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Cover story: Kindermusik
(For The Edge) ON THE COVER: Licensed Kindermusik educator Ellen Singh, of Edwardsville, in a Kindermusik class, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now Singh is taking her Kindermusik classes virtual. Kindermusik is a music program for children, founded by Dan Pratt, who, while studying in Cologne, Germany, discovered a curriculum that empowered young children to learn through music.
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By Jill Moon
jill.moon@hearst.com
EDWARDSVILLE — Licensed Kindermusik educator Ellen Singh is moving full speed ahead with virtual Kindermusik classes this fall — just in time to help parents, too.
Kindermusik is a music program for children, founded by Dan Pratt, who, while studying in Cologne, Germany, discovered a curriculum that empowered young children to learn through music. Determined to bring this educational approach to families around the world, he introduced the first Kindermusik classes in 1978. Steeped in educational theory, Kindermusik’s research-based curricula is designed to recognize every child’s potential and set a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Singh, who has been licensed with Kindermusik since 2004, is offering her virtual Kindermusik with Ellen Singh program through Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and through her virtual “Move & Groove” classes at Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) Music Preparatory School, in Godfrey, with registration and enrollment through the LCCC Music Department at 618-468-4731. Class schedules will remain the same, but presented through the Zoom platform.
“It’s been more interactive and even better than I hoped it would be,” Singh, of Edwardsville, said.
This summer she is offering virtual Kindermusik with Ellen Singh “one-time” Kindermusik Playdates, which do not require full enrollment in a series of classes, yet gives parents a sampling of the program. Singh also held a virtual Kindermusik camp that took place four consecutive days which equals a four week curriculum.
Singh officially became a part of the SIUE faculty approximately 14 years ago, offering school year classes and summer camps every year since she joined the SIUE Music Department, under the direction of its Suzuki Program, of which all four of Singh’s children have been or are a part. The Suzuki Program is for children, starting at 3 years old, in string development typically starting with the violin, but also can include cello, bass, etc.
“That program is steeped in the idea of the Suzuki method, where children learn to hear and play music before reading music,” Singh explained. “Then, around the time you start reading in school, children start learning to read music, as a part of the program.”
Kindermusik with Ellen Singh program is tiered, offering a foundational class, called “Village,” for infant to approximately 1 and a half years old; then Level 1, “Sing & Play,” and Level 2, “Our Time,” for 1 and a half years old to age 3; and, Level 3, “Laugh & Learn,” for 2 years old to age 4.
