What is Kindermusik BRIDGES?
“I don’t remember the last time I got to see children so young!”
-Hampton Fields resident, Music 4 Grand Friends (Allison Park PA)
In the summer of 2024, Thousand Bridges Opera started MUSIC CLASS 4 GRAND FRIENDS, a community initiative to bring intergenerational music classes to Pittsburgh area senior living facilities! The content of these classes mainly comes from Kindermusik International’s BRIDGES program, an accredited and researched curriculum of sing-a-longs, rhythm games, and other music enrichment activities appropriate for early learners and senior citizens. As a bonus, at each class, we will perform 2-3 songs, each in a different genre! Each teaching artist at Thousand Bridges Opera is a trained singer.
WHO participates?
Participants include hosting the senior care facility residents, and young children ages 0-5. A facility may prefer to partner with a known daycare, or let Thousand Bridges Opera connect young local families to the facility, so that neighborhood children can visit with their grown-ups to participate in the event. In their curriculum, Kindermusik refers to the seniors and young children as “grand-friends”, which is where the name “Music Class 4 Grand Friends” originates!
WHAT does a facility need to provide?
To host a music class, a participating facility only needs participating residents, WiFi, and an open space or activity room! Thousand Bridges Opera provides the speaker, songs, all props, toys, noisemakers, instruments, etc. and we lead the class for you!
WHERE are you willing to travel?
Currently, we are able to travel just about anywhere in the greater Pittsburgh region!
WHEN can we schedule a session?
We are able to accommodate most schedule preferences. If you’d like to partner with a daycare facility, a daytime (morning) weekday may be best. If you would like to open it to local young families in your community, we suggest a weekend morning or midday time to optimize participation.
HOW much does it cost?
We believe in accessible music for all, and removing financial barriers for music’s healing and community-building power. That’s why we offer the first session of “Music 4 Grand Friends” at no cost to the participating facility! If you enjoy our class, each additional scheduled class is a $125 fee. There is never any cost for daycares or young families to participate.
HOW do I schedule a session or talk to someone about participating?
We would be delighted to schedule a session at your facility! Email us at thousandbridgesopera@gmail.com. Emails are answered by co-founders Bridget and Alicia. We hope to hear from you soon!