Our Mission

The mission of Kids’ MusicRound is to provide a developmentally appropriate approach to early childhood music education that is fueled by a passion and love for children and music. KMR provides a fun-filled environment where families come together to experience the joy of music making.

AT KMR WE BELIEVE…

That all children are born with musical ability. KMR will put your child on a path to basic musical competence by teaching him or her to sing in tune and keep an accurate beat. This is the foundation that will empower your child to pursue more formal musical training later in life or simply derive more enjoyment from music.

That early childhood is the optimal time to nurture innate ability. Research has proven that sooner is better than later. KMR reaches out to your child’s natural curiosity and stimulates learning through musical play, discovery and creativity.

In a developmentally appropriate approach with parental participation. Each child is allowed to explore and discover at its individual developmental level in a stimulating, playful learning environment. Since young children learn quickly through modeling the special people in their lives, we believe strongly in parental participation. Here you will connect musically with your child as you sing, chant rhythmic rhymes and play simple rhythm instruments together. KMR’s varied fun-filled learning activities assure something for everyone while addressing the different learning styles of individual children. Although the emphasis is on fun, the principles of Doctor Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory and Dalcroze Eurhythmics are woven into the program.

That in-home repetition will further enhance your child’s development. That’s why we made the investment in quality home materials to support the curriculum. You’ll easily recreate the classroom excitement in your home with the KMR songbook filled with our original compositions as well as traditional favorites.

That music can and should be enjoyed by everyone, everyday. KMR will show you that music is not just for talented performers. It is for everyone and it can be enjoyed to the fullest every day in your own individual way.

 

 

Curriculum

The fun-filled, developmentally appropriate Kids’ MusicRound curriculum has been created with the whole child in mind. The curriculum targets infants through the early childhood years when the mind and child are most receptive to music learning. It is during this critical time period that our innate music potential is actively developing. An environment abundant in opportunities for musical discovery has been shown to greatly assist in nurturing that potential to its fullest.

The Kids’ MusicRound curriculum is designed to guide children through the early stages of music development. Our goal is to enable all children to achieve basic music competence, the ability to sing in tune and keep an accurate beat.

Playful movement is an integral part of the Kids’ MusicRound curriculum. We encourage children and adults alike to kick up their heels, pick up a rhythm instrument, and use their whole selves to express the joy of music.

 

Materials

Each family that enrolls for Kid's Music Round receives two CDs and songbook. To keep our classes fun and interesting for families who enroll regularly, we introduce a fresh round of songs with each 10-week session.

Exposure to a variety of tonalities and meters is vital to a child’s early music experience, according to Music Learning Theory expert Dr. Edwin Gordon. Based on this principle, each Kids’ MusicRound song collection or SongRound is carefully compiled to include material that is not only enjoyable, but also representative of different meters and tonalities.

Each SongRound includes a refreshing selection of original, traditional, and multicultural music. The songbook and the high-quality companion audio material are produced to appeal to both adults and children. The vocalists on the recording include children as well as adults since it is easiest for children to match the tone quality of another child’s voice. Children will enjoy coloring the songbook illustrations as they listen to the music, while the musical notes and guitar chord instruction may inspire adults to dust off an old instrument and play along.

 

  

About The Founders

Barbara Lysenko is the co-author of Kids’ MusicRound, the exciting parent-child music and movement program. She has coached teachers across the US and abroad on teaching practices in early childhood music and is a clinician at early childhood conferences. Teaching credentials include K-5 vocal music in the Hamilton, NJ, public schools, preschool music at the Pennington Montessori School, Pennington, NJ, and teaching parent/child music classes since 1988. Barbara is also the founder and director of a children’s and teen choir at her local church. Barbara holds a B.A. in Music Education from The College of New Jersey and has training in Music Learning Theory, Kodaly, Dalcroze Eurythmics and holds ORFF Level 1 certification. Barbara incorporates her love of children and music into a program which invites both children and adults to explore the delights of making music.

Marilyn Schwartz, the co-author of Kids’ MusicRound, the exciting parent-child music and movement program received her B.A. from Hofstra University where she studied music and theatre. She plays the cello and has performed with various orchestras in Long Island, NY. She has studied voice privately and has performed in many clubs throughout Manhattan singing her own compositions. After having her second daughter, Marilyn began teaching music in a local preschool and discovered what a joy it was working with music and young children. Marilyn entertains for families at birthday parties, local events, and leads workshops on the topic of early childhood music in preschools and teacher conventions. She is excited to share her love of children and music with families and teachers.