By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- An international education program that uses music as a tool for early childhood development has recently started up a set of classes in Niles.
The program called Kindermusik, which centers on the use of music and movement, was started here in February by Kindermusik educators Amy Paxton and Becky Hamm. Programs are held in the basement of the Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar St in Niles.
Paxton said one of the aims of the program is to promote music to be a part of these children's lives.
Hamm said the program incorporates so much more than just music education.
In addition to music skills, she said they aim to help children develop social, physical, emotional, cognitive, listening and language skills.
Paxton, whose two daughters participate in the programs, said Kindermusik has helped her two year old daughter Kaylee to develop her verbal skills and has helped her four year old daughter Chloe to develop coordination and an improved singing voice.
Lori Brawley is a fan of the Kindermusik program and had previously signed her son Connor up for the program in Berrien Springs.
Many of Hamm and Paxton's imaginative activities involve vocal play, singing, instrument exploration and creative and expressive dance.
On Friday, the week long Kindermusik summer day camp, which offered programs for newborns to five year olds, came to an end.
The three to five year old group celebrated their last day of camp with a visit from the Silly Sisters, Darlene Jackson and Linda Canfield.
The two women, whose wacky program is aimed at promoting reading and music, squeezed into one pair of oversized pants and waddled around in front of the young children reading books and singing songs.
Paxton said the Silly Sister tailored their performance to the Kindermusik group to incorporate themes of music and movement.
Niles Kindermusik offers separate programs for a variety of different age groups including newborns to 18 month olds; 18 month olds to three year olds; three to five year olds; and five to seven year olds.
A new 15 week program will begin on Aug. 17 for the youngest age group and on Aug. 24 for the other groups.
For more information or to register, call (574)250-3118.