassles the parents must deal with and the overall
enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a preschool music program.

1. What is the curriculum?

Is there any research that went into its development? How recent?

Kindermusik was developed by an inter-disciplinary team of child development specialists, musicians, and enormously creative educators. It addresses the specific developmental needs of children from birth to 7 years, in a curriculum that changes and grows as they do. Kindermusik has measurable benefits for your child’s language, cognitive, social, emotional, physical and musical development. Ongoing research continues to inform new Kindermusik curricula, and also the continuous professional development that our educators are committed to. Please click here for the latest research on “Kindermusik and Literacy” as well as “Kindermusik and Math”.

2. Does it narrow the focus too soon?

While there are some children with extraordinary focus at an early age, most do better with a broad experience of singing, movement and percussion instruments before selecting one instrument (such as piano or violin) for intense study. Kindermusik grows with your child as s/he grows from birth to age 7, offering developmentally appropriate musical activities at every stage. It culminates in our “Young Child” program for children in kindergarten and grade 1, during which they learn to read music and play melodies on a pre-keyboard instrument (glockenspiel), a string instrument (dulcimer) and a wind instrument (recorder). For most children this is then an ideal age to begin focused private lessons on a specific instrument.

3. Are the instructors trained in early childhood development as well as music?

This is important so that the children have the right developmental challenges presented to them at the right stage.

4. Does the classroom space create a safe environment conducive for learning? Is there anything distracting or dangerous for young children, such as unnecessary furniture that might be climbed?

Our classes take place either at our dedicated Kindermusik studio at 3412 Roblin near Assiniboine Park, or at Manitoba Theatre for Young People at The Forks. In both cases the classrooms are spacious, and free from unnecessary clutter. This makes it easier for very young children to freely move about the space, without having to worry they will touch something!

5. What are the scheduling options? Can children of different ages attend classes simultaneously? Are there enough choices for your busy family?

We have the broadest possible array of scheduling choices between our two locations. We offer some simultaneous classes for siblings at our Roblin location, and offer a Family Time class option as well.

6. Can you easily do make-up classes if you must miss a class?

Because we have several teachers and more than 50 classes, we make this easy for you.

7. Is everything included? Or are there additional expenses (instrument, books, CDs, fundraising etc)?

In Kindermusik, everything is included – in addition to the lessons you receive CDs, books, instruments and other supporting materials that help extend the learning into the family environment, so that it becomes more than just a once-a –week class experience. And if you have multiple children, your younger ones may be able to reuse those materials – resulting in a discount for you!