Kindermusik

You won’t believe what the oldest Kindermusik students can do! In a carefully planned sequence children will learn to read music and write musical symbols, and to play a pre-keyboard instrument (glockenspiel) a stringed instrument (2-string dulcimer) and a wind instrument (recorder). Musical games, singing and learning about music from around the world keep it fun. This is our most structured class, and involves some desk work as well as weekly practicing.

60 minutes once a week for 15 weeks in 4 sequential semsters over two-years (material builds upon earlier semester). Parents/siblings join in for the last 15 minutes of every lesson.

What A Parent And Child Will Experience In Class

Singing and vocal development — It may sound like a foreign language when a child sings “ta” and “ti-ti,” but this is the language of professional musicians and composers and getting young children ready to read and write simple rhythm patterns.

Movement — See children dance expressively to music, giving them the practice they need to coordinate their body movements to the sound of music. This kind of musical play not only improves musicianship, but physical coordination as well.

Reading and writing — Young children will learn melodic notation and identify pitches such as the C, A, and D notes on the treble clef, plus rhythmic notation. Eventually even composing their own music. By the end of Year 2 we will have learned all the notes of the C major scale plus F# and Bb.

Focused listening — Children will learn to identify a range of orchestra instruments and their sound qualities, while also gaining an early awareness and knowledge of composers and masterworks in Western arts tradition.

Exploring and playing musical instruments — Authentic percussion, string, pre-keyboard, and woodwind instruments expose children to the many choices for future musical study, and at the same time provide them with the opportunity to musically succeed before taking on more formal instruction.

Guided Homework activities – simple instructions for activities and practising for parent and child to do at home to strengthen musical learning.

Plus – ensemble development, musical terms and concepts, opportunities to create their own compositions, creative self-expression

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Year 1 Semester One (Red)

Offered every September

Everything your child learns later in semesters 2, 3, and 4 begins with this early introduction to the basics of reading music and writing musical symbols. We prepare carefully for playing melodies on a pre-keyboard instrument—the glockenspiel—which will be used throughout all the Young Child classes. Your At Home Materials provide the music, instruments, stickers, and activities for a home version of the same playful activities you’ll hear about from class, so your child—and you!—can learn where you’re most comfortable: at home.

Home Materials: Red Folder (with stickers, games bag, and Music At Home Cards, Family Songbook), Home CD of music from class, glockenspiel, and purple carry bag

Year 1 Semester Two (Green)

Offered every January

Playing simple musical patterns and songs on the featured instrument from the first session —the glockenspiel—is a central focus this semester. While learning to sing a melody, and then play the pattern on the glockenspiel, we’ll delve deeper into the understanding of musical concepts such as piano and forte through orchestra-style music such as the William Tell Overture and Peter and the Wolf. Music appreciation and understanding continues with a complete introduction to the instruments—and the families in which they’re grouped—of the orchestra.

Home Materials: Green Folder (with stickers, handouts etc)  and Home CD of music from class.

Year 2 Semester Three (Blue)

Offered every September

Appalachian music is a featured musical style this semester. First, you and your child will build a two-stringed dulcimer instrument with materials that we’ll provide. Then in class we’ll learn to play chords and simple melodies on the instrument you built together. But keep bringing your glockenspiel – we have some more notes to learn! Your Home Materials include dulcimer-making materials, activity cards, and music that features recordings from Appalachia, African-America, and Native American music, as well as the Western Art music of the Nutcracker Suite.

Home Materials: Blue Folder (with stickers, handouts etc) Home CD  and dulcimer.

Year 2 Semester Four (Yellow)

Offered every January

In this final semester, we’ll we learn the remainder of the notes of the treble clef and introduce our wind instrument – the recorder. As your child is introduced to basic methods of playing simple melodic patterns and songs on this wind instrument, we’ll also incorporate the instruments, concepts, and songs from previous semesters. With a special emphasis on multicultural music, your child will learn to improvise and write music, as well as experience the musical styles of the Pacific Islands, Europe, and Africa; plus play special dances and children’s games from around the world, including Alpine dances, Mexico, and Ecuador.

Home Materials: Yellow Folder (with stickers, handouts etc)  Home CD and soprano recorder.

Winter 2012 Fees

Year 1 Semester 2 (Ages 5, i.e. Kindergarten ready)

Semester 2 (January) New Students $335

Semester 2 (January) Continuing Students $310

Year 2 Semester 4 (Ages 5 ½ – 6)

Semester 4  (January) Continuing students $310