What is Music Together®?

Music Together classes are based on the belief that music is as much a basic life skill as walking and talking, and that all children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence and leisure in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning. By emphasizing actual musical experiences rather than concepts about music, we introduce children to the pleasures of making music instead of passively receiving it from CDs or television. Integral to our program is the idea that young children respond best to music when surrounded by those with whom they have a close bond. Consequently, the active participation of parents and caregivers is an essential part of the rich musical environment we create.

Six to twelve children ages birth through five and their parents or caregivers (nanny, babysitter, grandparent) meet for 45 minutes each week for 10 weeks (fall, winter and spring semesters) or for six weeks (summer semester) to experience new songs, chants, small and large motor movement activities and instrumental jam sessions. Both adults and children sit in a circle and participate, led by a teacher. The teacher helps the adults understand how to interact and play musically with their child in class and at home. Playing with music is fun and nurtures the child’s musical ability. Children have many opportunities to create and to play - making up rhythm patterns, making up new words to songs, making up movements to express a sound.

Some children will simply stare and study the experiences, as they absorb the musically rich environment. Others will sing, play and dance freely because they are in a comfortable, encouraging environment, and because they know the songs and chants from the songbook and CDs they take home. Each class has ritual features which the children need and enjoy - the hello song, and instrumental play-along, a lullaby and the goodbye song. Eight to ten other experiences are included in each class, ranging from free movement to rhythmic rhymes in unusual meters.

Regardless of your background in music, you can give your child a love of music. Adult participation is easy, nonthreatening, and fun. And parent enjoyment is the single most important factor in fostering a love of music-making in children. Do something wonderful for yourself and your child and join us for some family music fun!

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"We love the Music Together program. It has done so much for my son. He sings, dances and plays instruments all the time."