Why is music so important for the young mind?
Music participation provides a unique opportunity for literacy preparation. Whether the children are singing, playing, or listening, teachers direct them to listen and hear in new ways which exercises their aural discrimination. Playing instruments and adding movement to the lessons teaches children about sequential learning which is essential in reading comprehension. Plato once said that music “is a more potent instrument than any other for education”. You will find many teachers of young children who would agree with him. Recent research has found that music uses both sides of the brain, a fact that makes it valuable in all areas of development. Music affects the growth of a child’s brain academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually.Music is academic. For some people, this is the primary reason for providing music lessons to their children. A recent study from the University of California found that music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. One study observed two groups of preschoolers. Research indicates that musical training permanently wires a young mind for enhanced performance.Music is physical. Music can be described as a sport. Learning to sing and keep rhythm develops coordination. Music is emotional. Music is an art form. We are emotional beings and every child requires an artistic outlet. Music may be your child’s vehicle of expression.Music is for life. Most people can’t play soccer, or football at 70 or 80 years of age but they can sing. And they can play piano or some other instrument. Music is a gift you can give your child that will last their entire lives.Now that we have explained the benefits of music in the preschooler’s life, we can get real. Who is able to take time off from work to take a child to music class during the optimum morning hours? Who has time to go to a music class for each child? How can a preschool teacher with limited music training integrate a music education into her curriculum? The business of our society affects our daily lives. We know from the research that, for young children, the best and longest lasting instruction comes from the parent. What if the parent doesn’t know much about music or how to present it to their child? In answer to these questions, the “KinderBach”™ book series introduces the piano keyboard, musical concepts, preliminary note reading, and tools for composition. A parent, preschool teacher, or music teacher may use “KinderBach” to whatever degree they decide they need. With “KinderBach”™, a music education background is not necessary for a parent/teacher to introduce his child to learning music. Now, in our busy society, the possibility of providing exposure and experiences in music during the child’s preschool years is actually attainable. Contact me at kinderbach@teachers.org
Play on!
Christalle http://www.kinderbach.com/?af=731936
1 comment March 3, 2008
Tags: cds, dvds, homeschool, music, music foundation, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, preschoolers
The concept behind KinderBach may be a little new to some people. I mean teaching piano by DVD is a new and undiscovered field. Some may have difficulty understanding the makeup of our program.Well first off, to make it simple, I’ll explain each aspect of the program.
The first thing that sets KinderBach apart from everyone else is the fact we teach by DVD. The DVD is just like going to a piano lesson but with more features. There is a regular teacher, games, crafts, puzzles but most importantly, playing… playing both on the piano and with each-other. The DVD is a fun educational guide. It explains each page of the complimentary book in a unique and eye-catching way. There are 5 lessons per disc.
The second component of your KinderBach collection is your Activity Book. Now these books are not like any regular books. We sell them to you on a CD, thus being a PDF. The way you get your book off your CD onto paper is very easy. You just put the CD into your home computer and press the “Print Activity Book” button when the autoplay screen comes up. It’s that simple. A great bonus about the book is the fact that it is a PDF. You print the pages. So if you have 1 child or 8 children, you pay the same low cost. It is the same for everyone. You can go back and reprint certain sections or you can print multiple copies for your many children, and there is no extra charge!
The third piece of material is your Music CD. Your music CD is for your children to practice along with and for listening to in the car. If your piano is not in the same room as your TV, the Music CD is almost invaluable to you. Many of the songs children can play with the DVD, but if your piano is not in the same room as your TV, this is a little tricky. The Music CD is great for this because, every song that is on the DVD is on the Music CD. You also can take this disc to “grandma’s house” so that your little one may perform their “Very First Concert!” The child will then receive praise on how well they did and will want to continue practicing. It’s very important to tell your child how well they are doing because then it’s not work. They will be having fun “practicing”. And that’s the most important thing. They have to keep having fun to stay interested and to keep learning.
I have explained each aspect of an Activity package. The 3 discs are in each Activity Package. The DVD, the Activity Book CD, and the Music CD.
Each of these are in each of our Activity Packages. We have 6 total packages. A total of 30 lesson. That is enough to keep you going through a year of material.
I hope I have explained the composition of our product thoroughly enough. I know that I did not explain the songbooks, but that is for another day! 
In the home, or in a class, Kinderbach is fun for all…they will beg you to do ”homework”.
But if you have any questions about this please do ask!
~Christalle
not just another piano teacher…founded by Karri Gregor
1 comment March 3, 2008
Tags: cds, dvds, homeschool, music, music foundation, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, preschoolers
I’m Christalle, and I’m the a teacher of KinderBach’s pilot in Amarillo, Texas.
KinderBach started when the founder Karri Gregor was looking for piano teacher for her own children. At the time they were 4 and 7, and no one would take them. They were “too young to teach piano.” You may have run into the same problem. I knew the importance of starting my children in a music class at such a early age. The advantages are endless! So it really baffled me when piano teachers wouldn’t take students younger than 7.
I knew the importance of a strong music foundation, and so I decided to start teaching my own children. I had a musical background so it wasn’t a complete leap into the dark. I took on other students and started teaching in a classroom. Well, over time my studio grew to over 150 students. It was a very exciting time, but apparently it wasn’t the final plan for our family. My husband’s job was transferred, and I lost all of my students (all except my own children). When we were stationed in our next town, I didn’t want to start up another music studio. Loosing my students again would be too hard.
When unpacking, we came across some old tapes of past lessons I had taught. (Because I had had so many student at the time, I would tape every lesson. Students that had missed the class would receive the tape and then were allowed to keep up with the others in the class.) The tapes had always been a huge hit with the kids. In one case, a mother came back to me and said, “Move over Mister Rogers, because we have watched this 17 times!”
After finding the tapes, I really started to consider teaching again. It had brought me such joy, but I was scared that I would have to say goodbye to each of them again. My husband and I watched a couple of the tapes and discussed the idea of starting up classes. At one point in the conversation he looked over at me and said, “Karri, why don’t we do this? Why don’t we teach piano to students by video?” It was the perfect solution! I could teach, but not have to worry about loosing my students because of my location. I also could use my artistic skills to better the videos. Thus, KinderBach was born.
KinderBach is piano lessons for 2-7 year olds taught by DVDs, Activity Books, and CDs. Children learn the notes on the piano and staff by characters rather than letters. Your child does NOT have to be able to read to learn piano. Can be taught in classroom setting, or by you, no experience required, right at home.
KinderBach not only teaches piano, but other factors of music. Music theory, note reading, rhythm, ear training, hand position and much much more!
KinderBach was designed to give your child the over all music foundation. Your child can take everything they have learned from KinderBach and apply it to another instrument or continue further with piano. KinderBach was designed to be a spring board, taking this information and just going to endless bounds with what they have learned!
I know KinderBach is a proven method. Over 5000 families have already tried it. We have received nothing but raves when it comes to our curriculum.
This is just the beginning for KinderBach, and I am so excited to see where this journey takes our family! I hope KinderBach will bless your lives as much as it has blessed ours!
http://www.kinderbach.com/?af=731936
~Christalle
kinderbach@teachers.org
Add a comment March 3, 2008
Tags: cds, dvds, homeschool, music, music foundation, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, preschoolers
