An afternoon of a little music
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on January 12, 2015 1:46 PM
News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Amare Mewborn, 11 months, and Lincoln Williams, 15 months, enjoy time playing with blocks and interacting with friends before the start of their Kindermusik class taught by Karen Kestler at Keepsakes Pottery Playhouse on Thursday.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Karen Kestler teaches Amare Mewborn permanence with a bell toy at her Kindermusik class.
A smile cracks Hannah Boyd's face when her mom zooms her around the room. Her mom, Erika Boyd, sings along to the goofy song while holding Hannah like an airplane.
Hannah motors around the pottery shop during her music lesson.
It might seem unusual to begin learning music at only 10 months old, but Hannah attends Kindermusik classes once a week.
Kindermusik is a movement and music program for children. From infancy to age 7, the program works on developing a child emotionally, socially and mentally. Kindermusik works on engaging the whole child, focusing on language development, vocal development, cognitive development, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, social emotional development and musical development.
Ms. Boyd credits Kindermusik with teaching her how to play with a baby.
"My whole relationship was feeding," she said. Now, she engages her children through song, dance and general silliness. She has gone through Kindermusik with all four of her children.
Karen Kestler teaches Kindermusik at her Keepsake Pottery Playhouse shop on Ash Street. She is one of three local Kindermusik teachers.
Sharlene Hermanski brings her 6-month-old daughter, Evalynn, to Ms. Kestler's lessons. The mom and daughter began Kindermusik for the first time in November.
"It's awkward talking to a baby," Mrs. Hermanski laughed, as she described being in the house with just her daughter. "Now I'm singing in the grocery store."
From her last class, Evalynn has learned to sit by herself.
"From week to week, this group changes so fast," Ms. Kestler said.
Teaching Kindermusik was on Ms. Kestler's bucket list. She began teaching two years ago. She says teaching children is what she was meant to do.
Unlike preschool, Kindermusik focuses on the parent and child relationship.
"You are their first roller coaster ride," Ms. Kestler tells the parents during her class.
During the infant class, the mothers watch as the babies mimic behavior and become aware of their surroundings. The group is lead through a silly song about missing car keys to teach the babies object permanence.
Ms. Kestler teaches five classes per week. In February, she will begin a multi-age Saturday class for parents that work. Registration is online at www.kindermusik.com.
Penny Jordan is returning to teaching Kindermusik after a hiatus. She will begin classes at the end of January at the Arts Council.
"I've always loved music and I've always loved children, this was just the perfect combination," she said.
Ms. Jordan loves to sing. She has been involved in church choruses and helped with children's choruses.
In her classes, she encourages the parents to follow their children's lead.
"It's a lot of fun to watch how they play their rhythm sticks and how we play ours," she says.
Her favorite part of instructing is watching the parents and children interact.
"It's really sweet to see the quiet time with the parent and the child, they'll snuggle or rock," she said.
Ms. Jordan is currently enrolling new students. The Tuesday and Wednesday classes cost $230 for weekly lessons from January through April, this includes two CDs, books and an instrument.
Children ages 5 to 7 learn how to read music during their Kindermusik lessons.
"This is an informal training," Ms. Jordan said. Most music teachers do not begin children's lessons until age 7, which is why Kindermusik stops.
Rebecca Barnes has taught Kindermusik for more than 15 years.
She instructs at Wayne Country Day School, where Kindermusik is part of the curriculum. Her classes for children from infancy to age 3 are open to the public. The infant class begins March 9 and costs $120 for the semester, the 18 months to age 3 class starts Feb. 6 and costs $200.
She says Kindermusik is a vehicle for education, helping social development.
"I haven't met a child that (Kindermusik) didn't speak to," she said. "All children love music."