Q:  Since my child and I have never attended a Kindermusik class, it is possible to observe one before we decide whether or not to enroll?

A:  Come visit a one-time complimentary class anytime!  To reserve a space please call (650) 574-2844 or email kmusik@myriadmusic.net. It usually takes 2-3 classes for children to find their comfort zone in a new class. By participating in the lesson and watching the enrolled children who are more familiar with the activities, you will be able to get an idea as to how the children’s skills develop throughout the semester.

Q:  I just found out about your Kindermusik classes and the class I would like to register for has already started.  Is it too late to join?

A:  Enrollment is on going, so you can join anytime!  You may still register even if the start date has passed.  Tuition will be pro-rated. 

Q:  What if I need to miss a class?  Can I make it up?

A:   You are always welcome to take a make-up class at an alternate day & time if you need to miss a class.  You can view the class schedule on our website. Make-ups do not transfer into the next semester. Semesters are 15 weeks in length for all levels.

Q: How big are the Kindermusik classes at the Myriad Music School?

A: Our classes are small and intimate. The teachers really get to know the children and their parents/care-givers very well. Class sizes range from 3 – 10 children.

Q:  How does a little one, as young as a 1 year old, benefit from a musical experience?

A:  For emerging toddlers just leaving babyhood, their emotional, intellectual, physical and social skills develop through safe, healthy, & creative play. Parents are amazed by the recognition and smiles on their children's faces when they hear a musical instrument or pattern in class for the second or third time. They learn to associate activities and songs from class with sounds, melodies, and their parents’ and teachers’ singing voices. Little ones are learning cause and effect with visual, aural and movement related stimulus. As the parent, you will learn how to stimulate your child’s learning through vocal play, object exploration, and creative movement. 

As your toddler’s confidence, curiosity, self-control, & communication begin to take shape, music will help regulate natural body rhythms, stimulate rhythmic movement, aid memory development, enhance auditory and emotional awareness, and induce relaxation and sleep. They are learning steady beat and patterns (the backbone to good musicianship later on) singing back simple echo melodies, and learning vocabulary through song. Toddlers are also gaining large and small muscle motor skills with age-appropriate instrument play.

Preschoolers bring a marvelous sense of wonder and imagination to music, and music in turn speaks to and brings out their budding creativity and invention. Music enhances their vocal development as his/her expressive language begins to emerge.  They are learning more complex rhythmic and melodic patterns on age-appropriate instruments that require more coordination. We start gradually and add on more skills as the semester progresses.

Music for the Young Child (in 4 Levels for ages 4 ½ - 7) is for children in the early years of elementary school. They are reading music, and playing authentic pre-piano, pre-guitar, pre-wind instruments. They are also continuing to develop the singing voice. Our curriculum exposed the children to various types of multicultural music. These children learn to identify all of the instruments in the orchestra.

Q: My toddler is very active and doesn’t always seem to be listening to the activity. He prefers to move around the class. What should I do?

A: Children are primarily kinesthetic learners and learn best through movement. A toddler loves to exercise his newfound freedom in self-propelled movement, and we encourage this. These classes are not about just sitting and listening. Children learn peripherally, meaning that they are absorbing information like sponges through all 5 senses even if it appears to us that they are not actively engaged. Parents often tell us that their child repeated a song or activity at home, although they appeared distracted during class. They are learning their own way, and we respect each child’s needs and differences. By using the At-Home Materials, you can be sure that your child is learning in class, and at home. Be patient, and know that your child is learning at the pace that is right for her. We expose her to the activities and songs with suggested learning objectives, and they take it from there, often surpassing our expectations!

Q:  What do you do in a Kindermusik class?

A:  Each Kindermusik class includes several important components.  At all times, the developmental stage of each individual child is respected and encouraged within the wider scope of the activity.

Q:  I’ve heard that Kindermusik’s specialty is age-specific classes. What does this mean?

A: Kindermusik and the Myriad Music School firmly believes that children learn best when presented with learning objectives that are designed with the age of the child in mind. This is the best way for a child to gain confidence and self-esteem. Too much information presented too soon just causes confusion and frustration. We want this experience to be positive and to foster musical confidence in each child. Each curriculum level is designed to best suit the stages and goals of the age range they address. 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, rather than requiring only one “acceptable” outcome. A well-matched age grouping can understand the strategies needed to play and create together at their level, have a natural spontaneity while still maintaining the structure of the activities, and is stimulated by the varied abilities and perspectives of its members. What can happen in such a group is enriching musically, socially, and developmentally.

Q:  How do I know that it is time for my child to progress to the next level? How do the teachers assess this?

 A:  Our teachers work closely with children and parents to assess how each child is developing. We follow the general age guidelines for each curriculum, but we look at individual skills as well. Our staff has a list of physical, verbal, intellectual, and social characteristics that help us determine when a child is ready to move forward.  You may request to see these guidelines and go over them with the teacher. It is important to remember that our primary goal is to foster musical confidence and joy in each child. Expecting too much too soon from a child is a sure way to destroy a child’s natural, innate love of music. This is why the age-appropriate activities are a strong part of the successful curriculum here at the Myriad Music School.

Q:  What are the basic music skills a child will gain in each curriculum & why are these important?

The parent/caregiver becomes the student in learning how each activity helps to stimulate the child’s overall growth. 

A: In the “Our Time” curriculum (walking 1 and 2 year olds) , your child will play with simple instruments & discover the different textures & sounds of these instruments as well as develop rhythmic skills.  Their language skills are fostered with singing, sound imitation, & vocal play.  They will also be developing their listening skills as they identify a certain sound with a particular object.  Creative movement to various musical “moods” develops a sense of balance, timing, and spatial awareness. 

The “Imagine That!” (3 - 4.5 years old) is a success-based music class for preschoolers to understand pattern, sequence, and the contours of musical melody through both sound and graphic notation (the beginning of learning to read music). We also learn the difference between steady beat and many rhythmic patterns with a myriad of tonal and percussion instruments. Our teachers incorporate authentic instruments that encourage both solo and ensemble playing. This class is the stepping-stone your child needs to understand the foundations of all basic musical concepts. Children this age are kinesthetic learners first, meaning that they learn best through movement.  We carefully sequence activities that tie together movement and music. Children love it and learn quickly!

The Music for the Young Child (4.5 – 7 years old) curriculum prepares children with the skills they will need to succeed in children's choir, piano/keyboard, or wind/brass instrument instruction for ages 6 and up. Here, your child can explore healthful vocal development, breath development, steady beat, rhythm, notation, musical symbols, and will begin the process of reading music. Children learn to play authentic pre-keyboard, stringed and wind instruments that they also take home with them. They develop a confidant, joyful singing voice, advanced language skills, improved attention span in group activities and can use spontaneous movement to express stories or feelings.  

Q:  How does Kindermusik prepare a child for reading music & singing or playing a musical instrument later on? 

A:  For all children, attending a music class with an enthusiastic parent taking an active interest is the most important step towards a valuable experience. Secondly, for ages 1 – 4 ½, pattern recognition in melodies and rhythms through singing, movement, visual stimulus, instrument play, solo and ensemble playing is the beginning of a great music education. From there, we add gross and fine motor skill coordination on simple melodic instruments with left and right hands.  Ear-training and singing games help children to distinguish between high and low pitches, legato and staccato touches, melody and harmony. Hand drum activities are included to teach children musical phrasing and how to read rhythmic patterns. We learn to read the notes on the treble staff, which is crucial skill for all instrumentalists later on. 

The great thing about Kindermusik is that it develops the complete musician. They can read music, acquire ear-training skills, feel rhythms and melodic contour, identify many instruments by sight and sound, and are enthusiastic about the next step because we have given them a successful beginning. They are confident and joyful about their musical ability. This the best gift that you can give to a beginning instrumentalist or young singer!

Q:  As a parent/caregiver, how do I participate in class?

A:  Parent/caregiver participation is required for the Toddler “Our Time” class, and optional for the Pre-schooler “Imagine That” and “Music for the Young Child” classes. During class, the most important thing you can do for your child is to be an active and patient role model. It is not uncommon for a child to attend several classes before feeling comfortable in class. Don’t be discouraged - what a child is absorbing in class is often evidenced in the comfort of the home environment rather than in a certain level of participation in class. Remember that all children learn at different paces. While it may seem as if your child is not "getting into the class" at first, you'd be surprised at what they are actually learning. Let your child have the time he/she needs to adjust, adapt, and absorb the class environment. The understanding and consistency of the parent or caregiver in class and at home are key to facilitating musical learning and growth.

Q:  What do I do with the home materials? 

A:  You and your child will enormously benefit from the Kindermusik^® experience, especially if you make active use of your At Home Materials. Frequent reinforcement at home throughout the week makes all the difference in a child’s comfort & participation in the classroom. Many of these materials have a value that exceeds the duration of time spent in class. They are high quality and exemplify only the best in art, music, creativity and developmentally appropriate instruments and activities. At Home Materials can only be purchased through the Kindermusik educator and are non-refundable.