At Kindermusik, we use Music & Movement as the main teaching tool. Everything is done with music as it is the best stimulant for the brain. Coupled with meaningful movements, children receive apt stimulation which helps develop the whole child, in all aspect of their development. (Example: language, cognitive, emotional, physical, etc)

In class, you’ll expect the main elements of singing, movements and instrumental play as the back bone of a well-structured early childhood music programme. Parents support and model babies’ learning. Sometimes we will do lap bounces, sometimes locomotor movements done to the structure found in a piece of music. Sometimes we dance as a class. Instrument wise, we use age-appropriate percussion based instruments as tools for young children to explore physical skills like finger dexterity, steady beat, musicality, timbre, etc.

In the 40 years Kindermusik has been creating curriculum for children under 7, we have learned a lot about how children learn at each stage of development. We have learned to teach music in a manner similar to how we teach language, through immersion creating experiences for the child to interact with the music with their whole bodies through play. Once the children connect to the music in this way they will be better able to understand as they grow and their brains and bodies are ready to take on more complex learning experiences and the musical learning becomes more sophisticated.

Kindermusik cleverly and effectively morphed the 3 main early childhood music pedagogies– Orff Schulwerk, Kodaly and Dalcroze, or namely the instrumental and chants guy + the singing guy + the movement one. For our very young children, we put in tons of effort to process our activities just nice, so that they speak to the hearts of the little ones. The younger the kids, the more specialised the teaching.

Yes we do, and hundreds of varieties too! At this age, music making should be an immersive joyful experience. The children’s muscles are equipped to garner beautiful sounds from percussive based instruments. We use high quality early childhood instruments with a large variety of timbres, our children need that.

This is the child you want to see when making music:

Can I teach your child to press two notes on the piano with two pointers and make a song? Yes I can. But he wouldn’t like me very much while we’re getting there. So I would rather make the right use of his early years to help him develop skills for lifelong learning in all areas of his life and develop critical foundation for musical success when his body is physically ready.

And we wouldn’t say we teach instrument either, because it is not about the instrument. These, along with a variety of props, are just tools for our learning. Music is so much more than pressing a few notes.

Everyone is different! Grownups or kids, we embrace the difference at Kindermusik. Come and experience it and see. Music can surprise you, it does wonders for helping children learn, many times from the get-go. Be patient and confident, give your child the gift of the opportunity to be part of this precious learning process. Your role modelling is a powerful tool.

Our age groupings are derived from years of experience, and it does work well. Developmental appropriateness is a sometimes overlooked, but extremely critical, aspect of learning for young children. We are big on this. Our best advice is to follow the age groupings as per our programme. If in further doubt, speak with your educator. But then again, every child is different and you know your child best.

We have had most questions about moving forward from parents of 16 to 20 month babies, and this is what we usually advise. By 18 Months your child’s needs will start changing. He’ll want more verbal opportunities to “practice” his emerging language skills so we tailor to that by creating more focused listening and vocal play opportunities. He also seeks independence as the sense of ego gets stronger, activities tailor to that need by creating experiences that the child can be independently successful in. His physical skills require constant practice as well, you see toddlers are always on the go, because of that. The major difference is the delivery and engagement style that teacher needs to adopt for it to work in that age group.

We personally love to extend Foundations. We have seasoned babies who enjoy Foundations so much, so do their mums, and are still very comfortable in this class that they stay on till 20-21 months. You will see signs of readiness to move when baby does not want to be carried, seeks constant independence, and has stronger physical coordination as well as auditory comprehension in a group setting. No hurry! Enjoy baby-hood while it lasts!

For every full term sign up, you receive a complimentary Kindermusik kit which supports your child’s Kindermusik experience by extending the learning out of the studios and into your home. The simplest homework that you can do is to play the music frequently for her. Lots of connection take place within the child when they engage in the same song in class which they have listened to at their familiar home environment.

Yes, we are convinced it does make a difference because we have heard so many parental feedback that it does.

If you are enrolled in a class in the current term, your slot is locked in and saved for you and we will see you for class at the same time every week. When the term ends, current students have priority to continue in the same slot for the next term. We frequently run early bird discounts for current students who renew for the next full term before this term ends, make full use of it!

Not exactly, you do attend the same slot you signed up for week to week. That way, you experience the class properly lesson to lesson. The routine and regularity is key to learning, for all of us, as well as your child.

Our terms do not follow the calendar. Every slot in the week may be at a different lesson of their term, some may even be in a different theme. Your child’s learning will not be affected when you join us mid-term, due to the process-oriented nature of our programme.

You can most certainly arrange for a replacement class, valid as long as it is done within the duration of your current term. Ie by lesson 8 if you are in Foundations. You can do so at anytime and at any of our studios, just book in advance with us. Missed classes cannot be carried forward after your term (specific to your signed up slot) ends.

We can help. Should you no longer be able to attend class at your chosen slot, we can assist with a transfer. Your remaining sessions will be moved over to the new class and credited. You will only then need to top up the remainder of the sessions to make up a full term in order to facilitate the transfer.

Your term date will be automatically adjusted to be pushed downwards. You will always get to attend the number of lessons in each term. Therefore, no make-up is required for when studio is closed. We are parents too, and being fair to you is important to us!

We accept all of the following forms of payment:

• Cash
• Credit Cards : Visa / Master / Amex (except at United Sq studio)
• Cheque to “Kindermusik With Love Studios Pte Ltd”
• Bank Transfer to Maybank 04181003239
• Paynow to UEN 201205871H
• Online payment portal coming soon in end 2019.

*In the event of e-banking payments, please send us a screen shot so we can issue a receipt to you.

Plan to arrive 3-5 minutes before class commences. Arriving a little before class provides time for you and your child to settle in to the musical environment. We have gathering time before we really start at the music circle, it helps both you and your child to wind down and tune in.

Don’t worry if you are running late – we all understand that toddlers often have their own schedule! Come on in and join us whenever you arrive – you are always welcome.

Do allow us to take your child’s temperature and sanitise your hands.

If class has already started, our staff may ask you to wait a bit for the teacher’s cue to enter before opening the studio door for you. We seek your understanding, much akin to walking into a theatre production, waiting for an interval is expected so that the vibe in the studio space is not disturbed.

You are the most important person to your child in class! Be sure to dress comfortably and plan to participate! Kindermusik is a welcoming place for you and your child to enjoy musical activities together. You are your child’s most important teacher. When you are an active and focused participant in class activities your child will also feel comfortable and at ease and will be open to the classroom experience.

We request one grown-up to one child please, for the most optimum learning experience for both you and your child. He or she will benefit from the interaction with the teacher and his peers. And you will be fully present for being your child’s role model. Your spouse will be able to view the class from the outside, at minimal distraction to your child of course, as we have glass panel at the studio.

We are terribly sorry to have to say no, for the same reasons above. Your attending child really needs your 100% attention for that 45 minutes. It makes such a difference, as our experience has showed us.

All you need is a pair of clean adult socks and a happy musical heart! Grownups need socks in the studio space for hygiene purpose. We can typically assist you at the reception with socks for sale if you have forgotten yours today. Children, especially the very young ones, do not need socks. Barefoot is Best. Children learn through their senses and the soles are the most sensitive to touch. Grounding is another fascinating theory that supports this.

It is requested that toys, juice cups and other interesting items (if you are a toddler, that’s just about every other thing!) be kept out of sight and that snacks be finished prior to entering the classroom. We do have children with food allergies attending some of our classes so if your child needs to eat during class, please exit the room and then return as soon as you can. Children are naturally curious, items lying around on the studio floor is almost a definite magnet to little hands.

Sometimes a bottle, both milk bottle or water bottle, turns out to be a comfort item for the child who is neither hungry nor thirsty. Especially for the child who is above 2, you may want to consider not displaying the bottle just for 45 minutes, so that your child can learn to self-regulate and maintain participation in class.

It certainly does matter. Your child deserves your undivided attention for the minutes in class. This is your intentional time with your child, treasure it.

We understand, and so do other parents, that you would like to capture the memories in class. A quick snap of your own child once in a while seems okay, but do have consideration for others when doing so. Length videos of everyone in class is a no-no, unless you have had prior permission from your other peers in class.

We’re glad you asked this question! As parents ourselves, and the fact that we roll on the ground along with the kids and use the same instruments, we take great pride in keeping things sterile and clean.

Carpet
We use only the best care for our carpet, we are almost obsessed. Carpet is vacuumed between cluster of classes with hydro vacuum Rainbow, which effectively removes all dust from within. We shampoo it down with the same professional system frequently. We also spray it down with plasma water, an industrial strength and safe steriliser.

Why are we obsessed with using carpet? Carpet type flooring is a safe ground for our little ones to confidently move around in. Foam boards do not work well for us due to its acoustics and toxicity. The carpet also gives adequate sensory feedback to the children when they move around in it, which regulates children’s awareness and also gives them the adequate sensorial input to complete their whole experience in class.

Air, hands and instruments
After much trial and research, we have settled on the Kilgerms® system. It produces organic and highly effective sanitising liquid using plasma water technology. Entirely safe for baby’s delicate skin. The air in the studio is infused with plasma water vapour, which kills germs in the air on contact.