Class Descriptions
Musikgarten classes are music and movement classes for children ages birth through 9 and their adults. See more details about Musikgarten on the About Us page.
Julie Vazquez teaches children ages birth through 8 in Decatur, GA. She is a certified, licensed, and insured Musikgarten teacher. She teaches 4 class levels throughout the school year: Family Music for Babies, Family Music for Toddlers, and The Cycle of Seasons, and Music Makers at Home. She teaches Nimble and Quick and Seashore in the summer.
Below are descriptions of the classes she teaches taken from the Musikgarten web site (
www.musikgarten.org):
Nimble and Quick--birth through age 3 (August-September only)
Description
Based on nursery rhymes, poems and chants handed down from generation to generation
Mixed age curriculum
Teacher adapts activities to suit ages of children in class
Benefits to Child
Offers communication, movement, interaction, repetition, and cultural customs – all experienced in a playful way.
Seashore--ages 4-7 (August-September only)
Description
Listening of creatures of the sea: whale, pelicans, and turtles
Dancing and leaping like the waves
Singing and dancing, movement activities, and playing instruments
- Storytime about the magical seashore
- Listening to the sounds of the seashore and to the viola, harp and flute
Benefits to Child
tuning his/her voice
developing his/her aural skills
promoting control of gross and fine motor movements
encouraging imagination/creativity
Family Music for Babies--birth through walking/beginning talking (returning in October)
Description
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
Benefits to Child
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--ages walking through 3 1/2--must be at least 12 months (returning in October)
Description
Allows walking children to 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
Benefits to Child
Channels toddler’s energy productively
Facilitates expression of feelings
Assists memory through repetition
Develops further musical aptitude and focused listening
The Cycle of Seasons--ages 3 through 5 (returning in August)
Description
- Musical celebration of the four seasons
Activities build on the child’s growing independence and competencies
Nurtures three, four,
and five 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
Benefits to Child
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 Home in the World--ages 4 through 7 (returning in October)
Description
Provides a developmentally sound approach to music literacy that builds symbolic thinking, concentration, memory and self-expression
Introduces orchestral instruments and ensemble play
Stories, songs, and sounds from the world of nature: My Home, Woodlands, Marsh, and others
Introduction to 6 instrumental ensembles with fine recordings and full color posters
Benefits to Child
If you have a question as to which class your child should join,
please contact Julie Vazquez through the Contact Me page.