CLIFTON KIDS by Lauren LaCerda

A Music Garden in our own Backyard. When Amanda Currell took her child to Kindermusik classes ten years ago, she had no idea that “Miss Amanda’s Music Garden” would blossom from that experience. “Miss Amanda” as she is lovingly called by her pint-sized following, opened her music school last fall at the Calvary Episcopal Church here in Clifton. Since then the curriculum has grown to include three new teachers, a business manager and classes for children ages birth to ten.

Miss Amanda’s Music Garden follows the Musikgarten curriculum and philosophies developed by Lorna Heyge who brought Kindermusik to the United States and Audrey Sillick, a Canadian Montessori educator. The two created a developmentally appropriate music program which introduces complex musical concepts to young children. The program incorporates the whole body so that all systems in the brain are stimulated through speech, language, movement and poetry. The earlier these physical pathways are engaged, the more quickly musical skills develop. Miss Amanda related this point in a recent Cincinnati Enquirer article entitled “Kid’s Reasoning Skills Grow in Music Garden.”

You might wonder what babies could possibly gain from music class. According to Miss Amanda, they get the most out of the program! During the first two years, the brain develops at an extraordinary rate. If in a loving environment, babies are provided the physical experience of music (bouncing, rocking, and singing), permanent synapses in the brain are created. If you think of music as a language and what is now understood about language development, it is easy to see this point.

the Musikgarten curriculum expands as the child grows. Toddlers and preschool age children sing, dance, listen and play simple instruments with a loved one’s assistance. Not to fear, though, if you tone deaf, have two feet or are rhythmically challenged. These classes are not about your performance. They are about the process of helping your child discover musical concepts in a joyful environment.

For children ages 5-10 there is a natural progression to keyboard readiness. Music Makers I provides a developmentally sound approach to music literacy that builds symbolic thinking, concentration, memory and self-expression. In the Music Makers Keyboard class small group lessons are designed to capitalize on a child’s readiness to make music with others all the while becoming fluent in internationally-used and recognized rhythmic and melodic languages.

Miss Amanda’s Music Garden is a fabulous addition to our community and a GREAT asset for Clifton kids! If you’re looking for something this holiday season for the kid who has everything, may I suggest the gift of music? It will last a lifetime. Miss Amanda is also accepting donations for a scholarship program to bring this gift to less fortunate children.