Music Monkey Jungle
1702 Walnut Street Philadelphia PA 19103 (215)732-2661
The Children’s Boutique on Walnut Street offers a series of kid programs throughout the week. Today we checked out the Music Monkey Jungle music class ($8.00). I have been around the music class circut and I will say this is a good class and you should check it out. With that said for the parents that have plenty of music class expereince under your belt you will fully understand what I am about to describe.
We all know that the instructor is the one that makes or breaks the class. There are commercial type classes like Gymboree where a teenager that loves to perform in their high school plays sings directly into your child’s face. It is akward and the longest 45 minutes of your life. There are the tired group classes where the kids are crawlers and the parents are happy to have simply gotten out the door like The Music Class in Rittenhouse. Then there are the community feeling classes like the Firefly Music class we go to at the Northern Liberties Community Center on Saturday’s. That kind of class is like hanging out with a bunch of friends, very social for both kids and parents and very relaxed – just a great way to start the day. Then there are the type A instructor classes that are like a step aerobics teacher leading a music class. That is kind of where Music Monkey Jungle registers with me.
Both of my boys enjoyed the class. They clapped, they jumped, they stomped and so did all the other kids. She has a great voice and her song selection is great. But it is the kind of class where the instructor demands a certain level of audience participation. You know the ones…that if you don’t all say HELLO! loud enough we will say it until she is satisfied. The one other thing that was a little off was what happened with the chain like shakers she handed out. Half way through a song she yanked a set away from a little girl that was sitting there interlocking them. Then she told the crowd “I am the one in control.” She then announced that she will need a parent to volunteer to take them apart. I am not sure if she has kids but I found that to be the reaction of someone that works with kids but doesn’t live with them. It seemed really weird and I would not let my kids yank something out of a person’s hands the way she did. At the end she demanded applause for “your fearless leader.” Again weird. Does she have any concept of what it is like to get to, through and back from a center city music class that is on the second floor with two kids?
Oh and she does not let you take pictures. So don’t try to capture any precious moments.
Would I go back? On one side the bizarreness was highly entertaining on the other I can’t really support her behavior. The class with parking ended up being $30 for me and the boys…Oh Rittenhouse you are so pricey. So I am going to say no. There are other music classes with a better vibe.
I’ve been meaning to post since we chatted in another forum. Lori is eccentric…that is for sure…but the kids are addicted to her. She’s loud and funny and larger-than-life which toddlers really seem to respond to. My little O views Lori as one of her best friends. I actually had Lori perform at O’s 1st first birthday party and kids from 1-6 had a blast getting verbally abused by her. We’ve tried all the other music classes in Center City (well, my nanny and daughter have…). O only wants to go to Music Monkey Jungle. So I was totally relieved to fine out that Lori is now teaching the music classes at NEST. Give her another shot. You’ll get used to her and I bet the boys will get into the insanity.
I really appreciate your comment. I agree that the kids enjoy her and I put that in my post. Her behavior on the day I was in the class was unacceptable to me and my kids would not be able to treat others the way she did. I don’t want them learning behavior like she exhibits. I also mean no offense but we all know even the best nannies do not notice things like that. I sit in these classes with moms and nannies and I see what is going on with both the performers and the audience. Nannies and Moms often zone out in these classes. I can also say that if she yanked the shakers out of Henry’s hands like she did that little girl I would have addressed it immediately. I think she has let things go to her head. There are too many other great classes out there for me to support someone that exhibits rudeness and arrogance in their performance. Kids don’t know any better. If her main audience were adults she would not last a day.
I have to agree with you. I finally took my 21 month old daughter to her class today. My daughter loved it, but I didn’t like how she interacted with some of the children, including my daughter. I won’t go back. Instead, I’ll continue to go over the bridge to Sara Obrien’s “Expresso Yourself” at the Treehouse coffee shop in Audubon. Well worth it! She lets the kids get on stage with her, sing in the microphone and play on her guitar. (Lori wouldn’t let this little boy touch her guitar today.) Also Sara’s class is only a $5 donation and owners of the coffee house are so chill. There’s also toys for the kids to play with while she’s singing. You should definitely check it out and let me know how you liked it. It’s on Tuesdays 10-11am.
Megan thank you so much for your comment and telling me about Sara Obrien’s “Expresso Yourself” at the Treehouse Coffee House. I can’t go this week but I am going to check it out for sure!