Admit it. If you knew of a program in Everett that could make your child a genius, you’d probably be interested in learning more.
Well, Kindermusik doesn’t exactly promise genius children. But the methods are based on research that focuses on whole child development and activities that nurture and promote every area of the brain: physical, cognitive, emotional, social, musical and language ability.
Kindermusik also teaches to a specific age group, and does so starting with newborns.
Kindermusik may be coming to Everett. The group is holding a demonstration class on Oct. 12 at the downtown headquarters of the Everett Symphony on Colby Avenue. If there’s enough interest during that demonstration, Kindermusik will begin serving Everett with five classes on Fridays teaching to various age groups.
Kindermusik just this year began working with the Seattle Symphony and figured the Everett Symphony would be another natural fit for the program. Everett Symphony’s executive director, Jody Matthews, thought so, too.
“We get to start kids on music right away and to develop an appreciation and that’s the patron base of our future,” Matthews said. “And it gives us another musical program in our building, which we love, and has us doing what our mission is, which is to provide that musical experience.”
Kindermusik is international, with 5,500 programs around the world. The program’s philosophy is to teach to the whole child using music because music is the only activity that simultaneously stimulates every area of the brain, said Analiisa Reichlin, Kindermusik director.
Reichlin said that babies are born with every neuron they will ever need and that music helps babies connect those neurons by giving a child a sensory experience.
“Music is stimulation,” Reichlin said. “Kindermusik is therapy.”
Also, Kindermusik provides take-home material that suggests activities for the whole family to do.
“It’s sort of this level playing field,” Reichlin said. “It’s something that everyone can do.”
Should the demo class prove successful, the plan is for five classes to begin here in Everett, including “Sign and Sing,” a class that begins with newborns that teaches sign language; “Our Time,” designed for toddlers; a class called “Imagine That” for 3- and 4-year-olds, and a class called “Young Child,” for kids up to 7 years old.
The teacher for the class would be Jesikah Sundin, who has a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old and who also teaches for Kindermusik’s Redmond and Monroe programs.
Sundin, who lives in Gold Bar, considers music a bridge to many other subjects.
“I’m very impressed with it,” said Sundin, who has been going to Kindermusik for three years and began teaching this year. “Even though music is the driving force, it’s really very much about the child and everything regarding the child: literacy, speech and we work on basic math skills. It’s not only just getting involved with the music, music is connected with everything.”
The Everett Symphony’s Matthews said she took her daughter Gabrielle to Kindermusik when Gabrielle was 2 and 3 years old and she has never forgotten what she learned in those classes.
Matthews said she supports the Kindermusik philosophy of total child development. She said that having Kindermusik at the symphony building also opens the eyes of the parents to what the symphony can provide to the community.
“We want to give these kids opportunities and give parents a new vision of who we are and how we are available to them and their families for family entertainment. We can’t help but have that happen.”
Reporter Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
@2. Cutline:Kindermusik participants learn through music.
Kindermusik demonstration
Kindermusik will hold a demonstration class Oct. 12 at Everett Symphony headquarters, 2710 Colby Ave., Everett. Call the symphony for more details at 425-258-1605.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
