Questions?
What do we do in music class?
A lot! Every activity has been carefully chosen for its musical, social, cognitive, aural, gross motor, fine motor and/or speech benefit to your child. Our classes use a lot of singing games, focused listening activities, simple instrument playing and movement to engage your child in the most beneficial way. All classes include practicing rhythm and tonal patterns to further develop your child's music literacy. The best part is, children have so much fun bouncing, dancing, singing, thinking and playing, they have no idea how many skills they are absorbing!
How much does it cost?
Our tuition varies based on the age of the child and the length of the class. Please see Registration and Fees for details . All classes have a $35 registration/materials fee. When compared to other classes in the area, we are highly competitive. When you consider that music classes work towards developing the whole child, not just teaching a single set of skills, and when you consider that birth to age five is a critical time in musical development, but not so much in other activities, our classes are a great value! At My Little Melody, I want to work around your schedule if at all possible. I ask participants to pick multiple times that would work for them, and then arrange classes according to these times.
Do Dad's come to class? YES! So far, all classes have included father's that come with their children to experience music together. In the Fall, I had a class where five families brought both parents every class!
What about siblings?
As a parent of three children, I definitely understand the difficulty of finding childcare. If you have two children in the Birth to Age 4 range, you can register both of them for the Toddlers Class. Older siblings are generally discouraged from attending class with a younger sibling, although exceptions have been made. Often, I will have childcare available at no cost for certain classes. If this would help you, just ask! Sibling disounts are available. Each family’s second child receives a 20% discount. If two children are registered for the same class, only one registration fee needs to be paid for that class. If children are registered for different classes, they each must pay a registration fee. Please contact me if you have more than two children in this age range to discuss options.
Why are the classes offered on 10 week semesters?
Musikgarten research experience has shown that it is very important to have class once a week for a 10 week semester in order for a child to fully experience musical development. Shorter sessions (6 or 8 weeks) are offered in the Summer as a way to experience the classes but do not nurture the child in the same way as a longer commitment. Ideally, your child would contine with My Little Melody Studio for additional classes. We currently offer a Musikgartern curriculum for children birth to age 6. We offer private piano beyond the age of 6 years. Your child would never repeat material and would continue to layer their musical experience as they progressed in the program.
If my family misses a class, do you offer make-up classes?
At this time, due to space and scheduling, I am usually not able to offer make-up classes. If you miss a class, I will do my best to make arrangements with you to come to a class at an alternate time during the week. However, this is not possible, because the all classes are at capacity. It is not necessary to be at every class to benefit from the curriculum.
Can your classes help my shy child?
Our classes offer a safe, nurturing environment where very shy children often flourish. We believe in the Montessori principle of "Follow the Child," so your child is never forced into an activity they are not ready for. Many children come out of their shell over the course of the semester and enjoy the community music making our classes provide. Children are especially motivated if their accompanying adult is participating in a relaxed, pleasant manner. Forcing a child to participate may negatively color his or her perception of music and music class. With patience and understanding shy children flourish in music classes.
What if my child won't sit still?
Young children are learning to move and moving to learn! Every class has a balance between sitting and moving and playing instruments, which meets the needs of most children. Some toddlers have just learned to walk, and they do it
almost constantly and at a high speed! Other children may quietly watch, observing but not participating for weeks on end. All children are learning if they are in the room! As long as your child is not posing a major distraction to other children and is not destroying anything in the room, let he or she wander, but model for them the activity we are doing. When the child sees how much fun you are having, he or she will usually return.
How early can I tell if my child is musically talented?
Research shows that ALL children have musical potential, and that it is highest in very young children! Aptitude in rhythm and melody can both be significantly developed through musical pattern activities and through joyful singing, movement, and listening to high quality music in early childhood. Frequent musical interaction between parent and child at home is a key to developing the child’s potential. When you enroll your child in a music class, you are helping them to develop the musical potential they already have, instead of allowing it to gradually decline as they get older.
This class is fun, but when should my child start seriously studying music such as taking violin or piano lessons?
I truly believe that children in these classes are building a strong musical foundation in the most developmentatlly appropriate way. Young children are much more interested in singing, dancing and trying out instruments than in intense,
focused practicing 30 minutes a day. It is exciting to see them develop musical skills and literacy in this playful music environment. Usually they are far ahead when they do begin to study an instrument around the age of six. If they continue with Musikgarten, they will have a strong musical foundation, their ears have been trained, and the instrument is just another level to their musicality which comes very naturally.
Registration is over, can I still sign-up my child for classes?
Please contact me to discuss this question. Sometimes, I am able to add families to classes after the semester is started.
Do you offer financial assistance or payment plans?
I do not offer financial assistance or payment plans at this time.
A lot! Every activity has been carefully chosen for its musical, social, cognitive, aural, gross motor, fine motor and/or speech benefit to your child. Our classes use a lot of singing games, focused listening activities, simple instrument playing and movement to engage your child in the most beneficial way. All classes include practicing rhythm and tonal patterns to further develop your child's music literacy. The best part is, children have so much fun bouncing, dancing, singing, thinking and playing, they have no idea how many skills they are absorbing!
How much does it cost?
Our tuition varies based on the age of the child and the length of the class. Please see Registration and Fees for details . All classes have a $35 registration/materials fee. When compared to other classes in the area, we are highly competitive. When you consider that music classes work towards developing the whole child, not just teaching a single set of skills, and when you consider that birth to age five is a critical time in musical development, but not so much in other activities, our classes are a great value! At My Little Melody, I want to work around your schedule if at all possible. I ask participants to pick multiple times that would work for them, and then arrange classes according to these times.
Do Dad's come to class? YES! So far, all classes have included father's that come with their children to experience music together. In the Fall, I had a class where five families brought both parents every class!
What about siblings?
As a parent of three children, I definitely understand the difficulty of finding childcare. If you have two children in the Birth to Age 4 range, you can register both of them for the Toddlers Class. Older siblings are generally discouraged from attending class with a younger sibling, although exceptions have been made. Often, I will have childcare available at no cost for certain classes. If this would help you, just ask! Sibling disounts are available. Each family’s second child receives a 20% discount. If two children are registered for the same class, only one registration fee needs to be paid for that class. If children are registered for different classes, they each must pay a registration fee. Please contact me if you have more than two children in this age range to discuss options.
Why are the classes offered on 10 week semesters?
Musikgarten research experience has shown that it is very important to have class once a week for a 10 week semester in order for a child to fully experience musical development. Shorter sessions (6 or 8 weeks) are offered in the Summer as a way to experience the classes but do not nurture the child in the same way as a longer commitment. Ideally, your child would contine with My Little Melody Studio for additional classes. We currently offer a Musikgartern curriculum for children birth to age 6. We offer private piano beyond the age of 6 years. Your child would never repeat material and would continue to layer their musical experience as they progressed in the program.
If my family misses a class, do you offer make-up classes?
At this time, due to space and scheduling, I am usually not able to offer make-up classes. If you miss a class, I will do my best to make arrangements with you to come to a class at an alternate time during the week. However, this is not possible, because the all classes are at capacity. It is not necessary to be at every class to benefit from the curriculum.
Can your classes help my shy child?
Our classes offer a safe, nurturing environment where very shy children often flourish. We believe in the Montessori principle of "Follow the Child," so your child is never forced into an activity they are not ready for. Many children come out of their shell over the course of the semester and enjoy the community music making our classes provide. Children are especially motivated if their accompanying adult is participating in a relaxed, pleasant manner. Forcing a child to participate may negatively color his or her perception of music and music class. With patience and understanding shy children flourish in music classes.
What if my child won't sit still?
Young children are learning to move and moving to learn! Every class has a balance between sitting and moving and playing instruments, which meets the needs of most children. Some toddlers have just learned to walk, and they do it
almost constantly and at a high speed! Other children may quietly watch, observing but not participating for weeks on end. All children are learning if they are in the room! As long as your child is not posing a major distraction to other children and is not destroying anything in the room, let he or she wander, but model for them the activity we are doing. When the child sees how much fun you are having, he or she will usually return.
How early can I tell if my child is musically talented?
Research shows that ALL children have musical potential, and that it is highest in very young children! Aptitude in rhythm and melody can both be significantly developed through musical pattern activities and through joyful singing, movement, and listening to high quality music in early childhood. Frequent musical interaction between parent and child at home is a key to developing the child’s potential. When you enroll your child in a music class, you are helping them to develop the musical potential they already have, instead of allowing it to gradually decline as they get older.
This class is fun, but when should my child start seriously studying music such as taking violin or piano lessons?
I truly believe that children in these classes are building a strong musical foundation in the most developmentatlly appropriate way. Young children are much more interested in singing, dancing and trying out instruments than in intense,
focused practicing 30 minutes a day. It is exciting to see them develop musical skills and literacy in this playful music environment. Usually they are far ahead when they do begin to study an instrument around the age of six. If they continue with Musikgarten, they will have a strong musical foundation, their ears have been trained, and the instrument is just another level to their musicality which comes very naturally.
Registration is over, can I still sign-up my child for classes?
Please contact me to discuss this question. Sometimes, I am able to add families to classes after the semester is started.
Do you offer financial assistance or payment plans?
I do not offer financial assistance or payment plans at this time.
