Early Childhood Classes

Moline classes begin
June 25,
and Coralville classes begin
July 1st!

More details >>

Classes begin May 28 for the Kindermusik
Summer 2013 sessions
in our Marion store!

More details >>

To sign up, you can register online or download and print a registration form and mail it with your payment.

What is Sing & Play & Learn Today?

Sing & Play & Learn Today is a new curriculum for ages 3 months – 5 years! Using activities created by nationally recognized Early Childhood Music and Movement authors as well as our own educational staff, Sing & Play & Learn Today has been created to help your child experience the amazing musical and non-musical life skills outcomes of early childhood music and movement!

Our summer session is a 6 week "camp" with everything you love about Sing & Play & Learn Today: age and developmentally appropriate music, movement, instrument exploration, and more, all designed to enhance your child’s total development. Our summer sessions begin the week of June 25th in Moline and July 1st in Coralville and are guaranteed to make your summer simply spectacular!

West Music is the largest supplier of General Music instruments in the country. Each class will include a fantastic assortment of CDs and instruments to reinforce concepts explored in class and give you a variety of new songs and ideas as you create incredible music at home!

We had a tremendous response to our first semester last Fall, and are so excited to share our program with you in Summer 2013!

Register online for Coralville classes, or download and print a registration form for either location and mail it with your payment.

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For babies ages 3 – 15 months

At the Circus

• Six weekly 45-minute classes with a caregiver
• Home materials include: Home CD, Board Book, and baby safe musical instruments.

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For toddlers ages 16 months – 3½ years

By the Pond

• 6 weekly 45-minute classes with a caregiver
• Home materials include: Home CD, Book, and toddler safe musical instruments.

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For preschoolers ages 3½ – 5 years

Outer Space

• Six weekly 60-minute classes with a snack! Children attend alone for 50 minutes, adults join for last 10 minutes.
• Home materials include: Home CD, Book and instrument.

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Your Sing & Play & Learn Today Educators

Rebecca Foerstner is delighted to be the Director of Sing & Play & Learn Today at West Music! She has a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa, and over 17 years experience as a preschool and kindergarten teacher. She has taught early childhood music and movement at West Music since 2001 and teaches Kindergarten at Montessori Children's Garden in North Liberty. Becky has been an active singer and instrumentalist throughout her life.

Angela Frantz has a degree in Early Childhood Education from UCLA. A singer/instrumentalist, she has over 19 years experience as a preschool classroom and music teacher and administrator, and continues to direct a daily educational playgroup in her home. Angela has been an early childhood music and movement educator for over eight years.

Jenny Winegarden joined our educational team in 2012 and has over 10 years experience as an early childhood music and movement educator. She has a degree in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa and is an Educational Consultant at West Music. Jenny is a vocalist and plays a variety of musical instruments.

Heather Beck is a vocal general music teacher for grades PreK-8th grade at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy. She graduated in 2009 from Western Illinois University, with a bachelor in music education. In her spare time she teaches beginning piano lessons and a youth choir at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Although she teaches a wide range of ages, she has always found it most rewarding to teach PreK-Kindergarten students. Their enthusiasm to learn and their excitement when they figure something out, is always a joy to experience.

Register Today!
Click to download a registration form for Coralville classes
Click to download a registration form for Moline classes

Classes begin July 1st in Coralville, and June 25th in Moline. Availability is determined by minimum/maximum class sizes; space is reserved on a first come first served basis. If a class you choose is unavailable, we'll call you with further options.

Questions? For information on classes at West Music in Coralville, call Becky Foerstner at (319) 351-2000 ext.1414, or email bfoerstner@westmusic.com. For classes at West Music in Moline, call Erin Mahr at (309) 764-9300 or email emahr@westmusic.com.

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Classes begin May 28 for the Kindermusik Summer 2013 sessions!
Space is reserved on a first come - first served basis, so register now!

Led by Licensed Kindermusik Educators Amy Linville, Kaleena Marshall and Lori Tofanelli, West Music's Kindermusik classes are held in our Marion store, located at 1398 Twixt Town Road. With classes available for children 18 months and younger, those between 1½ – 3½, and children from 3½ – 5½, we have opportunities for every child and caregiver to take advantage of the Kindermusik curriculum.

Register online at www.kindermusik.com, or download and print a registration form and mail it with your payment.

Questions? Call (319) 364-3856 or email littlemaestros@mchsi.com

 

What is Kindermusik?

Kindermusik is the premiere early childhood music and movement program. Founded over 30 years ago, the Kindermusik International Creative Team has created the Kindermusik curriculum to be taught only by Licensed Kindermusik Educators. The purpose of Kindermusik is to enhance total child development through exploratory musical activities. While activities vary by age range, they include singing, listening, vocal and rhythmic play, dancing, chanting, bouncing, exploring simple percussion instruments, and experiencing a wide variety of musical examples, including folk songs, classical music, multicultural songs, jazz, and music original to Kindermusik. Additionally, Kindermusik classes always include a set of high quality materials including CD's, books, instruments, home activity guides and more to help you continue your musical experience at home.

Kindermusik Foundations of Learning help you understand the ways that Kindermusik musical activities impact all areas of child development. Activities focus on six major areas:

• Language development
• Cognitive development
• Emotional development
• Physical development
• Social development
• Musical development

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Kindermusik Adventures for babies ages 0-18 months

Unit: Busy Days!

• Five 45-minute classes with a caregiver
• Home materials include a Home CD, an exclusive Baby Board book, a Baby Tambourine, and Home Activities Poster.

Through a unique blend of multi-level activities including creative movement, vocal play, object and instrument exploration, and a colorful literature component, your baby's growth and development are stimulated and all of his senses engaged. Activities include intentional touch warm ups, chants, songs, baby-safe instrument exploration, exercises, interactive dances, and more.

• Educates you about activities to enhance your baby's total development.
• Encourages joyful participation in a music making community.
• Nurtures bonding between you and your child through intentional touch warm-ups, exercises, interactive dances and musical play.
• Baby-safe instruments add to music play at home!

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Kindermusik Adventures for children ages 1½ – 3½ years

Unit: Zoo Train

• Five 45-minute classes with a caregiver
• Home materials include: a CD, Funky-chunky Animal Shaker, Hardcover book and Home Activity Poster.

Exploratory music and movement activities such as singing, moving, bouncing, dancing, listening, chanting, finger plays and playing simple instruments encourage your child's blossoming sense of self and give her a supportive environment in which to explore new skills such as sharing and turn taking. A variety of hands on activities allow even the most active toddlers to have a meaningful, delightful learning experience.

• Educates you about the total development of your child through Kindermusik activities.
• A supportive "pre-classroom" environment to encourage self-confidence, self-expression, social skills and cooperation.

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Kindermusik Adventures for children ages 3½ – 5

Unit: On the Road

• Five 60-minute classes with a snack! Children attend alone for 50 minutes; adults join for last 10 minutes.
• Home materials include: a CD, Hard Cover Book, Wooden Frog Guiro, & Home Activities Poster.

You and your child will embark on a musical journey of discovery and exploration…a journey limited only by the power of imagination. Pretend play activities are integrated with music, vocal development, storytelling, movement, and literature to capture your child's potential to learn and to encourage cognitive and literacy skills, creativity and individuality.

• Creates a learning environment that integrates music, expressive language, peer interaction, and pretend play.
• Challenges your child through activities that promote problem-solving, making choices, and expressing ideas.
• Allows your child to have an active role in the development of music and movement activities.
• Reinforces important preschool concepts such as turn taking, sharing, following guidelines, respecting personal space, and more.

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Kindermusik with Little Maestros Educators

Amy Linville - Welcome to Kindermusik with Little Maestros at West Music Marion! I have experienced first hand the joy music can bring to children through my 11 years as a Kindermusik educator, my over 20 years experience teaching piano and time spent conducting music therapy sessions with regular education and special needs preschoolers. I experience that same joy regularly with my own 3 children. I have a BA in Music & Piano Pedagogy from Mount Mercy College and a Music Therapy degree from The University of Iowa. As a Kindermusik Educator, I strongly agree with Kindermusik International that, "every child is musical, every parent is the child's most important teacher, and the home is the most important place for learning to take root and grow." In the Little Maestros classroom, parents will share in their children's development through participation and the joy of music.

Kaleena Marshall's love for music started when she was just a girl dancing around her living room. She has a BA in dance from the University of Iowa and currently teaches ballet and Irish Step Dance at a studio in Mount Vernon. She was formally trained in flute and taught flute for several years. As a mother of two young sons, Kaleena knows the importance of music and healthy parent interaction in a child's life. Kindermusik brings the best of both worlds together in a safe environment. She is delighted to teach Kindermusik and continue going to classes with her sons.

Lori Tofanelli has four years experience teaching Kindermusik and several more as a Kindermusik mom. Lori's two children graduated from the Little Maestros program with honors and are now pursuing their musical interests in piano, voice and orchestra. Lori graduated from Mount Mercy College with majors in Theater/Speech Communications, Fine Arts and English. She loves teaching Kindermusik because of its highly researched written materials and multi-art format. She is very excited to return to teaching with Little Maestros and looks forward to nurturing your child's musical interests.

Register Today! Classes begin May 28. A confirmation will be sent within 2 weeks of receipt of your registration. Please note: availability is determined by minimum/maximum class sizes; space is reserved on a first come first served basis. If a class you choose is unavailable, we'll call you with further options.

Register online at www.kindermusik.com, or download and print a registration form and mail it with your payment.