LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 15, 2000

ST. ROSE – Janel Ryan of St. Rose is a teacher with a difference – a musicalapproach to early childhood development as part of Kindermusik.

Kindermusik was developed in Germany in the 1960s, spread to the United States in the early 1970s and is arriving in St. Charles Parish in January.Kindermusik is a system developed to use music to better stimulate children’s innate musical ability toward physical, intellectual and emotional growth.

Ryan plans a demonstration of the teaching technique Saturday at 11:15 a.m. at Johanna’s Jazz-in-Motion, 13606 River Road, Destrehan.The technique, new to this area, is no “new-age” experimental approach, but a scientifically-researched and proven technique to use music and rhythmic movement to nurture a child’s early development.

Ryan, originally from Harahan, taught at A.A. Songy Kindergarten Center inLuling for seven years. She resigned when her daughter, Faith, now nearly 3,was born, determined to be a full-time mom in those crucial pre-school years. Quickly, Faith was followed by Sean, now 8 months, and a third child isdue in May to Ryan and her husband, Shell Chemical operator Allen Ryan.

Ryan attended a Kindermusik demonstration in Metairie in September and she was captivated. “I went to a class and fell in love with it,” she said.She signed up to train as a Kindermusik teacher, completed the course and certification in two weeks and is planning to launch her own 16-week classes Jan. 6.One of the best parts of the program, Ryan said, is that the techniques are taught to the parents, who purchase a home kit as part of the fee and continue the program at home.

The intense, one-to-one experience with mother and child make for improved emotional bonding, and the music and movement help a child’s developing coordination, cognitive thinking, listening techniques and communication.

“For years I’ve heard moms say there’s nothing around for their babies,” Ryan said, adding this fills an important void in childhood development.

And while Kindermusik itself is operated in many places as a multi-stage program through age 7, Ryan only plans to teach the first two stages, which take children from newborn to age 3.

The first stage, Kindermusik Village, is designed for children ages newborn to 18 months. It engages his senses and curiosity and uses vocal play andmusical instruments to encourage children to make creative choices. The at-home materials include music on CD, “Baby’s Home Journal,” illustrated books, art banners and a carry bag.

The second stage, Kindermusik Our Time, is designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years. This focuses on the child’s confidence, curiosity, self-control and communication, including dancing, rhyming games, singing, sound imitation and object identification.

The design is to bridge that gap from infancy to pre-school.

“The best thing about this is that my kids can experience it with me,” Ryan said.

In an impromptu demonstration, Ryan danced with Sean and used bells to ring along with the music. Each child beamed with delight throughout thedemonstration, seeing instruction as play.

The cost is $194 for infants and $185 for toddlers and includes all at-home materials for the 16-week program.

To contact Ryan about the free demonstration on Saturday or about the program as a whole, call 466-1964 or email her at ryanbubbyjanel@aol.com.

Kindermusik also maintains a website at www.kindermusik.com.

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