Your Child’s Musicality, Cherished

Music Makers: At the Keyboard stems from the teaching method entitled, “Musikgarten.” Musikgarten was founded by Dr. Lorna Heyge who states, “Making music, in a joyful and purposeful way, provides a self recognition in children that help them to enjoy the act of learning.” Musikgarten is a perfectly designed method that helps us study the role of music and movement in the development of young children, and support full engagement.

This month (October) I worked successfully with students enrolled in my Music Maker: At the Keyboard course at CYM. The students were extremely excited about the songs we added this month – “Debka Hora” and “Listen to Bells.” We tapped the steady beat to these songs, sang solfege, and said our Gordon rhythms. After analyzing it, we all sang it together. 

With a focus on having the students improvise this month, I was able to start the process by leading students take turns keeping a steady beat on different parts of their bodies in front of the class. After I saw that they were able to keep the pulse while we sang these songs, I asked them to tap any 4-beat pattern. This was done with ease, so I asked the rest of the students to echo the patterns that were being improvised. One student stated, “Watch out for my turn! Every four beats, my patterns are going to get harder and harder!” I am going to continue this next month by having the student improvise using their percussion instruments and voices. 

Musikgarten is an excellent way to have students explore their musicality in a fun and free way. After every class, I hear my students continue singing the songs we sing in class, as they move out of the room, out of the building, and into their cars. This truly shows that they take the musicality we cherish in the classroom out into the world!