Chicago Center for Music Education
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Early Childhood Music

​Our Early Childhood music classes are now available in-person and online to families anywhere in the world. Our goals are to:
  • instill a love of music in your child
  • help your child develop early musical skills
  • foster the growth of your child’s self-confidence, self-expression, and social interaction

Our next session of
Early Childhood Music Classes

​begins on

September 9

REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW  
Click the REGISTER NOW button under each class to enroll.

Twinkle Tots
(6-18 months)
 Saturdays 8:30 - 9:15 am 
with Ms. Zoë
September 9 through November 4

$180 (plus $3.25 registration fee)
REGISTER NOW

Beat Explorers
(18 months-3 years)
​Saturdays 9:30 - 10:15 am 
with Ms. Zoë
September 9 through November 4

​
$180 (plus $3.25 registration fee)
REGISTER NOW

Rhythm Explorers
(3-5 years)
Saturdays 10:30 - 11: 15 am
with Ms. Zoë
September 9 through November 4

​
$180 (plus $3.25 registration fee)​
REGISTER NOW

Meet the Instruments
​(4, 5, and 6 year-olds)
Saturdays 11:30 am - 12: 15 pm
with Ms. Zoë
September 9 through November 4

​
$180 (plus $3.25 registration fee) ​​
REGISTER NOW

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Learn more about our classes...

When is the next session?
The next session of Early Childhood classes will begin on September 9.  Registration is open now!  Click the REGISTER NOW button under each class to enroll. 
Where do classes take place? 
​Classes for our fall session will begin after Labor Day and meet in person at our West Town location at 1148 W. Chicago Ave.  Stay tuned for ore details to be posted here soon!
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.
ARE MAKE UP CLASSES AVAILABLE? ​
If you can't make it to class, you can join us on Zoom at your regular class time. If that's not possible, our classes are recorded via Zoom, and will be available upon request to participants who missed their class. ​
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Meet our Teaching Artist...

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Ms. Zoë
Early childhood
​teaching artist
READ BIO
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Chicago Center for Music Education | 1148 West Chicago Avenue | Chicago, IL 60642 | 312.738.2646   
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  • About Us
    • About ChiME
    • Staff
    • Faculty
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact
  • Events
  • Programs
    • Early Childhood >
      • Early Childhood Music
      • Meet the Instruments
    • Classroom Music - Performance Model
    • Classroom Music - Therapeutic Model
    • ChiME Time Drumline
    • Buddy Band
    • Music Therapy
    • Music Therapy Instrument Lessons
    • Instrumental Music >
      • Private Lessons
  • Donate
    • Our Supporters
  • Resources
    • Forms
    • REGISTER NOW
    • Calendar
    • Gift Certificates
    • Video Gallery
    • PM classroom