START YOUR CHILD'S MUSICAL JOURNEY
Our Early Childhood program focuses on children up to four years of age by providing a music enrichment class for the child and their primary caregiver. This class provides all the benefits of music class participation such as experiencing movement, rhythm, and percussion instruments; building sensory awareness and gross motor skills while interacting with other children their age through song and play; and bonding with their caregiver. While our students are enrolled in a mainstream class, the structure of the classes are geared towards a child with hearing loss as they are single voice, percussive, repetitive and include attaching movement to songs all of which make the class accessible to our children.
The overarching goal of our Early Childhood program is to foster a music rich home environment where music is incorporated into the child’s daily routine and brings all the joyful noise and benefits to the child living with hearing loss. Â
EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS (UP TO AGE 4)
Our partner schools, Merit School of Music and Old Town School of Music feature unique small group early childhood music enrichment programs, where the focus is on creating a musical experience for the child. Their top level Early Childhood specialists incorporate song, chant, movement exercises, and instrument play to develop a child’s imagination, musical awareness, and expressiveness teaching our little ones childhood classics and new songs in both Spanish and English allows for learning the essential musical building blocks and taking their first steps on a lifetime journey of musical appreciation.
Our Music to My Ears (MTME) scholarship children are placed in classes with their hearing peers to encourage socialization. All of the teachers have been versed on the hearing needs of a deaf or hard of hearing child. Start your child on their music journey and connect sound to movement at either an Old Town Wiggleworms class or at a Merit School Music Explorers or Tuneful Toddler class. Explore the wide array of classes available at our partner schools which include infant, toddler, sibling and bi-lingual music classes.
Joy Faith Knapp Music Center
38 South Peoria St.
Chicago, IL 60607
Chicago – Evanston – Park Ridge – Western Springs – Lake Forest – Glencoe
Date – Saturday, October 23, 2021
Time – 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Place – Live VITURAL Concert
FHSR is so excited to welcome Laurie Berkner, a nationally beloved children’s music artist as our Cheers for Ears 2021 entertainment.Â
We will be singing, dancing and making music together virtually, while staying safe at home.Â
Laurie shares her talent with audiences all over the world through her YouTube channel.
APPLY FOR AN MTME EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP
The Music To My Ears Scholarship Program allows all deaf or hard or hearing children, regardless of financial need, to attend weekly music enrichment classes and experience the joy of music with their caregivers and hearing peers.
The scholarship will provide one year of tuition-free music classes to (up to 4 years of age) who are deaf or hard of hearing and living in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Creating a music rich environment in the home has many benefits for the child; from listening skills to speech perception and development, to turn taking and movement but perhaps the biggest benefit is the joy music gives to a child’s life.
By bringing music into your deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) child’s life in a joyful and meaningful way it can provide a respite from the doctor’s appointments and therapies giving the child and their caregiver a special bonding experience. Â
MORE MUSIC TO MY EARS (MTME) PROGRAMMING
MUSIC RELATED BLOG ARTICLES
Pitch perception and Cochlear Implant users
Did you know that cochlear implant users perceive pitch in an entirely Read More
A conversation with FHSR Music Program Coordinator & Merit School Teacher, Sally Blandon
With all that is happening in today’s world one constant that everyone Read More
Fun and Interactive Music Activities: Ages 5-7
Finding new and exciting activities to engage your children can be difficult Read More
Fun and Interactive Music Activities to do at home for kids Ages 2 – 4
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BE A PART OF IT ALL.
Give the gift of hearing.
Every contribution to FHSR helps improve the lives of children with hearing loss.Â
We hope you will consider making a gift to support these children.  Thank you!
