Heather McEndree, Marie Hershey and Heather Kline, certified Musikgarten instructors with Cumberland Valley School of Music, were recently awarded the 2016 Musikgarten Exemplary Program Award for the second consecutive year. As one of only eighty-seven programs in North America to receive this prestigious award, this recognition signifies that CVSM offers a full complement of Musikgarten classes for children from birth to 9 years old.
At CVSM, McEndree & Kline teach Music for Babies and Toddlers for newborns through 3 years and Musikgarten Music Makers at Home for ages 4 through 6. Hershey continues the program with Music Makers at the Keyboard for ages 6 through 7. During these classes, children participate in activities designed to stimulate the brain, aid physical development and form listening skills. Younger children have caregivers present with them, while older children apply their knowledge to learning to play the piano.
From August until November, Kline taught Musikgarten Music Keys program to children participating in the Pathstone Head Start program. CVSM has also begun teaching the Music Keys program for the children in the Apple Place Nursery program at First United Methodist Church. This program is taught primarily by Kline, and assisted by Michelle Trefren, the newest CVSM Musikgarten instructor.
CVSM also began a partnership in 2015 with Franklin County Head Start to bring music instruction to Head Start classrooms. McEndree taught the Musikgarten Music for Learning progrm in 2 Head Start classrooms with the goal of training the teachers in the program. This program continues through 2017.
McEndree said that simple instruments, such as rhythm sticks, drums, rattles and scarves, are given to the children to use during the classes . Items provided are part of techniques employed to help children focus on moving in time to various kinds of music. Children are also taught to sing more tunefully in a relaxed atmosphere. Older children will progress to reading, writing and playing rhythm patterns.
A certified Musikgarten teacher since 2008, McEndree began teaching for CVSM in 2011. She has experience teaching middle school band and general music for Frederick County and Washington County Public Schools. McEndree holds a B S Music Ed and B A Flute from Lebanon Valley College and a Masters Music Ed graduate assistant-ship from Temple University, including courses in early childhood music.
“We are born to be musical, and music is one of the many pieces that make us whole. I encourage music-making to be a joyful part of everyday life, from my tiniest Musikgarten babies to my adult flute students,” McEndree said.
Hershey began teaching for CVSM in 2000 and received her Musikgarten certification in 2014. She has previous teaching experience at Cumberland Valley Christian School,where she taught private piano for 15 years and 5th grade for 10 years.Hershey holds a Bachelor’s degree from Liberty University with a concentration in music, teaching certification from Wilson College in Elementary Education, and a Master’s degree in Education from Wilkes University.
Kline began teaching for CVSM in 2015 and received her Musikgarten certification in 2015. She has previous experience with Creative Ministries and Front & Center Stage. Kline holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice and a minor in Theatre and a Master’s in School Counseling.
Musikgarten curricula, according to the group’s website, are also used extensively in several foreign countries, including: Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, China Austria, Australia, Switzerland, South Africa, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
The Musikgarten concept began in 1994 when Dr. Loma Luz Heyge merged her music education background with the experience and input of childhood education specialist Audrey Sillick. The women are the authors of the Musikgarten early childhood curricula.
