WELCOME! We are so glad to be making music and miracles with you through Kindermusik! Over the next fifteen weeks don’t be surprised if you notice a lot of growth and change in your child as a result of actively participating in our Kindermusik classes.

You’ve just completed your first class!! How was it? The first class is just that – a first class! It’s normal for children to act, react and interact much differently in their first few classes than they will once they settle in to the classroom routine four or five weeks from now. Kindermusik is a positive place where music, movement, and literacy come together to aid in your child’s development, and we recognize that it can take time for the children to become less curious or less unsure of their surroundings and begin to participate more fully (each in their own way, of course!) both in class and at home.

Here are some typical “first class” responses that we have observed over the years:

Should I have named my child Ivy? All she did was cling to me the entire class!

It’s a new place, new people, other grown-ups/strangers, and A LOT of stimulation. Let your child get comfortable and she will participate when ready. Some children are very hands-on; other children learn by observing and absorbing. In either case, you’ll probably notice that Kindermusik will become a part of their play at home. Remember, Kindermusik is all about the process, not performance. Another hint: Resist the urge to chat with other parents during class and be an active role model, showing your child that you are having fun. Outside of class throughout the week, spend time together enjoying the home activities and also listening to your CDs.

What separation anxiety?! If he could drive, he’d come by himself!

Celebrate the fact that he obviously knows he is loved and cared for in his Kindermusik classroom, and is showing his growing independence. Feel free to move with your child and to participate from any location in the room, and don’t forget to grab him for a hug on the run!

My child cried and cried, and didn’t even want to go in!

One child became upset last year because he had to take his shoes off. . . Hey, they were new shoes! Some children don’t yet realize that mom/dad/grandma/nanny is going to stay and play too. They may think you are leaving. And of course, we all have rough days when we just need to cry! If you think you know the reason for the tears, let us know and we’ll help. But if not, don’t worry. We’ve all had an upset child at one time or another. We know that feeling secure is an important first step which precedes embracing and learning from a new experience, so comfort and reassure your child. Then take time for Kindermusik fun at home, and come back next week!

My child was so stimulated that we had to leave the classroom for a moment to re-focus.

Being in tune with your child’s needs is so important! The Kindermusik classroom can be a very exciting and stimulating place. If it becomes too much for your child, or if your child is just having difficulty focusing on the activity at hand, do step outside the classroom to calm and, if age appropriate, to talk to him about what you expect in the classroom. Feel great, too, that you were by his side to help him feel secure and to adapt – this is one intentional and important reason for a “parent-child” class. Please do re-join us as soon as you can, since re-entering the classroom and being happy when leaving will make positive progress towards next week’s feelings of security!

I played by myself while my child alternated sitting in the corner or hiding behind me.

Once again, it’s a new place with new people, new expectations and new activities. Continue to actively participate yourself, as this is the best way to encourage your child’s participation. Give your child time to become comfortable, and begin to listen and enjoy the songs and activities at home. We know that feeling secure is an important first step for all of us, and must occur prior to jumping in to participate. Remember, too, that if your child is present, he is overhearing and processing, absorbing and learning even from a distance.

My child and I played all kinds of instruments, and he/she even started to sing along!

Wonderful!! And this is just the beginning! Reinforce your child’s obvious love of music at home. Musical learning also benefits math, reading, language development and much more! Our motto is “A good beginning never ends.” We know that we have seven years of exciting music experiences for your family which will last a lifetime.

As you can see, for every response one child has, another may have the exact opposite. That’s okay! Your child is a uniquely special human being – that’s one of the things we love most about teaching Kindermusik. Let the children be themselves, participating along side them. We’re right here beside you, supporting you in your role as your child’s first and most important teacher.

More questions and comments from parents…

I wasn?t sure how my child would react to being in class with a range of ages, but she absolutely loved her first Kindermusik class and I did too!

We’re so glad! Each level of Kindermusik is designed to best suit the stages and goals of the age range they address. We have observed that children learn best when exposed to a group from which they can gain from a variety of perspectives, but where the overall group shares common developmental criteria. The child at the bottom of the age bracket will be ready to flourish in the environment, and will be looking to the older children to provide them with a model of new ways to move, create, and explore concepts. The child in the upper end of the bracket benefits from the ability to fully involve themselves with the imaginative aspects of the lesson, the ability to take a leadership role in developing the ideas presented, and the chance to have true mastery before moving on to a new challenge. It is a true strength of the program that we are privileged to see many stages of concept development going on simultaneously.

We are really excited about our Home Materials. How should we be using them at home?

A key part of the Kindermusik philosophy is the belief that young children learn best in a family environment, and that music needs to be a part of everyday life. We encourage families to think of their Kindermusik class as the springboard for a week’s worth of musical play and idea development. Home materials, carefully designed to suit the child’s developmental stage and the family’s needs, provide the tools for this portion of Kindermusik learning.

Here are a few highlights:

� Professionally recorded and diverse CDs provide music for dancing, singing along, creating and playing along with instruments, joyful listening, and exposure to literally every type and genre of music.

� Kindermusik Literature Books enhance a home library and are much loved developers of early literacy. Home activity journals, books, and cards provide the family with tested ways to expand the week?s themes beyond the classroom experiences with games, parenting information, and craft ideas.

� Instruments included with many of our home materials begin what will become an extensive collection for hours of hands-on family music-making experiences.

� Additional items suit each level?s developmental play style- whether wall banners/picture cards for infants and toddlers, specially designed instruments for older children, play sets for the creative mind of the preschooler, or the games bag for your Young Child student.

As a parent, do I need to know how to sing to have a successful Kindermusik experience?

No, you don’t. But you should be able to “fake it” well! Seriously, your child does not judge (or even recognize) the quality of your singing ability. He is, however, ready and eager to respond to your enthusiastic and joyful interaction with him! And, by the way, the voice is a muscle, so the more you use it, the better it will grow and develop – even as an adult!

We could tell our teacher really loves being in the Kindermusik classroom. She was having as much fun as we were! Can you tell me a little more about your staff?

Kindermusik teachers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, mainly music performance or education and early childhood education. Kindermusik International screens any potential educators for musical ability and the ability to interact with young children. They are then trained in Kindermusik foundations and teaching philosophy, early childhood development, and teaching techniques. Once licensed by Kindermusik International, the educator maintains yearly license updates and continues to develop through in-service training, additional coursework, and seminars. We are not a franchise – we are professionals who have chosen the Kindermusik teaching technique and curricula as the one we feel is best for developing the whole child through music in the most complete way possible. For more information about the Musical Impressions staff, we invite you to visit www.musicalimpressions.com.

What’s so special about the Kindermusik program here at Piano Central Music Studios?

We’re glad you asked! Here at Piano Central, we’re very proud to offer Kindermusik a program recognized around the world as the premier music program for young children. We also offer more than 50 class times, family fun and bonding in class and at home, parent educational tools, enhancement of your child’s total development, joyful exploration of your child’s musical potential, licensed, nurturing, experienced teachers, excellence – we are in the top 1% of programs worldwide, and commitment – now celebrating our 12th year of teaching Kindermusik classes! We truly are SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST MUSIC!

Please do not hesitate to let us know when we can be of further help. It is our privilege to have you and your child enrolled in our Kindermusik program. We’re looking forward to an incredible, musical semester together!

Musically,

Theresa Case

232-5010 / 1-800-792-4588

www.musicalimpressions.com

musimpinc@aol.com

www.MusicLasts.wordpress.com