Kindermusik

[lady1297]

Anyone attend kindermusik classes? I'm thinking of enrolling DS into one starting next week.

How much do the usually cost?
Did your kids like them (DS will be 15 months old).
Would DH be able to take him and enjoy it?
Other thoughts?

[tinkerbelljenny]

There was a thread about this pretty recently and I responded. We were in Kindermusic for 2 semesters. It was $200 each semester in my area. I thought that was pretty expensive, I live in a rural area. We had some dads in our class and all the moms eventually brought in their DH at least to one of the classes. All my DS did the whole time was run around with the other boys in the class but the girls in the class seemed to love the class.

[Phen]

We tried to go, but the ones for their age group are scheduled during my guys' morning nap and they just ended up hollering through the whole thing.

Anyhow, 'round here, they're about $120 for a "semester" (about 8 or 10 weeks' worth of classes, I think?).

The other kids in the class loved it...lots of singing and dancing and movement.

It's a participatory thing; whoever takes the kids to the class will sit on the floor, dance around the room, and sing along with the teacher and kids. I know my DH wouldn't like the singing-along part.

~ Phen

[Littlelamb11]

I've had DD in Kindermusik since she was 3 week old and she is now 3 years old. She LOVES it, it has layed asuch a solid musical foundation for her and being a professional musician, I have been thrilled with this high quality early childhood music program. It's one of the best curriculums i have ever encountered. However, I do know that it can vary from teacher to teacher and those i do know that have not had good experiences, have had medicore teachers. DD's teacher not only has a degree in music and a strong professional background, she was just recognized by Kindermusik International as owning one of the top 5% producing Kindermusik studios worldwide. So, we're really spoiled. :)

anyway, for the 0-18 month Kindermusik village classes, we paid $112/8 week session (non residents paid $128). this included the home materials.

For the Our Time classes (18 months-3.5 years) we paid $200/15 weeks ($230 for non-residents) which included materials.

And now currently for the Imagine That classes (3&4 year olds drop off) we pay $210/15 weeks including materials ($240/15 weeks for non residents).

DH has only taken DD a few times. He did enjoy taking her somewhat but since i'm the musician in the family, he was more comfortable with me taking her because he knew i would enjoy it more and help DD get more out of it. He's always been awesome with participating in the activities at home and listneing to the CDs with her in the car though. :)

Most children have always been engaged during the classes. There are always a few that have a shorter attention span, a difficult day or what not. BUT a LOT of what you get out of it in general is with the continuing activities at home. The repitition of the activities, the listening and learning of the songs, the exercises etc. IME IRL, the majority of the parents that say their child didn't get anything out of it, weren't engaging their child in any of the work outside of class and it is such an important part.

[BeachBum]

I've had DD in Kindermusik since she was 3 week old and she is now 3 years old. ...anyway, for the 0-18 month Kindermusik village classes, we paid $112/8 week session

Would you mind sharing the types of activities you did at this age? I'm considering taking the class with my son, but I want to know more about it before I call. thanks :)

[booksie]

FWIW, I talked to an instructor in our area and she said that they do not have trial classes (like Gymboree does) but if you don't like the class you can have the remainder of your money refunded.

[Littlelamb11]

Would you mind sharing the types of activities you did at this age? I'm considering taking the class with my son, but I want to know more about it before I call. thanks :)

sure. :)

Each class would start with a hello song acknowledging all the babies and toddlers and would have some movement to it (movement that can easily be modified by age. when dd was an infant for example, rocking, swaying and gently bouncing on my lap)

next came an intentional warm-up massage segment along with a particular song.

there were then a variety of music activities, some sitting and using smaller movements and/or instruments, many others including dancing and large motor movements, interractive musical activites with props like scarves and balls, activites that focus on vocal play, creative movement activities ...things like that. and all activities at the 0-18 month are multi-level where the activities encourage to make different choices as the child grows from lap baby to sitting up to crawler to walker. Everything in the class can be modified according to each individual child's stage of development.

there was then a calming down minute of rocking (age appropriate rocking varying for the development level of each child) to s song
Then finally, the goodbye song.

home materials for each class session include:
full-length CD
baby’s literature board book
baby’s home journal
visual stimulation banners

[Littlelamb11]

FWIW, I talked to an instructor in our area and she said that they do not have trial classes (like Gymboree does) but if you don't like the class you can have the remainder of your money refunded.

I definately recommend that everyone interested in Kindermusik check with your local instructors. DD's instructor DOES offer free trial classes.

[lady1297]

200!! Holy cow! That's WAY out of my budget! I hope it's not that much here. I was really hoping we could do this, but that is definiltly not in our budget. Thanks for the info, the classes sound terrific, but we just can't swing that right now...

[BeachBum]

Well I just wanted to bump this up because we've had such a great experience with Kindermusik.

We started our first class when DS was just under a year. I'm so glad we did it. We did lots of activities that we could do at home--and lots of simple "commands" that I hadn't thought of. I SAH, so I also think it was good for DS to be around another adult that was in charge.He also really enjoyed watching/ being around the other kids. I definitely think that it made him so much more aware of music and the beat.

Today we started the next class for the 18+ age group. DS isn't 18 mo yet, but the instructor thought he was ready and would have more fun in the older age group
We had a really great time today and I am looking forward to a fun semester.

If you have been considering it go ahead and take the plunge! It really is lots of fun.

[shaqangel]

we're starting next week and i am excited to take ds to it. he just turned 7mths old and really loves music and when you sing to him so hopefully these are good indications that the class will be good for him. it costs $170 here - i think thats high but from what i hear its worth it.

[aidensmommy]

we did it for two semesters when DS was 5 months old and again skipped a semester, and then picked up again last fall when he was 20 months old. with another baby on the way, we've pulled him out of it again, and will be starting preschool instead in the fall.

i can't remember the exact amount we paid for a semester, but I want to say it worked out to $225 for 15 week semester or something like that. It was a fun way to meet other moms and kids....found some good friends to make playdates with, etc. The actual Kindermusik portion was fun for DS, although when he was around the 12-15 month age, I was frustrated he spent most of the time "exploring" the room instead of paying attention/particapating.

All in all, it was a good experience, and gave him (and me) an activity during an age range that's tough to find anything. I may do it again with the next, mostly depending on finances and schedules (although our teacher allows siblings to enroll with the older siblings home materials, which saves money). If anything, it's good socialization, and in our geographic region, that's challenging to come by.

[DnJ2002]

Bumping this thread with a Kindermusik question.

I want to enroll my DD for the winter semester but I'm not sure what class to put her in. There is a 0-18mos class and an 18mos-3yr class. She will turn 18mos halfway through 8 week session-do I enroll her in the 0-18 mos class since she's never done it before or will she seem too old for it? Or do I do the 18mos-3yr class or will it be to advanced for her?
She LOVES music and dancing so I know this will be a good class for her. Just not sure which one to do for the first time. TIA

[BeachBum]

DnJ- I would absolutely go with the older group. DS is 16 mo and in the older class. The older class does the activities themselves (tapping the bell sticks on their knees, walking in a circle holding hands with everyone etc), where the younger class relies on mom holding baby and dancing with them, peek a boo with scarves etc.

The younger class was great fun, I'm not knocking it :) But once your child walks and follows some directions it is hard to keep them engaged in the younger class.

[DnJ2002]

Thanks BeachBum, that is just the kind of information I was hoping to hear. I think I'll go with the older class. I should have been better and done the younger class with her earlier...but I think she'll be better in the older one! Now to convince DH that the $$ is worth it!

[EJM]

We only did the younger class (for 3 or 4 enrollment periods), and have no experience with the older one. However, our class tended to be really young children and as soon as any children were walking it seemed almost too babyish for them.

[Calla Lilly]

For those who have taken it, would you recommend it for a baby who was 2 months old when it started? It is a 15 week class. I am interested in starting it, but don't know if I should just wait for the next session (he would be around 6 months). Thanks.

[EJM]

We started when DD was maybe 3-4 months old. There were classes for the first month that I would have to feed her during class or she would get fussy by the end, but it was so worth it. She loves music now and I really credit Kindermusik, we still listen to the CDs at home during the day. At that age, you are really going for the adult interaction. It was so nice to have other mothers/fathers to chat with. In my experience, those who attended Kindermusik tended to be the parents rather than the nanny like I find at Gymboree. You'll be moving and dancing around with your DC, even at a young age I'd do it again.

[nybride2003]

Our kindermusik teacher recommends starting at around 6 mos.

[suzfuzsunflower]

**Bump**

I would like to hear some more opinions. I'm considering signing up with my son.

[LeslieR]

We just went to two trial classes on Saturday. the first one was a singing and signing class which I do not recommend at all. The age range was 6mos to 6 years. Ridiculous. My two year old was running around as two year olds do and the moms with babies were all panicky every time he came near them.:rolleyes: They gave out little bears to all of the kids and the toddlers were taking them from the babies. The moms were all "Noooo, that's Hannah's bear." I don't know how the teachers didn't think the toddlers would take the babies from the bears!

The second class was more age appropriate and I liked that better.

A lot of my friends take their kids to Music Together. One of the moms spoke to the teacher of the class she takes her daughter to and they put 2 trial classes together just for us. I'm already very impressed with them and we haven't even been yet. They encourage the kids to run around and do their own thing while the parents stay in the circle and participate. They believe that the children learn by seeing mom and dad participate. Should be interesting!

[miaclear]

I had gone to a trial class a few months back when DS was probably 3 months old. The age range for his class was 0-15 months or some weird cutoff like that. I actually went with a friend who had a 14 month old at the time and it was so obvious that a 3 month old and a 14 month old should NOT be in the same class together. we go to Gymboree where the age range is 0-6 months, then 6-10 months, and on. I love their classes.

[rosa727]

I am currently attending Kindermusik with my 9 month old DS, and we love it! We just started, but he really had fun at the the first class. It is about $200 here for a 15-week class. They meet at tons of different times where I am and the instructor is great, so both those things have made it a good experience so far. I already plan on doing it next semester with a friend who has a baby the same age.

[bunnybeth]

I'm considering signing up now, I've been looking for something like this. What kind of music do they have in the class and on the take-home CD in the kit? Is it like "baby" music or more classical stuff?

[CarolinaGirl]

I took DD to Kindermusik during the spring and summer to the Our Time class, and she loved it. I really think it helped with her social skills and verbal skills as well. The CDs are not so much classical music as kid music. At first I personally didn't really like them, but she loves them so much that she makes me play them every time we get in the car and she knows them by heart, sings all the songs, and even knows what song is coming on before it starts. I think the instructor has a lot to do with the success of the class, and ours was great. We'd be going back for the fall if I wasn't due with my second baby. Plus, DD has started a K2 program.

[Geranium]

I've attended music classes with my DD since she was six months old. The program we're in is offered by a local music school that designed its own Early Childhood curriculum. The classes we've attended are all taught by teachers who work full time for the school and have degrees in Musical Therapy or Early Childhood/Music Ed. The school presents a variety of music (anything from tribal drums to opera) and each lesson introduces a new instrument along with a specific theme. The school's website has some quick sample videos that show what goes on in class plus lots of info. about why music instruction is benefical to young learners: http://www.macphail.org/ECA.html (http://www.macphail.org/ECA.html)

DD has taken many adult/child classes and I think the easiest way to tell if it is a quality class is if the teacher focuses on the capabilites of the age group rather than the incapabilites. I prefer classes with more structure because this has been a great opportunity for my DD to learn about listening, participation, and sharing class materials. I've found the franchised programs (Kindermusik, Gymboree, Little Gym) to be hit or miss as far as quality in instruction.

[jesvet]

I started my oldest with Our Time when she was about 20 months, and she loves it. It has been so great in so many ways and the teacher always lets us know how each activity is helping certain skills develop. I've also been fortunate to have a wonderful instructor, which I'm sure helps a lot.

[shaqangel]

We really enjoyed our first semester with Kindermusik and DS loved it. He is very much into music and can keep beat very well. we started when he was 7mths old and the semester ended when he was 11mths. I loved watching him interact with the other babies (there were 6 in our class) and his social skills really developed and he enjoyed the music, instruments and just the whole activity in general. we're going to do only half of this semester and will probably start again in october.