AMEND MUSIC CENTER: SPECIAL PROGRAMS
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BALLET CLASSIQUE
BALLET CLASSIQUE is a classical ballet school whose Director/Instructor, Lael Martin has been teaching ballet in our building for 10 years. Previously she had been the top assistant to long-time Spokane ballet diva Tessa Williams. She teaches all levels from Pre-Ballet thru Adult. She is also available for private instruction by appointment only. Her classes perform several times a year, including entertaining on various cruise ships.
If you would like to contact Lael for further information call her at 324.1702
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SHIRLEY GROSSMAN'S MUSIC PRESCHOOL
Shirley Grossman has been teaching preschool music students for over twenty years. Her school has been located at AMEND MUSIC CENTER since 2002. The following is an article from the SPOKANE SPOKESMAN REVIEW that can describe Shirley's program better than I can.
ALL THE RIGHT CHORDS by Kristen Kromer
Shirley Grossman lives in a musical.
As her young charges file in to the classroom, she crouches down to be at eye level and hangs on each syllable of her greeting on a different note: "Here's Allison! Hi Allison! How are you doing, beautiful girl?"
She welcomes each child like she's been waiting anxiously all day for his or her arrival, then grabs her guitar and calls, "Everybody ready to sing?"
They all launch into the greeting song: "Hello, how do you do? It's good to be with you."
Grossman sings when it's time to switch from one activity to the next and punctuates story time with little ditties. She even sings requests: "Mar-ga-ret! Can you bring the garbage can to us?"
As one of the teachers of the South Hill's Kindermusik class---which has new space, along with several other music studios, on 14th Avenue---Grossman takes her role as ambassador for music very seriously.
"If a child goes to music class and learns not to like it, that is the worst thing on earth," said Grossman, 59, who's been teaching music classes from her home for 15 years. "I love children. I love music. I'm giving them the gift of music and hope that will be a gift they have all their lives."
Kindermusik is an international early childhood music and movement program based on research that shows how music nurtures a child's development: There are four programs for newborns through age seven, plus a 'graduate' program for students in grades one to four.
Along with the new Kindermusik classroom (behind AMEND MUSIC CENTER) and several music studios for private lessons. Children and adults can learn to play percussion, guitar or trombone in the new studios. And inside AMEND MUSIC, other instructors still offer lessons in flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and piano.
In the building's new wing, marimba music and trombone tones enchant young musicians like the smell of baking bread lures a lunchtime crowd. As Kindermusik lays the ground work in children for a musical future, music teachers lend a hand to Kindermusik classes by loaning or demonstrating instruments.
Though music is a focus, the Kindrmusik classes are much more than vocal or instrumental lessons. Mixed in with music are puppets, books, dance and emphasis on listening, exploration and a heavy dose of creativity.
....There are classes for younger kids----"Village" for youngsters up to 18 months old, and "Our Time" for kids 18 months to 3 years. Both classes, which are also for parents, involve lots of movement. In one activity, parents use sheets like hammocks to swing the babies to the music.
It helps them internalize th beat. Kindermusik kids seem to have a better sense of rhythm, and are able to read notes and understand new concepts more easily.
In the "Imagine That!" class for 3 to 5 year olds taught by Grossman, children recently had a session centered around boats. Each brought in a small boat they made themselves (or with help from their mom or dad). They sailed it around their sea, defined by a small hula hoop, and sang: "I love to sail with my very own boat out in the deep blue sea."
The boats sailed on high seas, low seas and through a storm. Drums and tambourines represented thunder and rain.
After docking their boats in cubbyhole harbors, children grabbed binoculars (aqua hair rollers) for an exercise in imagination. Walking through the building, they took a look around the ocean.
The sea was apparently quite full that day, with all types of fish, octopuses, crocodiles, jellyfish, and even bears.
A big part of Kindermusik is parent involvement and helping kids continue what they learn in class at home. Parents of toddlers join in for about the last 15 minutes of class for clapping games and songs. Grossman also talks about the home workbook, which is filled with parentin tips and game ideas.
The "Imagine That!" workbook comes with a play set that is kind of like a paper dollhouse with figures and rooms that correspond to themes covered in class.
"Hopefully, the kids will go home, sing the songs, and use their imagination playing with figures," grossman said.
The class ends with a goodbye song and each child saying or singing goodbye into the microphone.
In sneaky, unthreatening ways, Grossman works in several times for children to speak and sing alone before the class. Parents say they are amazed by the amount of confidence it gives their children.
"They have no inhibitions at all," said Margaret Fallquist, whose two children graduated from Kindermusik. She loved the program so much that she is now Grossman's assistant.
"They sing solos at school and while doing oral presentations in front of the class, they don't get nervous. It's not a big deal."
Annette Fontana's daughter Maria, 5, has been taking Kindermusik classes for three years. Maria said her favorite part is playing rhythm sticks.
Her mom likes what the class has done for Maria.
"She loves it. I know it's helped her," Fontana said. "She talks about rhythm.
She impresses everyone with how much she knows about music. And when something happens at home, she can't wait to tell Mrs. Grossman."
Parents agree that the teachers are the ones who help the Kindermusik curriculum really come alive. In the fall, Kindermusik gave Grossman the title "Maestro," a designation for the top Kindermusik teachers in the country.
"(Grossman) has so much energy and enthusiasm. She's inspiring," said Wendy Hechtman, whose son Zachary, 3, is in the Imagine That! class.
"She really cares about each child and makes them feel special."
For more information about Shirley Grossman's Music Preschool you can contact her at 448.0408.