Preschool children in Polk County have the opportunity to shake rattle and roll with Kindermusik, learning pre-literacy and language skills along with music and movement thanks to the cooperation of the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs of Tryon, Polk County Schools and Tryon Fine Arts Center.

Instructor Bryant Belin is currently teaching Kindermusik two days a week in the Polk County School System and at Tryon Fine Arts Center on Saturdays.

“Kindermusik International is the world’s leading provider of music and movement programs for young children…[offering] developmentally-specific educational programs for kids ages newborn to 7,” Belin said. “Music is the best vehicle for early childhood development and learning. So, we want to empower parents and teachers to instill a lifelong love of music and learning in their children.”

Since January of 2012 Tryon Fine Arts Center has offered Kindermusik in the format of weekly classes and weeklong camps for families at the arts center building on Melrose Avenue in Tryon. The Rotary Club of Tryon Foundation recently lent its support of the Saturday classes through a grant.

Because the Saturday classes were successful, Belin and TFAC Arts in Education Director Marianne Carruth began looking for an avenue to offer Kindermusik as an outreach to preschool students who might not be able to attend the weekly programs. After presenting an introduction to the goals and methods of Kindermusik for the Tryon Kiwanis club, Belin and Carruth approached the civic organization for financial assistance in funding music education for preschool students. Kiwanis Club, an organization of volunteers “dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time,” granted the request by providing partial funding for the proposed program.

Kathy Harding, preschool coordinator for Polk County Schools saw the opportunity made possible by the Kiwanis grant, and wanted to make the music program available for all of the 3-and 4-year old classes in the system. After some adjustments to the budget, an agreement was reached and plans were made to provide the Kindermusik program from January – May 2013.