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Preschool children can learn about music, stories at Community School of the Arts’ ‘Musical Tales’

January 3, 2011
Sara Vogeler

Sara Vogeler

Longtime piano teacher Sara Vogeler combines a love for children’s books and the joy of teaching music to a new music class for preschool age children.

Offered by the NIU Community School of the Arts, Musical Tales begins Tuesday, Jan. 18. The class is for children ages 3 to 5 and their parents.

“I’ve always loved reading ,and now that I have children of my own, I enjoy sharing that love of books with them,” Vogeler said.

Musical Tales begins each week with a story that is read aloud to the class. The children then enjoy a variety of musical activities that bring out the thematic elements of the story. The children explore the characters, plot, sounds and rhythms of the story.

Examples of books that will be read in the class are “Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?” by Dr. Seuss, “Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb” by Al Perkins and “Snug as A Bug” by Michael Elsohn Ross.

The children learn a lot about music while also getting new insights into the story, Vogeler said: “I plan to use drums, rhythm sticks, and other instruments, finger play, action poems and singing and listening to music to help illustrate the different elements of the story.”

The class meets for six weeks from 6:15 to 6:50 p.m. in the NIU Music Building. There are two sessions during spring. The second session begins March 1. 

This is one of many classes offered by the NIU Community School of the Arts in the spring semester. The community school has lessons, classes and ensembles in music, art and theater for children and adults.

For more information, call Renee Page at (815) 753-1450 or visit www.csa.niu.edu.