Join us in celebrating the 100th birthday of "The First Lady of Children's Music" Ella Jenkins! Ella lives in Chicago and has been an integral and influential figure at the Old Town School since the very beginning.
Tag @oldtownschool and #CelebrateEllaJenkins in all your celebration posts and photos!
Kids Song of the Session
Old Town School's children's music programs have been celebrating Ella Jenkins all throughout the year with special "Songs of the Session", a unique and cherished aspect of our group music classes. This tradition not only connects our community but also celebrates cultural diversity through the universal language of music. During each class session, we carefully select a song to be played and explored across all our kids' classes, family jams, and more. The Song of the Session transcends instruments, voices, ages, and musical styles, creating a harmonious blend of diverse expressions that resonate through the entire school. This session's song is "You'll Sing a Song, and I'll Sing a Song" by Ella Jenkins. "You'll Sing A Song and I'll Sing A Song is as much a classic of 20th Century folk music as it is a foundational text of early childhood music education as it establishes participatory and democratic frameworks with which children and adults alike can explore their creative impulses." - Smithsonian Folkways
LEARN MORE ▸UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, September 7, 2024 · 10:30 AM CDT · 4545 N Lincoln Ave
cELLAbration! Ella Jenkins 100th Birthday Family Concert
Sing, clap, and dance along with Old Town School teaching artists and friends as we celebrate and honor the First Lady of Children's Music and showcase her repertoire of call-and-response music that blends gospel, blues, Latin dance music, and nursery rhymes. REGISTER ▸
PAST EVENTS
Saturday, August 3, 2024· 10:00 AM CDT · 4545 N Lincoln Ave
Ella Jenkins "This is Rhythm" Family Workshop with Maryanne Johnson
Explore movement, sounds, and patterns in everyday life, such as clocks ticking, tops spinning, even a dog wagging its tail! Wiggleworms teacher Maryanne Johnson will lead children on a musical journey with the poetry of Ella Jenkins, Chicago's pioneering children's music educator, who will celebrate her 100th birthday this year! Kids will learn about and play a variety of instruments such as tambourines, bongos, wood blocks, maracas, bells, and rhythm sticks, all described in Ella's book, "This is Rhythm" based on her groundbreaking recording made in 1961. "Exploring sounds is important to all of us at some stage in life, especially when we are children. We seem to need to express ourselves percussively" --Ella Jenkins
REGISTER ▸Tuesday, August 6, 2024 · 10:00 AM CDT · Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St
Wiggleworms at Gallagher Way - Ella Jenkins Birthday Celebration with Shanta Nurullah & Mars Caulton
Join Old Town School's acclaimed Wiggleworms program on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM for some FREE outdoor family fun at Gallagher Way! This special performance on Tuesday, August 6th will be a celebration of Ella Jenkins' vast impact on the world of childrens' music, led by Old Town School teaching artists and community members Shanta Nurullah and Mars Caulton. Enjoy a full set of favorite tunes, dancing, movement, friendship, and fun! Great for all ages but designed for 1-6 year olds and parents together.
FREE! VIEW MORE DETAILS ▸
