What do you think about Kindermusik? - Page 2

[TaylorMade]

Definitely shop around for a teacher. It makes a huge difference.

I like Music Together for the younger ones because it is less-structured and free, Kindermusik when they are a little older (3-4) and want a little more.

My dd #2, who is almost 4 does Suzuki Violin (I am her teacher), and participates in group classes. One of the group classes is a movement class. The teacher has a strong background in Kindermusik, and other methods as well. She is like the pied-piper. The kids are enchanted with her from the 1st minute to the last.

If you have a University near by, they sometimes have a music/movement class that might use a variety of methods and prove to be just what you need.

LeAnn
www.TaylorMadeTreasures.com
Baby Sling Carriers & Doll Slings

[Thao]

Another plug for KM here. I think it does depend mostly on the teacher. I did it for one semester with a teacher who really wasn't very good -- but then my niece started teaching a class close enough that I could join her class and she is wonderful! While she always has a list of songs/activities that we do (and it does transition pretty fast) it is not at all structured in the sense that all the kids have to be doing all the same things at the same times. The kids run around and be kids, join in on some things, do their own things on others. Very relaxed. And the CDs are awesome. I love the way they mix traditional "kids music" with classical and jazz and blues and songs from other countries. My dd won't let me play any other music while she's around!

So I would say, forget about whether the program happens to be named KM or MT, go with whichever teacher you think is better.

[ramona_quimby]

I disliked KM, too. This whole time, though, I thought it was just b/c of the teacher since I had only ever heard good things about KM!

It seems like a good experience for babies under 6 months. But I took my 12 month old, and there were 3 others the same age, and none of them could handle all the calming, laying down for massages stuff. They just wanted to move, and were fussy about it. Then when we finally did move, it wasn't the way the kids <i>wanted<i> to move or for long enough, so they were still fussy. I also found the instructor rigid, disconnected and she sang terribly. I dropped out and lost a ton of money, but I couldn't bear it anymore.

[sleepies]

my baby didn't like it much

it was very structured. my baby is more the type to walk around and play with toys--and they lean more towards a child that will sit quietly in front of the mother and listen to music and be more calm/docile.

if your baby LOVES slow calm music, massage, swaying, rocking, then your baby might like it. my baby likes to run and scream--it wasn't the best fit for us.

the moms were kind of snobby too. (but im sure that is nothing to do with "kindermuzik" itself.

i think there are better alternatives.
see my link below

http://www.patnc.org/findaprogram.asp

The above link is FREE playgroup and mothergroup, they are nation wide! My son likes this much much more.

[guest^]

My dd did benefit....

My dd took it from the time she was 18mos till 5 yo.


she loved it, though I wonder if she would have really liked any music program as she loves music anyway she can take it.


She did not finish the last year as we didn't want to overschedule her and believe in letting her choose-she chose dance instead.:


She has an amazing ear for music. We wonder if it was KM or just that I have always had music on and am always singing(you know, stupid little tunes to sing about what I doing... )


Km was way out of our price range...financially, it was ridiculous that we invested that much(she BETTER continue to do well at math!: )


We did have a good teacher who verbally encouraged children to be who they wanted to be..and for parents to not push their kids..she always said to just play the music everyday and they would absorb everything.(duh!)


We saved all KM materials, and we do music play at home now with ds who is 17 mos...but no WAY would I put out that kind of money again to do what i can do at home and take ds to park or free playgroup to have interactions.

IMHO however, under 2yo is too little to have a whole lot of success wityh social interactions!!


BTW...you can order KM materials w/o being a KM student.


My tiny input,
mamapoppins

[momcat]

I teach at a community school for the arts, and we have an early childhood music program, although it is not Kindermusik. I'd just like to echo other posts - you MUST shop around for a teacher. Depending upon the umbrella organization, they will have different standards for hiring someone to do KM. We do classes that combine approaches. If you have an active little one and see a music class offering Dalcroze methodology, that is a good match. If you see something about Orff methodology and have a little one who is interested in musical instruments, that would be perfect. We combine Orff, Dalcroze, and Kodaly approaches (singing lots of folk songs, etc) and just call it "Early Childhood Music." We also charge WAY less than what I'm reading here... although it might be the area.

Anyhow, look around for different options. Look for communtiy schools of the arts, look for university or conservatory settings, etc. They will have the best hiring practices - certainly better than your average stand-alone organization... they have alumnae to keep happy!

Good luck, all - and don't forget to sing to your child! That's the best introduction to music you could ever give.