Frequently Asked Questions for our family programs:
Q. Can I enroll my child in a class at anytime?
A.Absolutely! Our classes are structured so you can join an ongoing class at anytime. If you enroll after a session has begun, your tuition will be prorated.
Q. Do I have to pay for the full cost up front?
A. Our classes are created to continue the adventures from month to month. Once you register for a class, you will be part of an amazing number of families who are Kindermusik families. Their enrollment continues each month of the year much like any sport or music activity does. Once you enter your credit card, you will be charged the small fee of $40 each month for as long as you are happy! I am sure that you will be!
Q. My family has more than one child. Is there a discount for multiple children?
A. Yes! We offer a 50% sibling discount.
Q. What is an At-Home digital materials kit?
A. Because of Kindermusik's belief that the home is where learning takes root and grows, each class includes a unique digital materials package. You can access home activity and story books, carefully planned activities, CD recordings and specially designed videos for your child to engage in. You can access the digital package on your computer at home, your smart phone out on the road, or on your tablet! When you are out and about and your child is needing some attention, open up your digital materials and watch the musical fun engage your child! You can download the music (and burn a CD) from our class which 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. The next time you attend class together, your child will be singing our songs and sharing their own dances!
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 to be a daily learning process. The key is extending the classroom activities to the home using the digital materials 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 Digital materials 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 or 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 Digital Materials is your invitation to spend fun and enriching moments with your child NOW when it is so important.
Q. Honestly, how do BABIES really benefit from their own music class?
A. We've learned that infants are born with billions of nerve cells and
a nearly unlimited potential for connections between those nerve cells. Every time an infant has a sensory experience, neural pathways are formed. The greater the number of neural pathways, the greater the brain power. Rich sensory environments are vital to the brain development of infants.
In a Cuddle And Bounce class, we dance in a social setting to allow infants to understand and anticipate patterns, which preps their brains for math and musical theory. We play with steady beat, which underlies our ability to pick up the pattern of language. This is vital because unless children can pick up the language patterns, they cannot learn to read and write. The bonding and comforting activities we show you in class help you and baby to work through all the natural stresses that occur with growing and developing. Music increases coordination and balance, promotes literacy and language, cultivates listening skills, and encourages delightful and rewarding interaction with your baby!
Q. Let's talk finances...Why doesn't Kindermusik cost less?
A. Kindermusik® is the leader in Early Childhood Music and Movement Programs. Being a part of "KINDERMUSIK®" ensures that you are getting an internationally tested and tried product that works and is the leader in the field. It is the "Name Brand" label as opposed to a local or "in-store" label.
Kindermusik® regularly consults with experts in the field of Early Childhood development, music and movement as they develop their curricula, such as: Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect;
Melissa R. Johnson, pediatric psychologist; Anne Green Gilbert, author of Creative Dance for Children; Claudia Quigg, founder and executive director of Baby TALK; Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, author of Raising Your Spirited Child; Patricia Campbell, author of Songs in Their Head: Music and Its Meaning in Children's Lives, and others. These experts, along with an amazing creative team, bring their knowledge and experience into your lives. No other program can boast of such backing. This is worth a lot.
The materials produced by Kindermusik® International are of the highest quality. The CDs, Literature and other home materials are unsurpassed. The talented artists, musicians, and arrangers make the music come alive. You only have to listen to one CD to know that this is no ordinary children's music CD. Music learning with the family in the home is a fundamental cornerstone of Kindermusik® and this is accomplished best through the use of home materials. Other programs may offer no or optional home materials which makes it hard to continue the experience at home. It is very worthwhile.
When your child takes karate, gymnastics, dance or even private music lessons, there are always uniform and costume fees, recital fees, instrument rentals or purchase and music fees, etc. When comparing total prices, Kindermusik is often less expensive than these other programs. You also know up front what is going to be spent and your instructor provides several options to make payment easy and affordable.
Q. What background and training do your teachers have?
(for more information see page "Miss Marie-Elena")
A. Kindermusik teachers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, mainly music performance or education and early childhood education. Kindermusik educators are screened by Kindermusik International 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 this teaching technique and curricula as the one we feel is best for developing the whole child through music in the most complete way possible.