Oak Park/River Forest Children

The Language & Music School began privately in a teacher's apartment in 1990 with just 6 students meeting for combined Spanish, piano, violin, guitar & recorder lessons. In 1994, parent's desire for expansion led to the creation of a Board of Directors and a move to the current location at 150 N. Oak Park Avenue. You must step inside The School to experience the unique atmosphere it affords students. Since beginning here with only 60 students and 5 instructors, The School has grown to hundreds of students with a faculty of 25. Inside these walls each day are spoken up to 10 languages, and taught dozens of instruments to students ages 4 months - Adult. The Language & Music School was founded by Maria Emilia Fermi-Crawford and Dr. Martha Yelenosky. Maria is a professor of Music from Conservatorio de Musica Julian Aguirre with studies in Music Therapy, and ongoing studies in child development, and developmental disorders including Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder and others. Martha Yelenosky has been president of the C.A.M.T.A. Jazz Festivals of Chicago since 1997 and is on staff at Northwestern University School of Music. Martha and Maria are co-authors of LMS First Steps in Spanish CD's and materials for teaching Spanish to children through music based activities. Maria has been interviewed by publications including Chicago Parent Magazine and has conducted seminars for organizations including Concordia University, El Valor, Child Care Initiatives & Cook County Child Care Resource and Referral. Maria Fermi remembers well the beginnings of her teaching career in Argentina in the mid eighties. I was teaching the Argentinian national anthem and all of this very patriotic material! she reminisces. Seemingly ironic she would be born again American only 6 years later, quickly learning English and declaring Oak Park love at first sight! To those who know her, however, it simply reflects the love and dedication to whatever she does, with which she seems always to inspire.