Christa Beck of Natrona Heights recalls grieving with her family along with the nation on Sept. 11, 2001.
“Most of us can never forget that day,” she says.
But that day was a highly anticipated one for Beck as she was set to launch her very first class as a licensed Kindermusik instructor.
“I spent hours deciding whether or not to go ahead and hold classes that evening,” Beck says. “I made the decision to proceed based on my strong belief that music can be therapeutic and healing.”
All 15 families registered attended that first class.
“It was the beginning of a very beautiful thing,” Beck says.
Beck recently celebrated her 15th year in the Alle-Kiski Valley area with Kindermusik, a leading publisher of music and movement curricula for caregivers and children. She is one of more than 5,000 licensed educators in 70 countries, reaching more than 2 million families.
She has once again been named a Maestro Producer by Kindermusik International — her ninth consecutive year receiving the award.
Offering classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers through age 5 and their families in Sarver and Tarentum, Beck is recognized as one of the 300 Maestros because of her excellence in teaching and reaching a broad number of students. Classes meet at First United Presbyterian Church in Tarentum and St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sarver.
“I teach programs to over 100 families in the Alle-Kiski Valley area each year,” she says.
Beck grew up immersed in music, studying piano as an undergraduate at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, W.Va, and has a master's degree in mathematics from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. She also serves on the Kindermusik Educators Board.
She juggles her teaching duties with those of being a wife and a mother to three children, all of whom are involved with music in the Highlands School District.
“Studies show that children who participate in musical activities do better academically and socially in school from early childhood years on,” Beck says. “Music and art are essential tools.”
Beck's positive attitude and perky demeanor are apparent as she sings, dances, motivates and encourages her students to engage and have fun. She incorporates a mix of music, songs, rhythm, dancing, toys, instruments and props such as scarves to keep all the senses engaged.
“Being on the floor with the children every single day and watching that ‘lightbulb' moment when a child makes a connection is the best thing in the world,” Beck says.
Participating parents agree.
Erin Hubbard's daughter Lillian, now a kindergartener, is a graduate of Kindermusik, and Hubbard credits the program with helping her 1-year-old son, Joshua, achieve a milestone.
“Joshua has Down syndrome and was not sitting up for his therapist,” says Hubbard of Allegheny Township. “He came to Kindermusik, and he sat so wonderfully for Christa — he loves the instruments, and Christa really makes the kids feels so welcome.”
Hubbard describes the program as a “natural fit” for their family.
Chrissy Clark, also of Allegheny Township, brings her two sons Nicholas, 2, and Zachary, 1, to weekly classes.
“I started Nicholas in Kindermusik to help him with socialization, and he just adores Christa so much,” Clark says. “The musical environment just feels good, and it is a great way to meet other moms, dads and other caregivers with similar-age children.”
Beck's Maestro award isn't her only reason to celebrate. She is planning a trip to Jordan in July 2016.
The music-therapy outreach program will allow Beck and other Kindermusik educators to provide music therapy for special-needs students at the Alliance Academy of Jordan.
“This will be my first visit to the Middle East, and I will offer my skill set as a childhood music educator for five days at the school,” Beck says.
Joyce Hanz is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.
