Early Childhood Music Classes
Our Early Childhood music classes are now available online to families anywhere in the world. Our goals are to:
Register now for our next session of ONLINE early childhood classes.
February 8 through April 10, 2021 Tuition $135 for 30-minute classes and $155 for 45-minute classes. To register, just click on your preferred class day and time below. Twinkle Tots and Beat Explorers
Saturdays from 9:00 am to 9:30 am with Ms. Kristen For ages 6 months to 2.5 years Rhythm Explorers and Steppin' Up Saturdays from 10:00 am to 10:45 am with Ms. Kristen For ages 2.5 months to 5 years |
Learn more about our classes...When is the next session?
Our next session starts on Saturday, February 8, and will be 9 weeks long. Last class of the session will be on Saturday, April 10. Where do classes take place?
Classes for this session will begin online via Zoom. When it is appropriate to meet again in person, our classes will be held at our school in West Town, with the option to stay online for those from outside of Chicago. After registering for the class of your choice, you will receive a link to join your teacher each week for the class. CAn I enroll at any time?
If there are open spots in a class, you can register at any time during the session. Participants will pay tuition for only those classes that are still remaining in the session. what do children do and learn?
Each Early Childhood music class guides students in playing small percussion instruments, active listening games, singing, and musical movement activities. Repertoire of songs consists of culturally diverse and engaging folk songs, nursery rhymes, fingerplays, and familiar tunes, many of which explore seasonal themes. Classes focus on developing a love and enjoyment of music, as well as early beat, rhythm, and melodic skills, as appropriate at various ages. The curriculum is divided into age groups, and there are no skill-based prerequisites for each level. What curriculum is used?
ChiME’s innovative, sequential approach to early childhood music education is rooted in the Orff Schulwerk philosophy, which focuses on the experience of music as the basis of acquiring skills and knowledge. All classes in the sequence focus on internalizing the basic building blocks of music through movement and dance, instrument play, and singing, which makes our program the perfect preparation for future private instrument lessons. Learning through movement allows for the growth and development of gross and fine motor skills, along with fostering cognitive and social skills through the supportive class environment. Most of the music-making is live and acoustic, not pre-recorded, which allows creativity, artistry, and self-expression to blossom. All classes in our program are developed around three key components: Routine: Class routines, whether big or small, foster trust and provide comfort for the young musician. From week to week, children know what to expect and are able to focus on developing musical and social-emotional skills in a safe, encouraging environment. Repetition: As the core of learning in our classes, songs and movements are repeated in class, and reappear throughout the continuum of classes. Through repetition, children become engaged, achieve skills, and develop a musical vocabulary that will follow them throughout their lives. We encourage parents to sing or play recordings of the songs from class throughout the week at home. Repertoire: Lively and engaging folk songs teach musical skills while engaging the child and parent with the rich and evolving history of music that connects us to culture and community. Is it safe to sing in class?
When students are learning at home, singing is encouraged as a beautiful way to acquire musical skills and express their own voices. When we return to in-person learning, ChiME will be following appropriate guidelines for singing at that point, with safety of our students as our main priority. Are make up classes available?
The online nature of classes makes it easier than ever for everyone to attend classes regularly, no matter where they are. However, sometimes unforeseen things happen, and if you have to miss a class, we will make sure you don’t miss out on the fun. Zoom classes are recorded and will be available upon request to participants who missed their class. |