Kindermusik Europe


			Kindermusik is the world’s leading music and movement program for children. We are a community of families and educators passionately committed to bringing music to children's lives through developmentally appropriate curricula, CDs, books, instruments, and activities. With more than 5,000 educators in over 66 countries, we are a music program on world-tour 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Kindermusik International has been involved in the field of early childhood development for 30 years. Developed in the 1960s by a group of music educators in West Germany, it was not until the program was brought to the US and renamed “Kindermusik” that it became truly successful. Kindermusik has been revised for a more culturally diverse audience and today we have an extended presence in Europe with educators and country leaders in the Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Ireland , Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Visit our country websites for more information. More recently, Kindermusik developed the award-winning ABC Music & Me program, a researched-based literacy and language learning program for the classroom setting. ABC Music & Me recognizes that all children are language learners. And, with the strong family component in ABC Music & Me, you can reach the goal that teachers and parents share – to teach children to speak, read and write fluently in English.



	During a child’s earliest years in school, teachers need to capitalize on every opportunity for enhancing vocabulary development. Research indicates that children can gain a rich vocabulary through songs, illustrated stories, and musical rhymes (Fountas & Pinnell, 1999; Medina, 1993; Smith, 2000; Wiggins, 2007). ABC Music & Me contains songs, illustrated stories, and musical rhymes that engage children at all levels of English speaking and listening abilities. Research provides support for the use of songs and rhymes to build phonemic awareness, or familiarity with language sounds, too. (Adams, Foorman, Lundberg & Beeler, 1998; Ericson & Juliebo, 1998; Yopp & Yopp, 1997). In fact, recent brain research shows that early music instruction, including instrument play, improves the brain’s ability to process the sounds of language (Gaab et al., 2005; Magne et al., 2006; Musacchia etl al., 2007).


	Movement is an integral part of teaching both music and language. In the ABC Music & Me lessons, children physically express meaning through finger plays, hand motions, and whole-body activities. Thematic units give context to new vocabulary, and the pairing of new words with movement makes new words and concepts easier to “lock in” to memory. Music bridges language gaps and is an international platform for expression. While having fun in a welcome, non-intimidating environment, children can relax, play, sing, and all the while, hardly notice they’re learning English!

	Give your children a head start with ABC Music & Me! Research shows that children under the age of 14 learning a second language have an increased chance of speaking it properly. ABC Music & Me is a program specially designed for children ages two to six years old and is taught in a fun and interactive environment.					ABC Music & Me uses a scientifically proven, unique methodology. Here are some of its key components:


	Biography of Angelica Manca
	Director, Kindermusik Europe
		Angelica joined Kindermusik International in 2006. Based out of Milan Italy, she is now heading the European division. Her unique international background is allowing her to do her life’s best work: combining her love for children and appreciation of different cultures by connecting them through Kindermusik, the single best music and movement program in the world! Angelica holds a degree in Psychology and over eight years working experience in business and marketing. She is mother of Emily, a major source of inspiration in her life.