CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
​the Musikgarten curriculum is a path to musical literacy

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Baby class
​for Newborn-18 months

This class is designed to nurture babies natural aptitude for music through intentional musical activities: establishing the sense of beat in attractive bouncing and rocking songs, playing peek-a-boo games with scarves, dancing to beautifully recorded music, playing simple instruments, developing listening skills and tonal and rhythmic awareness, and establishing the foundation of singing and musical thought. Involvement in music at an early age is advantageous to all round development.

Family materials include a parent book, CD and small instrument kit with wooden rattle, pair of sticks and scarf.

Toddler Class
​for 15 months - 3 1/2 year Olds

Toddlers are already on the move; they love to explore their surroundings using all their senses, and happily experiment with their growing independence in a safe environment. Musikgarten continues to build on the young child's natural propensity to think and play musically. Activities for toddlers include feeling the beat through vigorous and active bouncing songs, discovering their own singing voice through songs and chants, playing a range of instruments by turn-taking or as a class, practicing listening skills, working on impulse control, and developing their range of mobility through free and simply choreographed dances. Your child's involvement in such intentional music and movement will enhance learning in all other spheres and continues them on the path to musical literacy.
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Home materials include a beautifully illustrated book and CD.  

Seasons & Nature Class
​for 3 - 5 year Olds

This creative curriculum for our 3-4 year olds is based around the seasons of the year and the children's love of nature. Activities are designed to build attention and self-expression through singing, chanting, mobility, focused listening, musical games, exploring musical instruments, creative movement and story telling. Themed ideas feature in each unit.

Home materials including 2 CDs, songbook, and animal picture cards to allow the learning and fun to continue at home.

HOME Environments Class
FOR 4 - 6 year Olds

We discover a wildlife repertoire as we visit four different settings: the home, the woodland, the cattail marsh and the meadow. Activities introduce visual musical notation (simple rhythm and melody) and instruments of the orchestra. Classes include singing, creative and structured movement, playing instruments and ensemble work, ear training, guided listening and writing notation. 
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Material packets include a CD and parent book for each environment, with accompanying poster and stickers, instrument pages, and sets of basic game cards introducing graphic symbolism, duple and triple rhythms, dynamic symbols and melodic notation.    

Around the WORLD Class
FOR 5 - 7 year Olds

This class explores music, dances, and stories from four unique cultures; over 30 weeks we will visit the British Isles, the Amerindians, African-Americans, and Germany. In each unit we will introduce a wide range of well-recorded music, begin to read and write music that is typical of that culture, develop ear training, play instruments in ensemble work, and learn simple choreographed dances. Each unit gives us opportunity to practice using our musical ears and singing voices, propels us to move intentionally and creatively, and accentuates symbolic thinking, concentration, memory and self-expression. 

Home materials include a CD, poster, song pages, and notation games for each culture.

Piano Class
for 6-10 year OLds

With Musikgarten we offer two fifteen week semesters per year and see such incredible results!!
Small group lessons at the keyboard capitalize on the joy and accountability of making music together. Students practice a new song each week, play by ear and learn to read music fluently.

Last year’s Year 1 students are now ready for Year 2!! They joined ten of my piano students in May by preparing ten pieces by heart for the Guild auditions. The Guild is nationally recognized and college accredited; after five consecutive years of participation, the children are featured in the national brochure. It’s great that they have started at such a young age.

During the fall I also prepare each student for an Achievement Day in early March at Coastal Carolina University. Each student chooses two pieces they have learned by heart, prepares age-appropriate technical skills, and tests in theory knowledge. This event becomes a personal bench that marks progress. 

Throughout the year we play in recitals.

A wonderful colleague and I have just finished running a week-long piano camp for my piano students, ages 6-13 years. Everyone chose a popular movie theme, which they practiced and performed with a professional band on the last day of camp. We reinforced key skills with educational games, and had the students choose and design their own band logo. It was an incredible experience for everyone!!

In everything we do, we have fun and enjoy making music together. 


Home materials include a listening CD and a practice CD with special tracks for practice each week. Notation games, repertoire pieces, sight-reading pieces, opportunities for composing, and more are in your child’s comprehensive learning materials that will help him/her stay excited about playing and encourage him/her to make music long after the lessons stop.