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These questions range from common ones regarding the Music Together program and what it is like, to music development or musical theory questions asked in class situations. What is Music Together®? Music Together began in 1987 and is a research-based program designed to enhance children's acquisition of basic musical competence - singing in tune and playing in rhythm. It is based on the belief that all children are musical. Children also benefit in the areas of movement, communication, socialization, and the family gains another common "language" for day-to-day interaction. With it’s main headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, there are now hundreds of Music Together centers worldwide. Registered teachers and center directors are all trained directly by the founders of the program. In a Music Together class, twelve children ages birth to four years old and their parents or caregivers meet for 45 minutes each week to actively experience and create musically diverse songs, chants, improvisational and guided movement activities, and instrumental jam sessions. As the parent-child relationship is a vital component of the program, both adult and child are invited but never pressured to participate. Classes are led by outstanding certified teachers who bring both a musical background and knowledge of child development to their classes, providing parent education. Most of all, Music Together is about having fun, learning through play, and discovering the "joy of family music™"! How many semesters do you offer per year? How many classes in a session? Our Music Together program runs year-round. Our 10-week semesters are in the Fall, Winter and Spring. We offer one 6-week semester in the Summer. There are 9 Music Together collections in all, so your family can attend 3 straight years of Music Together without repeating a collection. Summer collections are a compilation of previous sessions. What is the age range of the classes? All classes are mixed ages from birth to 4 years old. Research shows that this is the best time to lay the groundwork for musical and movement aptitude. Studies also assert that the mixed-age class model is particularly effective for learning by all ages. The activities are Parent/Child interactive rather than Child/Child so mixed ages are not a safety issue. Babies often are highly stimulated by watching older kids make music, and older children learn empathy, modeling and a sense of pride at being the "big kid" in class while they continue to learn at their own level. Do you do the same songs every week? Each class includes about 12 songs from the current collection, of which there are 25-30 total. Frequently, many songs are done several times during the semester. The presentation of a song varies (perhaps large movement one week and a finger play the next). Occasionally songs from outside the collection are introduced, or families request particular songs. We welcome your music ideas for the Play Along and the Free Dance. What kind of instruments do you use? A variety of non-pitched instruments such as shakers, drums, rhythm sticks, bells and tambourines provide the opportunity for the children to feel they are always playing the ‘right note" and can join in however they like. We also use chime bars pitched to match the songs for a different experience. Sometimes extensions of the body are used, such as scarves, a large piece of cloth, hoops, or a parachute, which help to emphasize the rhythm. All of the instruments and props are of the highest quality and non-toxic. For accompaniment, the teacher leads the group to sing, sometimes a cappella (voices only) and sometimes with an instrument such as piano or guitar. Recorded music is also used, but limited to 3 or 4 songs per class, so that the experience of music and movement is emphasized, rather than passive listening. How can I expect my child to sit still for 45 minutes? Children are not expected to sit still or even actively participate throughout the whole class. In the atmosphere of informal instruction, children are free to wander about the circle or the room as long as they are being respectful to themselves and others. Young children learn best by self-directed exploration, discovery and play. Some activities are done seated, such as chants or fingerplays, and some are movement activities where everyone moves around the room. Each class includes a lullaby, and children are invited to sit on their caregivers' lap. There is always a ‘free dance’ section and an instrument jam or "play along". Parents may take an activity over to their child to engage them, or try to bring them back to the ‘circle’ but are never pressured to do so. Children naturally express themselves and their feelings in a variety of ways. Crying is part of every child's range of emotion, and we do not shame or discourage it. You, as the parent, will know whether your child is simply vocalizing and expressing or is signaling to you that (s)he is overstimulated and needs a cuddle break. Occasionally, it can be beneficial to take a break outside of the room and come back when your child is ready. We want the Music Together experience to be a positive one for you and your child. What if I can’t sing in tune? How can I expect my child to be musical? Research shows that there are both inherited tendencies and learned aspects to musical ability. All children are musical. The child’s attitude about music comes from the modeling of their parents - not necessarily their parents’ musical ability, but the love and enthusiasm the parent shows while making music, even music that is out of tune. Each child’s inherited ability has a ceiling, but there is no way to determine how far they can go until they begin the journey. Nurture definitely helps nature. Since all children are musical, so are all parents. Even if someone didn’t have Music Together as a child, most people can learn to carry a tune if they are exposed to enough music and have fun doing it. When is a child ready for older classes or a different program? It is recommended that children attend mixed age class through age four. There are many great reasons why an older child might stay in the mixed age class: allows for the whole family to be together, including younger and older siblings; it is a chance for the older child to be the BIG kid, using their musical knowledge to take on leadership, a rare opportunity at this age for many children; they can revisit the familiar music together experience with new developmental abilities they didn't have when they were younger. Older children are welcome up to age 4 in the mixed age class. Does my fee cover more than just the class? Yes. In addition to the 10 weekly 45 minute sessions, you will receive a professional quality CD, tape, and beautifully illustrated songbook for the current semester. You will also receive instructive research articles, a newsletter, and an educational parent guide. Additionally, we will have a parent education night (no kids) several times a year. There are also community events for your whole family such as sing-alongs at senior centers, an annual Music Together Picnic and other musical events. Your tuition goes toward your entire family’s musical education, not just your child(rens)s! Can my spouse come? Yes, any adult caregiver can attend with an enrolled child - spouses, grandparents, care providers, aunts and uncles. We encourage extended family participation! In fact, some families request additional sets of materials to keep at grandma's or the babysitter's house, so they can listen to and make music from class in a variety of settings. What happens if I miss a class? Generally, two make-ups are allowed per semester. Please see the ‘Policies’ section for more information. Can I register on-line? Yes, you can register on-line and pay with Pay Pal. You can also print out the registration form and mail a check to the listed address. It's all here. This sounds like something I would like to teach. How do I pursue that? Some of the best attributes found in Music Together teachers include the love of music and children, good communication skills, the ability to multi-task, an aptitude for music, the desire to educate, a willingness to be silly, and an ability to laugh at oneself. If interested please email the center director for more information. You can also check out the training information on Music Together’s national website, listed below. How can I find out more about Music Together? For Music Together's national office in New Jersey, you may call the Main Office at the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton at (800) 728-2962 or visit their website. |
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