UNT Early Childhood Music gains new assistant director, offers additional classes for elementary-aged children

Friday, August 22, 2014 - 15:45
Category:

What: Early Childhood Music Program for children from birth through 7 years. Parents and guardians participate in the sessions with their children, who experience musical learning through play.

When: Families may register for one of two 10-week sessions held Fridays and Saturdays starting Sept. 12 and 13.

Where: Room 115 in the College of Music Annex, at the corner of Avenue C and Highland in Denton

Cost/Registration: The 10-week session costs $150 for participants from birth to 24 months of age and $170 for older children. Friday sessions also require paid parking, which is available for $2 an hour in the Highland Street Parking Garage. Saturday parking is free in Lot 26, across the street from the Annex. Additional children may attend at a 10 percent discount. An adult should be present for each child. Registration forms are available online.

Contact: Registration may be emailed to the Assistant Director, Christina Svec at ecmusic@unt.edu. Questions may be addressed to Alyssa Hedenstrom at Alyssa.Hendenstrom@unt.edu or 940-565-3730.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- A familiar face returns to UNT's Early Childhood Music Program, which will now offer expanded classes for elementary school children ages 5 to 7.

Christina Svec, a doctoral candidate in music education, has been named as the new assistant director and will serve as instructor for the program. Svec joins Early Childhood Music Director Warren Henry in the program designed to create a rich musical environment for babies and young children.

Svec previously worked with the Early Childhood Music Program when she was at UNT for her bachelor's degree in music education.

"I've always been fascinated with how young children experience music," Svec said. "Their capacity for learning is amazing. In this program we do a lot of 'music play' using songs and chants in various meters and tonalities that accompany activities using scarves, hula hoops, mini-trampolines, xylophones and drums."

The classes, taught in room 115 in the College of Music Annex, begin Sept. 12 for the Friday track and Sept. 13 for the Saturday track and run for 10 weeks. This year a new class for elementary school children ages 5-7 has been added to the Saturday track.

"We are incredibly excited to offer a class to early elementary children and their parents," said Svec. "The addition will expand our program that already includes infant, nursery and preschool classes. All of the classes aim to nurture children's musical development. Any parent would provide persuasive testimony that their children have learned a great deal in this program."

Registration is preferred by Sept. 8, but the program will accept participants later if space allows. Additional children may attend at a 10 percent discount. An adult should be present for each child.

Classes and costs are as follows:

Friday classes

  • Starts Sept. 12 and ends Nov. 14 (10 weeks)
  • Infant (birth to 24 months) 8:30 to 9 a.m. - $150
  • Infant (birth to 24 months) 9:10 to 9:40 a.m. - $150
  • Nursery (25 months to 48 months) 9:50 to 10:30 a.m. - $170
  • Multi-age (birth to 5 years) 10:40 to 11:20 a.m. - $170

Saturday classes

  • Starts Sept. 13 and ends Nov. 15 (10 weeks)
  • Infant (birth to 24 months) 8:30 to 9 a.m. - $150
  • Infant (birth to 24 months) 9:10 am to 9:40 a.m. - $150
  • Nursery (25 months to 48 months) 9:50 to 10:30 a.m. - $170
  • Multi-age (birth to 5 years) 10:40 to 11:20 a.m. - $170
  • Preschool (3 1/2 to 5 years) 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. - $170
  • Elementary (5 to 7 years) 12:20 to 1 p.m. - $170

Because UNT has classes on Fridays, those attending Friday sessions will have to pay for parking, which is available for $2 an hour in the Highland Street Parking Garage. Parking for Saturday classes is free in the lot across from the Music Annex building, Lot 26 at the corner of Avenue C and Highland Street.

Classes are held in the Music Annex building, room 115, on UNT's Denton campus. The building is at the corner of Avenue C and Highland Street.

Register online.

For more information, contact Administrative Assistant Alyssa Hedenstrom at Alyssa.Hendenstrom@unt.edu or 940-565-3730, or Svec at ecmusic@unt.edu.

About UNT's Early Childhood Music Program

Directed by Warren Henry, associate dean of academic affairs in UNT's College of Music, the Early Childhood Music Program aims to maximize children's musical learning opportunities. Classes differ according to the age levels and readiness of the children, but all classes include songs, chants, movement and instrument exploration.

About Christina Svec

Christina Svec is a doctoral candidate in music education and teaching fellow in the College of Music at the University of North Texas. She previously taught K-5 elementary music for McKinney ISD and Little Elm ISD and has served as an early childhood music instructor for the University of North Texas, Michigan State University Community Music School, and the Texas Conservatory of Music in Frisco. She received a B.M. in Music Education from the University of North Texas, a M.M. degree in Music Education from Michigan State University, an early childhood music certification in Music Learning Theory, and multiple elementary music certifications in Music Learning Theory and the Kodály methodology.

About the UNT College of Music

The UNT College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the country. More than 1,600 music students attend UNT each year, participating in more than 50 widely varied ensembles and pursuing specialized studies in performance, composition, music education or music scholarship. UNT faculty members and students have made appearances on the world's finest stages and have produced numerous recordings, many receiving Grammy awards and nominations. Distinguished UNT alumni can be found around the globe, in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities and schools.

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