"Experience is the best sculptor." — Charles Dickens, David Copperfield
HOME PAGE
FAQS — WHAT IS
KINDERMUSIK?
RESEARCH ON EARLY CHILD
DEVELOPMENT
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
KINDERMUSIK PROGRAMS
ABOUT SUNNY KIRA, M.A.
TESTIMONIALS
SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION
MISS SUNNY'S BLOG
CONTACT
REGISTRATION FORM
BIRTHDAY PARTIES!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
KINDERMUSIK CHILD DEVELOPMENT CLASSES BY
MUSIKANDMOTION, NATOMAS, SACRAMENTO, CALIF.
• What is Kindermusik?
• Why is music good for my child's overall development?
• Why should I choose a Kindermusik program for my child?
• When is my child ready for instrumental lessons?
• What academic and life skills are fostered through Kindermusik?
• How do I use the At-Home Materials Kit?
• What's special about Musikandmotion's parent-child classes?
• How can I make the most of my Kindermusik class?
• How do I make up a missed class?
• Is Kindermusik a franchise program?
Kindermusik is an interactive, adult-participatory, "whole child" development program that uses music and body movement classes and a carefully crafted At-Home Materials Kit to build a strong foundation in the six core areas of early learning: cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical, and musical.
In Kindermusik classes, licensed educators lead parents or caregivers and their children through joyful, carefully designed, one-on-one activities, using music and movement tailored to each child's developmental level. Through weekly class activities you can see your child progress in music learning, problem solving, self-esteem, imagination, socialization, language, and the delight of learning.
|
You and your child will have fun at every Kindermusik class! |
Each class involves parent-child interaction while singing, dancing, playing instruments, listening attentively, and reading literature at the appropriate level.
You will have fun at every Kindermusik class!
The Kindermusik scientific method was originally developed in West Germany in the 1960s and is based on the belief that:
* Every child should experience the joy, fun, and learning benefits that music can bring to its life.
* Every child is essentially musical, and music can be an effective tool in his or her overall early development.
* Music nurtures a child's development in the other important learning areas and it builds the critically important association between learning and enjoyment.
* A child's most important teacher is its parent or primary caregiver.
* A child's home is its most important learning environment.
For the past 25 years, Kindermusik International has developed the modern Kindermusik method, with classroom curricula and award winning books, CDs, games, special age-specific musical instruments, and creative activities, all based on the latest proven research. Kindermusik International is the world's leading publisher of music and movement curricula for parents and their children, ages newborn to 7 years.
Kindermusik classes are divided into 4 developmental levels scientifically designed for four different age groups: "Village" for newborns to 18 months, "Our Time" for 18 months to 3 1/2 years, "Imagine That!" for 3 to 5 years, and "Young Child" for 5 to 7 years.
By gradually adding new concepts and challenges along the way, each age-appropriate, carefully designed Kindermusik program acts as a stepping stone to the next, paving the way to your child's next level of development during seven wonderful years.
In addition to scheduled class activities lead by a licensed educator, each Kindermusik educational program comes with a high quality At-Home Materials Kit including beautifully illustrated books, age-appropriate musical instruments, high-quality musical CDs that can be enjoyed again and again, specially designed activities, and easy-to-follow instructions that extend the learning experience to the home, your child's most comfortable learning environment. The At-Home Materials Kit gives you the tools to take full advantage of the Kindermusik method.
In the Kindermusik program, your child will grow in a fun, process-oriented, nurturing environment, without "pressure to perform," but with gentle encouragement to explore, express and discover. You will see rapid developmental evolution in language skills, emerging literacy, listening, problem solving, social skills, self-esteem and, yes, musicality as well.
WHY IS MUSIC GOOD FOR MY CHILD'S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT?
The core belief of the Kindermusik approach is that musical learning is not just for music. Exposure to music is a strong catalyst to help develop not only your child's musical abilities, but many other areas of early learning as well during the critical early years.
The proven Kindermusik methodology is built on the educational philosophies of Orff, Kodaly, Laban and Dalcroze and the work of early childhood experts such as Piaget, Vygotsky, Montessori, and Brazelton.
In fact the latest research has been shown that music is a powerful stimulant for a child's total development. A body of recent scientific research has shown that music can actually stimulate the growth of the brain in such nonmusical areas as language skill, mathematics, cognitive skills, social and emotional interactions, and physical coordination. For more on this topic, please visit the following websites, and feel free to call us for more info:
American Music Conference
The European Music Journal
UNCG (University of North Carolina at Greensboro) School of Music
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE A KINDERMUSIK PROGRAM FOR MY CHILD?
Kindermusik licensed educators are passionate about enhancing the lives of children through music-based learning. They believe that every child's overall intellectual and physical development can be nurtured through the joy of music and the parent-child bond. Every aspect of the Kindermusik program is grounded in this core belief.
Every Kindermusik class offers a delightful mix of songs and activities. Each lesson is thoughtfully designed to achieve specific learning and developmental goals. Classes move at the child's pace, pausing often to nurture individual differences and contributions.
|
More than one-million children have benefitted from Kindermusik programs. |
For over 25 years, Kindermusik has been the world's most respected name in music-based early learning for young children. More than 1.5 million children in 35 countries have benefitted from the Kindermusik method.
There is absolutely no "pressure to perform" in the Kindermusik method, just fun, thoughtful guidance, encouragement, and gentle enthusiasm, as children dance, sing, play instruments and respond naturally to the universal power of music! They know it's just fun!
In addition to its one-on-one classroom classes for parents and their children, the Kindermusik method extends the learning process into your home, where you and your child can enjoy "special time" and explore and grow together in the freedom of your child's most important learning environment.
Make no mistake! Kindermusik is NOT about making "little Mozarts." It's about using music to develop the "whole child." All Kindermusik products are age appropriate, safe, and use quality materials to ensure years of musical enjoyment and learning.
Over 1.5 million families have experienced the magic of the Kindermusik program.
We believe that Kindermusik is truly the single best choice for your child!
WHEN IS MY CHILD READY TO BEGIN INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS (SUCH AS PITCHED INSTRUMENTS OR THE PIANO)?
“To teach a child an instrument without first giving him preparatory training and without developing singing, reading and dictating to the highest level along with the playing is to build upon sand.” --- Zoltan Kodaly
Three of the most prominent music educators in history, Kodaly, Carl Orff, and Emile Jacques-Dalcroze, dedicated their life's work toward a better understanding of music education for young children. Kodaly, a Hungarian educator believed everyone should attain music literacy and singing should be used as the foundation of all music education. Orff, a German educator believed children should first feel music before they understand it. Through active participation, movement, rhythmtic speech or chant, use of percussive instruments, and improvisation, Orff believed children should be creative in their musicianship. Dalcroze, a Swiss educator believed that moving and singing known as Eurhythmics (or "good rhythm" in Greek) along with inner hearing (internalizing music) and Kinesthesia (sensory experience) are essential to early childhood music education.
Kindermusik's music philosophy is based on an eclectic approach guided by these music masters -- Kodaly, Orff, Dalcroze and others. As such, the 7-year continiuum lays a rich and joyful foundation in music education for children as early as infants. However with children 5 years and up, a program called Kindermusik for Young Child offers children an opportunity to learn several pitched instruments such as a glockenspiel, soprano recorder and dulcimer. Kindermusik for Young Child capitalizes on a child's readiness for more formal instruction by combining music theory, singing, ear training, movement, creative expression and instrumental study for children 5-7 years to further their skills in musicianship.
While each child is unique (born with varying levels of music aptitude, temperament and musical interests), young children at about five years of age who are able to sit for longer periods of time, have greater fine motor control and possess the discipline to sit and practice an instrument of their choice may be able to start group or private instrumental lessons as well. If your child is 5 years or older and you are interested having him/her start piano lessons, please contact Miss Jean, who has over 20+ years piano teaching/ performance experience, and a doctorate in Music Degree, to arrange an interview for group or private piano lessons. Miss Jean can be reached at 916-285-0253 or jeanchang15@comcast.net in Natomas.
For more articles on this top please read:
Tuning into the Music Brain -- Jane Singhal
My Child Ready for Music Lessons -- Davonne Irion
Piano Lesson for Children -- Jennifer W. Miner
When Can We Start Music Lessons? -- David Geller, M.D.
WHAT KINDS OF ACADEMIC AND LIFE SKILLS
ARE FOSTERED THROUGH KINDERMUSIK?
In addition to musical ability, Kindermusik classes build a strong foundation for future learning and achievement in virtually every area of development, from athletic performance to the fine arts.
Here are just a few examples of specific developmental areas proven to be enhanced by a music and movement based program:
|
• Language |
• Social Interaction |
• Parent-Child Bonding |
HOW DO I USE THE AT-HOME MATERIALS KIT?
Because of Kindermusik's belief that the home is where learning takes root and grows, each class includes a unique high quality At-Home Materials Kit. This includes home activity books, carefully planned activities, CD recordings, and specially designed instruments. The CD includes a wide selection of age-appropriate classical music, jazz, opera, choral music, lullabies, multicultural folk music, and prize-winning children's recordings that your child will love listening to again and again.
|
At-Home Materials Kit for the Kindermusik Milk and Cookies unit. |
Suggested activities may be as simple as asking your child to listen for loud and quiet sounds in the kitchen and affirming your child's observations. Kindermusik is designed as a daily learning process. The key is extending the classroom activities to the home using the At-Home Materials Kit throughout the week. For some children, home will be the most comfortable place where they will want to sing and perform with the Kindermusik CD playing in the background!
The constant, gentle reinforcement made possible by daily use of the At-Home Materials Kit will enhance not only your child's future appreciation for all the musical genres, but also for other domains of learning important for achievement in any field of endeavor.
The time you spend with your child now is absolutely critical for development throughout his or her life. This is your window of opportunity to shape your child's future development. The Kindermusik At-Home Materials Kit is your invitation to spend fun and enriching moments with your child NOW when it is so important.
Using the At-Home Materials Kit, you can:
• Read your literature book along to music at bedtime and during "quality time" breaks with your child.
• Sing along with your child while listening to the CD, and allow your child to listen alone, quietly, again and again.
• Talk about the stories and music together, and encourage your child to imitate sounds with voice and impromptu "instruments."
• Use the family activity books throughout the week for its suggestions of activities to bring you and your child together.
WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT MUSIKANDMOTION'S PARENT-CHILD CLASSES?
Career primary school teacher "Miss Sunny" Kira, M.A., wanted to find the very best music and movement-based curriculum possible in the field of early childhood education and share it with families in Natomas, where she has been residing since 2001.
|
Sunny Kira, M.A., career teacher and licensed Kindermusik educator. |
After years of study and research, she found what she was looking for in Kindermusik's world leading programs and she founded Musikandmotion, LLC to bring the benefits of total development through music to families in Natomas and the Greater Sacramento.
"Kindermusik is about the development of the 'total child' through research-based and thoughtfully orchestrated sets of activities," Miss Sunny says. "As a primary school teacher with 15 years of experience, I am very impressed by what Kindermusik can do for children's overall growth and learning."
"Miss Sunny" stands by all her classes with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee or "your money back." And as part of your Kindermusik experience at Musikandmotion, you receive weekly email newsletters customized to each particular class, highlighting the "why's" of Kindermusik activities (known as the Kindermusik Foundations of Learning) as they relate to your child's musical growth and development, sharing in parents' joys, and explaining the benefits as they relate to your child's journey in each Kindermusik class. In addition, "Miss Sunny" has her own blog with articles, research, videos, news, and personal and professional insights on the latest topics relating to early childhood music and education. Finally, "Miss Sunny" offers annual get-togethers for her families to celebrate the community and the special bond Kindermusik families share with one another.
Your child will benefit throughout his or her entire life from the musical and developmental "jump start" given by Sunny Kira's personalized and engaging classes offered at Musikandmotion!
HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY KINDERMUSIK CLASS?
Plan to arrive on time to class time so you and your child can settle into our musical environment. Be sure to dress comfortably and please remove your shoes before entering at each studio location. Children learn best when they can utilize all their senses, especially their bare feet!
Each class will begin with "Gathering Time" which is your opportunity to connect with other parents and caregivers and their children. This is a time for parents and caregivers to network and support each other. This is a also the time to talk to one another!
After "Gathering Time" however, the most important thing you can do for your child is to give him or her your undivided attention and be an active participant in class. Your child looks to you as her most important teacher. When you are an engaged, involved, and enthusiastic participant in class activities, your child will model your actions and behavior. By modeling your joyful and positive disposition to make music in class, so will your child!
|
What if there were a place where an educator helped you peek inside your baby’s miraculous mind? |
Children have different needs and will learn at different levels. If your child is a crawler or walker, you will need to "Follow Your Child" and be her shadow. In other words, you will most likely have to bring Kindermusik activities to your child instead of expecting her to stay seated in the circle or with the group. Her main "job" right now is to constantly be on the move, and learning happens when our crawling and walking babies are given the freedom to do so. Be assured that — despite appearances — your child is still absorbing all of the information from class and will let you know how much she has been learning at another time and place, probably when you least expect it!
It is not uncommon for a child to initially feel wary or hesitant in a new environment. Routine and consistency in our activities will help your child overcome this natural behavior and adjust to the new Kindermusik environment and new friends-- typically it takes children 5-6 weeks to develop a sense of routine and comfort in a group environment. Many children also choose to observe and watch rather than physically participate in class, and that's okay. These children are learning and processing information in ways that they feel most comfortable in group situations. Similarly, some children need more movement and physical activity. Please feel free to engage in class activities in ways that are developmentally appropriate while honoring your child's temperament and disposition.
The At-Home Materials Kit also serves this purpose. With the At-Home Materials Kit you can continue to support the music making and powerful brain shaping processes at home where your child feels the most comfortable.
Finally, never worry about dancing or singing "the right way" in class! There is no "right way"! Just move to the music and adapt the words or steps so you and your child are both having fun! Just relax and enjoy this special one-on-one bonding experience with your child in our music making environment.
And always remember, your voice is the most beautiful of all sounds to your child, so sing, sing, and sing! Both in class and at home!
Please read our ESSENTIAL CLASS INFORMATION. If you have any questions, please call us prior to enrolling in classes.
HOW DO I MAKE UP A MISSED CLASS?
Please call 916-419-6999 or email musikandmotion@yahoo.com to schedule your make up class. Make ups aren't guareteened but we will do our best to accomodate your requests.
In the event your child is ill, please keep him/her at home for the health and well-being of everyone. Space permitting, you are welcome to make up a missed class only within the current semester of enrollment. A caregiver, nanny or family relative is welcome to bring your child to class in the event you can't attend the make-up class.
IS KINDERMUSIK A FRANCHISE PROGRAM?
Kindermusik is not a franchise program. Each Kindermusik program is established and run by an independent program director. Guided by strict liscensing agreement with Kindermuisk International, each program director sets his/her studio guidelines, policies, and fees. Musikandmotion has been awarded the "Maestro Top Program Award for exceptional service" by Kindermusik International.
More FAQs? Please contact Musikandmotion for any questions regarding Kindermusik, Sacramento, California, area (Natomas & West Sacramento) programs by calling 916-419-6999, or emailing, Sunny Kira, M.A., . You will receive a personal reply within 24 hours.
Copyright © 2006 musikandmotion LLC. All rights reserved. Graphical images and content on this site are for private use only. All other rights including, but not limited to, use on other websites, distribution, duplication, and publishing by any means are retained by musikandmotion LLC. Federal law provides criminal and civil penalties for those found to be in violation.