Listen & Learn for Little Ones is an early childhood music class for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers. Created by music therapists Rachel Rambach and Katey Kamerad, this class is designed to instill and foster a love of music as well as develop basic skills for both musical growth and daily life.
The Listen & Learn for Little Ones curriculum is comprised of both original and familiar songs that you can start singing along with at the very first class. Activities are designed based on specific goals and objectives. Skills that are addressed through the Listen & Learn curriculum include (but are not limited to) fine and gross motor movement, rhythmic foundations, intonation, peer interaction, turn-taking, and academic concepts.
As a parent or caregiver, you attend the class with your child to provide support and encouragement — and capture photos and videos of music making in action! Each 45-minute class combines structured activities (movement, singable stories, group instrument play, etc.) with free time for children to explore various instruments and interact with one another.
Katey Kamerad, MT-BC grew up in Channahon, Illinois and is currently residing in Lincoln, IL. At a young age, Katey became actively engaged in music making of all kinds, taking guitar and voice lesson, performing and competing, and devoting herself to learning piano. She completed her bachelors degree in music therapy at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL where she graduated summa cum laude as college scholar and honors college scholar. Katey completed her internship at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL and is currently providing music therapy services through Music Therapy Connections and through St. John’s Children’s Hospital. She is a member of the Illinois Association for Music Therapy.
Janel Metzger, MT-BC grew up in Orion, IL and currently resides in Danvers, IL. She started playing piano at age 5, took flute lessons from age 11 through college, and started guitar and ukulele in college. She graduated from Western Illinois University magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. Janel began her Music Therapy career working at West Music in their Music Therapy department. She worked with a variety of clientele including students with disabilities in schools, nursing home groups, hospice patients, groups of adults with disabilities, recreational music groups for young adults with disabilities and adaptive lessons.
Alisabeth Hopper grew up in Roodhouse, Illinois where she began her interest in music. By age fourteen she had devoted most of her time to performing with piano, guitar, flute, and voice. Alisabeth is attending Western Illinois University where she is seeking to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy with an internship at Music Therapy Connections.