ion for students. Pratt says of his mission, "We are serious about our children's education and their future." (Foubert 1)The key component of the Kindermusik philosophy is an emphasis on the process of music learning. Pratt believes that music taught within the context of structured play prepares and motivates children for all types of learning. The program is divided into two sections to accommodate students of different ages. Kindermusik Beginnings is targeted towards children three-and-a-half to five years old. As the children become more verbally developed, they move on to the Kindermusik for the Young Child program, which decreases focus on play and centers it on more formal instruction styles.No matter which program the children participate in, they are always instructed according to the Kindermusic approach. Formed when the program was founded, the approach sets the following goals for the program: to help a child develop balance, control, and coordination through sequenced, developmentally appropriate activities that are fun and challenging; to explore concepts in music through movement; to develop a child's self awareness through movement; to facilitate family involvement in musical activities; to express activities and feelings of everyday life through drama and creativity; to emphasize give-and-take social interactions; and to provide a focused environment which encourages a child to develop refined listening skills. (Foubert 1)Experts now agree that programs such as Kindermusik provide a great medium for a child's brain development. They encourage schools to take a look into incorporating similar programs into everyday education. However, even with all the information about music's affect on the development of children, researchers continue to questions many aspects of music and brain research. Recently, one of the most prevalent topics for exploration has been the subject of music appreciation and with good reason...
