So... what is Music Together® all about?

All children are musical Have you ever noticed how quickly a crying child stops crying when he hears music? How often does fussing turn into delight when a loved one picks up a child to sing or dance with her?

Music is a powerful force in early childhood because young children are highly attuned to the sounds around them. Hearing begins in utero at the fourth month, and most children hear well – and recognize their parents’ voices – by the time they are born. In fact, in a recent study, infants were able to pick out minute changes in melodies at the age of one to two months! While six-month olds may not be ready for math, they are acutely attentive to – and responsive – to musical sounds. Infants coo, gurgle, and flex their torsos in response to music. Toddlers shake rattles, bounce to the beat, and sing occasional notes. Three-year-olds often have favorite songs and instruments to play and can ‘lose themselves’ in music. Four-year-olds like to have an effect on the activity – creating new ways to move with the music, or inventing new words to songs. They may play ‘teacher’ and lead the family (or their stuffed animal pets) in their favorite activities at home.

Teaching the way children learn Music Together classes build on your child’s natural enthusiasm for music,

movement and experimentation. We provide a stimulating, playful and safe environment for each child and their parent or caregiver to participate in age-appropriate musical activities.

Music Together began as an educational project of the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, New Jersey, and now is taught world wide. The approach pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.

Music Together classes develop every child’s birthright of basic music competence by encouraging actual experiences rather than teaching musical concepts and information.

What happens in class? Children and their parents or caregivers (babysitter, nanny, grandparent) meet weekly for 45 minutes over ten weeks to sing new songs and participate in movement activities and instrumental jam sessions. Both children and adults participate in the circle, led by an engaging, experienced registered Music Together teacher with early childhood training and music skills. The teacher also helps adults understand their child's musical and physical development and how to encourage it, providing many suggestions for enjoying musical activities as a family away from class.

During Music Together classes, children will have many opportunities to create and play by making up new rhythm patterns, creating new songs and words to songs, and coming up with new movements to express themselves musically. Some children may simply sit and ‘study’ what’s going on in the room as they absorb the musically rich environment. Other children may sing, play and dance freely, responding to the comfortable, encouraging environment. Each class includes approximately twelve songs, ranging from playful free movement pieces to well-known songs to those in unusual tonalities and meters.

Every semester, families receive a CD recording of more than 25 original compositions and traditional songs performed by outstanding singers and instrumentalists, along with a songbook full of pictures and activities to help the whole family learn and enjoy the songs at home and other places outside class.

Family Music Making Rather than emphasizing traditional professional music performance, the Music Together approach encourages and supports family participation in joyful, spontaneous musical activity as a part of everyday life.

You may wonder if you can help your child musically, especially if you don’t feel that you are musical yourself. We know from experience that parents are the most important influence on the child’s enjoyment of and disposition towards music. If parents (regardless of their ability), have fun making music, children will too. Your child is young now with a natural curiosity about music. Make the most of these early years by giving them the best opportunities to learn and grow musically!

Years after your child takes Music Together classes, he or she will still remember the ‘Hello’ song and other favorites. Parents of former students tell us, "we still play those tapes!" With a childhood of Music Together experiences, your child will be among the young people who love music making.

Mixed Age Classes (Newborn to 4½ years) Today’s leading child development researchers recommend mixed-age groupings because they foster a more natural learning setting in which the parent/caregiver plays an important role. Younger children enjoy watching and imitating the older ones, older children learn by leading the younger ones, and adults are happy because no one’s left at home with the babysitter. Every child participates at his or her own level in many different areas: singing, moving, chanting, listening, watching, or exploring musical instruments.

Classes include a variety of stimulating and fun adult-child activities, offering new ways to play musically at home. Any caregiver can bring the child or children – nanny, grandparent, babysitter, or parents. The whole family – adults and children up to 4½ – is welcome for this essential family music experience.

Babies-Only Classes (Newborn to Crawling) From time to time we offer a class for newborns only (no older siblings, please) up to crawling age. Songs and movements are designed for the parent/child dyad, including rocking, tickling, stroking, and bouncing movements. Research has shown us that fetuses as young as 4 months old have rudimentary pitch discrimination and are able to recognize their parents’ voices. We all intuitively rock and hug our babies in rhythmic patterns, and this Babies Only class builds on that, introducing some of the latest research on very early childhood cognitive and musical development.

If you do not see a babies class offered on our current schedule, please let us know you are interested --- We are able to schedule a babies-only class with a minimum of 6 families, scheduled at a mutually convenient time!

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