Why Musikgarten?

Age-specific Curricula

Musikgarten offers instruction which is just right for each age level—from your baby who benefits greatly from being part of a live music environment, right up through school-age children who delight in our group piano classes.

Beginning simply with singing, moving, and exploring rhythm instruments, we add levels of complexity as the children grow, expanding the singing repertoire, teaching more complex dances, and building instrumental ensembles. Children coming through the Musikgarten program inherently "know" the music they eventually play in later years in group piano instruction.

Research

Music and movement can have a dramatic effect on babies, toddlers, and older children as well. Some studies indicate that early music instruction positively impacts language and literacy development; others point to improved pattern recognition skills which are the basis for mathematical learning; still others reveal the social and emotional benefits of being involved in music. Given our long-standing reputation as the leader in the field of early music education, Musikgarten can give your child a learning advantage for life.

Musical Goals: Feel and demonstrate steady beat; encourage singing; introduce rhythm and tonal patterns; recognize musical forms; play a variety of age-appropriate instruments; acquire a bank of familiar songs.

Developmental Goals: Develop gross and fine motor skills; build cognitive connections; develop language connections and aural skills; exhibit body awareness and self-regulation; strengthen social, emotional and self-help skills.

Our Musikgarten classes are on summer break! Check back in the fall for an updated schedule!

Class Options

This year, we will enjoy lessons from the Cycle of Seasons, God's Children Sing, and Family Music curriculua. Classes are aimed at children 0-5 years, but older siblings are always welcome. Join us for free and educational family fun!
No registration required!

God's Children Sing

Sharing our faith provides the central theme for the activities in each lesson. Each class will provide an opportunity for your child to share their faith through music, and experience music through singing and vocal play, moving, listening, exploring musical concepts, and playing musical instruments.

All of the materials are presented in different ways throughout the curriculum: through fingerplays, creative movement, stories, poems, dramatic play, songs, and musical activities.

Family Music for Babies

Music plays a unique role in fulfilling the innate potential of every child. Though musical play, caregivers can comfort, console, and stimulate the child, thus assuring safe passage to a healthy, confident, and happy childhood. Musical play lays the foundation for claiming music as one of the child's languages. Research and experience continue to validate our understanding that musical aptitude is highest during infancy and that musical development begins before birth. Music is a necessity for infants and caregivers.

Family Music for Toddlers

Classes are action-filled for toddlers—full of energy, often on the move, always exploring and learning—and their parents. Together you’ll sing, chant, move, dance, listen, and play simple instruments, all activities that bridge the natural connection between music and movement.

Each lesson features movement activities for coordination, body awareness and control, exploration of space, and instruments such as rhythm sticks, jingles, rattles, and drums.

Cycle of Seaons

The Cycle of Seasons presents music and movement activities to build the sensory-motor foundation for learning, respecting the child's growing independence and developing competencies. The curriculum includes songs, movement activities, exploration of instruments, and stories for the children to act out and embellish. The primary goal is to bring the child together with family into the music, movement, and environmental experience.

Musikgarten Director -

Morgan Gibbs

Morgan has been teaching Musikgarten since September, 2022. She has an Associate of Arts degree from Schoolcraft College, a Child Development Associate in Infant and Toddler education, and is licensed and certified to teach 5 levels of Musikgarten curricula from Family Music for Babies up to Music Makers: at the Keyboard. Morgan understands early-childhood development and enjoys communicating the methodology of the Musikgarten program to families.

Morgan can be reached at stgbyouth@gmail.com with any questions you have regarding Musikgarten.

Music Makers at the Keyboard

This piano teaching method for groups of young beginners features a variety of activities which lay the foundation for keyboard success. The program features an aural approach to music learning and teaching piano, building on songs children have come to love. This provides a natural pathway to reading music while building a much-loved piano repertoire.