Rebekah Keathley has been a musician all of her life, playing piano, clarinet and percussion throughout her childhood. With a Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy, she started her own Piano Studio in Fauquier County 15 years ago. She loves working with children of all ages, and their parents, to bring music into households around the county.
When Rebekah was attending college, her campus minister’s wife started up a Musikgarten class in town and invited Rebekah to attend. Rebekah had never heard of, or seen anything like it before, and was hooked! Rebekah has always loved that piano can be such a great introductory instrument, with endless possibilities for musical instrumentation stemming from the basics learned through piano lessons. But the Musikgarten program reaches even further back in a child’s development than what piano can offer. It is an opportunity to introduce basic rhythmic understanding through play and movement, as well as strengthening the bond between child and parent. There could be no better combination! The desire to teach the amazing Musikgarten curriculum has been there since learning of it in college. But, starting her own successful piano studio while raising her family meant having to wait for the right timing to launch an extension of her business. Now, with older children and a fantastic venue to teach in, Rebekah is more excited than ever to bring Musikgarten to Warrenton!
WHY MUSIKGARTEN?
The Musikgarten program is a great way to start your child on a path of loving music and learning through music, as early as birth. Studies from around the globe have shown that from a very early age music lessons can have profound long-term effects that include improved language development, higher standardized test scores in math, improved graduation rates, and even decreased likelihood of drug and alcohol use.
What Musikgarten offers is more than just an easy way to introduce your child to music. Our classes can play a critical role in your child’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development, as well as laying a pathway to musical proficiency. Moreover, Musikgarten provides dedicated time each week when you can bond with your child—free from distractions—and watch him/her grow into a confident, independent, and expressive young person.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Family Music for Babies (0-15 months old)
A 30 minute class designed specifically for children 0-15 months. The goals of this class are to include music making in fulfilling the specific needs of infants. These needs, bonding and attachment, love and attention, sensory activity, order and play are all parts that are incorporated in the natural flow of class. Our rocking and bouncing songs, body awareness songs and rhymes, and dancing and movement activities meet the needs of infants, all while strengthening the bond between adult and child. You might be amazed as your 3 month old coos in pitch with the music. A 6 month old may sway to the beat of their favorite song, or a 9 month old might be able to clap in perfect rhythm. All children are born with an innate draw to music. It is our job as parents to nurture and grow these abilities, because all children are music makers!
Because this class is tailored specifically for the 0-15 month age group, no older siblings will be allowed in this class. Please register multiple children in the All Together Now – mixed age class.
Cost and Schedule
The Family Music for Babies class will consist of 8 week sessions with each class meeting weekly on Mondays at 8:30 am
*Spring Session #1 = January 9-February 27 (A snow make-up day will be scheduled for March 6 in case of needing to cancel a class during this session)
-Curriculum – Family Music for Babies 1
*Spring Session #2 – March 20-May 15 (no class on April 3 for Spring Break)
-Curriculum – Family Music for Babies 1
Tuition Cost:
Each 8 week session
Each additional child of the same household – $94
Required materials:
Family Music Pack – $30 (one per family for each new curriculum)
The family music packet includes a CD and digital access code, parent booklet and instrument set for at home fun!
Family Music for Toddlers
(15 months – 3 ½ years)
This is the age where children learn so much through movement. They are getting more capable in their gross motor skills and they are working to hone their fine motor skills. Music provides a great way to exercise both of these skills. Moving gracefully through the room with a scarf to a lyrical song, or hopping around like a frog during the story The Frog and the Robin, we use music and rhyme to hone gross motor skills. Likewise, instruments and finger plays provide a great opportunity to exercise fine motor skills. Repetition of music is also a very fun way to expand the vocabulary in this age where oral skills are exploding. These classes also provide great structure for this age group. A clear order of class provides stability, taking turns encourages patience, familiar faces each week provide comfort and the music provides so much FUN!
Cost and Schedule
Our first spring session beginning in January is already full, and the second session beginning in March is filling up quickly! If you are looking for an engaging and interactive class for your toddler, sign up for the “All Together Now” January session at 10:30 am or go ahead and reserve your spot for the March 21-May 23 session today!
The Family Music for Toddlers class will consist of 8 week sessions with each class meeting weekly on Mondays at 9:30 am.
*Spring Session #1 = January 9-February 27 (A snow make-up day will be scheduled for March 6 in case of needing to cancel a class during this session)
-Curriculum – Play With Me (1st half)
*Spring Session #2 – March 20-May 15 (no class on April 3 for Spring Break)
-Curriculum – Play With Me (2nd half)
Tuition Cost:
Each 8 week session
Each additional child of the same household – $94
Required materials:
Family Music Pack – $30 (one per family for each new curriculum)
The family music packet includes a CD and digital access code, parent booklet and instrument set for at home fun!
All Together Now (infant – 5 years)
The All Together Now curriculum is a 30 minute, mixed age class for children from birth to five years of age, with their parent or caregiver to participate in together. This class focuses on nursery rhymes, re-imagined with music and movement. The classes are filled with a great variety of music and movement activities to meet children’s developmental needs, to hold children’s interest in the group setting and to bring families together.
Young children delight in hearing and repeating the fun sounds in Nursery Rhymes, such as “Rub-a-dub dub” or “Hickory Dickory.” Nursery rhymes are also rich in meter, inflection and song. They are great for clapping, tapping, jumping and skipping. Nursery Rhymes are also great language builders. These rhymes are founded on children’s receptivity to the spoken word that later develops quite naturally into a love of literature. It is no wonder that nursery rhymes are so important to children’s language development.
Cost and Schedule
The All Together Now class will consist of 8 week sessions with each class meeting weekly on Mondays at 10:30 am.
*Spring Session #1 = January 9-February 27 (A snow make-up day will be scheduled for March 6 in case of needing to cancel a class during this session)
-Curriculum – Nimble and Quick
*Spring Session #2 – March 20-May 15 (no class on April 3 for Spring Break)
-Curriculum – Twist and Turn
Tuition Cost:
Each 8 week session
Each additional child of the same household – $94
Required materials:
Family Music Pack – $30 (one per family for each new curriculum – Nimble and Quick and Twist and Turn)
The family music packet includes a CD and digital access code, parent booklet and instrument set for at home fun!
God’s Children Sing (infant – 5 years)
This 30 minute, weekly class is a curriculum which designs experiences that promote musical development in young children within the context of nurturing their life of faith. Through joyful participation in songs, stories, music-making, movement activities, and moments of worship in each lesson, young children will become more aware of God’s love for them and for all of Creation. As a result of these musical activities experienced in a Christian community and family, children will grow to give voice to their developing musical expression, faith and praise of God.
Cost and Schedule
The God’s Children Sing class will consist of 8 week sessions with each class meeting weekly on Mondays at 12:30 pm.
*Spring Session #1 – January 9 – February 27 (A snow make-up day will be scheduled for March 6 in case of needing to cancel a class during this session)
-Curriculum – God, My Family, and Me
*Spring Session #2 – March 20 – May 15 (no class on April 3 for Spring Break)
-Curriculum – God, My Family, and Me
Tuition Cost:
Each 8 week session
Each additional child of the same household – $94
Required materials:
Family Music Pack – $15 (one per family for each new curriculum)
The family music packet includes a CD and digital access code and parent booklet. This kit can be available with 2 sets of stick instruments upon request and additional cost.
Cycle of Seasons (3 – 5 years)
The Cycle of Seasons is a 45 minute class that draws its central themes from nature and aims to bring the family into the music, movement, and environmental experience. Life on this wonderful planet, wherever it occurs, is subject to seasonal changes – a phenomenon apparent even to the youngest among us. This collection features a rich collection of songs and chants. Most of the songs in the collection are folksongs and seek to introduce a new generation to the roots of our musical heritage. The songs selected come from numerous countries and share the histories of many cultures.
Cost and Schedule
The Cycle of Seasons class will consist of 8 week sessions with each class meeting weekly on Mondays at 1:30 pm.
*Spring Session #1 – January 9 – February 27 (A snow make-up day will be scheduled for March 6 in case of needing to cancel a class during this session)
-Curriculum – Sun Catchers 1
*Spring Session #2 – March 20 – May 15 (no class on April 3 for Spring Break)
-Curriculum – Sun Catchers 2
Tuition Cost:
Each 8 week session
Each additional child of the same household – $126
Required materials:
Family Music Pack – $18 (one per family for each new curriculum)
The family music packet includes a CD and digital access code and parent booklet.
SUMMERTIME PROGRAMS
Nature’s Music
A 30 minute class, for children birth – 3 years old to participate alongside their parent or caregiver. Classes will be held outside (when possible) to enjoy music and experience nature side-by-side. Singing songs about worms, birds and grasshoppers, out in the nature these creatures call home, is a multi-sensory experience that will excite and inspire little ones to explore the world around them. Bring along a blanket or towel to sit on in the grass, and enjoy time making music in nature with your child!
Cost and Schedule
Nature’s Music will be a one week class with 30 minute classes each day Monday through Friday. Choices of weeks are June 27-July 1 and August 1-5, 2022
Tuition Cost:
First Child: $75
Each additional child of the same household: $67
Required materials – Family Music Packet: $30 (one per family for each new class you take)
The family music packet includes a CD and digital access code, parent booklet and instrument for at home fun!
Nature Trail
A 45 minute class for children birth-7 years old to participate alongside their parent or caregiver. This class is perfect for families with older children or multiple children of different ages. Classes will be held outside (when possible) to enjoy music and experience nature side-by-side. In summertime the sounds of nature’s music fill the air with animal voices and sudden thundershowers.. For children, summer brings sweet memories, when they can stay up late to catch a glimpse of starlight or sit around a campfire toasting marshmallows and listen to the night voices of crickets. This class will combine music, nature exploration and a related activity or craft each day. Bring along a blanket or towel to spread in the grass and enjoy class with your child!
Cost and Schedule
Nature Trail will be a one week class with 45 minute classes each day Monday through Friday. Choices of weeks are June 27-July 1 and August 1-5, 2022
Tuition Cost:
First Child: $ 112
Each additional child of the same household: $100
Required materials – Family Music Packet: $30 (one per family for each new class you take)
The family music packet includes a CD and digital access code, parent booklet and instrument for at home fun!
CLASS OFFERINGS
Family Music for Babies
– class for ages 0 – 15 months
– Mondays at 8:30 – 9 am
Family Music for Toddlers
– class for ages 15 mo. – 3 1/2 years
– Mondays at 9:30 – 10 am
All Together Now
– mixed-age class for infant – 5 years
– Mondays at 10:30 – 11 am
God’s Children Sing
– mixed-age class for infant – 5 years
– Mondays at 12:30 – 1 pm
Cycle of Seasons
– mixed-age class for 3 – 5 years
– Mondays at 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Registration Coming Soon!
SUMMERTIME PROGRAMS
Nature’s Music
– mixed-age summer program for birth – 3 years of age
– Monday – Friday 9 – 9:30 am
– June 27-July 1 and August 1-5, 2022
Nature’s Trail
– mixed-age summer program for birth – 7 years of age
– Monday – Friday 10 – 10:45 am
– June 27-July 1 and August 1-5, 2022
Registration Coming Soon!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MUSIKGARTEN
Where do classes take place?
Classes are held at 650 Alwington Blvd. Warrenton, VA 20186, at The Gathering Place of Warrenton Baptist Church. It is behind Brumfield Elementary School, Walmart, and Home Depot.
Why should I pursue Musikgarten classes for my child?
We know that all children are musical, but that potential will decrease if it isn’t nurtured when they are young. We also know that music awakens and stimulates neural pathways in the brain that are associated with higher forms of intelligence, such as abstract thinking, empathy, mathematics, and science. Music’s melodic and rhythmic patterns provide exercise for the brain and help develop memory.
What is Musikgarten’s developmental plan for my child, and why is it important?
Only Musikgarten has a program that addresses the unique developmental needs of children at each age, taking children from infancy up through group piano lessons. Classes are designed for children to “grow up” with Musikgarten. In fact, most children and parents love their Musikgarten classes so much, it is not uncommon for a family to continue with Musikgarten until the child reaches age 9 or 10, at which point he/she will be ready for private piano lessons and/or an instrument for band or orchestra.
Should parents attend and participate in the classes?
Absolutely! Parents are an integral part of class in the younger years. As students get older, they participate by themselves, but parents take part in the classes towards the end of each lesson. For all classes, parents are asked to include active music-making in their child’s life. Sing along with the CD in the car. Play echo games, making up patterns, as we do in class. Put the picture cards or notation games on your refrigerator, and play identification games with them as you get ready for dinner. More structured practice is required when the children get to Music Makers: At the Keyboard.
Why do students get home materials? Are we supposed to practice at home?
Children and parents can have so much fun at home and in the car with Musikgarten songs and dances. In class you learn the songs, but home is where you really have fun with the songs and dances. It’s a great family bonding time. It allows children and parents to share in the experience at home.
Do you have a class that would allow me to bring several of my children of different ages at the same time?
Signature Music Musikgarten’s first class will be a mixed age class. This class is perfect for children from birth through 5 years old. As we add more classes in the coming months there will be more opportunities for classes of specific age groups.
As my child gets older, there are so many other activities to try. Why should I continue with Musikgarten?
After being in the program for a while, you will see the benefits your child is getting from class. It is our view that the singing, dancing, and playing (in class and at home) is the best for your child’s holistic development: language, movement, math skills, and physical coordination—all in a group setting that builds community. While other activities can be fun, too, the primary building block of your child’s developmental time should be spent with Musikgarten.
