Why do we begin all our classes with a singing circle?

In Musikgarten, we begin each class, regardless of level, with a singing circle.  This enables us to develop beat, meter, tonality, and patterns. 

These musical elements are key to success and are advanced through activities such as:
Tapping the beat while singing - to foster beat competence
Adding a simple body movement, such as rocking from side to side - to lay the foundation for understanding meter
Inviting the children to sing the resting tone at the conclusion of each song - to create an understanding of tonality (the key in which the piece was composed)
Listening to and echoing patterns - to provide the first steps to music literacy 
For more information, you can visit http://singingsusan.com or http://musikgarten.org