Spring Schedule is set!!!

Now is the time to start thinking about Kindermusik for next semester.  I am pleased to offer the following classes:

Our Time (18 months-3 years) will be offered on Thursdays from 9:15-10:00 a.m. Classes begin February 2nd and run for 15 weeks until May 10th.  Total cost for this class is $200.  Tuition is $145 and the home materials cost is $55.

Kindermusik for the Young Child Semester 2 (5-7 years) will be offered on Wednesdays from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Total cost for this class is $200.  Tuition is $145 and the home materials cost is $55.  (NOTE:  If your child has not previously taken Kindermusik for the Young Child, your home materials fee will be $78 instead of $55 because they will need a glockenspiel and bag.)  Classes begin January 11th/January 12th and meet for 15 weeks with the last classes of the semester on April 18th/April 19th.

Kindermusik is a wonderful opportunity for your child to experience movement and music in a fun setting with other children.  The gains they will make in all developmental areas are tremendous.  Research shows that music makes kids smarter!!

If you are interested in this experience for your child, think about asking grandparents to bless your child with the gift of Kindermusik this Christmas.  I am offering a 10% Earlybird discount of $14.50 off tuition if you pay your tuition in full by December 16, 2011.  Your materials fee will be due by January 3, 2012 to ensure materials delivery before the first class.

If you are interested or have more questions, please contact me at (712) 527-9276 or by email at lambertlaurak@aol.com.  You may also enroll online using the ENROLL NOW button on the right sidebar.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!!!!

Now offering more classes!

I'm so excited to announce that I will be offering four new Kindermusik options this fall.  Kindermusik has a great variety of 4-week curricula for children ages 2-4 and 4-6.  I've decided to make some of those classes available in October and November. This is a great option for those of you who have wanted to try out Kindermusik but haven't been able to enroll due to schedules, time, or cost.  As always, your tuition for these classes will include excellent home materials which you can use to extend your child's learning at home.

The ABC Music & Me classes that I will offer include:

For 2-4 year olds:

On the Go gets children moving.  They will use their locomotor skills—and their active imaginations—to drive in cars, chug along in trains, zoom and soar in planes, and bumpity-bump in buses.  It’s non-stop learning as you explore the learning focus:  “I can move quickly and slowly.  I have creative ideas.”

This class will meet Saturdays from 10:00-10:30 a.m. on October 15, 22, 29 & November 5.

Home Sweet Home uses everyday tasks around the house to explore the learning focus:  “I can move high and low.  I can make high and low sounds.  I can pretend.”  Children will have fun rap-rap-rapping, pop-pop-popping, and splash-splash-splashing their way through a great big house in their great big imaginations.

This class will meet Saturdays from 10:00-10:30 a.m. on November 12 & 19 & December 3 & 10.

For 4-6 year olds:

Jazz Kitchen takes music, sounds, and instruments…..into the kitchen!  In Jazz Kitchen children will explore food in its many dimensions….shopping at the grocery store, then heating up the kitchen with chopping, dicing, making toast, and cooking noodles from scratch—all to the rhythms and sounds of jazz.  They’ll also explore quarter-note and eighth-note rhythms with their hands, their bodies, and possibly a keyboard.

This class will meet on Saturdays from 9:15-9:45 a.m. on October 15, 22, 29 & November 5.

Jumping Beans jumps into the rhythms of Latin America!  Children will listen to a variety of Latin music styles, play instruments, dance, and investigate the concept of a musical rest.  They will move and stop their bodies, explore expressive movement, sing some Spanish words and phrases, and even jump like jumping beans.  Ole!

This class will meet on Saturdays from 9:15-9:45 a.m. on November 12 & 19 & December 3 & 10.

Tuition is $50 for each class.  This includes four 30-minute class sessions and Home Materials.  

If you enroll by October 4^th, you can take advantage of our Fall 2011 Promo which allows you to enroll in 2 classes for $90.  Additionally, if you enroll two siblings, you will receive a sibling discount of $90/2 classes.  If you have children who fall into each age group, but would like to enroll them in the same session for convenience, just visit with me and we can make arrangements for that to happen.

To enroll, contact Laura Lambert at:  712-527-9276 or lambertlaurak@aol.com or use the “Enroll Now” link on the right sidebar of this website.  I would love to have your child/ren in class this fall!!


Incidentally, I also have openings in my other three classes.  Contact me if you are interested in finding out more about these semester-long classes.

I still have openings for Kindermusik!!

It's been a while since I've posted over here.  I just wanted to let you know that I still have openings in all three Kindermusik classes.  Our Time (18 months-3 years) meets on Thursdays from 9:15-10:00 a.m. and is almost full with a few spots left.  Imagine That!  (3-5 year olds)  meets on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:15 p.m. and is half full.  Young Child (5-7 years) meets on Wednesdays from 6:45-7:45 p.m. and has several spots left.  Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in enrolling.  I am placing a materials order really soon!

Kindermusik Tuition Adjustment!!

Hello, all!  To make a very long story short, I have not had complete access to the "SHOP" page of the Kindermusik teacher's store until today.  Therefore, to set prices for the Home Materials for each class, I was going from an old price list that I had.  The good news is that I got access to the "shop" today and saw that there were discounted prices on the Home Materials for all three classes.  What this means is that the total cost for each class will be slightly less than what was originally posted on this blog.  If you click on the Kindermusik tab above you'll be able to see the new and accurate prices.  Please contact me with any questions. 

Studio Photos!

Just wanted to let you all know that I've added photos to the Studio page.  Click on the "Studio" link above for a virtual tour!!

Kindermusik Video/Blog Link on sidebar!

If you are considering Kindermusik but don't know much about it yet, I encourage you to click on some of the short video clips on the link in the upper right sidebar of this blog.  For example, if you are considering Imagine That! for your child, scroll through until you see a video labeled "Imagine That" or "IT" and click to watch.  You will be able to see actual video of that class being taught with real live kiddos!  If you think your child would love to be one of those kiddos, talk to me about enrolling in Kindermusik!  As the Kindermusik motto goes:  "A great beginning never ends.........."  Check it out today!!

What is included in the Kindermusik home materials?

For those of you unfamiliar with Kindermusik, I wanted to write a quick post to explain the Home Materials component of the class.   Just like you have to purchase "gear" to go with various sports activities or costumes for dance recitals, there is some "gear" to go along with your child's Kindermusik experience.  The awesome thing about the Kindermusik gear is that it is designed by experts in the fields of music education and child development AND it is designed so that you as the parent can have access to materials that will reinforce and enhance what your child is learning in their Kindermusik class.  In my family, our Kindermusik CDs and instruments are by far some of the best investments I've made in my children's learning and development during their early childhood years.  They continue to be favorites to this day, even several years after my children were last enrolled in a Kindermusik class.

As part of your total cost for enrolling in Kindermusik you will pay a deposit which covers the cost (including tax and shipping) for the Home Materials for that class.  In case you are wondering...........here is what you get in the Home Materials for each of the three classes I currently offer:

Our Time (18 months-3 year olds class, Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m.)

• Two Home CDs with all the songs and chants from class plus more music
• Two Literature Books which are copies of the books used in class and are designed to correlate   with  Our Time activities and stimulate the continuation of class activities at home.
• Home Activity Book which includes songs, creative activities for play, and lots of information about how these activities will benefit your child's growth and development.
• Instrument (each semester's curriculum has a different instrument)
• Carry Bag

Imagine That!  (3-5 year olds class, Wednesdays from 5:30-6:15 p.m.)

• Two Home CDs
• Literature component
• Family Activity book
• Pretend play manipulative component
• Instrument
• Imagine That! backpack

Kindermusik for the Young Child  (5-7 year olds class, Wednesdays from 6:45-7:45 p.m.)

• Kindermusik for the Young Child Carry Bag with the Young Child logo (NOTE:  This is to be used for all 4 semesters of YC and is included with the first semester's enrollment; it is a one-time purchase.)
• Home CD with songs and activities from the curriculum
• Children's Folder for organizing and storing activity pages and for placement of attendance stickers
• Games Bag, a clear vinyl bag for holding manipulatives
• 15 Music at Home Cards with information for parents about home activities
• Attendance stickers, name stickers and a variety of manipulatives
• Family Songbook containing songs and chants experienced in class
• Instrument:  for Semester 1 students the instrument is a glockenspiel with two mallets which will be used for all four semesters of YC.  In Semester 3 children will get a dulcimer with bag.  In Semester 4 they will get a recorder with bag.

Wow!  Just typing that list makes me wish I could have taken these classes when I was little!  I guess I'll get to live vicariously now through my little students.  How fun!!

What is the best age to start piano lessons?

You may be wondering what age is a good time to begin formal piano lessons.  I'll share my opinon here, although chances are you could ask other piano teachers and their suggestions would vary somewhat.  I began piano lessons at the beginning of second grade.  Miss Sandy (many of you know her!!) was my piano teacher.  At that time she told my mom that second grade was an ideal age to start piano lessons.  By this age children have developed longer attention spans and concentration, the mathematical concepts needed for comprehending music are stronger, and they have better manual dexterity. 

I taught piano lessons as a teenager, then again as an adult both in Iowa City and here in Glenwood.  While I have started children as young as beginning kindergarteners, my experience has led me to agree with Miss Sandy.  Second grade and above is an ideal age for this type of formal instruction.  Of course there is tremendous variability between children.  If you are still wondering about what's best for your own child, I would love to visit with you about it.  Depending on the child, some children might be ready as beginning first graders.

If you have a young one who is interested in music but may not be ready yet for piano lessons, one option to consider is Kindermusik for the Young Child.  This class will meet on Wednesdays from 6:45 to 7:45 and will include singing, dancing, and movement activities as well as beginning instruction in music notation, recognizing and reading rhythms and other foundational music concepts.

Enroll now! link is installed

I have installed an enroll now link in the top right sidebar of the blog.  This will take you directly to a place where you can enroll for Kindermusik classes online and using your credit card.  I know many of you will appreciate the convenience of this option. 

Fall 2011 Schedule is ready!!

I have just confirmed the classes and dates/times for Kindermusik for this fall.  If you click on the "Kindermusik" tab above, you will be linked to the page that describes the three classes I'm planning to offer along with when classes meet and the tuition for each class.  I am excited to be able to offer classes for children ages 18 months through 7 years.   If you have any questions about any of the classes, please contact me at lambertlaurak@aol.com.  I am truly excited to offer this great musical experience to children and families in Glenwood, so don't hesitate to call me with your questions. 

Also, I have made it very easy to enroll for those of you who know already that you would like to register your child.  If you go to http://www.kindermusik.com/ and click on the "Find a class" link you will be directed to type in your zip code and check the age of your child/children.  A list of options should pop up and my name and Walnut Hill Studio should be near the top.  Click on the class you are interested in and you will be able to pay online using a credit card.  So simple! 

I hope to hear from many of you very soon!! 

I'm licensed!! (to drive AND teach Kindermusik!)

I have officially applied for and received confirmation that I am now a licensed Kindermusik instructor.  Very soon I will be posting a schedule of the classes I plan to offer this fall.  I am very happy and excited to be able to offer Kindermusik to the families in and around Glenwood, Iowa.

Welcome to Walnut Hill Studio!!

Hello!!  Welcome to Walnut Hill Studio!  I am excited to begin a new chapter of life as a stay-at-home mama to my two young sons.  I've wanted to stay home for 10 years (my oldest son is almost 10), and am finally taking the plunge.  I have resigned from the best job I ever had as the director and head teacher of our local Montessori preschool.  Since school let out for summer vacation, I've been busy taking Kindermusik training and making lots of changes and rearranges in my basement to turn it into a home music studio where I will offer Kindermusik classes, piano lessons, and private tutoring.  This will allow me to make some income for our family while being the stay-at-home mommy I've always wanted to be.  I look forward to many new adventures.  Also........I finally figured out how to add pages to my blog, so you can click on the tabs above to learn more about me, Kindermusik, piano lessons, tutoring, and the studio.  Who knew it could be as easy as Googling "how to add pages to your Blogger blog"?  Three minutes and one YouTube video later and I was off and running adding pages galore.  I love the page tabs.  They make it so much easier to navigate the content, dontcha think?  Wow!  I haven't stayed up this late for a LONG time.  Time to wrap it up and go to bed (actually, I am typing this while in bed, but that doesn't count!).  One last thing.......I finally bit the bullet and started a Facebook page.  Before you get too excited, it's a PAGE, not a PROFILE.  Big difference, according to Amber.  She is trying to convince me to do a Profile, but I'm just not ready yet.  Gotta dip my toes in the water before I take the big plunge.  Nite-nite!!