Class Finder Guide

Which level is best for my child?

Kindermusik grows with your child for seven beautiful years, honoring the developmental needs, joy, and pace of every stage.

Take Class Finder

Caregiver and child making music together — Sing. Move. Bond. Grow.

Song of the Heart

We are the place where hearts sing and children flourish.

This is exhibited in our approach to and philosophy of learning. One of the many strengths of the Kindermusik philosophy is its focus on the different developmental needs of each stage of childhood. Each class level is designed to give your child the most developmentally appropriate, stimulating musical activities to nurture their development right where they are. We celebrate and explore each age — rather than rush forward. Coaxing forth the joy and creativity in each individual child and respecting their unique pattern and pace in growing up.

Since Kindermusik nourishes the development of the whole child, you will see an overlap in ages between the various classes. Our levels and ages are there to guide you, but there is flexibility in certain age spans which overlap transitional levels. Our Foundation and Level 1 are self explanatory, as is level 4. The transitional stages, 22–24 months, 3 to 3 ½, and 5, are points at which we can give you guidance about which level might be most beneficial and appropriate. Below are some characteristics which indicate that your child will obtain the maximum developmental benefits and joy from a particular class level. We are always happy to discuss individual questions or concerns and talk you through what might be best for your child. Contact us at info@songoftheheart.com or 801-953-0416.

To Begin

Ask yourself some important questions about these transitional stages

Which of these levels will my child thrive in, rather than just being able to get along in?
Am I considering my child’s joy and emotional development as much as their cognitive development?
Is my child eager for added independence and challenges, or are they most delighted by sharing special time with me to help guide and support them?

Moving from Level 1 to Level 2

Watch for growing independence and shared musical play.

Between 22 months and 2 years
Uses gestures and language to indicate needs
Sustains interest in an activity for several minutes
Shows cooperative and interactive learning and is interested in what others are doing and sharing
Can understand and follow verbal directions of two steps and generally cooperates with a request
Is learning to explore objects in purposeful, symbolic ways rather than mouthing, dumping, or scattering them
Shows interest in concept pairs such as high/low, fast/slow, loud/quiet, and stop/start
Responds to song and rhyme and enjoys word and language play
Can reliably point to named body parts and is beginning to understand number and color concepts
Begins to participate in sitting activities such as finger plays, lap bounces, and singing

Moving from Level 2 to Level 3

Look for confident peer connection and longer ideas.

3 to 3.5 years of age
Separates from adults without crying and enjoys interacting as part of a peer group
Thinks creatively and recognizes the needs and feelings of others
Developing abstract language and thought and can sustain an idea for up to five minutes or more
Can tell stories, relate a series of ideas, and connect own experiences to those of others
Is developing patience and can accept that others may have different roles or activities
Has broad movement vocabulary and can explore movement in diverse ways
Can sit and listen to a story or musical selection for several minutes
Beginning to recognize shapes, colors, weather, seasons, and counting
Participates in singing, reciting rhymes, and following movement or instrumental play

Moving from Level 3 or 4 to Level 5

Prepare for the musical leap into school age.

Level 5 realizes the developmental leap to a school-age child. Musically, it is the culmination of all that has come before. Students begin to learn musical notation, explore playing an ensemble, and learn to play a melody instrument. We strongly recommend the step to Kindermusik Musicians for children entering Kindergarten rather than those still in preschool.

This is a sequential, two-year curriculum. New students may join as class space allows, with the understanding that the family and child will work with the teacher to catch up on concepts and learning already covered.

School age — in or near Kindergarten
Exhibits self-confidence and reliability in a classroom or group situation
Has basic pre-reading skills and understands print moving from left to right
Has good fine motor control and enjoys puzzles, games, and drawing
Follows directions reliably and can participate with groups doing different things simultaneously
Has good abstract thinking skills and can answer questions about how a composer makes music sound like birds
Can sing whole songs and is developing a good sense of pitch
Is eager to learn and developing self-motivation

When Should My Child Begin Private Instrumental Instruction?

Let Kindermusik become a natural next step.

As a general rule, most children are not ready to begin formal instrumental training before the age of 6 or 7 for piano or string instruments, and most instructors will not accept students younger than 8 or 9 for other orchestral or band instruments. Before that, they tend to lack the size, stamina, and outcome-oriented commitment to make lessons a joyful and successful experience.

Kindermusik contains all of the needed elements to develop a child who is musically aware and who has the solid foundation to make lessons a natural and joyous next step. Children who grow up in Kindermusik have had chances to succeed, be nurtured and encouraged in early creative explorations, and develop a core of music theory through voice, body, and mind.