This past Fall, 20 students participated in the kick-off semester of the Fox Valley Homeschool Choir under the direction of Marketo Griffin and Hannah Gerrity.  There were Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses all lifting their voices in praise to the Lord culminating in a wonderful Christmas Concert!

The second semester of the Fox Valley Homeschool Choir will begin Jan 23^rd (Jan 16^th for new members) with a Spring Concert scheduled for late April.

CHOIR DETAILS

New Member Start Date: Monday, January 16, 2012

Rehearsal Dates: Mondays, January 23, 2012 – April 23, 2012 (No rehearsal on 2/20, 3/26, 4/9).

Time: 3:00-4:15pm

Place: Union Congregational Church Sanctuary

405 West State Street, North Aurora, IL

REGISTRATION

Student Ages: Ages 14-18 may join without audition **

Ages 12-13 must audition to join **

Cost: $75 for 1^st child, $35 for 2^nd child, $20 for 3^rd child (and beyond)J

Registration: Now through January 30, 2012

To register please email the Director, Marketo Griffin @ lessons@marketochristine.com

** Marketo will listen to all new students privately for part assignments (SATB)

About the Director:

Marketo heard the Lord’s call into music and ministry over five years ago while working as a civilian air traffic controller on a remote airfield in the Kuwait desert! She entered Wheaton College just over a year later and recently finished her studies with a Bachelor Degree of Music in Voice Performance.  At Wheaton College, she served as Honors Conductor of the Wheaton College Concert Choir, Director of the Wheaton College WOW Worship Team, and Honors Conductor of the Wheaton College Women’s Chorale.   Marketo is currently serving as the A Cappella Ensemble Director at DuPage AME Church and as the Coordinator of Contemporary Worship at First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton.

About the Assistant Director/Accompanist:

Hannah Gerrity will be serving as the Assistant Director and the Accompanist.  She graduated from Wheaton College in May with a BS in Voice Performance.  While she was a student at Wheaton College, she served as Honors Conductor and President of the Wheaton College Concert Choir. She is also a very gifted pianist and accompanist.  Hannah is passionate about choral singing, homeschooling and loving Jesus with all her heart!

Piano Instruction for $15 per Half Hour Lesson -

Stephanie Dean has 24 years of instruction and teaching experience
with a BA in Elementary Education and a MA in Teaching and Leadership.

She was also a 2004 nominee for Kane County Teacher of the Year.

Stephanie Dean’s Piano Instruction
219 Rainmaker Run
Lake in the Hills, IL 60156

For more information contact:

Phone: 847-854-4185

Email: sbdean1@gmail.com

SteveSongs of PBS Kids – Free Concert in Deerfield

What: SteveSongs Concert
When: Saturday, November 19
11:00 a.m.
Cost: FREE SHOW!

Where: Wonder!
250 S. Waukegan Rd, Deerfield

Great fun for all ages, but perfect for ages 2-10!

Join Steve on an entertaining and interactive musical journey as he
performs creative songs and stories from his Parents’ Choice Gold
Award Winning releases Marvelous Day and On a Flying Guitar, along
with favorites from PBS Kids and his other popular CDs. Kids can sing,
dance, laugh, and have fun with Steve’s dynamic performance and
engaging songs.

www.stevesongs.com

Find Steve at www.stevesongs.com or at www.facebook.com/stevesongs

Find Wonder! at www.shopwonder.com or at www.facebook.com/wonderstores

Guitar Fundamentals is a leader in providing group guitar lessons for park districts and after school programs for the Chicagoland area.

They are interested in offering classes to home schoolers in the area as well.

For more information . . .

Call:  630-664-1504

Email: smathison2@comcast.net

Or check out their webpage: www.guitarfundamentals.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Don’t know where I’ve been, but when I was given an opportunity to review a brand new CD from Robert Pierre, I thought, “Who?”

No, he’s not homeschooled, but I am always looking for great music to listen to while I read my great books, so . . .

Then I started looking at his bio. Oh, he’s only 18. That’s why I haven’t heard of him. Just some brand new, trying-to-make-it kid, right? Heh. Well, I looked a little further.

His first album was released almost 5 years ago. No newcomer here. He leads worship at the church his parents helped start in Florida. He knows how to lead a crowd, knows how to perform, but most importantly he knows how to worship on a grand scale.

When most young people are just trying focusing on narrowing down college choices he is penning lyrics that show the depth of his faith, that he’s all in.

While I think the songs will appeal to young people, I personally enjoyed just about every single one of them. I would love to hear these added to our Sunday morning line up.

These are great songs to have in the background as you surf the net, in the car while you are running errands, or crank them up when you or your kids need a dance break (what? you don’t take those now and then?) All of my kids enjoyed these tunes. So, I guess they are suitable from 1 year old on up.

Take a little look for yourself (9 minute video about the album and Robert Pierre himself):

The CD is just now coming out. July 26th. You can pick it up online or at your local Christian book store.

Check out more at these links:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Fox Valley Music Camp at Judson University

This week-long day camp for ages K-12 is held in Elgin, IL, June 27-July 1, 2011.

For K-2nd grade (half day) 9-12:30
Cost: $100

For Grades 3-12 (full day) 9-4:30
Cost: $200-$250

The camp offers private instrumental instruction,IMEA competition prep and both Classical and Contemporary ensembles.

Campers explore music history, theory and composition in addition to making music together. A recital concludes the week.

Where: Judson University, Elgin IL
1151 N. State Street

For more information: foxvalleymusiccamp@gmail.com

Website: www.judsonu.edu

Phone: Cheryl Richardson at 847.458.2729

Or Phone Robert Kania at: 847.628.1115 or email: rkania@judsonu.edu

Music Camp

(June 27-July 1) for Guitar-strumming, drum-pounding, keyboard-playing 6th-12th grade students interested in learning how to form and play in a worship band.

Form a worship band on Monday — Play a concert on Friday!

Cobey Bienert  from the band  The Hudson Branch will
show your students how to do it at the Fox Valley Music Camp at Judson
University, June 27- July 1.

Sign up now by sending in a registration form found at:
http://tinyurl.com/FoxValleymusiccamp-form

Questions? e-mail foxvalleymusiccamp@gmail.com

Jeffrey Cappelli of the Cappelli Institute for Music contacted me about getting the word out about his school in the central Oak Park area. He founded this  institution in 1980 and holds many degrees and honors within the music community. They offer lessons on a variety of instruments as well as voice.

They are excited about making their services available within the homeschool community, so please feel free to contact them about various daytime opportunities for lessons and music instruction. Jeffrey Cappelli also offers piano tuning and repair throughout the Chicagoland area.

Contact information for the Cappelli Institute of Music:

Address:  212 S. Marion St., Suite 16 • Oak Park, IL 60302

Phone: 708-445-8460

Fax: 708-445-8488

Email: info@cappellimusic.com

Website: http://www.cappellimusic.com/

Contact information for Chicago Piano Service:

Phone: 1-866-SERVE-88 (1-866-737-8388) or 708-771-8388

Email: info@chicagopianoservice.com