Untitled

The interactive parent-child Musikgarten program will be held on Tuesdays in the Trinity United Methodist Church choir room.

Musikgarten is a music and movement program designed to engage your child in a memorable environment. Musical activities are ideal for growing children.

-Music immerses the child in language.

-Evokes movement.

-Stimulates the brain.

-Fosters physical coordination.

-Develops listening skills, the foremost necessity for learning.

All in a group setting that builds community!

Orrville's Musikgarten instructor, Karrie McAllister, has been an instructor since 2003 after watching how it benefited her oldest child.

"I saw her react to the music and the activities even at that young age," said McAllister. "Not only was she exposed to music and songs, she learned to speak and understand a rhythmic language."

The songs in the program used are all folk songs or rhymes, some even translated from other languages. The recordings played are all "natural" without the use of synthesized instruments.

"I strive as a teacher to bring these natural sounds into class as much as possible, even playing instruments myself," said McAllister. "In a world of background noise and computerized beeps, the sounds in the Musikgarten program are based around the natural world."

The preschool curriculum is based on season and the early school courses based on natural environments.

"I am a 'nature girl' and have been playing and singing music forever," said McAllister. "The Musikgarten program really combines three of my favorite things: children,

nature and music."

In addition to teaching Musikgarten classes, McAllister has a degree in geology and writes the "Small Town Soup" column for the Daily Record's This Week.

Classes last for 8 weeks and are available for toddlers and preschoolers.

The toddler class costs $35 for the 8 week course. The preschool age class costs $40.

For class times & to register, call Karrie at 330-317-7332 or email KarrieMcAllister@aol.com.

For more information of the Musikgarten program, visit www.musikgarten.org.