Music and merriment
Award winning singer and educator Gigi Keeffe Schwartzman will be leading a series of classes exploring music through age-appropriate songs. The lessons are designed to introduce children to a variety of folk songs and classical music.
The first of the two classes is geared for 2- to 3-year-olds with a focus on nursery rhymes, finger-puppet plays, and call and response songs to help develop language skills. Four- and 5-year-olds will receive separate instruction involving more advanced rhythm games and songs aimed at improving their motor skills.
Besides Schwartzman, Ron Albanese, an elementary school teacher and musician, will be hosting a six week-program as Polka Dot. The musical entertainer sports red bell-bottoms, rainbow suspenders and a large yellow hat covered in multi-colored polka dots. Children will receive instruction on rhythm and tempo and a basic understanding of various instruments.
"This guided course utilizes a holistic, multiple instruction model to engage students not just through music but also through linguistic, spatial, and physical avenues of learning," said Geri Fallo, the city's coordinator of Cultural Affairs.
Albanese has been performing as Polka Dot for the past seven years, during which time he has been featured in several New Jersey newspapers including the Current, Bergen Record, and Star-Ledger. Polka Dot has also made appearances on the television programs Across the Hudson and NBC's Today Show.
The young poet society
Another program is aimed at developing literacy at a young age. Each session will begin with a poem or a short story to introduce the workshop, where children will be encouraged to explore their literary side.
By the end of the session, poetic verses written by the children, under the guidance of the instructor, will adorn vibrant cutouts they will make.
During the program, children will be asked to create a self-portrait with a series of descriptive words provided by the instructor, so that they will begin to associate words with basic story telling. At the end of the lesson, the portraits will be compiled into a book and presented to the entire class for their parents or guardians to enjoy.
Kicking and dancing all the way home
The city will also be offering children an opportunity to express themselves through the cha-cha, salsa, mambo, quickstep, and tango. In addition to the music, many of the songs and stories that accompany the dance sessions will be in Spanish to introduce children to a second language. The aim of the Bailemos 1-2-3 program, which is being co-sponsored by the Monroe Center of the Arts, is to encourage the innate rhythm and love of music that exists in every child.
In addition to dancing, children will be given a chance to learn introductory kickboxing with a trainer provided by Club KO. Parents are encouraged to come and work out with their children.
Making it possible
The city's Division of Cultural Affairs offers an array of events throughout the year for adults as well as children, from the Arts and Music Festival that engulfed Washington Street several weeks ago to the Movies Under the Stars event that brings families together on summer nights at Pier A.
"Our recreational and cultural programs are designed to empower the needs of all our citizens, especially our children, who are our fastest growing segment of the population," said Mayor David Roberts.
For more information on these or any other city programs, call (201) 420-2207 or log onto www.hobokennj.org.
Michael Mullins can be reached at mmullins@hudsonreporter.com
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