A Mother's Haven is a store/education center with a knowledgable and helpful staff and great classes.

It offers a number of pre- and post-natal, infant, and child development classes (including Kindermusik), as well as new mom and breastfeeding support groups.

In addition to the curriculum of classes, A Mother's Haven has a boutique that features nursing clothes, bras, pillows, slings, pumps, baby items, and more.

All Access Musician Studios caters to students of all ages, levels, and styles. Programs include music lessons, recording studio opportunities, career development advice, and student showcases.

In addition to musical instruments, the studio offers classes in singing as well as technical skills like recording engineering and manufacturing CDs.

Allegro Arts is a music and movement program for parents and children that provides an introduction to music and the arts.

Allegro Arts also offers a creative dramatics program for older toddlers and school-aged children that combines music, movement, story telling, improvisation, and imaginative thinking.

Art of Music Studio is a private music studio led by award-winning pianist, composer, and musicologist Dr. Sanya Henderson. The studio offers private lessons for piano, guitar, voice, and flute for all ages and levels. Group classes for children up to age six include Kindermusik and group keyboard, and a music enrichment program is available for preschools.

The first lesson is free. Group classes for children are organized in eight or sixteen-week sessions, while private lessons are offered on a monthly basis.

Kindermusik summer camps are offered in five-week sessions from May to September, featuring 45-minute classes of music, instruments, storytelling, and other activities for children up to age five. The camps are held at locations in Montrose and Eagle Rock and cost $100 to $115 per session.

Bloom School of Music offers musical Mommy or Daddy & Me classes, for babes age three months to walking), toddler classes for one to three year-olds that incorporate stories and rhymes, and classes for toddlers two-and-a-half to five years old that include lots of movement with the music.

Classes are charged on a quarterly basis.

Offers private piano instruction for students of all ages and levels.

Kids with a hankering to be a rock star can study guitar, bass, piano, voice, and songwriting with a successfulrecording artist at Bring Out the Star in Your Child.

Burbank Music Academy's mission is to provide musical instruction for kids who prefer rock to classical.

Music lessons, band coaching, and toddler rock programs are available, as well as a "school of rock" summer program that consists of an introduction to multiple instruments, a little music history, and an "Afternoon Rock Concert" each Friday that features all of the summer campers. The camp fee is $199/week (includes lunch on Friday) and kids ages five up are welcome.

Birthday parties can be held at the Academy, where guests can rock out on the stage or be entertained by the Academy's in-house band. For information about parties, or to book a date, email sales@burbankmusicacademy.com.

ChicosChicas offers music classes in Spanish for babies and toddlers and their caregivers. Children can get immersed in the sounds of the Spanish language, enjoying music and movement in a safe, clean, comfortable environment. No knowledge of Spanish is necessary.

Classes are scheduled once or twice per week.

The Childbloom Guitar Program is a unique music enrichment program designed specifically for children ages five through 12. It offers guitar classes for small groups of two to four children per class. Private lessons are available upon request.

Chris Murphy offers violin lessons for kids of all levels, from beginner to advanced. Classes focus on improvisation, composition, music theory, sight reading, music history, rhythmic awareness, and development of personal style.

Claire Fontaine offers children a bilingual (French/English) preschool experience on two campuses.

The "Petite Ecole," for children ages two to four, is held on the Westminster campus. The "Grande Ecole," for ages four to six, is on Abbott Kinney.

The Abbott Kinney campus is also home to the Ecole de Musique Dauffenbach (Dauffenbach Music School), which provides Mommy and Me, Piano, and Music Theory lessons for children ages birth to seven.

Claire Fontaine offers children a bilingual (French/English) preschool experience on two campuses.

The "Petite Ecole," for children ages two to four, is held on the Westminster campus. The "Grande Ecole," for ages four to six, is around the corner on Abbott Kinney.

The Abbott Kinney campus is also home to the Ecole de Musique Dauffenbach (Dauffenbach Music School), which provides Mommy and Me, Piano, and Music Theory lessons for children ages birth to seven.

This fifty year old school of performing arts offers open enrollment classes in drama, music, and dance to children ages 2.5 to 18, in a beautiful and well-equipped facility.

The School's famed Zipper Hall presents dance and musical performances for families and children on a regular basis; check our calendar for more information.

Colburn School is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and has a faculty of sixty, some of them nationally-known performers.

The school offers after-school classes as well as a full schedule on Saturdays and Sundays, in four areas: early childhood classes, especially designed for pre-schoolers and toddlers; music classes, in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and voice; dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, and modern; and drama.

For the experience of working with an ensemble, Colburn School offers the possibility of performing with one of its four orchestras, or its children's choir, its jazz ensemble, or the dance troupe, the Colburn Kids Tap/LA.

Group classes are available, at varying tuitions. The spring and fall semesters are 16 weeks long, and cost from about $170 to $250, depending on the instrument and the instructor. The summer classes last eight weeks, and are priced accordingly.

Private lessons are $490 for a semester of thirty minute sessions, $690 for forty-five minute sessions, and $880 for sixty minute sessions.

Scholarships are available. Pre-registration is required.

This fifty year old school of performing arts offers open enrollment classes in drama, music, and dance to children ages 2.5 to 18, in a beautiful and well-equipped facility.

The School's famed Zipper Hall presents dance and musical performances for families and children on a regular basis; check our calendar for more information.

Colburn School is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and has a faculty of sixty, some of them nationally-known performers.

The school offers after-school classes as well as a full schedule on Saturdays and Sundays, in four areas: early childhood classes, especially designed for pre-schoolers and toddlers; music classes, in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and voice; dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, and modern; and drama.

For the experience of working with an ensemble, Colburn School offers the possibility of performing with one of its four orchestras, or its children's choir, its jazz ensemble, or the dance troupe, the Colburn Kids Tap/LA.

Group classes are available, at varying tuitions. The spring and fall semesters are 16 weeks long, and cost from about $170 to $250, depending on the instrument and the instructor. The summer classes last eight weeks, and are priced accordingly.

Private lessons are $490 for a semester of thirty minute sessions, $690 for forty-five minute sessions, and $880 for sixty minute sessions.

Scholarships are available. Pre-registration is required.

Following the infamous incident at the end of 2007 in which a crane dropped a billboard through the roof, Cool Baby's facility is temporarily closed for renovations. Until further notice, many classes are being held at two temporary locations; call for details or see their online schedule, which is updated weekly.

Cool Baby offers enrichment classes for kids and babies in art, music, and yoga, as well as yoga for moms-to-be and new moms by Yoga Works trained teachers. The first pre-natal yoga class is always free. Other options include Abrakadoodle Art, music, Spanish, family circus, and a Daddy & Me Drum class.

There is a family lounge with a bright, spacious free play zone, full of well-made toys in natural materials; and the drop-in Art Splash Zone is fun for all ages. Stroller parking is available.

Custom birthday parties can be accommodated, with themes including yoga, circus, drum circles, and art.

The retail store features unusual items, like Ugly Dolls, bouquets of baby clothes, and products from around the world that give a portion of the proceeds to charity. There is a Putumayo listening station that kids can use, and this is the only place on the Westside to buy Entertaining Elephants kids' clothes. There's a great selection of books, too.

Cosmikids is a combination enrichment program, indoor play space, discovery center, and party space. Programs include music, yoga, and acting classes, parenting support workshops and groups, parent and child activities, and a homeschooling club.

Creative Leap gives kids the opportunity to jump, climb, bounce, spin, slide, explore, create, design, and interact in a safe, clean and most importantly, FUN environment.

The main play structure, the Valley's largest, offers corridors of mazes, slides, see-through tubes, look-out domes, a submarine climb, magic ball popper, large ball pit, and tons of other cool stuff.

The Dinosaur Room is equipped with a fossilized climbing wall in a prehistoric setting.

Creative Leap also features video games appropriate for both younger and older children, an electric keyboard for the musically-inclined, and super-sized geometric pieces with which to build cars or castles... or whatever a kid's imagination can dream up.

The toddler area is specifically designed with the smallest children in mind. Infants to three-year-olds have a room all to themselves, allowing them to explore and socialize in a more intimate setting.

Creative Leap also offers classes in prenatal yoga, theater, art, mommy & me, music & movement, and more!

Birthday parties include an hour of open play (rock climbing wall, three-story play structure, video games, giant lego pit, and more) and one hour in a private party room where at least two hosts take care of the work. Included in the package is pizza and drinks for the kids, face painting and/or balloon animals, age-appropriate activities (activities may include parachute play, dance games, magic show, etc.), personalized cake & cake ceremony, balloons, decorations, all paper goods, birthday child's hand print on the party room wall and a return play pass for the birthday child. Call for pricing.

Themed parties, characters, shows, and special requests can also usually be accommodated.

Creative Seeds offer classes for children and parents to explore and express their creativity through movement, music, dance, and visual arts.

Some unique classes for multi-taskers include parent and child dance and movement classes conducted in Spanish and parent and child Pilates mat classes.

Creative Space offers a full and varied program of classes and after-school programs for pre-school and school-age boys and girls.

The directors spent months talking to neighborhood parents and educators, and put together a complete curriculum, with qualified faculty, designed to help kids learn and have fun.

Classes range from animation and bead-design to puppetry, cooking, film-making, yoga, and dance for school age kids. Mommy-and-me classes, as well as special pre-school programs in yoga, music, dance, and gymnastics, are also available.

Birthday party packages include a two-hour party on Saturdays or Sundays, entertainment, food and beverages for kids, and noshables for adults. Themes range from arty parties, dance parties, and magic to science, aromatherapy, make-your-own-doll, and animals. The space is also available for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, sweet 16s, and grown up parties.

Summer Camp is based at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple campus, featuring playgrounds, a playing field, state of the art and fully air-conditioned athletic facilities, dance studio, black box theater, and an art studio.

Creative Space also has a Hawai'i Sleepover Camp, which includes airfare and two weeks of fun and cultural experiences on Oahu's north shore.

A toddler program is available for three-year-olds; children ages four to 12 may attend the day camp proper (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm).

For adults only, parenting, infant massage, nutrition, and exercise classes are also available.

Creative Space offers a full and varied program of classes and after-school programs for pre-school and school-age boys and girls.

The directors spent months talking to neighborhood parents and educators, and put together a complete curriculum, with qualified faculty, designed to help kids learn and have fun.

Classes range from animation and bead-design to puppetry, cooking, film-making, yoga, and dance for school age kids. Mommy-and-me classes, as well as special pre-school programs in yoga, music, dance, and gymnastics, are also available.

Birthday party packages include a two-hour party on Saturdays or Sundays, entertainment, food and beverages for kids, and noshables for adults. Themes range from arty parties, dance parties, and magic to science, aromatherapy, make-your-own-doll, and animals. The space is also available for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, sweet 16s, and grown up parties.

Summer Camp is based at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple campus, featuring playgrounds, a playing field, state of the art and fully air-conditioned athletic facilities, dance studio, black box theater, and an art studio.

Creative Space also has a Hawai'i Sleepover Camp, which includes airfare and two weeks of fun and cultural experiences on Oahu's north shore.

A toddler program is available for three-year-olds; children ages four to 12 may attend the day camp proper (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm).

For adults only, parenting, infant massage, nutrition, and exercise classes are also available.

A six ensemble youth orchestra system that provides music education and ensemble experience for kids of all ages and ability levels.

This extraordinary music and movement class fills quickly with returning students: get on the waiting list early and hope for an opening.

The guitar-strumming teachers guide the kids (and parents) through an array of musical experiences: exploring instruments, marching and dancing to different beats, banging drums, and singing songs. The 45-minute classes are held at rented spaces in Studio City, West LA, Agoura Hills, Pacific Palisades and Encino.

Offering private lessons in guitar for children.

Do Re Mi Music School offers instructional music classes for all ages. Instruments taught include group piano, guitar, children's chorus, and more.

Doug Rappoport, lead guitarist for the Edgar Winter Band, offers guitar lessons for families.

A popular children's clothing boutique in the hip Los Feliz neighborhood, Dragonfly DuLou sells a variety of handmade children's furniture, toys, dolls, paintings, and other unique items.

The store's Hub, an outdoor courtyard, is also a popular place for birthday parties, concerts, and workshops. Parent/child classes are offered in music, art, dance, yoga, and more.

The Electric Lodge Theatre is a solar-powered visual and performing arts center in Venice. In addition to its theater space, it also has various studio spaces and is home to a myriad of classes, including parent and child music classes, dance, martial arts, and yoga. Particularly popular are the Moo Moo Musica classes.

The Encino Community Center is a Los Angeles City Department of Recreation & Parks facility offering a variety of youth programs, including camps, classes, and a co-op nursery school.

The Foothills Music Together course offers music and movement for children from infancy through five years led by pianist Jeanina Quezada, or one of her selectively chosen and trained staff of musician/teachers.

The classes are primarily aimed at educating parents about how to nurture their child's musical talents. Be prepared to waddle like a duck or dance like a monkey - the class requires that you leave your inhibitions at the door!

Fee for ten weekly, 45-minute, classes:

$160 for one child and his or her parent or caregiver,
plus $10 registration fee for new families. Siblings of a registered child can join in for $120/10 week session. Siblings under ten months attend free.

Tuition includes CD, audiotape, illustrated songbook, and parent/caregiver guide.

Froggy's Arts and Crafts offers children's art classes, music classes, story time with craft, workshops, birthday parties, and studio art time. Classes can be purchased by the session or individually.

FUNdamentals offers Music and Movement, Parent & Me, Yoga, and group and private lessons in guitar, piano, voice, percussion, and strings.

The popular crew no longer has its own studio but still holds classes at several different locations around town.

Birthday party packages start at $300. Call for details.

Dance and exercise classes! Mommy-and-me and Daddy-and-me! Performing arts and visual arts! Chess, cooking, and French! Karate, and gymastics, and tennis! Even etiquette and babysitter training!

Glendale Parks, Recreation and Community Services has put together an amazing program of classes for children and teens. It also runs an Off-Track Day Camp, an on-going, supervised camp, for any time your kids are out of school.

Most classes run for ten weeks, although a few special ones meet for two weeks. Check our calendar for special classes. Classes are available on weekdays and weekends; most meet for an hour. Classes meet at various locations in the Glendale Park System; most are at Brand Library.

Registration:mail or walk-in to the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, 91208; telephone 818.548.2184; or fax 818.543.0793.

Fees run from about $45 to $125. Late registration fee is $15.

Green Circle Music, which was at one time known as
Made by Melissa, is run by Melissa Green, an LA-based children's performer and former preschool teacher. The company offers private music circles and birthday party entertainment.

Music Circle classes combine traditional songs and original tunes played on Melissa's guitar, with a focus on building confidence, sharing, language development, and overall music appreciation. Kids participate by singing, dancing, waving scarves, and playing instruments. Infant (30 min.) and mixed-aged (45 min.) classes are available.

Birthday parties feature upbeat songs from Melissa's album Here We Go as well as old favorites the kids can sing and dance to.

Melissa also offers cooking parties, at which kids design their own aprons and then learn to cook a meal. Themes range from homemade pizzas to macaroni and cheese to decorating cupcakes.

Melissa is a popular performer at several venues around town; check our calendar periodically to see when she's performing next!

Guitar teacher Marcel Wittfeld teaches lessons to students of all levels, in styles ranging from classical to rock. Marcel has degrees in classical guitar and in pedagogy.

Gymboree, which runs a chain of clothing stores for children, also offers lots of opportunities for parents (and they're mostly Moms) and kids to meet and get to know each other.

Each 45-minute class is broken out by age (0-6 mos, 6-12 mos, 10-18 mos, 14-28 mos, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years) enabling teachers to introduce activities that are developmentally appropriate.

Gymboree sets forth the premise that by taking one of its classes for just 45 minutes once a week, you help build the foundation for social skills, cognitive development, physical ability and self-esteem. And along the way, meet other parents to share stories and exchange ideas. Classes include:

GymBabies (birth to 6 months)

Infants experience gentle "prop" play and sensory stimulation. New parents gain support from helpful and information class discussions.

GymCrawlers (6 to 12 months)

Confident sitters and beginning crawlers enjoy bubbles, songs and equipment play designed to develop balance, strength and coordination

GymWalkers (10 to 18 months)

Cruisers and early walkers build important motor skills as they explore slides, ramps, stairs and climbers with their peers.

GymRunners (14 to 28 months)

Confident walkers, runners and climbers strengthen language and motor skills through equipment play and peer interaction.

GymExplorers (2-year-olds)

Use movement, songs, stories and imagination to transform tunnels and ladders into pirate ships and magical forests.

GymKids (3 and 4-year-olds)

Learn pre-sport skills like catching and throwing in fun, non-competitive classes that emphasize cooperative play.

GymPairs (two mobile children)

A class just for siblings. Families with two mobile children can enjoy equipment activities, songs and play tailored to each child's age and abilities.

MUSIC PROGRAMS
Under the guidance of a trained Gymboree teacher, a class explores a new musical style every three weeks. At the end of the session, you and your child will have a repertoire of songs to share and sing.

Quarter Notes (6 to 18 months)

Take the first step in musical development. Through an introduction of songs, children can learn about pitch, rhythm, tempo and melody.

Half Notes (16 to 30 months)

Children explore the foundations of musical development while playing instruments, singing and dancing to a medley of musical styles.

While Notes (2 S thru 4 years)

Engage in imaginative movements stories set to music, and sing, dance and play along with music from many culture

Parties: A Gymboree birthday party is a nice way to throw a bash for energetic little kids. Gymboree gives you a room full of play equipment, an enthusiastic teacher, and a Gymboree class. You have a chance to personalize the party by selecting a theme your child will appreciate.