Story from a mom in Tennessee

Discovering more than Music at Clarksville’s Kindermusik class.
By Beth Britton January 15, 2009

This morning Elle-Girl and I attended an event held in an upstairs practice room at the incredibly renovated new Mary’s Music Store downtown. The event was a preview Kindermusik class taught by Tiffany Hilliker. Kindermusik is a free form way of teaching children music by positive parent interaction and helping form a well rounded child. The class starts out with a happy hello song where you bounce your young child in your lap while singing “Hello” to the other children. The class then continues to teach predictable routine practices and interactive song and dance opportunities. The children get to experience different musical instruments and play with bright colorful streamers. The classes are completely child centered, however I must admit, the parent has a really good time as well.

As a mother of a busy toddler I thought that Elle-Girl would really get into this class. She always dances whenever music is on, she enjoys throwing mommy’s scarves up in the air and running through them, and loves singing silly songs and playing the drums on pots and pans.
However, the morning did not play out how I had imagined it. Elle-Girl did not want to sit in my lap during the “Hello” song, nor did she feel like sharing the plush puppy dog during the Sharing song. Sharing is really not a typical thing for children this age to do anyway, but some how the other toddlers in the group were than happy to pass the dog around. At one point a small duck was pulled out of Mrs. Hilliker’s box of plush animals and the usually reserved little Elle-Girl, who I swear to you has NEVER taken another toy from a child promptly stood, plush puppy dog still in hand, and took the duck from her “sharing buddy” Hayden. I didn’t feel it was necessary to try to explain Elle-Girl’s long time passion for things that go “Quack” I just quickly tried to resolve the situation.

After a cool down period with a quiet little Japanese Lullaby song, in which Elle-Girl stood looking at all the other children laying down as if to say “If you think I’m laying down for a nap at 10 in the morning, you’re crazy!” ,we all gathered together to hold hands and dance in a circle. Guess who was standing outside of the circle? Elle-Girl.

Tiffany instructed me to go ahead and join the circle, and perhaps when Elle-girl sees how much fun I’m having she will want to join. With a doubtful smile I joined in with the other mothers and their children and danced and skipped in a circle. While we were heading around and around I happen to notice what my child was doing, she was dancing along with us, but in her own circle. Even going in the direction we were going and stopping and doing the all the motions with us. I wanted her to join me, I wanted her to be like everyone else. Just then the mother beside me said something that I think will stay with me for a long time, she commented on how she was her own circle, and “what would the world be like if we didn’t have women like Oprah, or Hillary Clinton, that moved to their own circle?” you could also add women like Rosa Parks, Barbara Walters, Amelia Earhart, or my favorite Annie Lebowitz. At that moment, I found joy in my little independent girl, who has her own ideas and enjoys other children, but does not feel like she has to do what they are doing. I hope she always feels free to dance in her own circle.

I would encourage any parent to give Kindermusik a try. You never know what your child will discover there, or what you may discover about your child!

Testimonial

Dear Ms. Nancy - We have enjoyed and appreciated all of the classes we have done together. We hope you have enjoyed having us in class as well. You are a wonderful teacher, and it has been an amazing experience as new parents to see how our daughter has grown over the course of your classes. We look forward to future classes of Kindermusik. Thanks for everything.

Sincerely,
The Martinez Family

Parent Testimonials

Vesna R. - Ana and I enjoy coming to class. I love to see her interacting with the other kids. It is amazing to see what she recalls from one week to the next and to see her imitating movements and role play not only in class but also at home. I feel our time is well spent in class. I would definitely recommend your class to my friends. Thanks for everything you do to make the class an enjoyable and educational experience.

Parent Testimonials

Katie W. - I have loved bringing Ashlyn to class! It has been a wonderful experience and I feel it has had a positive impact on Ashlyn. She really seems to love music- all kinds! She especially enjoys when she is sung to. It has been so amazing to watch Ashlyn's development as she learns and discovers new things everyday- I feel that music class and the music we sing at home has been an important and fun way to expose her to new sounds, textures, and activities. My friends are impressed with the experience I have had and are looking into classes where they live. The class has exceeded my expectations- I think I was expecting to come and just sing songs, but it is so much more than that! I am so glad I found your class and will be participating for many more sessions to come! Thank you!

Parent Testimonials

Rebecca B. - My son took his first steps in Nancy's class! As a Lutheran pastor, my husband likes how the class nourishes the spirit; as a professor, I'm delighted at how Nancy's class stimulates the mind.

Parent Testimonials

Dawn C. - I've been going to Nancy Hehemann for Kindermusik since 2004 with my daughter and then with my son. It has been a treasured time with my children! Nancy is very upbeat and enthusiastic as she leads the class. I enjoy it so much.

Parent Testimonials

Susan H. - Nancy is a very enthusiastic educator. You can tell she really enjoys what she does and all the kids like her as well. I really enjoy the class and look forward to the next session!

Parent Testimonials

Mary N. - Nancy is extremely personable, gets to know each child, and works with that child to encourage optimization of age-appropriate social and physical skills. She has been instrumental in helping our son to be less shy and to be more self confident.

Parent Testimonials

Cheryl P. - Being a teacher for 16 years myself, I can say Nancy has such a great enthusiasm while teaching that beams from her during class. She does a great job keeping the adults well informed on how to help the children grow with Kindermusik.