Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Sisson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rhonda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I found Music Together classes as a mom of two in 2005. I took my little ones to classes with the beloved teacher/founder of Wee Heart Music and knew right away (I had tried several other music classes in the area) that Music Together was perfect for our family.
We attended classes through the pregnancy and birth of our third baby and really appreciated the free-sibling-under-9-months deal! Even after my daughter started preschool, she loved listening to the music at home with her brothers and seeing what stamp they had on their hands on our highly anticipated “music class days.”
In the fall of 2009, the founder/director of Wee Heart Music asked me to consider attending a local Music Together Teacher Training weekend. I did! I was amazed at the research and solid philosophy behind all I had experienced as a mom. As a music major in college and a life-long singer, I had a solid foundation and experience on which to build. And intuitively, I knew that music was good for my children and impacted the tone of our home. But I had all sorts of “A-HA” moments as I soaked up all the research behind Music Together’s philosophy and age-appropriate practice. My mind was blown and my enthusiasm for the program bubbled over!
I apprenticed and began teaching my own classes for Wee Heart Music in 2010. With little ones still at home, my availability was limited, so I taught one or two classes per semester until 2012 when my youngest started kindergarten. My morning schedule opened up and I started teaching more! I love teaching, because I learn so much every semester! At the end of 2013, the director/founder of Wee Heart Music decided to sell the business and relocate. She asked me if I wanted to buy it and take over as director. I did! And it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
So I became owner and director of Wee Heart Music in January 2014. Directing and leading our team has been a wonderful adventure. In a sense, I hopped on to a fast-moving train! What a fun ride!
I learned quickly to trust my veteran teachers and listen to feedback from our loyal families. And I’m thankful to say the business has continued to grow and flourish, bringing joy to many families in Chicago’s western suburbs through music. Wee Heart Music currently has 5 teachers. Our teachers love what they do and love the families they serve. We get to sing, dance, be silly and PLAY for a living — What could be better!?!
Wee Heart Music currently offers classes in Wheaton (2 locations), Glen Ellyn, Lombard, St. Charles, Geneva and North Aurora.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course there have been struggles along the way. But those times simply help me remember and rehearse the ‘whys’ behind my ‘what.’
I do what I do because it’s full of joy and purpose. I get to help families deepen bonds with each other and in community through music. I get to help parents learn how to support their child’s innate musical ability (Children are born musical!) And I can truly say that singing “Hello Everybody, I’m so glad to see you!” is not only my “job” but my calling and joy.
Please tell us about Wee Heart Music.
Wee Heart Music currently offers:
– Babies Only Classes. This one-time introduction class is wonderful for babies, but even more for the parents of babies from birth to 8 months. We show parents how to use music in their daily lives to bond with their baby, show them multi-sensory ways of exploring with music, and teach them the natural predictable stages of music development with babies. And they love meeting other new parents in class!
– Family Music Classes. This class is for the entire family- that could be a mom with an infant, or two parents with their 3 children, or grandparents, or all of the above! Younger children learn from the older children. Every grownup in the room is highly encouraged to participate. When you have a room full of vulnerable grownups singing and dancing, community is built right away! Many of our families have made strong friendships in class. Playdates and lifelong friendships are built as a result!
Each class is PLAY-ful as we know children learn best through play! Every semester is a new song collection in a three-year cycle. Families learn around 25 new songs and chants every semester and are given ways to play musically at home! We teach a variety of songs with many different meters and tonalities to help children achieve basic music competence, which is to sing in tune keep a steady beat. But our goal is so much more about process and participation than performance or product. We believe “Music learning supports all learning.” Though even the grownups in class grow musically, early childhood is the BEST time to expose a child to music so that they have a foundation for enjoyment and life-long music making. This learned achievement takes time and repetition. As there are so many immediate and far-reaching benefits to investing in a Music Together class, we encourage families to stay engaged in classes as long as they can to help their little ones learn and grow musically, but also in every area!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My parents reinforced my natural inclination to sing by sharing their love of music by Kenny Rodgers, the Oakridge Boys, John Denver and Neil Diamond. I remember singing as a family at the top of our lungs as we drove around in our chocolate brown conversion van. I ALWAYS sang harmony – and knew all the words to all the songs.
Amazingly, I found myself accepted into a classical Conservatory of Music (Wheaton College) and studied Art Song and Opera as an undergraduate…. a far cry from my early folk/country/pop upbringing! I suppose that’s one of the reasons I love the wide-range of Music Together’s musical styles. Within any one collection, you have traditional American folk songs, nursery rhyme songs or chants, and songs from Irish jigs, to songs with Middle-eastern, Asian or Native American origin. I must admit, even with all this variety, “Hello Everybody” is my absolute favorite Music Together song.
Contact Info:
- Address: Wee Heart Music class locations:
Wheaton Park District Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard Rd. Wheaton, IL 60187
Wheaton Montessori School, 1970 North Gary Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187
Glen Ellyn Park District, Main Street Rec Center, 501 HIll Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Lombard Park District, 820 S. Finley Rd, Lombard, IL 60148
St. Charles Park District, 8 North Ave, St. Charles, IL 60174
Geneva Park District, 710 Western Ave, Geneva, IL 60134
Moves Dance Studio, 14 E State Street, North Aurora, IL 60542 - Website: http://weeheartmusic.com/
- Phone: 630-347-6525
- Email: weeheartmusic@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeeHeartMusic/
Image Credit:
Abi Caskey
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