Kindermusik or Wait for Suzuki?

Kindermusik is a lot of fun and the kids really enjoy it, but I don't think it's worth the cost. You'll pay as much for a musical play group as you would for music lessons, and the kids don't really learn anything. They may pick up a little on rhythm and moving to music, but I think with a little work and a couple little friends, you could do the same thing at home.

I liked Music Together MUCH more than Kindermusik. Check it out if you have one in your area.

My daughter was in Kindermusik when she was little and I saw an enormous benefit for her. The curricula focused on music, movement, language & social development, parent education,etc... The Kindermusik classes for older children also teach them music theory, how to read music and play instruments. The period of sensitivity for both language and musical development is birth to age 5 with the first 3 years being the most crucial. Schedule a free preview class and see what it is like before deciding anything. Every teacher brings her own style and expertise to their class and an experienced teacher will make the curricula their own and bring it alive. If you visit a class and don't like the teacher, find one with a different teacher to visit.

In the interest of full disclosure I should tell you that I liked the program so much I became a Kindermusik teacher. My educational background is an MA in clinical psychology with an emphasis in child development. I've been teaching music for years now and have seen my toddlers move onto bright and talented high school students. I also teach instrument students. The children who took Kindermusik before beginning instrument lessons learn at a much quicker pace than children without that background.

Just my 2 cents, whether or not you think much of my post it can't hurt to check something out before you make a decision. Maybe you can find a relative who can pay for the class for a birthday or holiday gift? Best of luck to you. :-)

My daughter LOVES LOVES LOVES Kindermusik. We started it because she loves music, dancing, and socializing a lot. I LOVE the variety of skills they learn. Not just specific music skills. I found it was more entertaining for her than a more structured musical lesson. It has helped develop her musical skills without being boring. She has learned to appreciate and enjoy a huge variety of music genres and has learned about other cultures as well. I have found it to be extremely well worth the cost and I recommend it to everyone. For about $200 for 15 weeks I find it to be a bargain. My daughter goes to daycare/preschool and has a lot of opportunities to participate in a variety of events/activities/etc in and out of "school". Our intent with Kindermusik is not to push her towards music. My husband and I enjoy music and have played instruments in the past. We noticed that our daughter was constantly singing and dancing and really enjoyed musical activities. We found that Kindermusik has helped her develop her musical talents without "forcing" her in a specific direction. To be honest, my parents strongly encouraged me to play the piano when I was young/school age because other family members did it. Ultimately, I burnt out quick because it was like work to me and I preferred playing or doing other activities. My musical interest actually decreased after taking lessons. Kindermusik isn't formal lessons and it won't lead to potential burnout or boredom. To them, its like playtime. They don't realize they are learning a lot too. I think its important to let your child guide you into the activities they have interest in. Just pay attention to what they seem drawn to and give them lots of exposure to a lot of different activities.

Kindermusik goes to about Kindergarden age. It lays an excellent foundation for future musical participation whether its singing, dancing or playing an instrument. It also helps them be a very well rounded child. Just remember, any child(or adult) will learn more if learning is fun and interesting.

Good luck!

S.

We did Kindermusik w/my son from 14mos - 2.5yo and loved it. He now (4.5yo) is taking piano lessons and progressing very fast. I really believe Kindermusik helped foster his love for music and learning. I don't know much about Suzuki piano so I can't comment on that. For me, Kindermusik was worth it!!

My degree is in (instrumental) music education and I am also a certified Kindermusik instructor. My daughter started Kindermusik at 3 months (3.5 years ago) and we have both loved it ever since. Kindermusik cirricula is all based in research for the musical, physical, emotional, and intellectual growth of the child. There is a lot of focus on steady beat in the early classes, which is something any viable future musican must have, and I believe it's never too early to instill this skill. I suggest that you talk to Kindermusik teachers in your area to see what they believe their program can offer you and your chil.

I've had both my children in Music Together from the start (6 months for my daughter, pregnancy/birth for my son), The philosophy behind music together is that if you start them early, they will have all the foundations by 3. I can see it. Music together is expensive, but it is so worth the money, if you ask me.

My 2.5 year old has perfect pitch, and she can keep a great beat. My 1 year old has already started drumming things out, and trying to keep to the beat of the music.

It sounds like you are already planning to put your daughter in the Suzuki program when she's 3. That's wonderful! I think if you're singing songs at home and taking her out for storytime, etc.---she's already being exposed to some of the same things they do in Kindermusik. (I think Kindermusik is also great, but we do story times and playtimes with songs and other kids at other events as well). Another thing you can be doing is putting on the Suzuki CD now. As you probably know, daily listening is a must with the Suzuki program---so start having that on as background music whenever you can. (At home and in the car).

We attended a free 4 (maybe 6) week session of Kindermusik with our 4 and 2 year-old boys. Both my husband and I agreed that we were glad it was free and, although the kids enjoyed themselves, it did not seem worth the cost if you really want a music foundation. I think at that age all kids enjoy music and dance, so you don't need to fork out a lot of money to do it. Have friends over to play or attend the playgroups that you seem to already attend. My husband also played violin (Suzuki method) for 9 years as a child and has his bachelor's degree in music, so perhaps our expectations are too high. Our 4-year-old now takes private percussion lessons because that's what he is interested in. In just a couple months he has learned so much. He is able to keep a steady beat and understands many music basics about time signature and rhythm.

I also want to add that I don't think the Kindermusik had anything to do with my son's fast progress in his percussion lessons as we dropped out of the class after the 2nd week. It just really seemed silly to us.

We did it for our first daughter and I think it was a huge waste of time. We got the same thing at library and just play dates. It is way too expensive for a playgroup!

I did a number of Kindermusik sessions with my two daughters, and it is some of my favorite memories with them. I really really thing the music is great, definately enjoyable. My now 6 year old still loves the toddler cds. But Susuki it is not. However, where I live it is comparably priced with other Mommy and Me activites.

Just my 2 cents... My first daughter took Suzuki piano starting at age 5. At age 10 she wanted to play non classical music such as broadway tunes but her sight reading was very poor. With Suzuki she did not start sight reading until about age 8. Her Suzuki teacher said she had to stick to the program which was classical music. Long story short, I started my youngest daughter with a more traditional approach ie. She immediately started sight reading at age 5. Now two years later she is quickly catching up to her older sister who has been playing for 8 years! Since my younger daughter can sight read she can play anything. Also, her piano teacher did not get hung up on perfect hand position the way the Suzuki teacher did. In hindsight I realize how much time we wasted trying to get the perfect hand position when it was really just a coordination issue that children develop naturally with age. From my experience I strongly recommend a more traditional approach to learning to play piano. Please also note that my goal was always for my children to enjoy playing and to have fun with it. It was never to get them into Carnegie Hall. As an example I would think my daughter completed a song. She could play it beautifully to my ear. Her teacher would then fine tune the song for the next 8 wks or so. Ugh! Then before they could move up to the next level book they had to be able to play any song from the book flawlessly. Why?!? I now realize we wasted so much time relearning songs and or perfecting them. And for what? My youngest daughter seems to learn a new skill each week and the pace is just so much more enjoyable for her and for me.

One last thought though I have heard however that Suzuki violin is far superior to Suzuki piano.

My sons both do Kindermusik and it has been amazing for us. I feel like it's a great musical foundation. So far they have learned rythm (even my 1 year old has started dancing or hitting things to the beat), musical terms, and have had the chance to play all sorts of different types of instruments. And I love the ideas I recieve on how to incoroporate music into our normal day-to-day life so the boys get even more musical exposure. Everything they do at Kindermusik is so research based. The classes we go to are so much more than just a "music playgoup." Have you been able to go to a sample class so that you can get more of a feel for what your child will learn at Kindermusik?

Do the Kindermusik, wait on the Suzuki. Almost all of the instrument teachers I spoke with would not take kids under 5, a few exceptions took them at 4. My DD loved Kindermusik and looking back, I should have stuck with it and dropped the piano Suzuki we started at 4. Suzuki is *b*o*r*i*n*g, but it can work. Kindermusik fosters a love of music more rather than rote playing. GL!

My short answer: I don't think it's worth the cost and commitment.

Long answer:
I also grew up learning Suzuki violin. We were introduced with a small recorder (at 2, 3, 4 y/o). We were taught, by ear, hot cross buns, twinkle twinkle and a few other simple songs. We can do this ourselves, as parents, especially having music in our background (though it isn't a terrible idea for adults to learn on a recorder either ;).

With my kids (age 2 and 3), I expose them to music by playing what I am passionate for. We sing, drum and dance. I'll let them sit on my lap and help me play my full sized violin (they get to bow while I hold the violin). We practice on a penny whistle. When our buddies come over, young or old, music is often a part of "itinerary".

My three year old is getting a 1/16 violin this year for the holidays and my plan is to begin her lessons myself. We get our social activity through other means, and I simply can not justify the money when I am able to teach her (at a beginning level) myself.