Click on the questions below to reveal the answer.
Why Music Together®?
All children are musical, and each has the inborn capacity to "speak" the language of music. Rather than emphasizing traditional performances and entertainment, we encourage family music-making within the context of daily life. We strive to give you tools to find your own unique musical relationship with your child. Through our classes, many families rediscover the joy and educational value of informal music experiences. To learn more click here.
What kinds of things will we do in class?
In class we sing, dance, chant, and play along with instruments to a variety of music styles, melodies, and rhythms. You and your child will experience creative movement, improvisation, finger play, and lap songs. Above all else, we have fun while creating a rich and lively musical community.
Is my child too young for music class?
Children learn to talk because they have been immersed in language from birth. Giving a child this same kind of immersion in musical experiences will provide him opportunities to not only learn to sing in tune and keep a steady beat, but to develop his own special way of expressing music through movement.
May I bring my three year old as well as my 10-month old to the same class?
Not only may you, but we encourage it! Research shows that children learn best in a mixed-age environment. Little ones learn by watching and imitating older children. Older children learn by being the "big kids" and showing their younger peers how it is done. This family-style learning environment facilitates participation and involvement in the music for every child, at whatever developmental stage they may be.
Do you have something appropriate for my kindergartner?
As a bridge between informal music instruction and formal music lessons, we offer Big Kids Family Music®. This 60-minute class is especially tailored to the interests and social nature of children ages five and six.
What is my role in the class and why is it important for me to be there?
Because you are your child's most important role model, she will learn best by watching you and listening to you. Therefore, your participation as a music-maker is vital to your child's developing love of music.
My child just sits there in class (or) my child just wanders around in class. What should I do?
A child's learning in class happens in a multi-layered way. Through active participation, watching others move, experimenting with instruments and even by just being there and listening to you sing, your child will grow musically simply by experiencing the musical environment wih her eyes, ears, and body. You can support your child's growth best by understanding and allowing for these different learning styles. Rather than waiting for your child to do something in class, let yourself go and do it yourself. Then, watch and listen to her at home, and you will see and hear how much she is learning and absorbing in class.
I am tone deaf! Won't I ruin my child musically if I sing to him?
No! We promise that you will not hurt your child's musical prowess by singing to him, even if you are not always in tune. He will hear plenty of "in tune" music through other mediums, but your voice and your presence are most precious to him. What you (and/or other primary caregivers) do, he wants to do too. Although we, as teachers, are able to help your child learn skills, your child must gain the positive disposition toward active music making from you!
How do I make music at home? I don't know many songs.
There are nine song collections, as well as three summer collections of "greatest hits". Each collection is a compilation of different kinds of music - folk songs, original songs and chants, music from different cultures, lullabies and play-alongs. At the beginning of each semester, every family is given their own illustrated songbook, as well as two CD's of the current semester's music. In no time, you will have a "library" of songs and chants, as well as suggested activity ideas to use at home.
How long is the program?
Each class meets once a week for forty-five minutes. The fall semester is twelve weeks, winter and spring semesters are ten weeks, and the summer semester is six weeks.
What happens after we complete a semester?
A different song collection is used each semester, so when you re-register, you can look forward to expanding your repertoire with a variety of new songs and chants. Because your child will be at a different stage developmentally, an activity will be exciting to him, whether it is because of its familiarity or because he can grasp it in a new way.
What if I didn't start in the fall? Has my child missed something?
Because the semesters are non-sequential, and the activities are designed to be accessible to a child at his own developmental stage, a child can enter the Music Together program at the beginning of any semester and at any age.
Where are you located?
To better serve you, we have multiple locations on the upper east side and west side of Manhattan.
How do I sign up?
Look at our class schedule and find a time and location that works for you and your child. We will be most happy to introduce you to The Joy of Family Music®. To register on-line, click here.
