Early Childhood Music Class
SHINING STARS
Take advantage of our Early Bird Special (20% OFF tuition + registration fee PLUS a free music tote bag filled with goodies!
OFFER EXPIRES NOVEMBER 30th, 2026!
~ Play ~ Explore ~ Move
~ Play ~ Explore ~ Move
Albuquerque Institute of Music’s Shining Stars Early Childhood Class was designed and developed by our very own Petra Soltis!
Petra Soltis recently moved from Austin, TX to Rio Rancho. She has been playing piano since the age of 5 and earned her Bachelor’s in Classical Piano and Audio Engineering at the Robert Schumann University in Duesseldorf, Germany. She later added two Master’s degrees in business and management, but realized that music education is her real passion. Ms. Soltis is an experienced Music Together licensee and has been teaching early childhood music, Montessori classroom music, and piano since 2003. As a singer/songwriter and children’s performer, she has participated in several Family Festivals in Texas but finds the greatest joy in witnessing her students’ musical growth, as they demonstrate their skills in recitals and performances.
And it will be taught by the lovely Mrs. Karin!
Karin joined Albuquerque Institute of Music as an Administrative Assistant in July 2023, but her love of music began much earlier. She started piano lessons at age five with her grandmother, who also introduced her to organ and fostered a love for music through family sing-alongs. Growing up in a large, musical family, Karin was surrounded by concerts, musicals, and regular practice sessions. She later studied guitar in high school and organ in college while earning a degree in Landscape Management with minors in Business and Art from Brigham Young University. She remained musically involved through a service-based performing group and gained teaching experience as a TA. After college, she continued working with children as a paraeducator and currently volunteers as the children’s chorister at her church. Karin now studies piano at AIM with Jennifer Case Stull and enjoys performing at recitals and Federation Festival. Outside of music, she enjoys crafting, painting, reading, water sports, the outdoors, animals, and spending time with her husband and family. She’s excited to share her love of music with AIM’s youngest students!
As well as…
The wonderful Miss Addy!
Addy Himle is a dedicated teacher and accomplished performer from Aurora, Colorado. Raised in a musical family, she began studying classical piano at a young age before discovering a passion for jazz in high school. This led her to train at the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, and then go on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Piano Performance with a minor in Theatre from Metropolitan State University of Denver. After two years living and performing in Spain, Addy is now based in Albuquerque, where she teaches piano and voice, and performs with her duo band, Ruby Lamb.
Addy wants students to leave their lessons and practice sessions feeling proud of what they have accomplished, and excited to come back. She meets students where they are, making sure to focus on their strengths, while building them a solid foundation that will serve them in reaching their specific goals. She emphasizes the importance of learning by ear, the intersection of dedication without perfectionism, and the freedom of using the tools and techniques learned in lessons to not only interpret music, but to create one's own compositions. She encourages a sense of self efficacy, believing that learning an instrument not only makes great musicians, but instills people with values that ensure confidence and success in their daily lives.
The building blocks of learning to play an instrument begin with rhythm and melodic awareness.
Our new early childhood music class is a 10 week program designed to spark curiosity and lay a strong musical foundation by helping young children internalize a steady beat and sing simple melodies in tune.
Shining Stars offers an age-appropriate, interactive experience in a small group setting where children can learn through play, movement, and exploration. At this early stage (ages 3–5), young learners tend to thrive in group environments that are fun, engaging, and filled with variety.
In each class, students will:
– Explore a wide range of orchestral and world instruments
– Experience rhythm through movement, games, and props
– Develop their singing voices through playful vocal activities
– Begin to understand the colorful vocabulary of music
Whether it’s their first time in a music class or the start of a lifelong journey, Shining Stars is the perfect place for children to AIM high and shine bright.
DAYS AND TIMES:
📅 Session 1: Wednesdays at 4:30pm for 10 weeks between 1/7-3/11 with Karin
📅 Session 2: Thursdays at 4:30pm for 10 weeks between 1/8-3/12 with Karin
📅 Session 3: Saturdays at 9:00am for 10 weeks between 1/10-3/14 with Addy
TUITION:
$250 + $30 (one-time registration fee) + tax
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: $200 + $24 (one-time registration fee) + tax PLUS a FREE music tote bag filled with goodies!
Covers 10 weeks of our Shining Stars classes. Students enrolled in Shining Stars are exempt from the registration fee for future semesters and will not need to pay the registration fee if they transition into regular weekly private lessons after their initial tuition payment.
HOW TO ENROLL:
When dates are set, you can enroll online by clicking Enroll Now on this page OR give us a call at 505-209-8517 and we’d be happy to help you get enrolled and answer any questions you may have!

