Fall 2010 CLASS DESCRIPTIONS


Village
“Zoom Buggy/Dream Pillow”

For Newborns - 18 months and caregiver

With you at the center of your child’s discovery, Village engages all the senses and rewards curiosity with object and instrument exploration, vocal play, singing, creative movement and a colorful literature component. Multi-level activities are offered for lap babies, crawlers, and walkers. In Village, we target language, physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development. We will swoosh, vroom, and clickety-clack through "Zoom Buggy", engaging in rituals and playful activities such as infant massage, lap bounces, exercise, and quiet time. The essence of the "Dream Pillow" unit is the loving interaction that defines the rituals of rocking, nursing, cuddling, and singing. Favorite nursery rhymes are sprinkled throughout the classes, making it easy to weave many of the class songs and activities into your family’s daily routines. You and your child will be welcomed into a delightful, baby-safe environment full of creative movement and musical exploration.
NEW THIS TERM: Both units are offered as a one-semester class.

Please note: Only enrolled children allowed in class

15-week session (45 min. class once a week)
Required home materials
include 2 full-length home CDs, 2 baby’s board books, 2 specially designed age-appropriate instruments, and 2 sets of visual stimulation banners – all for you to use and keep at home!

Tuition $160*, Home materials $70.

*NON-RESIDENTS of Gurnee and Lake Forest will be charged an additional tuition fee when registering for classes at their respective park districts.


Our Time
“Milk and Cookies”

For ages 18 months - 3 years and caregiver

Our Time encourages your child to build confidence, self-control and communication skills. Over 15 week, we will sing, dance, and play instruments together in developmentally appropriate activities created just for 1 ½- to 3-year-olds. “Milk & Cookies” makes everyday home activities and chores easier and more fun with music! Cook and sing to “The Muffin Man”; dust and clean to the original song “In My House”; get ready to wash clothes to the delightful poem “Washing Machine”. Baking cookies, eating cupcakes, blowing on hot cross buns, wiggling like jelly, going grocery shopping and making tea are all represented in familiar as well as new songs. Capture the familiar and new moments of the day, and watch how music activities can impact your toddler's cognitive, physical, and language development.
“Milk and Cookies” is one of 4 Our Time units for toddlers.

Please note: Only enrolled children and non-mobile siblings allowed in class

15-week session (45 min. class once a week)
Required home materials
include 2 full-length home CDs, 2 literature books, home activity guide, and a “stir” xylophone instrument – all in a reusable thermal lunch bag.

Tuition $160*, Home materials $52.

*NON-RESIDENTS of Gurnee and Lake Forest will be charged an additional tuition fee when registering for classes at their respective park districts.


Imagine That!
“Hello Weather, Let’s Play Together”

For Ages 3 and 4 attending alone

Imagine That enhances your child’s learning through music, singing, movement, literature, instrument exploration and imagination. With music as the common thread, each lesson allows your child to reflect, compare, make choices, express opinions and engage in problem-solving activities. Sunshine, clouds, snow, rain, wind, storms... “Hello Weather, Let’s Play Together!” takes advantage of these variables to provide three- and four-year-olds with a myriad of creative, weather-related musical adventures. Preschoolers create storm sounds with a drum to “Wild Storms,” jump in pretend puddles to “Mud Puddle Jump,” throw pretend snow-balls to “Snowballs,” and sing along to “Colors of the Rainbow.” They’ll be surrounded in a creative musical environment that integrates music, pretend play, story telling, movement, and more. Children attend alone for the first 30-35 minutes. Grown-ups join the last 10-15 minutes of class for “Family Time” (any waiting siblings may join at this time, also).

15-week session (45 min. class once a week)
Required home materials
include 2 full-length home CDs, 2 literature books, manipulative playset, a family activity book, and 2 instruments – ankle bells and a rain shaker/scraper. New students also receive a durable nylon backpack.

Tuition $160*, Home materials $56 for continuing IT students, $62 for new IT students.

*NON-RESIDENTS of Gurnee and Lake Forest will be charged an additional tuition fee when registering for classes at their respective park districts.


Kindermusik for the Young Child
For ages 5 - 7


"Young Child®" prepares kids ages 5-7 for private music lessons. Through 4 sequential semesters, your child will learn how to read both rhythmic and musical notation, helping ensure his or her successful transition to private piano, violin, etc. “Young Child” provides the opportunity to explore voice development, rhythm, notation, musical symbols and authentic pre-keyboard, string and woodwind instruments. Students explore many facets of the musical experience--speaking, singing, moving, dancing, listening, creating and playing instruments, as well as learning to read and write music. As the capstone to the child's Kindermusik journey, “Young Child” broadens and deepens the child's introduction to the fulfillment and excitement of musicianship.

Year One, Semester 1
For Ages 5 - 6 (or permission of instructor) attending alone

Semester One introduces the glockenspiel, which gives children the opportunity to learn simple melodies and accompaniments. Activity pages encourage first experiences with “reading” and “writing” music. Parent/caregiver attends final 10 minutes of class.

15-week session (60 min. class once a week)
Required home materials include a glockenspiel, nylon carry bag, home CD, games bag and family songbook.

Offered exclusively at the Adler Center. Tuition $185, home materials $75.


Year Two, Semester 3
For Ages 6 - 7 attending alone – continuing students ONLY

This is the 3rd semester in the sequential Young Child curriculum. Semester 3 builds on the child’s natural interest in musical instruments with an introduction to the two-stringed dulcimer! Learning about Appalachian music and the dulcimer’s heritage sets the stage for a sampling of Native American music. Parent/caregiver attends final 10 minutes of class.
15-week session (60 min. class once a week)
Required home materials include a dulcimer, home CD, games bag, children’s folder and family songbook

Offered exclusively at the Adler Center. Tuition $185, home materials $75.

Kindermusik® by Susan
About the instructors:
The Director, Susan Wilson Henning, holds a B.S. in Music from Illinois State University and has taught Kindermusik since 1999. She is a Maestro level instructor, owning one of the top 5% largest Kindermusik studios in the world. Susan is a faculty member at the College of Lake County, where she teaches "Music Activities for Young Children" to prospective early childhood educators. In addition, Susan is the Senior High Choir Director at the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville.

Elizabeth Thomson received her Bachelors of Music from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the National Association for Music Education (MENC), Elizabeth continues her own education providing a wide range of exercises and techniques to the benefit of her students. She currently teaches Voice, is a certified teacher of Kindermusik® and is director of the cherub choir at First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights.