September 22, 2000 UNT Inhouse publication: Enrollment opens for early childhood music classes

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Enrollment opens for early childhood music classes

Warren Henry, assistant professor of music and director of the UNT Early Childhood Music Program, is accepting infants and preschoolers for the fall session of his childhood music classes.

The program, which is designed to nurture young children's musical aptitudes, is now in its fifth year. While in class, the children and their parents are exposed to all kinds of music. "Some choose to participate while others simply watch and absorb," Henry says.

The philosophy is that children learn music in the same way they learn language.

"Children need to hear language in order to learn how to speak," Henry says. "Just imagine the linguistic skills of a child who was never spoken to during the first two years of life. Music is learned in a similar fashion. In order to build a strong musical foundation for the future, children need to be exposed to music at an early age. Through this exposure, they will be better able to 'speak music' as they grow older."

The program is dedicated to nurturing musical aptitude, which stabilizes by age 8. Classes last 30 minutes for infants and 40 minutes for nursery-age children. The fall class schedule is:

Fridays

9 a.m., infants (0-29 months)

10 a.m., nursery (30-48 months)

11 a.m., infants

Saturdays

10 a.m., infants

10:45 a.m., nursery

Parents are given a repertoire of music that can be used at home. Fall classes begin the week of Sept. 18 and run through Dec. 4. The cost is $100 for infants and $120 for nursery-age children. Class size is limited to 10 children per class. For more information, contact Henry by phone at 369-7540 or by e-mail at whenry@music.cmm.unt.edu.