Q: Where are classes held?
A: All Kindermusik classes with Wendy Jones are held at Clarence United Methodist Church, 10205 Greiner Road, Clarence, at the corner of Greiner and Strickler Roads across from Clarence Middle School. The church is conveniently located minutes from Route 5 or from Transit Road. The church, and my classes, are handicapped accessible.

Q: My children are twins (or close in age). Can I enroll both of them in the same class?
A: You may certainly enroll two children in the same class. Do bear in mind that Kindermusik classes are about, and rely on, the interaction between the child and their adult partner, and allow for this when making your decision. I am happy to assist when possible with activities which involve lifting a child, partnering, etc. If you think you may require more assistance in class, consider inviting another family member or helper to join you in sharing this experience with your children.

Q: What about guests?
A: I welcome adult guests in any class. If you have a visitor from out of town, or a friend who would like to try a class, they are welcome to attend, but please notify me the week before, so that I can assure space in class and adequate materials and instruments for all!

Q: What is your policy on refunds?
A: Tuition refunds are available if I am notified by the third week of classes. The materials fee is non-refundable. There is a $5 processing fee on all refunds. Beyond the third week of class, I can only consider refund requests due to moves or major family emergency.

Q: Why is there such a range of ages in each class level?
A: Kindermusik firmly believes that children learn best when exposed to a group from which they can gain from a variety of perspectives, but where the overall group shares common developmental criteria. Each curriculum level is designed to best suit the stages and goals of the age range they address. The child at the bottom of the age bracket will be ready to flourish in the environment, and will be looking to the older children to provide them with a model of new ways to move, create, and explore concepts. The child in the upper end of the bracket benefits from the ability to fully involve themselves with the imaginative aspects of the lesson, the ability to take a leadership role in developing the ideas presented, and the chance to have true mastery before moving on to a new challenge. It is a true strength of the program that we are privileged to see many stages of concept development going on simultaneously, rather than requiring only one "acceptable" outcome. A well-matched grouping can understand the strategies need to play and create together at their level, have a natural spontaneity while still maintaining the structure of the activities, and is stimulated by the varied abilities and perspectives of its members. What can happen in such a group is enriching musically, socially, and developmentally.

Q: What are Kindermusik home materials, and what do we do with them?
A: The foundation of the Kindermusik philosophy is the belief that young children learn best in a family environment, and that music needs to be a part of everyday life, rather than simply a once-a-week activity. In order to accomplish this, families must think of their Kindermusik class as the springboard for a week’s worth of play and idea development. Home materials, carefully designed to suit the child’s stage and the family’s needs, provide the tools for this portion of Kindermusik learning. Professionally recorded CDs provide music for dancing, singing along, creating and playing along with homemade ‘instruments’, or just for joyful listening as songs from class time are remembered, reinforced, and committed to memory. Story books enhance a home library and are much loved developers of early literacy. Home activity journals, books, and cards provide the family with tested ways to expand the week’s themes beyond the classroom experiences with games, parenting information, and craft ideas. Additional items suit each level’s developmental play style- whether wall banners/picture cards for infants and toddlers, specially designed instruments for older children, or play sets for the creative mind of the preschooler. The home materials are to Kindermusik what lesson books and instrument are to formal lessons, or shoes and leotards are to ballet class- an essential part of full participation in the class as a whole.

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