Published: May 20, 2008 09:01 am         

Kindermusik planning summer camp

A Kindermusik summer camp uses the same stuff that many parents already own: an old sock, a cassette tape player, even the backyard lawn.

That’s a big relief for families looking for a good children’s program, to save money and stay in the community this summer. The cost for a Kindermusik camp—including tuition and materials—is less than the average day-long stay at a local amusement park.

“In class, children develop social and learning skills,” says Jacquie Mitchell, a Kindermusik educator offering these summer camps. “And families learn more about things they can do with their child, together, when class is over.”

Camp tuition includes five 45-minute to two-hour sessions at The Music Academy for children ages newborn to seven years old. Children also use Kindermusik’s sheet music, instruments and CDs for activities at home, such as making a homemade recording of people laughing. Listening to the recording of laughter, and asking the child to identify the person’s voice, helps to develop critical listening skills, Jacquie Mitchell says. Activities are also designed to:

• Stimulate a love of diverse styles of music — varied musical exposure leads to language proficiency, spatial reasoning — skills later used in math classes, and increases the understanding of emotions.

• Offers a parent and child a joyful, musical experience during the summer — more laughter together reduces stress, enhances the brain’s receptivity to learning, and boosts the body’s immune system.

• Foster creativity using music, crafts, dance, drama — children use creative thinking skills in craft-making, enhancing abilities to think in different ways.

The Music Academy offers a complete development program where both children and parents learn through music and movement. More than 350 children have been enrolled in the Kindermusik programs since its inception ten ago years.

Kindermusik Summer Camp programs include:

• Peek-A-Boo! I Love You! — newborn to 1.5 years old. Mondays, 11 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. June 16, 30, July 7, 28, August 4. Home materials include book, CD, duck wash mitt, baby duck Gertie ball, and poster.

• Zoo Train! — 1.5 to 3 years old. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. June 17, July 1, 8, 29, Aug 5. Home materials include book, CD, animal shaker and poster.

• Confetti Days! — 3 to 5 years old. July 30, 31, Aug 1, 6, 7, 4-5:30 p.m. Home materials include CD, pair of confetti bells, story kit and picture folder set.

• Around the World — 4 to 7 years old. Tuesday through Saturday, 3:30-5:30 p.m. July 22-26. Home materials include CD, arts and craft materials, picture folder set, and travel bag.

Camps meet at The Music Academy, 2819 Hwy. 70 North in Crossville. Please call 484-6676 or visit at www.themusicacademy.org now to enroll or to receive more information. Limited spaces are available so sign up now. The Music Academy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) school of music dedicated to the community through music education.