Kindermusik of Cambridge/KW

History of Kindermusik
& Kindermusik of Cambridge/KW

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.

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.

1980s

Daniel Pratt, a Westminster faculty member and Fulbright Scholar, begins Music Resources International (MRI), to recruit, train, and supply Kindermusik educators with curricula.
Kindermusik is revised for a more culturally diverse audience. The English version of the Kindermusik curricula and teaching method is in the US and Canada.

1985

The first teacher training workshops takes place in Canada at York University in Toronto, Ontario. Michelle Jacques receives her Kindermusik Training and for the next two years teaches general music and Kindermusik to 600 children/week at Toronto Montessori Schools under the direction of one of the program's original authors, Lorna Heyge.

1987

One of only 6 across Canada, Michelle sets up her own Kindermusik program in Cambridge, Ontario, starting with 3 classes of Kindermusik for the Young Child and 27 children in a basement studio. The following year, she relocates her studio in a church and hires on an additional educator.
Michelle is made MRI's sole Canadian distributor of Kindermusik products operating a warehouse and ordering facility out of her basement. She also begins what will become a 6-year tour of duty as workshop coordinator, setting up and managing the training of new Kindermusik educators across the country.

1990

Michelle relocates the disribution warehouse and her Kindermusik studio to a small unit at 180 Sheldon Drive, Cambridge, and hires on two more educators.
A new curriculum, Kindermusik in the Early Years (for 18 months to 3-1/2 year olds), is introduced (known as Kindermusik Beginnings in the US).
MRI moves to Greensboro, North Carolina, and is renamed "Kindermusik International, Inc." (KI)

1993

Michelle becomes a Teacher Trainer for Kindermusik International, traveling across Canada to universities and colleges several times a year, for the next 8 years.
Growing with Kindermusik (for 3-1/2 to 5 year olds) is introduced.

1996

Michelle incorporates Kindermusik Canada and becomes an independent distributor for Kindermusik Int'l. Over the next 5 years, the number of Kindermusik educators in Canada swells to over 500. The Kindermusik Canada warehouse and Kindermusik of Cambridge studio are relocated again to their present location at 180 Sheldon Drive, Unit 2. Over the next 5 years, the studio grows to more than 500 students, 10 licensed educators and a full-time administrator.

1998

2000s

Kindermusik International's 55 employees buy the privately held company from its 96 investors.
Kindermusik Our Time replaces Early Years/Beginnings in 2001. Summer camps are developed.
In 2001, Michelle becomes a Mentor for Kindermusik University.

2002

Kindermusik of Cambridge purchases K-W Kindermusik from Pat Murray and the student base swells to almost 900 and 18 educators.
Kindermusik Imagine That! replaces Growing with Kindermusik.

2004

A team from Kindermusik of Cambridge, including Michelle Jacques, Deb Carbone, Janet Beretta and Hannah Hastings-Fuhr, are commissioned by Kindermusik Int'l to write a summer camp curriculum for 3 and 4 year olds, called "On the Road", which is distributed and taught worldwide.

2005

Michelle Jacques passes the distribution side of the business to Allan Kissack, who served as Kindermusik Canada's Shipping and Inventory Manager since 1996. Allan becomes president of Kissack Logistics Inc, responsible for KI's Canadian warehouse.
Michelle becomes the Canadian Communications Director for KI and a member of their Speakers Bureau.
Michelle is given KI's first-ever Service Award for helping over 200,000 Canadian children experience Kindermusik over the course of her 20-year career.

2006

Kindermusik reaches 1.5 million children in 66 countries taught by 5000 licensed educators.
Kindermusik of Cambridge/KW is recognized as one of the world's largest programs.

2007

2008

KI closes its Canadian Warehouse. Orders now shipped direct from North Carolina to Canadian edcuators.
Former warehouse is renovated to accommodate 2 additional classrooms available for rent. Space includes waiting area, wheelchair accessible washroom, and new storage room for Kindermusik of Cambridge.
Kids Creations Art Studio leases a classroom in the newly renovated area behind Kindermusik of Cambridge.

2009

Kindermusik International releases EZ-Enroll in Canada providing parents with the convenience of registering and paying online in only a few clicks.
After an exhaustive 3-year search, KW Kindermusik moves to a new location in September at 900 Guelph Street, Kitchener (very close to the Wellington St exit off the expressway and the Waterloo border).
Kindermusik of Cambridge renovates waiting room into spectacular new `Gathering Room` featuring Children`s Play Corral, leather couches, onsite store, and specialty coffees.

2010

Kindermusik of Cambridge/KW, May 2010
original design by Imagitek, re-skin by TyMi