As the Northwest’s summer concerts series continue, the Soundbridge Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center staff is preparing to welcome young children into its new Kindermusik program, to help build music appreciation as well as important developmental skills.
Though classes don’t start until Sept. 17, Soundbridge’s doors will be open from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Saturday for several 30-minute demo sessions. During these free sessions, parents and prospective students are encouraged to explore the facility, to play and to learn more about the program. Each age group is assigned a specific demo session time, so parents should check the Web site before heading out.
“If we consider that the currency of childhood is time, the child will then value most what the adults in their lives spend time on,” said Nancy Gosen, associate director of education and community programs. “Providing quality musical experiences that the grandparent, parent and child can share … is one of Seattle Symphony’s deepest pleasures and greatest responsibilities.”
Any parents who are cringing and covering their ears at the thought of their children gaining access to musical instruments should stop doing so, because this program is about much more than giving kids a chance to do some beginners’ squawking.
Soundbridge’s performance and classroom space routinely is used to host school groups and student recitals, among other things, so the Kindermusik early childhood music classes fit perfectly with that purpose.
As other symphony staff members explained, Kindermusik’s games, songs, stories and musical concept lessons are also designed to build the youngest children’s verbal and movement skills, and to teach older children about rhythm, musical symbols and more.
The symphony offers the program through a partnership with Studio3Music, a Seattle-area studio devoted to Kindermusik programs, which are based on childhood development of language, coordination, symbolic and imaginative thinking and social interaction, according to press materials.
Craig Richmond photo
Soundbridge and Kindermusik teacher Katy Webber hands a woodblock to one of her students.
Seattle Symphony’s Soundbridge educates children about music and instruments.
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