Music & Movement Guidebook

Welcome to NWISC!

Whether you are new with us or are returning, we are glad to have you as a part of our community! The faculty and staff work hard to make NWISC an environment of excellence, mutual encouragement, and enjoyment. We appreciate your partnering with us as we all strive to grow as human beings and to make our world a more beautiful place.

We are fortunate to have lovely facilities in which to work and play. Please help to keep them picked up and pleasant.

If you ever have any questions about anything whatsoever, please ask! We value your thoughts and input and we look forward to another delightful, productive year with you.

Northwest Indiana Suzuki Conservatory
505 Don Hovey Dr.
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 465-4040
www.nwisuzuki.com

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Dress for "moving and dancing!"
Grown ups, please set an example of focused listening and enthusiastic participation. Please wait until the end of class to enjoy conversation with others.
Please honor your child's need for autonomy. Allow your child's spirit to lead the way. You need restrain your child only if (s)he is heading for trouble.
During this early childhood phase of musical development the emphasis is on play and not performance. We never want to put pressure on the children to perform music a certain way. Your example of full participation and attentive listening is powerful. Count on that.
At home or in the car, play your class repertoire CD as often as possible. This listening time greatly enhances your family's enjoyment of the class. There are countless other benefits to the heart, mind and soul. Learn the music by heart. There is no treasure like a rich repertoire of music. Make music an integral part of your daily life. Lullabies at bedtime make an ideal family ritual that creates lasting joy and precious child/parent bonding times. Make up songs as you work and play. Use songs to transition from one activity to another, one setting to another. If possible, play or learn to play an instrument, take voice lessons, join a drumming circle. As you express yourself musically, you set a fire in the heart of your child.
Understand that all children learn at different rates and in different ways. Some will simply observe and will not directly participate in the classroom activities. Some will do everything perfectly at home, but not in class. You will find that your seemingly uninvolved child is absorbing everything in his/her quiet way. How often parents tell me that their children love to try out the musical activities at home. Yes, they have incredible powers of attention. As a parent you know that every child is unique, so check your comparisons at the door and let the music work its magic!
Some children wish to be held during circle dances and movement activities. Please do hold them at these times. Music class is a time of family bonding and sweetness.
Believe in your innate creativity no matter the level of your own musical training.
Make music a time of playfulness, discovery and family togetherness. Warning: some children do shush the singing parent. I find that most children have a season or two of pokiness. So if your child shushes you in class, try not to take it personally. The art of surrender and going with the flow comes in handy with creative endeavors. And with parenting in general.
Happy music-making!

CLASS ENTRY PROCEDURE:
1.   Please remove your shoes and your child's shoes in the entryway. Feet without the confines of shoes are freer to move. You are welcome to bring slippers or socks.

2.   Please leave any drinks, snacks, and diaper bags in the entryway. If there is an emergency during class time that necessitates use of any of these items, you may take your child out to the entryway and return to participate in class when you are ready. No drinks or food are allowed in class.

3.   Please sign in on the sign in sheet just inside.

4.   For the first few classes of each session (when you see the provided nametags out and ready for use), please write your child's first name largely on a nametag and stick the nametag on the back of babies or the front of older children. This will help other parents get to know all the children, thus facilitating community building.

TUITION

So that we can make sure there are enough materials for everyone in the class (particularly take-home materials for families new to the class), please submit your tuition by mail or by dropping it off at the conservatory no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled start date of the class you wish to attend. If payment is later than this, please understand that we cannot guarantee immediately available take-home materials for you, but we will get them as soon as we can. Tuition is non-refundable.

MISSED CLASS POLICY

If you miss a class, you are welcome to attend one of the other music & movement classes the same week or the following week. You can check the online calendar for availability. Please check with us when planning to attend a class other than the one for which you registered, so that we can make sure no class gets too large during any given week.