Together, Opera Grand Rapids and the Grandville Avenue Arts Center hope get a neighborhood rocking in song this fall.

“Sing With Me!” an early childhood class for an adult and a child three is already making some noise along Grand Rapids’ Grandville Avenue.

The class, which is also offered at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center, is currently free to Grandville Avenue neighborhood families.

The weekly program is being presented by Opera Grand Rapids through collaboration with the Grandville Avenue Cook Arts Center and the Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities.

Sing With Me! will take place weekly, on Wednesday’s, from 1 – 2 p.m. through December 4, 2013, at the Grandville Avenue Cook Arts Center, 644 Grandville Avenue SW.

The class uses props, percussion and song to explore tonalities and meters. But, the class does more than that, it is a solid hour a parent spends singing and making music through play with their child.

It's been prover that exposure to early childhood music can help improve a child’s vocabulary, walking skills and ability to recollect things.

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Opera Grand Rapids is offering the class as a way to reach beyond the main stage at DeVos Performance Hall where most of it’s programming takes place and into the community.

Although the program is being offered free to Grandville Avenue Arts neighbors, and on a sliding income scale for others, registration is still required. Interested parents can contact the Grandville Avenue Cook Arts Center at 616-742-0692 ext. 100 for more information.

Opera Grand Rapids will also offer Sing With Me! on Monday’s from 4:30 – 5:15pm. From January 6, 2014 – March 10, 2014. Registration information is available online at operagr.com. Full and partial scholarships are also available.

Opera Grand Rapids is West Michigan’s only professional Opera production company. Currently the Company is building the opera “A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE” at the East Fulton Opera Center, it will take to the big stage on Nov. 1 and 2, 2013. For details, visit www.operagr.com.

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