Class Descriptions
Our classes are child-centered, loving and nurturing, with class sizes ranging between 6 and 12 children. Class time is educational, fun and purposeful, with a focus on laying a good musical foundation rather than merely entertaining.
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All classes will be offered via Zoom until it is deemed safe to return to in-person classes.
Class Length: 30 minutes
Believe it or not, your baby is ready for music now! All babies are born with an aptitude for music. But research shows that their aptitude diminishes if it is not nurtured. The best way to nurture your child's music aptitude is through active music making. By singing and dancing for and with our children in a variety of tonalities, meters and styles, we are helping our children reach their full music potential.
This class offers adults the opportunity to play with their babies in a musical setting, experiencing music and movement activities designed to delight the child and awaken his or her curiosity about music. By singing, dancing, bouncing, and rocking, the child's music aptitude is being carefully nurtured, laying the foundation for beat awareness, vocal production, and aural discrimination.
Activities include singing, bouncing songs, rocking songs, dances, finger plays, body awareness games and echoes.
Materials include parent book, CD, and an instrument kit containing a wooden rattle, scarf and rhythm sticks, all in a cloth bag for convenience in bringing to class.
| Tuition: | $150 |
| Materials: | $ 40 |
| Total: | $190 |
Class Length: 30 minutes
Off we go! Once children start walking, everything changes. This class is designed to bring the joy of music and movement to toddlers through young preschoolers, and their caregivers, creating an environment in which the child's music aptitude is nurtured and skills are developed.
Join our "learners in constant motion" as we sing, chant, move, dance, listen, and play simple instruments. Classes promote musical literacy, singing and rhythmic skills, motor coordination, language development, aural perception, and social interaction.
Materials per semester include a CD, parent book, and small instrument (i.e., sticks, jingle, etc.) to facilitate musical play at home.
| Tuition: | $150 |
| Materials: | $ 40 |
| Total: | $190 |
Class length: 45 minutes
This is NOT your typical music class. It is a creative celebration of the four seasons through musical activities that build on your preschooler's growing independence and competency. Activities include lots of singing, chants and rhymes, listening games, patterns to echo, movement games, and pretend play, all of which nurtures your child's musical development and imagination while satisfying his/her need to learn in a holistic environment.
Classes promote further musical aptitude, focused listening, singing and rhythmic skills, motor coordination, language development, social development and ensemble skills.
Parents still stay for class, although some of the activities are designed to have the children participate independently of their parents.
Materials per semester include 2 CDs, parent book, and coordinating animal picture cards to allow the learning and fun to continue at home.
| Tuition: | $185 |
| Materials: | $ 45 |
| Total: | $230 |
This pre-piano I class offers a fun approach to musical literacy and provides a bridge between musical play classes and future piano or other instrument instruction. Music Makers at Home cultivates the child's musical development through songs, tonal and rhythm patterns, poetry and stories, movement activities, listening games, instrumental play and manipulative games. Rudimentary music skills such as pitch matching, beat competency, ensemble development, and music notation are explored using themes taken from the child's home environment and natural surroundings, including Woodlands, Marsh, and Meadow.Materials are distributed throughout the year and include 4 CD's, binder, poster/folders, instrument pages and notation games.
The curriculum is designed to span the entire year, with two semesters. Classes run for approximately one hour. Parents/caregivers should plan on joining us for online classes in order to assist your child with activities and help maintain focus.
It is recommended that 4-year-olds complete Cycles of Seasons, if possible, before taking this class.
| Tuition: | $215 |
| Materials: | $ 65 |
| Total: | $280 per semester |
This pre-piano II class is geared towards children ages 5 to 7 years old and is an excellent follow-up to "Music Makers: At Home in the World" (pre-piano I). In Music Makers/World, children explore the native songs, instruments, dances, stories, and customs of four distinct cultures: the British Isles, Amerindians, Germany and African-American. We continue the development of aural skills through singing, listening, movement (both creative and structured), playing instruments, and tonal and rhythm patterns. Children make beautiful music in multiple-part ensembles, learn more complex dances, and begin to build a vocabulary of musical phrases that they recognize both aurally and visually -- leading to an understanding of musical notation and laying a foundation that serves as excellent preparation for instrumental study.
Materials are distributed throughout the year and include 4 CDs, map/posters for each unit, song pages, notation games, and accompanying parent book.
The curriculum is designed to span the entire year, with two semesters. Classes run for approximately one hour. Parents/caregivers should plan on joining us for online classes in order to assist your child with activities and help maintain focus.
| Tuition: | $215 |
| Materials: | $ 65 |
| Total: | $280 per semester |
Class length: 70 minutesMusikgarten's piano classes are a wonderful and rewarding way to begin the study of piano. Building on the activities experienced in Music Makers: At Home and Music Makers Around the World, this 70-minute class follows a very sequential and structured approach to building piano skills, understanding musical notation, and developing musicianship. The small group format allows children to experience the joy of making music with others, while also encouraging individual development of rhythmic competency, singing, listening skills and music-reading.
Parent/caregivers participate with us in the final 15 minutes of each class, and are invited and encouraged to attend the entire class at any time.
This class is designed as a year-long class, broken into two semesters (fall and spring). Over the course of the 28-week series, children will receive 2 Keyboard books for playing pieces, aural training, composing and theory. Other materials include notation/reading games, 2 practice CDs, 2 listening CDs, a card file, and a parent handbook.
It is mandatory that all students have access at home to a good piano or keyboard, as well as an easy-to-use CD player placed near the piano. Children will also need a sturdy bag in which to carry their materials to class.
| Tuition: | $280 |
| Materials: | $ 65 |
| Total: | $345 per semester |
Continuing the sequential and structured approach to developing piano skills and musicianship, this 70-minute class expands on the material covered in Keyboard I and introduces more advanced concepts.
As always, parent/caregivers participate with us in the final 15 minutes of each class, and are invited and encouraged to attend the entire class at any time.
* Must have previously taken Music Makers: At the Keyboard I
| Tuition: | $280 |
| Materials: | $ 65 |
| Total: | $345 |
The final level of the Musikgarten program, this class continues the sequential and structured approach to developing piano skills and musicianship. This 70-minute class expands on the material covered in the previous two years with more in-depth study of music theory and piano skills.
As always, parent/caregivers participate with us in the final 15 minutes of each class, and are invited and encouraged to attend the entire class at any time.
* Must have previously taken Music Makers: At the Keyboard I and II
| Tuition: | $280 |
| Materials: | $ 65 |
| Total: | $345 |
Class length: 60 minutesPiano Partners, an introductory method for two young beginners from age 6, is based on an aural approach to music literacy that provides a natural pathway to reading. This method features a variety of activities which help lay the foundation for success at the piano and independent musicianship. This method is a great way for young friends to learn together.
Parent/caregivers participate with us in the final 10 minutes of each class and are invited and encouraged to attend the entire class at any time.
Materials include Listening and Practice CDs, student book, and notation games.
Students MUST have access at home to a good piano or keyboard, as well as an easy-to-use CD player placed near the piano. Students will also need a three ring binder, pencil pouch with zipper, two sharpened pencils and a good eraser, all of which should be brought to class each week in a sturdy bag.
Piano Partner lessons are scheduled directly with Mrs. Vaughan. Please email or call to inquire.
| Tuition: | $350 ($50/wk split between 2 students) |
| Materials: | $65 |
| Total: | $415 per semester |