Don Campbell
World renowned authority on the transformative power of listening and music, and author of "The Mozart Effect® for Children" |
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"Kindermusik provides the sound nutrition to improve movement, listening, and expression in young children. Through activities and music making, skills for parents and children alike create inroads for the great orchestration of a family's hearts, minds, and bodies."
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Melissa R. Johnson, Ph.D.
Pediatric Psychologist
Cary, N.C. |
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"A major task for toddlers, that can confuse parents at first, is resolving the conflict between their passionate desire for closeness to their parents—after all, they are still barely out of babyhood—and their equally fierce drive for independence. Activities such as story time in the Kindermusik Our Time™ curriculum provide toddlers this opportunity. A child can move into the circle during Music and Movement Story Time and actively participate if he wishes, or he can stay close to mom or dad and listen to the story being read. Given this security, most toddlers will naturally move to greater, and more appropriate, independence as they approach pre-school age." |
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Anne Green Gilbert
Movement specialist, author of Creative Dance for All Ages, and director of Creative Dance Center |
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"Current research has shown that movement is the key to learning at any age. Our brains fully develop through movement activities such as crawling, rolling turning, walking, skipping, reaching and much more. When children and adults participate in Kindermusik classes they are developing both sides of their brains through structured and creative music and movement activities. As we approach the millennium it is even more important to keep moving and making music! Television, video games and computers have helped to produce a generation that struggles with learning problems, hyperactivity and obesity. Many of these problems can be helped through systematic music and movement exercises and patterns. Kindermusik classes have always been fun! Now I feel strongly that they are also part of our essential learning process!" |
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Jim Powell, Ed.D.
National director of Assessment and Evaluation, Kaplan Companies |
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"As an early childhood advocate I have found good music invaluable as a teaching tool. Kindermusik has taken the art of combining music with learning to a new and higher educational level. When children experience music in their early years, it lasts throughout their lifetime. Recent literature may attempt to refute the value of music as it relates to IQ, but experts cannot deny the effect music has on the development of a child's complete well-being. Kindermusik is pioneering a movement that will prove valuable to children for many years into the future. As a trainer, with more than 20 years tenure, I welcome the new millennium and the music it brings, and I thank Kindermusik for its contribution to holistic learning." |
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Claudia Quigg, M.Ed.
Founder and executive director of BabyTALK, a program dedicated to helping parents become better parents to their children |
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"When introduced appropriately, music and literature play an amazing role in the development of infants and toddlers. I'm happy that Kindermusik has extended their programs to include this time of life when brain development is most vulnerable and parents are most in need of support and direction." |
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Carla Hannaford, Ph.D.
Biologist, educator, and author of Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head and The Dominance Factor |
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"Kindermusik is elegant in its integrated approach to a child's development. Physiologically, touch, movement, rhythm and sound are the keystones to developing a healthy vestibular system and optimizing nervous system and brain growth. The importance of having families working together, where everyone benefits from the sense of belonging, gets directly at the heart of what we, as a society, are needing at this time to raise healthy, loving children and ensure a world of peace. All of this is provided in the Kindermusik program." |
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Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
International family educator and author of Raising Your Spirited Child, Raising Your Spirited Child Workbook, and Kids, Parents and Power Struggles: Winning for a Lifetime |
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"Kindermusik brings parents and children together for fun and education. The learning is active, engaging and developmentally appropriate. Children are exposed to diverse learning materials and are provided with rich opportunities for hands-on experiences with developmentally appropriate instruments. The joy is in the process of learning and the result is children who are more attuned in reaching their full potential." |
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Patricia Campbell, Ph.D.
Professor of Music at University of Washington and author of Songs in Their Heads: Music and Its Meaning in Children's Lives and Lessons from the World |
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"One of my strongest impressions of Kindermusik's work is the variety of musical selections for children. The selections are of high quality and of considerable diversity, such that children can listen and respond to the music of Bach, Mozart, contemporary composers, and cultural traditions around the globe. Kindermusik understands that children deserve opportunities to know a palette of musical colors, and thus through the program provide windows to the world of people and their artistic expressions. This rainbow of musical colors is the stuff that surrounds children through their Kindermusik experiences, so that their listening, movement, singing, and playing possibilities are grounded in history and across cultures. These musical beginnings set children straight for a lifetime of well-considered choices in their musical and cultural valuing." |
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What Parents Say |
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Just wanted to let you know our home materials are getting lots of use! |
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Ms. Kat,
I just wanted to thank you for pulling (my son) into participating with the class today. As a former teacher, it shouldn't surprise me to find outstanding "master" teachers, but it does tend to overwhelm me when I am blessed with them in the life of my own child. |
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| Your classes have meant the world to us. While our first experience with (another) Kindermusik was nice, your classes cannot compare. I can tell you pour your heart and soul into every class and you are truly making a difference in these parents and children's lives. Thank you so much for your patience, kindness and love for Music. (My daughter) absolutely adores you. |
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| This is the picture I was telling you about. This is an extension for the sprinkler system. |
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| Hi Miss Kat! Boy, (my son) was on a rampage today, huh? I went home and told my mom that he did just about everything to challenge me today, (including when) he was ornery to you (hiding the animals you were trying to talk about). I loved how you played "lost them, lost them" when he wouldn't uncover the elephants. You always keep your cool when the kids are being bratty, it's very inspiring! |
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Hi Kathleen:
We were in the car this weekend and I was singing "Sweetly Sings the Donkey" and (my son) was clapping along. Suddenly he started clapping softly. And then he kept leading the whole time, alternating between clapping softly and then loudly and fast. And of course he would break out into peals of laughter when I followed his ques. It was quite amazing for me and I wanted to share it with you. |
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(My husband) and I were thinking about you last night when it was time for (our son) to get in the bathtub and he climbed up on top of the side of the tub and proceeded to tell us that he was going to "jump" in and "make a big splash." After grabbing him and telling him that he would get hurt doing that, he informed us that "Ms. Kat said to -- Ms. Kat said to jump in the bath." "Yes she did daddy, at music class ... you have to jump in and swim like Nemo." Keep in mind that as he was giving us this rationalization, he was standing beside the tub naked with a Nemo in one hand and Buzz Lightyear in the other, ready to jump in and swim. It was really funny. We both tried to compose ourselves and not laugh as we tried to explain to him that it was not a good idea to actually jump into the bathtub. After it was all said and done, we finally agreed that he could jump into the bath if one of us was holding onto him.
And I was upset last week after class because I felt like he was just not paying attention. Guess he paid attention to some things.
And I was upset last week after class because I felt like he was just not paying attention. Guess he paid attention to some things. |
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(My daughter) attends a music class once a week with me. My girlfriend Kat, who was in Longhorn Band as well, teaches the class. We feel quite blessed to have her in our lives. She is special. She encouraged us to dress the kiddos up. Unfortunately (my daughter and son) were the only two dressed! (My daughter) was the cutest Lady Bug there! |
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| I am so excited that (my daughter) is starting to open up in class. We have done Gymboree or Kindermusik since she was 12 months and she has never participated like this. It makes me so happy!! I appreciate the approach you use giving her some space, but continuing to invite her participation. Many people have chosen to ignore her in past classes when she gives her evil eye. So thank you for your dedication, it means a lot to me. |
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Kat,
Since yesterday, the home materials CD has been our car music. I was so excited when (my daughter) joined in singing the "la-las" of the "Hello-Lah" song, which were probably more like "ba-bas." She also she sang during "Can ye sew cushions?"!
I turned the car off before the song ("Cushions") was finished and she starting fussing when I was taking her out of her carseat. I didn't notice at first, but she was signing "music!"
I LOVE the CD and it's multicultural instrumentation and lyrics! Very fun! |
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Just returned from our Kindermusik trial class and we are SOLD! We had an awesome experience and Clay really seemed to get into the class. He loves music and dance so I figured he would enjoy himself.
The teacher in me loves the way the program taps into all of the learning styles. It offers a multi-sensory approach to learning and exploring.
I am also excited for the take home materials and the chance to further solidify the learning by practicing at home.
Kat did a wonderful job of providing structure but also encouraging flexibility to allow the kiddos to explore and take their learning to whatever level they prefer! |
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