NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The popular Kindermusik program is underway in the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, but interested parents can still enroll their children in the fun and active classes.
Kindermusik is an early childhood music and movement program based on the belief that every child is musical, every parent is the child’s most important teacher, and the home is the most important place for learning, according to Alba Madrid, director of SFA’s Music Prep.
“Research has shown us that music nurtures a child’s cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development,” she said.
Class activities are regulated in age-appropriate groups: Foundations, newborn to 18 months; Level 1, 1 to 2 years; Level 2, 18 months to 3 years; Level 3, 3 to 5 years; and Level 4, 4 to 6 years.
Foundation classes offer a sensory-rich, caring and gentle environment where infants can explore and react to new sounds, sensations and objects. Level 1 classes offer young toddlers a stimulating environment to explore their new movement and language skills with a sense of security, comfort and confidence. Level 2 classes encourage older toddlers to initiate their own ideas and explore their creativity by offering fun outlets to promote cognitive development through singing, dancing and playing instruments. Level 3 classes engage preschoolers’ natural love of music and activate their imaginations by boosting language skills, confidence, independence, social-emotional skills and self-control. Level 4 classes offer children exciting first experiences with musical symbols and more complex instruments, laying the groundwork for formal music instruction.
Tuition is $70 per month with a $25 one-time registration. Families with two or more children enrolled in Kindermusik during the same semester receive a 15% discount off each additional child’s enrollment. Visit sfamusicprep.com/kindermusik/ for registration information, or contact Madrid at madrida@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu, or call (936) 468-1291. Parents can also find program information on Facebook and Instagram. The Music Prep House is located at 3028 Raguet St. Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.