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Meet Jillian Brown - our class music instructor!

 

We’re thrilled to announce that Jillian Brown will be joining

Sunflower Village Studio as the music instructor for our homeschool music class!

Jillian brings an incredible wealth of talent and experience to our program.

 

A professional singer and guitar player with over 20 years of performance experience,

Jillian is passionate about using music to inspire, connect, and teach.

 

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from Anna Maria College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. With more than a decade of experience as a

Music Therapist in adult and pediatric hospice care, Jillian has also worked as a

Special Education Paraprofessional for middle schoolers.

 

This diverse background has shaped her teaching style into one of kindness, patience, and understanding, creating a safe and encouraging space for students to explore and grow through music.

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As the founder of Playdate Harmonies LLC, Jillian has been spreading the joy of music to children and families across Sarasota and Charlotte County - including a weekly music enrichment class for the younger children, ages 0-2 at Sunflower Village.

 

Her classes are thoughtfully designed to engage kids in music activities that promote learning,

self-expression, and skill development— all while having fun!

 

Music is such a rich and vital part of education, offering children a way to express themselves, build confidence, and develop essential skills like focus, creativity, and collaboration.

 

In Jillian’s class, students will not only engage with music hands-on but also develop an appreciation for its beauty, history, and cultural significance. Through this exposure, children will deepen their understanding of music as a universal language that enriches our lives and communities.

 

When she’s not teaching or performing, Jillian cherishes time with her husband, their four-year-old daughter, and their dachshund mix, Phoebe.

 

Her dedication to making music accessible and enjoyable for everyone will surely make this class a favorite.

 

We can’t wait for your children to experience the joy of music with Jillian as part of our
Sunflower Village Studio family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Sound Explorers: Music Around the World!

 

We’re thrilled to have your child join this exciting six-week journey

into the world of music with Mrs. Jill Brown from Playdate Harmonies!

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Over the course of six weeks, your child will have the chance to explore unique instruments like the guitar, ukulele, kalimba, djembe, and steel tongue drum.

They’ll learn the basics of playing these instruments, hear the stories behind their origins, and discover how music brings people and cultures together.

 

Each week, students will engage in hands-on practice, learn about the history of music

from around the globe, and collaborate on creative projects. By the end of the course,

they’ll have the opportunity to share a final project they’ve worked on throughout the class.

 

Let’s make music, discover cultures, and have fun together. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a break down of the 6 week program

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Week 1: Let’s Meet the Instruments!
Objective: Dive into the world of instruments, discover their history, and get our hands on some rhythms!

• We’ll start by introducing ourselves and getting to know each other. Everyone will share a little about why they’re excited to be here.

• Get ready for a quick, fun journey through the history of our instruments from around the world!

• Hands-on time! We’ll learn basic rhythms on instruments like the djembe, steel tongue drum, ukulele, and more!

• At the end of class, pick an instrument to research and share something cool you learn about it for our final project.

 

 

Week 2: Melody & Harmony - Making Music Together
Objective: Explore melody and harmony while continuing to learn about the instruments’ history.

• We’ll go deeper into the guitar, kalimba (finger piano), and ukulele—how they started and how they make music today.

• Then, it’s time to try it out! We’ll play a simple song on our instruments—“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”—and practice combining rhythm and melody.

• Share what you’ve learned about your chosen instrument to help us get ready for your project!

• Time to reflect and draw or write what you learned today.

 

 

Week 3: Exploring Rhythms from Around the World
Objective: Learn about rhythms from different cultures, with a focus on African drumming.

• We’ll dive into African drumming and how the djembe plays a big role in celebrations and storytelling.

• Time to try out some world rhythms! We’ll play the djembe along with the ukulele, guitar, and finger pianos to create something unique.

• Check-in on your projects: What new things have you learned this week?

• Reflect on everything you’ve explored so far!

 

 

Week 4: Let’s Write Our Own Song!

Objective: Collaborate to create a song using rhythm, melody, and harmony.

• We’ll explore how music reflects culture and come together to create a simple song.

• It’s time to brainstorm, create, and have fun with music!

• Once our song is ready, we’ll practice and prepare for our final project

 

Week 5: Rehearse & Reflect
Objective: Rehearse our song and prepare for our final project!

• Discuss how the background of each instrument adds to the music we’re creating.

• Full class rehearsal! We’ll combine our rhythms, melodies, and stories to make our song come alive.

• Reflect on everything you’ve learned and ask questions to fine-tune your final project.

 

 

Week 6: Show & Tell: Musical Exploration Showcase
Objective: Share our final projects, celebrate our musical journey, and have fun presenting!

• Final Project: Each student will present their research on an instrument they chose at the start of the course. The project can include:

  • Poster Presentation: A visual display with key facts about the instrument’s history, its cultural importance, and how it’s used in music.

  • Oral Presentation: A brief talk about the instrument’s origins, its role in music, and its cultural significance.

  • Creative Performance: A short performance on the instrument (or a similar one) to demonstrate how it’s played, followed by a description of its cultural roots.

We’ll wrap up by celebrating everyone’s hard work with certificates and a fun reflection on what we’ve learned, all that we’ve accomplished, and how far we’ve come.

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Enrollment Information:

 

Duration of the program: 6 weeks 

Day of the week: Wednesday ( meeting every Wednesday for 6 weeks)

Start Date: January 8th, 2025

End Date: February 12th, 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm (1.5hours) 

Ages: 8-15

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​Price of the classes: $40 per class x 6 classes; total of $240

​​Sunflower Village Membership: $75 ( due the first day of class )

Payments Accepted: Cash, Venmo, Zelle, Check 

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Annual Sunflower village membership ($75)

**If you are already a Sunflower Village Member - you will receive a ($10) discount when paid in the full amount.** We have a sibling discount too!

 

Sunflower Village Studio is accepted by the Step-Up Scholarship - we are under the category "Enrichment classes/programs/co-op".

 

We accept students with the student scholarships and will provide you with the proper paperwork you need to receive reimbursement (proper invoice and resume from Sunflower Village Studio).

 

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​​​​​​​Sunflower Village Membership

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Registration is open to all, but in order to secure your seat in the class, 

you must join our Sunflower Village Membership.  

 

This membership is an annual non-refundable $75 fee for the entire year 

and it is per family.

(If you have multiple children, we only require a one time payment

of $75 per family for the year.)  

 

This membership includes discounts for other related homeschool class enrollment 

and families that have multiple children enrollment and the cost of materials and registration.  

 

The application includes a mandatory registration, waiver of liability and 

hold harmless agreement and an optional media release. Once you enroll in class, 

we will send you an invoice and the membership registration forms within 24 hours.

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