If you haven't heard of Kindermusik, please
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When I told my parents that Noah was enrolled in a music class, my parents were a little skeptical about us spending $110 every 7 weeks (ACK!) just to "teach the baby music", but in my opinion, it's more than that!
Now, it could be just because I was a music major and then a music teacher, but I really wanted Noah involved in music from the start.
I've read Bluestine's book, I know all about the Music Learning Theory (thanks, Edwin Gordon!) and I'm well aware that a child's musical aptitude peaks around age 8. I wanted Noah to have music early not so he'll be a prodigy or anything, but because the effect that music has on the brain can help him learn to learn (does that make sense?) better, be a more relaxed person, and... well, music is FUN, folks! Ok, I'm off my soapbox. Onto Kindermusik!
Can I just say, first off that the "K" at the end of "music" annoys me to no end. There. I've gotten that off my chest.
Noah is in the Village class- it meets on Tuesday nights from 5:30-6:15pm and there are 7 kids in the class- 5 boys and 2 girls. Noah is the youngest at 4.5 months- the others are more like 9-13 months (the Village class is for babies ages birth to 18 months). In class, there is lots of dancing, movement (marching, swooping, councing, patting, etc), singing (by the teacher and the parents, not the babies, obviously), massage, instruments (shakers and drums) and other fun stuff. This 7 week session is called "Cockadoodle Moo" and the songs are based around farm animals (duh) and the main concept of the session is telling the difference between music/silence and moving/being still. It's been so fun and, since Noah doesn't go to daycare, this is the only time of his week other than church nursery (where he basically gets held the whole time) that he gets to interact with other babies.
When you sign up, Kindermusik sends you a package of home materials as well. You get a CD for the house of all of the songs that you sing in class, some animal flashcards that you can use to reinforce animal sounds, a fun rattle, a book and... well, something else. My mommy brain is failing me again. Moving on-
Noah loves his book and is ever so studious.
Sike, he basically just chews on it.
He does get REALLY excited when we open the book and
show him the pictures of the animals, though!
If you look closely, you can see his fun sunshine rattle:
Here are his flashcards. He loves looking at and touching them.
I put one on the wall beside his changing table:
... and one on the wall behind his crib:
So, long story (not so) short, I love Kindermusik! I think it's fun for Noah, and while I'm not dreaming of him being the next Beethoven, I think it's good for him!
So what about you? Have you gone to a Kindermusik class? What did you think?
Psst! Usually, if you call the Kindermusik people in your area, you can go and participate in one class to try it out and see if it's for you! It's worth it just to go have a fun outing with your little one!
