Registration Policies

4 MONTHS - 4 YEARS WITH PARENTS
Music w/ Movement & Spanish

Fun format, singing, movement & hands on activities! Teacher Maria Fermi has over 25 years experience in teaching and is the co-author and seminar leader for our own LMS First Steps in Spanish™ materials and curriculum. We trust that these classes will become a springboard for your child's passionate lifelong appreciation and skills with a foreign language and/or instrument! 100% Spanish is offered Mondays & Fridays 10:30 a.m. or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 9:45am
$178 per 8 Weeks (1 day per week) Call for Trial class ($20)!
Additional Info
Maximum class size is 11 students. MAKEUPS allowed on a different day space permitting (2/Session max). You must RSVP makeup date to prevent overcrowding. You can progress from this class into a private music or Spanish lesson or into the Spanish Immersion Preschool, Kindergarten or After School program. Siblings over 4 years old can observe class through one-way mirror. Materials to purchase: LMS First Steps in Spanish™ CD's to listen to at home or in your car!

QUICK TO PRINT - Class times & teacher profiles
Frequently updated information for each specific foreign language & instrument taught

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The Language and Music School has been doing language immersion for over 18 years! Our director and A.M. teacher Maria Fermi has over 25 years teaching experience and is the co-author of the LMS First Steps in Spanish™ music-based curriculum. We have programs 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, 12:00 - 3:00 pm, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 - 5:30 pm or you may do any choice of hours between 8 am-5:30 pm, 1-5 days/week, Mon-Friday, year round.

Format of the Classes: We have fun activities in a 100% Spanish environment leading to comfort level with the language, understanding of the teachers and curriculum and speaking/communicating words and phrases in Spanish with fluency. Students do arts & crafts, workbooks, songs and music based activities, story-time, snack time, free-time and more with a new theme each week. Knowledge and concepts learned in Spanish transfer well into English academics. Besides being within a music school, with the chance to take additional music lessons now or later on, students receive daily exposure to live staff instrumental performance during snack time (piano, violin, guitar, recorder, clarinet, flute, saxophone, etc.). To continue studying Spanish after graduation from the early childhood/ Preschool/ Kindergarten program, The School offers private lessons or an After School Immersion program.

Getting Acquainted with The Language and Music School: Before starting Spanish Immersion classes, we require all children to attend one (1) class with the program director Maria Fermi so that students & parents can get to know The School and our staff.  Children 2-4 years old should do a 45-minute group Parent & Child “Music with Movement and Spanish” trial class with Maria (see above for class times & price).  Children 5 and up should do a 30-minute private Placement Visit ($23) where the child will go alone for some activities with Maria and then the parent will also have the opportunity to speak with Maria and to see a classroom at The School.  These above visits provide the chance for all parties to meet before proceeding with registration!

3 Hours (Half Day) 9:30am-12:30pm or 12:00-3:00pm (trial $40)
Attend 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week at $336/8-WKS, $624/8-WKS, $864/8-WKS, $1056/8-WKS or $1,200/8-WKS respectively.

6 Hours (Full Day) 9:30am-3:00pm (do a 3 hr. trial: $40), Attend 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week at $624/8-WKS, $1,056/8-WKS, $1,469/8-WKS, $1,728/8-WKS or $2,160/8-WKS respectively.

Preschool & Kindergarten Curriculum Half or full day. Minimum 12 hours/week to be considered Preschool or Kindergarten. PreK/K and other Immersion students will be together for part of the class. PreK/K students will be separated for the last hour of class each day for specifically academic focused curriculum.  Must be 3 years old by Sept. 7th and registered for at least 12 hours of class time per week.  Pricing same as above coupled with a mandatory, one-time Registration Fee of $200.

1 Hour Exposure Any (1) hour of class-time between 9:30 am-3:00 pm. (Trial $20.) Attend 1, 2, 3, or 4 days a week at $158/8-WKS, $285/8-WKS, $379/8-WKS, or $474/8-WKS respectively.

Theater in Spanish (Trial $21) Offered Monday – Friday from 4:00-5:30pm or on  Saturdays from 9:30-11:00am 

Summer Camp! Now offering Flexible Scheduling to accommodate your Summer Travel plans! Sign up for 1 week or for the entire Summer session (7 weeks)! Special trips to park, etc. when the weather permits! See our School Calendar for Summer session dates.
3 Hour (Half Day) 9:30am-12:30pm or 12:00-3:00pm (trial $40)
Attend 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week at $42/Week, $78/Week, $108/Week, $132/Week or $150/Week respectively.
6 Hour (Full Day) 9:30am-3:00pm (do 3 hr. trial: $40), Attend 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week at $76/Week, $141/Week, $195/Week, $288/Week or $270/Week respectively. 

Additional Spanish Immersion Recommendations

DAYS PER WEEK: Depending on each unique student, a child coming 3-5 days per week has the advantage of repetition and may feel more comfortable. Fewer days per week may be recommended when the child is already more familiar with Spanish. A private lesson may be superior to 1-2 days/week of group immersion.

ADDING A PRIVATE LESSON: Add a Private Lesson to your Immersion schedule ($218/8 weeks).  Options include Spanish, Piano, Spanish & Piano Combo, and more!  Lesson time must be during your Immersion/Pre-K/K hours.  Many students already feel special with this opportunity.  A block of 1-on-1 attention in the mist of the busy school day!  See Private Lessons heading for more info!

QUICK TO PRINT - Class times & teacher profiles
Frequently updated information for each specific foreign language & instrument taught

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LESSONS FOR CHILDREN & ADULTS
PRIVATE FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Languages Taught
We offer instruction in approximately 10 different foreign languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese (for the most up to date list of what is offered and when, please click on the link 'QUICK TO PRINT - Class times and teacher profiles'!)

Format: Fun Format. No English used. Appropriate workbooks for each child’s level are available for most languages. Additional materials custom selected by instructor. To enforce the language at home, please feel free to bring a tape recorder and blank tape to class to record the lesson so that you may play the tape in the background at home or in the care at least 4 days/week while child is drawing, playing, etc. to reinforce learning. Make this a positive time for subconscious reinforcement. 30 minute one-on-one sessions.

10 years - adult
Format: Classes are based on what the student’s goals are. For example, if a Doctor works in a Hispanic neighborhood and needs Spanish lessons to help her understand her patients, classes would be laid out to emulate a doctor’s visit—this way, the vocabulary is relevant and geared specifically to the student’s specifications.  Classes are 30 minute 1-on-1 sessions. Combine with personal audio-tape recordings of classes and other homework options to bring you the results you desire.

Lessons are geared towards your goals, level and subject area. Gain the skills, confidence and experience needed to communicate fluently! In addition to your weekly 1-on-1 session, you have the option of checking-out our conversational practice CDs from our learning library, which give you out loud 30 minutes/day at home assignments. Workbooks and other materials custom selected by instructor.

Private Lessons$218 per 8 weeks (trial class $28)

Semi-Private(2-3 Students) $158 per 8 weeks (trial class $17)

PARENT & CHILD OPTIONS: Side-by-Side Classes (both learn as students) $262/8 weeks (trial class $35) or Suzuki Method Classes (parent is merely in a supportive role: attending lessons with the child, practicing together at home, and offering encouragement to the child) $248/8 weeks (trial class $31)

Available to all ages, teachers possess an average educational level in music of Masters Degree and, on average, about 10 years of teaching experience. We host Formal Recitals every Spring and Winter. We are members of the Illinois Music Association and Chicago Area Music Teachers Association, providing students the chance to participate in the annual CAMTA Jazz-fest and IMA Olympic Music Contest in which we have over 50 trophy winners in recent years. We use the latest books and methods. We are open Mon.-Friday 9-8 and Sat. 9-4. We offer free phone consultations with Founder & Coordinator Maria Fermi, who has been teaching music for over 20 years. We are in central Oak Park in the midst of coffee shops, restaurants, Scoville Park & the public library. We have on-street parking and are priced competitively for private lessons 30 minutes once a week. Sign Up Today for 2 Trial Classes with Different Instructors ($28/1st Trial, $10/2nd Trial of the Same Discipline).

See above for class options (Private, Semi-Private, etc.)

Private Lessons $218 per 8 weeks (trial class $28)

Semi-Private (2-3 Students) $158 per 8 weeks (trial class $17)

Instruments Taught

INSTRUMENTS TAUGHT We offer We offer instruction in Piano, Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello, Voice, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet & Trombone and more (for the most up to date list of what is offered and when, please click on the link 'QUICK TO PRINT - Class times and teacher profiles'!)

Other Notes On The Program

FORMAT: 30 minute intensive 1-on-1 sessions/week + practice at home

TRY SEVERAL INSTRUCTORS: We highly suggest signing up for at least two (2) separate trial classes with available instructors before you register. It is best to know your options and choose according to your experience during your trial class. To further encourage you to take two (2) trial classes, we have discounted the 2nd trial (the 1st trial costs $28) to only $10 (must be of the same discipline)!

FREE CONSULTATION: Free phone or personal consultation with founder and coordinator Maria Fermi. Maria is an early childhood foreign language seminar leader with 25 years experience in teaching.

MAKEUP POLICY: You must cancel with at least 24 hours in advance in order to receive a make-up. 1 make-up/session.

PRACTICING TIPS: Practicing 15 minutes per day is much better than 30 minutes twice a week. Create a stimulating routine to complete each day using stickers, charts and other engaging props kept readily available.

INSTRUMENT RENTAL: Austin Music Center, 6815 W. North Ave. (just west of Oak Park Ave.), Oak Park, 708/383-1961, rents most instruments at competitive prices. They also sell child-size guitars and other instruments.

DO WE NEED A PIANO?: We recommend almost any basic keyboard (with full size keys) at home for the first 1-2 years of instruction (available at Best Buy, Toys R Us etc.). After this period, a piano, keyboard with weighted keys or digital piano are recommended.

Combos are a great way to get started studying a language & an instrument or two (2) instruments together in one (1) 30 minute lesson. After several months, the best way to more fully study both is, if possible, to separate the two (2) items into two (2) separate 30 minute lessons for a total of 1 hour of instruction. Popular combinations include Piano & Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, German or French, Piano & Voice, Violin & German, and many more! Any two (2) things that one (1) teacher can do may form a Combo. A Foreign Language and an instrument or two (2) instruments! Combo classes are very popular with students of all levels, Beginner-Advanced.

For children 2-9 years old, the entire class will often be conducted in the target language.

For students 10 years-Adult, due to a different learning process in the brain, we will often divide class time between language instruction and music instruction conducted in English. Combo lessons are priced competitively at $238/8-WKS for private lessons 30 minutes once a week. Sign up today for a trial class ($31).