History of Kindermusik


1960s:
A group of music educators in West Germany develop "Musikalische Fruherziehung," or music for the young child. The program helps children experience the joy of learning music before beginning formal music instruction. West Germany's community music schools provide the program.

1968: The West Germany government commissions several doctoral candidates to develop a music and movement curriculum for Kindergarten aged children. Over half a million children take part in the program.

1970s: Due to growing popularity, the program is translated and adapted for American families and renamed Kindermusik.

- Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, provides classes for music educators to learn how to teach Kindermusik in the United States.

1974: The Kindermusik publisher commissions two of the program developers to introduce it to North America when they returned to the United States.

1980s: Daniel Pratt, a Westminster faculty member and Fulbright Scholar, begins working directly with Music Resources International (MRI), the company that recruits, trains and supplies Kindermusik educators with curricula.

- Kindermusik is revised for a more culturally diverse audience. The English version of the Kindermusik curricula and teaching method is distributed worldwide.

1984: Kindermusik is introduced to Canada.

1990s: MRI moves to Greensboro, North Carolina, and is renamed "Kindermusik International, Inc."

2000s: Kindermusik International's 55 employees buy the privately held company from its 96 investors.

Today: Kindermusik International is based in Greensboro, North Carolina. There are over 5000 educators in 35 countries teaching over 1 million families.