Walk into a Kindermusik class, and you’ll see plenty of smiling faces as children and parents actively engage in movement and song to the direction of a trained Kindermusik leader. What looks like just plain, old-fashioned fun is actually a developmentally appropriate music and movement program based upon a carefully planned curriculum designed to teach children newborn through seven years of age various elements of music.
For example, an instructor guides a class of young toddlers through a series of movements and music termed as "smooth" and "bumpy." As they listen and participate, the class becomes physically and emotionally involved in those concepts. As they age and progress through the program, however, the terms "smooth" and "bumpy" will be introduced as "legato" and "staccato," according to Cathy Huser, director of Kindermusik of Cleveland.
Mrs. Huser is part of a network of more than 4,500 licensed Kindermusik directors worldwide trained to nurture the education and development of young children. She started the program six years ago at the Jewish Community Center and "it just took off," she said. "The program started with just 80 or 90 children in the spring of our first year and by last fall, 760 children were enrolled," she said. Since that time, she has acquired several additional locations and her program is recognized as one of the top 25 Kindermusik programs in the world, based upon performance and growth.
"Kindermusik uses experts in all fields of child development, child psychology, music and early childhood learning to design their curriculum," explained Mrs. Huser. "The curriculum is age-appropriate and stimulates cognitive, physical, emotional, social, language and musical development." Mrs. Huser said that Kindermusik is a German program brought to the United States in the late 1970s. The training program offered by Kindermusik International has changed over the last few years so that instructors can train at home on their own time, making it more accessible than when Mrs. Huser went through a week’s training in Pittsburgh. Once trained and licensed by Kindermusik University, instructors may teach following the guidelines of Kindermusik International, located in Greensboro, N.C.
"There are lots of special needs kids in the program," she said. "It’s like music therapy for them but they’re coming to a fun class with other children. Music gives all children an outlet for their emotions. It can be a stress release and attentive listening skills are developed in class. There is a difference between hearing and listening. Music is about patterns and patterning, sequences and symbols. Learning music is like learning a foreign language," she added.
"Home materials are part of every Kindermusik class so that parents can go home and expand upon what their children learn in class," said Mrs. Huser. Tuition costs about $8.50 per class or more, depending upon the child’s age level. Home materials start at about $30 and contain CDs, songbooks and activities for home use. Classes, which last about 45 minutes, are offered by age level, starting with newborn to 18 months, 18 months to three and one-half years, three and one-half years to five years and four and one-half to seven years. Birthday parties are also part of the Kindermusik package.
"I don’t have a music degree and I’m the least trained of all my instructors musically, but I love music and I love children. I have a vocal background. I sang all through college and I sing with various community groups. Singing makes me feel good," said Mrs. Huser. "I highly recommend the program to anyone. I believe Kindermusik is the single best choice for a child. I’m so certain because I see the results," she added.
Kindermusik of Cleveland is offered in Kirtland, Corcord, Mentor, Highland Heights, Solon, Shaker Heights and through Kenston Community Education. Call (216) 991-1063 or visit www.kindermusikofcleveland.com for more information or to receive a class/summer camp schedule.
