What should I expect of my child?

The learning capacity of very young children is simply astounding! In the first few years of life, learning is a child’s job and it is accomplished through play. With the Music Together approach, children have fun and become engaged in class activities using their own particular learning style: quietly observing and absorbing, kinetically moving their whole bodies around the room (often while the rest of us are sitting down!), experimenting with vocal sounds, imitating the teacher’s movements, and so on. You should expect your child to participate in his or her own unique way, free from any pressure to perform. Over time, you will witness your child moving through the different stages of tonal and rhythmic development, integrating music-making into everyday life and eventually achieving basic music competence (the ability to sing in tune with accurate rhythm.)

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What should I expect of myself?

You are the most important model and teacher for your child. Your most effective role will be to relax, have fun, and participate in the class activities yourself – regardless of your own music ability. And if you personally feel a bit "musically challenged," please don’t worry! The Music Together teacher will give your child an experience of accurate pitch and rhythm. The most important things you can model for your child are simply pleasure, interest, and the desire to make music.

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What do parents think of the program?

From a parent in New Paltz:

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the wonderful music together experience you have created not only for Julia, but for myself as well. For a mother there is nothing like seeing your child expressive, happy, and enjoying an activity. Every week, Julia jumps up and down (within the restraints of her car seat straps) and laughs as she says "me class" (which means music class) as we pull into the parking lot before class.

There are so many aspects of Music Together that I love:

• The mixed-age classes are great because the older kids get to lead the younger ones, the younger ones get to imitate the older ones. Bigger kids learn to be gentle with smaller ones, and each age gets something unique and special from the music and rhythm.
  
  
• Julia experiments at home with changes in pitch and tempo and beat because these concepts have been experienced in class and not explained. She feels them rather than thinks about them.
  
  
• The range of musical styles is wonderful for the kids as well as the parents and caregivers. Sounds that seem strange to us because they are unfamiliar are embraced by our children. This also paves the way as Julia gets older for acceptance of ‘differences’ in terms of music, culture, food, beliefs, whatever.
  
  
• I like the flexibility within the structure of the class that allows the children to experience the music or activity the way they want to. Julia responds very well to this set-up since sometimes she wants to sit with me and imitate an activity we’re doing, and other times she wants to get up and be right in the middle of things and "perform". And still other times she just wants to hang back and observe.
  
  
• The music is certainly appropriate for this age group and kid-oriented (Julia asks for the current Music Together tape EVERY time we get in the car), but it’s appealing to me, too. This keeps me engaged as a parent.

Music Together is something Julia and I can share. When she laughs out loud at the end of a chant my heart just melts!

A parent taking class in Stone Ridge says:

The first good thing about the program is that I can take both of my children to the same class. We enjoy that Music Together doesn’t separate children by their ages - my two- and four-year-old interact in class, and then sing and play at home together. They do it pretty often – my son is pretending to be the teacher and plays "guitar" and my daughter pretends to be a mom, holding her baby-doll.

My children have gotten lots of inspiration from class. Listening to the teacher spontaneously changing the words to songs in class inspires my children to make up their own words at home. They take a song they know and create their own words according to what they are doing (dressing, eating, cleaning their room!)

And most of all what makes our class so wonderful is our teacher. She knows how to make the class go smoothly and keep the kids focused. We recommend Music Together class for everybody who wants to have fun while kids are learning music.


From a parent in Poughkeepsie:

I didn't realize how out of touch I was with music until I tried singing to soothe my infant daughter.  I couldn't remember words to songs and felt very inhibited.  While my attempts felt feeble she did respond to my voice and to music.

Music Together was new in my community so I tried a sample class thinking that Taylor would at least enjoy the music.  During that class, I was won over to the program.  At 22 months, my daughter is now beginning her third session of Music Together.  She sings spontaneously, and loves making music with many object and instruments that we have in our home.  Most of all, for me, the adult, Music Together has given me back song.  I now can sing in public and private without feeling uncomfortable.

My daughter and I enjoy singing and listening to the Music Together CDs & tapes.  She will bring me the songbook and say "sing."  She misses class during the break between terms and loves the social aspect that the class brings to her life.

Music Together is an excellent, excellent program that has enriched my family's life.  Thank you!

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How can I learn more about the history and educational philosophy of Music Together?

Call us! (845) 658-3655. We would be happy to discuss the program in more detail. You can also visit the Music Together national website at www.musictogether.com, where you’ll find an in-depth description of how the program was developed and the research upon which it is based.

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