For those of you still mulling over your summer class schedules, here is the latest update from Carol Penney of Kindermusik International and Helen Peterson of the PKE Board about usage of ABC Music & Me for summer class offerings:
PKE/KI Response to ABC use as Family Class for summer:
Dear Kindermusik Educators,
ABC Music & Me has been officially offered to the licensed Kindermusik educator community to add flexibility to your studio offerings. Here are some things to consider when making adaptations to ABC for your summer families:
- Summer offerings are a vehicle for fall enrollment. Set yourself for success and ease your families into the core fall curricula by pricing this class carefully. If you charge $15.00 for home materials for a whole family in summer and then $60.00 in the fall, you are going to surprise your customers.
- Recommendation: Materials fee for a “family style” ABC camp matches the fee for a published camp by adding family friendly instruments, or books. (i.e. purchase SPLASH curriculum for families ($13.00) and add a mini sea sound drum ($9.00). That nets out at $23.00 – with shipping, handling, tax and markup you can fairly charge $30.00 – which is in line with summer programs. For a family of 2 or more children this is still an amazing bargain.
- Adapting ABC for families needs to include the following considerations:
Engaging Grown-ups
ABC Music & Me was written for a learning environment for children without their caregivers. They key to success in a Family class is engaging the adults. Study your Family Time Teacher Guide to be prepared to present the activities to both the adults and the children. Insert FOLs throughout the class.
Multiple Ages
Give thought to “So Many Ways” – how to make the activity fit for each age group, and “All Together Now” moments to ensure smooth transitions from one activity to the next. (Refer the Teacher’s Guide for any unit of Family Time)
Flow of the Lesson
The contour of Family Time is crescendo-decrescendo. Reconfigure the existing lesson activities to begin with low energy activities and build towards movement. Consolidate all large motor activities in the center of the lesson. Decrescendo begins with the FAMILY JAM and the activities become increasingly calm to the end of the lesson.
Hosted CD
Consider using the music tracks, skipping over the hosted introductions and transitions, to more closely represent a studio class. Or, use the Home CD for the music you will play in class.
We have come up with this outline to help you succeed in your goal of introducing new families to an outstanding Kindermusik experience through the summer and to encourage participation for continuing families – leading to fall enrollment.
Best of luck in carefully creating this new summer offering for families.
Sincerely,
Carol Penney, Director of Education, Kindermusik International
Helen Peterson, PKE Board Advisor for Communication
