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

Current Session runs through April 1
You can still register below


NEW SESSION BEGINS APRIL 8
CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO REGISTER


All classes are 45 minutes
$162 (plus $3.25 registration fee) for 9 weeks 



 Class Menu

 Twinkle Tots
For ages 6 months to 1.5 years

Saturdays from 8:30 am to 9:15 am
Current Session: February 4-April 1
​with Ms. Zoe
REGISTER NOW!
New Session: April 8-June 10
​with Ms. Zoe 
​​
Register now

Beat Explorers 
For ages 1.5 to 3 years
​

Saturdays from 9:30 am to 10:15 am

Current Session: February 4-April 1
​with Ms. Zoe 
​
REGISTER NOW!
New Session: April 8-June 10
​with Ms. Zoe 
​
Register Now

Rhythm Explorers
For ages 3 to 4 years

Saturdays from 10:30am to 11:15am
Current Session: February 4-April 1
​with Ms. Zoe ​​
REGISTER NOW!
New Session: April 8-June 10
​with Ms. Zoe 
​​
REgister now

If your child has gone through the whole sequence of the above classes and is at least 4 years old, we recommend Meet the Instruments as your next step. 

For questions regarding Early Childhood classes, please call us at 312-738-2646 or email jappel-kraut@chimemusic.org
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Learn more about our classes...

When is the next session?
The next session of Early Childhood classes will begin on April 8 with classes running on Saturdays for 9 weeks. NO CLASS on May 27 (Memorial Day weekend). Registration is now open.  Click the REGISTER NOW! links to the left  to enroll.
Where do classes take place? 
​Classes for this session will meet in person at our West Town location at 1148 W. Chicago Ave. There is also a Zoom option for those families who might be out of town or prefer to stay remote on any given week. The Zoom link will be included in the registration confirmation email. 
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. Zoe
Early childhood
​teaching artist
READ BIO

Chicago Center for Music Education | 1148 West Chicago Avenue | Chicago, IL 60642 | 312.738.2646   
Privacy Policy

  • About Us
    • About ChiME
    • Staff
    • Faculty
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact
  • Chicago Legends Event
  • 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
      • Meet the Instruments
  • Donate
    • Our Supporters
  • Gift Certificates
  • Resources
    • Forms - Registration - Tuition Assistance - Music Therapy
    • Calendar
    • Video Gallery
    • PM classroom