Cycle of Seasons Pre-school Summer Music Camp Begins Aug. 8th

For parents seeking a change of pace during the summer for their three and four-year olds, Wharton Music Center is featuring a music camp just for pre-schoolers. Cycle of Seasons combines singing, rhythmic movement, storytelling, and the creative use of simple instruments while focusing on a summer theme. The music camp runs from August 8 through August 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Campers can register for one week or two. Parents and caregivers are invited to join each class for the last 15 minutes. Cycle of Seasons is taught by WMC faculty member and Kindermusik teacher Betsy LaVela. Wharton Music Center is located at 60 Locust Avenue in Berkeley Heights.

Early childhood music specialist Betsy LaVela notes, "Parents often ask about what we teach to children who are so young. We help the children develop a broad-based musical repertoire and expose them to a wide variety of musical genres, introduce them to the instrument families, play musical games that develop key musical skills, enable them to play a variety of simple rhythm instruments, and lay a musical foundation that can be built upon as a child seeks to continue to grow musically by singing in a choir or through an instrumental ensemble.”

Betsy LaVela has been an active early childhood music and movement specialist since 1989, teaching Kindermusik and Musikgarten classes to hundreds of children both in New Jersey and in The Netherlands. Betsy trained with Dr. Lorna Lutz Heyge, the founder of the Kindermusik and Musikgarten programs.

For more information about WMC Summer Camps, view the Summer 2011 catalog and the weekly camp offerings atWhartonMusicCenter.org. To register for Summer Camps, download the Summer 2011 registration form and submit it to WMC with payment or contact Wharton Music Center at info@wmcmusic.org or 908 790-0700.

Judith G. Wharton Music Center, located at 60 Locust Avenue in Berkeley Heights, provides music, theater, and dance instruction, educational programs, and performances for children, teens, and adults. In addition to instruction in all instruments and voice, WMC offers classes in musical theater, dance, drama, choral music, vocal music, music theory, audio recording, early childhood music, and music for children with special needs. Offering a range of musical genres including classical, rock, jazz, and blues, WMC is New Jersey’s largest independent community music center serving students in Berkeley Heights, Summit, Chatham, New Providence, Long Hill, Warren, Basking Ridge, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston, Westfield, Scotch Plains, and other surrounding communities. WMC is a non-profit charitable organization.