When listed classes are marked ‘full’ on the online enrollment site, we may open a new class if we have enough interest. Email Dr. Jane Weigel, jweigel@ua.edu
Statement of purpose:
You and your child already know that music is FUN! Here are some of the reasons why music also is important to your child’s development as a future reader! Research tells us that a child should be exposed to 20,000 words per day. Through songs, rhymes, and repetition, we can ensure that this goal is met in a way that stimulates all areas of the brain. Communication with a child from birth to age 5, through an EXCHANGE is key!
Music stimulates all areas of the brain. The frontal lobe of the brain is stimulated by use of circle dances, fine and gross motor movement, instrument and prop play, patterns, sequencing, rhymes, vocal play, singing, cooperative play, creative expression, stop and go routines. These activities promote inhibitory control, oral language development, exposure to tiered vocabulary, social development. The parietal lobe is stimulated by instrument and prop manipulation, coordination of bilateral movement, movement activities and hand eye coordination building activities. These activities will help to increase fine motor development, whole body awareness, sensory integration, and will develop the connection for phonological processing, giving us the ability to sound out words. The temporal area of the brain is stimulated by activities focused on pitch, listening to different layers of sounds, learning lyrics and poems, and focused listening to stories. These activities also increase a child’s ability to process language and language structure. The occipital lobe is stimulated by visual activities such as musical notation and print. This area is also responsible for allowing us to make the connection from speech to print as symbols relate to literacy.
To conclude, we seek to provide the best possible engagement to foster you child’s enjoyment of music, enhance their social and emotional development, and stimulate your child’s pre- reading mind.
Our classes are designed for a one-parent per child experience. Classes limit to 8 children per class. Morning and late afternoon classes are offered most sessions. When advertised classes fill to capacity, additional classes may be added.
TEACHER: Jane Weigel. Over 20+ years of experience (Kindermusik and preK outreach classes). Email jweigel@ua.edu
CMS follows all UA health guidelines and mandates. At this time there is no mask mandate.
Classes for ages: Infant – 17 months
Session length: 14 weeks
Fee: $140, includes take home items
Day/Time Offered: Wednesday 10:00 a.m. OR Wednesday 5:15 p.m.
Classes foster creativity, social development, and self-esteem through exposure to music for infants from birth to 17 months. These are 45-minute classes for infants and caregivers or parents, offered in 14-week non-sequential sessions. Many of the class activities and materials can easily be adapted for the family to use at home. Build your child’s ‘sound library’ from an early age! Each session is built around a theme.
Classes for ages 18 months-3 years
Session length: 14 weeks
Fee: $140, includes take home items
Day/Times Offered: Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. OR Tuesdays 3:15 p.m. OR Tuesdays 4:15 p.m. OR Tuesdays 5:15 p.m.
Music class brings the joy of music and movement to the lives of children 18 months to 3 years and is offered in theme-based 15-week non-sequential semesters. Eight children is the ideal class size, each with an accompanying parent or caregiver, meet weekly with the teacher for a 45-minute class. These lessons also help parents and caregivers become familiar with ways to encourage and facilitate musical development and appreciation. Activities are age and developmentally appropriate, engaging, and fun!
Classes for ages: 3.5 – 5.5 years
Session length: 14 weeks
Fee: $140, includes take home items
Day/Times Offered: Monday, 4:15 p.m. OR Monday 5:15 p.m.
This research-based early childhood music program is designed to support the development of the whole child. Activities include singing and playing percussion instruments, dance and creative movement activities, focused listening, and introduction to musical notation. Concepts at the foundation of music such as steady beat playing, tempo, inhibitory control, and social cooperation are central to these classes. Classes are designed for the students to show independence and work cooperatively with classmates and their accompanying adult partner during the 45-minute class. Pre-emergent literacy and phonemic awareness activities are woven into our class.
During class we learn about the musical families (Fall = woodwind, percussion, keyboards. Spring = brass, strings, voice) and take “musical field trips” within Moody Music Bldg. The children visit faculty or college music students who introduce their instrument and demonstrate (play) for them. Parents attend class and come along on these mini field trips. Hands-on keyboard activities are part of fall session and percussion activities are woven throughout fall and spring. Introduction to the staff and rhythm and other symbols come to fruition with the introduction to playing the glockenspiel, a keyboard-like percussion instrument, and the Toot, a flute-like wind instrument during fall semester. Spring session involves introduction to the jHorn, which has valves, and playing the p-bone, a brass-like instrument with a slide that approximates the action of a trombone.
Bridge Classes: Piano OR Toot, for ages 4.5 – 6 years
Day/Times Offered: Fridays, 4:15 p.m. Piano Class OR Wednesdays, 4:15 p.m. Toot/jFlute Class
- Enrollment in these classes is by permission. Contact jweigel@ua.edu
- Bridge Classes serve as a ‘bridge’ to private lesson study. This small group class (4 students) retains some of the social elements and music fundamentals activities of the pre-K classes but the main focus is at the keyboard OR playing the Toot, a small flute-like wind instrument pitched in the key of C with a lip plate which combines recorder and flute. Toot classes meet in the pre-K room and piano classes meet in room 179 of the Moody Music Building on the UA campus (close to the CMS office). Moody Music Bldg. physical address: 810 2nd Ave, 35487
- Bridge Class teachers are Jane Weigel, Toot/jFlute, and TBD for piano. Classes are enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once listed classes are enrolled to capacity (4), additional class sections may be opened for enrollment. There is no proration of session fees for these classes.
General Information
- All early music classes take place in room 141 of the Moody Music Building on the UA campus (off the main lobby). Bldg. physical address: 810 2nd Ave, 35487
- Class day/time options are listed on the CMS online enrollment form or email Dr. Weigel for updates. Classes are enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once listed classes are enrolled to capacity (8), additional class sections may be opened for enrollment. There is no proration of session fees for these classes.
- Class are non-sequential and are theme-based.They are designed for a one parent or caregiver per enrolled child experience. Attendance by more than one adult per child is subject to teacher approval. Due to room size and the need to keep an appropriate teacher-child ratio, attending a different class other than the in which you are enrolled is subject to teacher approval. We ask that children finish snacks before entering the classroom. Only water may be brought into the classroom.
- Instruments and scarves are sanitized after each class. Do not attend class if you or your child has a fever or are showing signs of illness such as excessive cough.
- The tuition fee includes a supply pack for each child to keep. Once the session has begun, there is a no-make up policy and no-refund for non-attendance.
- The fall classes begin mid-to-late August unless otherwise noted. If interest exceeds the listed classes, an additional class may start the week after Labor Day. Spring classes – see Calendar tab. Our Summer session meets in June.
- Jane Weigel teaches these classes and has over 20+ years of experience (Kindermusik curriculum and general outreach pre-K classes).
- A one-time visit to experience a class may be scheduled as spots become available. Please call the CMS office at (205)-348-6741 to schedule a visit for you and your child to one of our classes.