MUSIKGARTEN CLASSES

Classes for ages 6 months to 5 years are scheduled in the morning and early afternoon, and involve parent or caregiver participation. Children become involved in music with movement, playing instruments, dancing,and singing. Beginning music lessons at an early age significantly increases brain development academic achievement scores.

We also offer Keyboard Kids for children 5 to 7 years old, and individual music lessons in each department for ages 7 and up.

Musikgarten - Teaching Music. Understanding Children. Classes: 2008-2009
Licensed and Certified Teacher: Janelle Denton
214-684-1964

Curricula Development Through Music Benefits to Child
Family Music For Babies
Logo for Family Music for Babies
Bonds the child and parent/caregiver. Introduces playful musical activities.
  • Bouncing and rocking songs.
  • Wiggle and peek-a-boo games.
  • Singing, dancing and moving.
Teacher plays the role of coach. Parents learn ways to play musically with their babies in arms.

(Ages Birth – 18 mos)

  • Nurtures a bond of love and security.
  • Increases child’s curiosity about music.
  • Develops child’s listening skills and sense of flow and beat through movement.
  • Provides model for both parent/caregiver and child.
Family Music For Toddlers
Logo for Family Music for Toddlers
Once babies start walking, everything changes.
  • Children explore and experiment with the world of sound more on their own.
  • These “learners in constant motion” get to sing, chant, move, dance, listen and play simple instruments.
Stimulates musical interaction between child and parent.

(Ages 16 mos – 3 years)

  • Channels toddler’s energy productively.
  • Facilitates expression of feelings.
  • Assists memory through repetition.
  • Develops further musical aptitude and focused listening.
The Cycle of Seasons
Logo for Cycle of Seasons
Musical celebration of the four seasons.
  • Activities build on the child’s growing independence and competencies.
  • Nurtures three year olds’ ability to use language.
  • Capitalizes on the child’s delight in dramatic play within the musical context.
Lessons include: songs, movement activities, exploration of instruments and imaginative stories for children to make their own.

(Ages 3-5 years)

  • Enhances moving, singing and talking skills.
  • Develops listening, focused attention and self-expression skills.
  • Taps into the child’s vivid imagination.
  • Lays foundation for creative development via story-telling and play-dance response to poetry
Music Makers: At the Keyboard Year 1
Pencil sketch of a child playing the keyboard.
Introductory method for groups of young beginners.
  • Features a variety of activities which lay the foundation for success at the keyboard.
  • Builds on songs children have come to love.
  • Aural approach to music literacy provides a natural pathway to reading.
  • Approaches music reading both aurally and visually.
  • Lays groundwork for keyboard success.
  • Fosters excitement and pride in making music both independently and with others.
  • Maintains holistic approach to music learning.


Pedagogy Chart for Musikgarten classes, showing 'Family Music for Babies' for ages 0-1.5, 'Family Music for Toddlers' for ages 1.5-3, 'Cycle of Seasons' for ages 3-5, 'Music Makers: At Home in the World' for ages 4-7, 'Music Makers: Around the World' for ages 5-8, 'Music Makers at the Keyboard (Years 1 and 2)' for ages 5-9, 'Nature Trail - Summer Program' for ages 4-8, and 'God's children sing' for ages 1.5-5

Parent/Caregiver Participation required

Fall Semester: Sep 8 - Jan 16

Spring Semester: Jan 19 – May 8

Mondays Wednesdays
Family Music for Babies — 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. Family Music for Toddlers — 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Family Music for Toddlers — 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. Cycle of Seasons — 10:15 - 11:00 a.m.
Family Music for Toddlers — 11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Music Makers at Home — 11:15 – 12:15 p.m.

Music Makers at the Keyboard I – please contact Janelle Denton if interested in this class.


Tuition & Fees:

Family Music for Babies: $160/semester (15 classes) $40/semester (materials)
Family Music for Toddlers: $170/semester (15 classes) $30/semester (materials)
Cycle of Seasons: $190/semester (15 classes) $37/semester (materials)
Music Makers:At Home in the World $215/semester (15 classes) $46/semester (materials)
Discounted rates: for 1st Sibling 10% for 2nd Sibling 40%

For other class times and options, please contact Janelle Denton.

Musikgarten Faculty

Photo of Musikgarten teacher Janelle Denton with students. Janelle Denton recently joined the Gray School of Music in 2008 as a Musikgarten teacher. She received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, OK. Mrs. Denton has played piano since second grade. She also took flute lessons for 10 years and violin lessons for 2 years. Her piano experience, however, allowed her to accompany voice and instrumental students while in college and earn extra income. After graduating college, Mrs. Denton and her husband lived in Costa Rica for a year where she taught 4th grade. She has taught piano in the past and enjoyed occasionally playing piano for her home church in North Dakota. Currently, Mrs. Denton’s greatest joy comes from being a stay-at-home mom to her three-year-old daughter, Claire and wife to her husband of more than 11 years. She also enjoys reading, exercising and cross-stitching. Mrs. Denton is a licensed, certified Musikgarten teacher. The phone number for Musikgarten classes is 214-684-1964

Piano Guitar Voice Strings Drums Ages 5 - 7 Ages 1/2 - 5
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