At certain times of the year, I find myself reflecting back on what it is that I love so much about teaching music, and specifically, teaching Kindermusik. Little did I know the beautiful journey that would unfold for me professionally or the countless precious memories that I would come to treasure when I taught my first class way back in 1994.

So why do I teach Kindermusik? There are literally thousands of reasons – most of whom are under 3 feet tall, have adorable smiles, and have quite stolen my heart. But if I had to pick a few highlights, these would be the some of my favorites.
I teach Kindermusik because I…
- Get to be a part of helping parents linger in the moments of experiencing a music class with their children and making musical memories that knit their hearts together.
- Get to share in the happy celebration with all the other parents when a little one takes his first wobbly steps or says his first word in class.
- Get to swallow the lump in my throat when I hear a little voice singing parts of our Hello song with me for the first time.
- Get to be a proud onlooker as a parent and child discover at least 10 different ways to play the rhythm sticks – together.
- Get to smile right back with a preschooler who is just beaming with pride over raising his hand to share his best idea for singing a song.
- Get to hold my breath in delight as a big kid confidently plays the notes of his first composition on the glockenspiel.
- Get the best hugs from little children whose love for music and their music teacher sweetly overflows after each and every class.
- Have had a front-row seat to see Kindermusik babies graduate from the Kindermusik program, continue on in music lessons, and grow up to have a life-long love and aptitude for music.
- Have the deeply fulfilling satisfaction of knowing that the world will be a better place because of the song my Kindermusik kids will have in their hearts forever.
And so, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll keep teaching Kindermusik for another 20 years or so… probably until my knees give out and I no longer have a voice.
Why do YOU teach Kindermusik? Share your reasons on the Kindermusik International Facebook page and tag #WhyITeachKindermusik.
Contributed by Theresa Case who has loved every minute of teaching Kindermusik and running an award-winning Kindermusik program in Greenville, South Carolina for over 20 years now

home. We believe so strongly in the importance of creating a musical home that we provide the music, instruments, or other resources—like our
This experiential environment where the learning process is shared by everyone in the group—including children, parents, and the teacher—is called “social constructivism.” For example, in each class a Kindermusik educator guides the class towards a learning objective, such as steady beat, timbre, or vocal play, with children as active participants in the learning process. Providing children with ample time to reflect, compare, make choices, express opinions and preferences, and engage in problem-solving activities together teaches children not only the lesson focus but it teaches them how to learn.
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It’s coming, one day soon (if it hasn’t already). Your child will want to learn how to ride a bike—the big kid kind. There will be spills and thrills for both of you as your helmeted child learns how to balance and maintain the right rhythm and tempo for pedaling and braking. Shouts of “Don’t let go!” “I need a push!” and “Arggg!” will be commonplace until that moment when it all comes together and your child successfully rides down the street.