Please read before registering!
I am so excited to rock the rattle with you and your littles this Fall! First, a big thanks to Courtney Parfitt and the Thrive team for creatively providing the means to offer outdoor classes at their facility.
Second, for those of you who have taken class with me before, please understand that THIS WILL BE DIFFERENT! For starters, and probably most difficult for me, I will need to stay physically distanced from your kiddos. I have tried to imagine me giving them a loving pat on the head or allowing them to hug my knees…but in all honesty, that would be a slippery slope and we should just try to avoid it altogether. To help with that, I’ll be sitting off the ground in a chair and I can mark a boundary in front of me and we’ll work together to keep everyone on the other side of it!
PARTICIPANT WAIVER: Upon entering our outdoor classroom, I will ask you COVID19-related questions and take you and your child’s temperatures – non-touch, as it is necessary in slowing the spread of COVID19. This is a part of our reopening safety measures, consistent with guidance from the CDC, our Governor and the Anne Arundel County Executive.
To reduce the spread of germs, all families need to have their own instruments – a set for you and a set for each of your children. Here is the list of instruments you will need to bring over the course of our 6-week session. I’ll let you know each week which instruments to bring:
– *Shaker Eggs – one for each hand
– *Small Tambourine
– *Wrist bell
– Rhythm Sticks – one for each hand, can use wooden spoons
– Scarf – sheer, if possible
– Variety of small instruments for jam session – DIY is fine; 2 or 3 to choose from
– Small pillow for lullaby
For your convenience, I have organized to provide music kits for those who need them, which will include the items above marked with a *. Each person will receive 2 Shaker Eggs, 1 Tambourine, 1 Wrist Bell. These instruments are professional quality and come from a trusted vendor. As with all instruments, however, you will still need to supervise your children while they are playing with them, in class and at home. The cost of the kit is $20 per person. I recommend that all students have identical instruments to avoid “toy envy,” allowing for more focus on learning, and the kits provide that consistency.
For those of you who already have the necessary instruments at home, you are, of course, welcome to use them and can order additional kits, as needed. As for the rhythm sticks, scarves and jam session instruments, I figured everyone can rummage around their homes and come up with something compatible, perhaps from a Dollar Store or other inexpensive source. We will also use the resonator bells and drums from my collection, which I will disinfect before and after each class. IF YOU NEED TO ORDER INSTRUMENT KITS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MANY YOU WANT TO ORDER BY ADDING A NOTE IN THE “Additional Info/Comments” SECTION OF THE ONLINE SHOPPING CART, WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR YOUR CLASS.
Last, I am asking families to bring a small blanket or yoga mat to sit on and mark your space in our outdoor classroom. Note that we will be on concrete, so new walkers and toddlers may need a little extra cushion under their feet to avoid bumps and bruises should they fall during large movement activities.
Now, BREATHE. I know this sounds like a lot to keep track of, but I’ve got your back. I’ll send a simple weekly checklist indicating what you will need to bring for each lesson.
Register here and let me know how many instrument kits you need. Note: siblings receive a 20% tuition discount, and infant siblings under 8 months at start of the Session attend FREE.
Let’s get this party started!
-Ms. Sharon
