6. Music Makers: At the Keyboard Years I, II & III (Ages 6-9)

Welcome to Music Makers at the Keyboard!

In our classes, your child will develop the skills needed to begin a successful musical journey toward piano playing and musicianship. Musikgarten makes the transition to the keyboard comfortable and inviting for your child. 

Music Makers: At the Keyboard Year 1

Introductory method for groups of young beginners.

• • Lays groundwork for keyboard success.

  • Fosters pride and excitement in making music both independently and with others. 

  • Approaches music reading both aurally and visually. Aural method emphasis helps students build a natural bridge to reading. 

  • Maintains holistic approach to music learning. 

  • Features a variety of activities which lay the foundation for success at the keyboard, such as:

    • Dancing and drumming to nurture the child's rhythmic development. 

    • Singing to nurture the child's tonal development. 

    • Echoing patterns to nurture the child's aural development. 

    • Composing and musical dictation to nurture the child's literacy skills and development.

Materials for 3 Years

Comprehensive learning materials for six 15-week semesters. Each Children's Book (1-6) includes a Listening CD and a Practice CD with special tracks for practice each week. In addition there are multiple notation games, repertoire pieces, sight-reading pieces, opportunities for composing, exercises for developing further literacy skills and pages for learning about music and composers. 

Music makers: At the Keyboard Years 2 & 3

Subsequent years of this introductory keyboard method refine the physical and aural skills developed in year 1. 

• • Introduces much-loved piano repertoire. 

  • Develops and enhances comprehensive musicianship at the keyboard.

  • Refines body control and ear tuning. 

  • Improves the ability to read and play with fluency. 

  • Further challenges the child to acquire and master more advanced technical skills. 

  • Continues to build foundation for life-long instrument playing.

Musikgarten Points of Distinction:

Emphasis on the Ear - Years of experience have shown us that children best learn to read music when building on a strong foundation of listening skills and aural awareness. 

Group Method - Individual private piano lessons may be traditional, but often end with children quitting out of frustration or boredom, Group lessons allow children to develop an understanding of basic music literacy which helps them succeed in private lessons down the road. 

The Curriculum - Favorite songs are revisited now at the keyboard - building on what each child has mastered and enjoyed while making successful learning easier. 

The Teachers - Your Musikgarten teacher is a highly trained music professional with extensive experience and child development knowledge.

Family Involvement - With Musikgarten, you will continue to enjoy music with your children at home. Parents play a vital role in establishing good practice habits at home; this process is facilitated with two excellent CD's for each level together with games and ideas shared with parents in the final section of each lesson.

Benefits of Studying Piano

Piano study with peers in a group setting nurtures the musician inside each child in the most positive setting for children this age - with each other. It helps children learn from each other and overcome performance anxiety. 

Most importantly, group study keeps the joy in making music!

Note to Parents

You will love Musikgarten. There is no other music learning method that can foster the enjoyment of music, friendship between children, and family togetherness like Musikgarten. Making music with others requires self-discipline and cooperation, as well as concentration and multi-track listening. When working together, childhood musicians can learn more expediently and completely, while having more fun at the same time. 

Moreover, children's excitement about learning and performing keep them involved in making music long after the lessons stop!