Class Format

Music Together^® Parent/Child Classes for Children from Birth up to Kindergarten:

We offer weekly Parent/Child classes during our fall, winter and spring sessions which are each ten weeks long, as well as during our eight-week summer session. The sessions are non-sequential, so families may enroll for any session, regardless of previous enrollments. Each ten-week session we enjoy all new music (two copies of a new CD and a songbook are included in the tuition) and during the summer program, families enjoy one of three "best of" collections of Music Together^® songs.

In a Music Together Parent/Child Class...

A group of six to twelve children (and up to two infant auditors) and their parents or caregivers meet for 45 minutes each week to enjoy a variety of playful musical activities. The Music Together teacher guides the class through traditional and original songs and chants with a broad mix of tonalities, meters and cultural styles. A dozen experiences are a part of each class, including singing, dancing, small and large movement, instrument play, improvisation and more.

The approach is fun and interactive and it incorporates non-formal instruction, allowing the children to engage at their own developmental level. It's a relaxed atmosphere that invites and encourages participation by both children and adults, regardless of musical skill, background or training. In a Music Together class, families rediscover the pleasure and educational value of non-formal, homemade musical experiences.

Music Together Parent/Child classes offer your family a chance to have fun together, to learn music, and to learn about the various stages of early childhood music development. You may wonder how you can best help your child musically, especially if you do not feel that you are musical yourself. At Music Together, we know from working with thousands of families that parents and other primary caregivers are the most important influences in a child’s musical life. If adults—regardless of musical ability—have fun making music, children will, too.

A Mixed-Age Format for Parent/Child Classes: Newborn to Kindergarten

Child development researchers recommend mixed-age groupings because it fosters natural, family-style learning. Younger children enjoy observing and imitating the older ones; older children benefit from singing to, moving with and being appreciated by the younger ones. Each child is given the freedom to participate as he or she chooses, without being burdened by age-specific expectations, and siblings can attend together.

The curriculum is designed to teach on many levels of complexity at once, so children of all ages and stages of music development benefit. The mixed-age format is central to the Music Together® approach, which is specifically designed for early childhood, a time when children use the magical process of play to essentially teach themselves the things they need to learn.

Infants’ Participation in Parent/Child Classes

Many parents wonder if a music class is appropriate or useful for infants. We know that hearing begins in utero at the fourth month and that at birth, hearing is the most well-developed sense. Most children hear well when they are born. Babies are acutely attentive to—and responsive to—music. A recent study shows that they are able to pick out minute changes in melodies at the age of only one or two months! As their bodies and nervous systems mature, infants often show progressively more complex musical responses and evidence of song recognition. Because the early months are so important, Music Together® invites infants under the age of eight months to attend class free with a registered sibling. Don’t miss out on this important developmental period. The early years are so important.

Adult Involvement in Parent/Child Classes

Research has shown that young children respond best to music with the active participation of parents or other loving adults, regardless of the adult’s own musical ability. Music Together provides playful, engaging ways for children and adults to interact musically. As a bonus, many Music Together parents discover their own musicality for the first time by participating with their children. Others rediscover the musical world they enjoyed as children or teenagers but may have left behind in the busy-ness of adult life. Designed to bring families together through music, the Music Together program encourages family music participation in spontaneous activity occurring within the context of daily life.



Class Descriptions of:
	Music Together Parent/Child classes for Children from Birth up to Kindergarten Music Together Big Kids classes for Children for Kindergarteners through 7-Year-Olds Music Together Guitar for Grownups
		Music Together^® Parent/Child Classes for Children from Birth up to Kindergarten: We offer weekly Parent/Child classes during our fall, winter and spring sessions which are each ten weeks long, as well as during our eight-week summer session. The sessions are non-sequential, so families may enroll for any session, regardless of previous enrollments. Each ten-week session we enjoy all new music (two copies of a new CD and a songbook are included in the tuition) and during the summer program, families enjoy one of three "best of" collections of Music Together^® songs. In a Music Together Parent/Child Class... A group of six to twelve children (and up to two infant auditors) and their parents or caregivers meet for 45 minutes each week to enjoy a variety of playful musical activities. The Music Together teacher guides the class through traditional and original songs and chants with a broad mix of tonalities, meters and cultural styles. A dozen experiences are a part of each class, including singing, dancing, small and large movement, instrument play, improvisation and more. The approach is fun and interactive and it incorporates non-formal instruction, allowing the children to engage at their own developmental level. It's a relaxed atmosphere that invites and encourages participation by both children and adults, regardless of musical skill, background or training. In a Music Together class, families rediscover the pleasure and educational value of non-formal, homemade musical experiences. Music Together Parent/Child classes offer your family a chance to have fun together, to learn music, and to learn about the various stages of early childhood music development. You may wonder how you can best help your child musically, especially if you do not feel that you are musical yourself. At Music Together, we know from working with thousands of families that parents and other primary caregivers are the most important influences in a child’s musical life. If adults—regardless of musical ability—have fun making music, children will, too. A Mixed-Age Format for Parent/Child Classes: Newborn to Kindergarten Child development researchers recommend mixed-age groupings because it fosters natural, family-style learning. Younger children enjoy observing and imitating the older ones; older children benefit from singing to, moving with and being appreciated by the younger ones. Each child is given the freedom to participate as he or she chooses, without being burdened by age-specific expectations, and siblings can attend together. The curriculum is designed to teach on many levels of complexity at once, so children of all ages and stages of music development benefit. The mixed-age format is central to the Music Together® approach, which is specifically designed for early childhood, a time when children use the magical process of play to essentially teach themselves the things they need to learn. Infants’ Participation in Parent/Child Classes Many parents wonder if a music class is appropriate or useful for infants. We know that hearing begins in utero at the fourth month and that at birth, hearing is the most well-developed sense. Most children hear well when they are born. Babies are acutely attentive to—and responsive to—music. A recent study shows that they are able to pick out minute changes in melodies at the age of only one or two months! As their bodies and nervous systems mature, infants often show progressively more complex musical responses and evidence of song recognition. Because the early months are so important, Music Together® invites infants under the age of eight months to attend class free with a registered sibling. Don’t miss out on this important developmental period. The early years are so important. Adult Involvement in Parent/Child Classes Research has shown that young children respond best to music with the active participation of parents or other loving adults, regardless of the adult’s own musical ability. Music Together provides playful, engaging ways for children and adults to interact musically. As a bonus, many Music Together parents discover their own musicality for the first time by participating with their children. Others rediscover the musical world they enjoyed as children or teenagers but may have left behind in the busy-ness of adult life. Designed to bring families together through music, the Music Together program encourages family music participation in spontaneous activity occurring within the context of daily life.












			Music Together^® Big Kids Classes for Kindergarteners to 7-Year-Olds: Music Together teachers are often asked “What’s next?” once their children graduate from parent/child classes and start kindergarten. We are delighted to announce that we now have the answer: Music Together Big Kids! This is a program for kindergarteners through 7-year olds that blends the elements of Music Together that parents and children love with new activities, skills and challenges that are developmentally appropriate for this age group. The Music Together Big Kids Program helps children take the next step. Through family music-making, Music Together mixed-age classes support the development of tonal and rhythm competence (“Basic Music Competence” or “BMC”) for infants up to kindergarteners. In contrast, Big Kids classes lay the foundation for Basic Music Literacy (“BML”), as well as a lifetime of joyful music, complementing formal music instruction in school or in private instrument lessons. With Music Together Big Kids, we recognize your older child's new capabilities and provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum that includes solfege, ensembles and solos in singing and instrument play, folk dances, harmony singing, vocal development and drumming skills. The Big Kids classroom is a safe, familiar, fun environment where your child can experiment with new musical activities like conducting and improvisation, story songs, "silly operas," and game songs. Parent participation is the hallmark of the Music Together program, but many children of this age are ready for more independence in the classroom, so parent attendance in each Big Kids class is welcome but not required. While this can be a "drop-off" class, you (or another caregiver) should plan to attend your child's first and last class of each semester. You may attend any and all classes if you wish. Due to the structure of the Big Kids class, however, we cannot accommodate younger siblings (except for babies younger than eight months) for the entire class. You and any younger siblings are welcome and encouraged to join the last 10 minutes of every class. You and your child will receive a songbook, 2 CDs, solfege cards and Home Play activities so that the entire family can continue the fun and learning at home and you can stay connected with what your child is learning in class. Music Together Big Kid classes are 60 minutes long and meet weekly for ten weeks, three semesters per year. Since the program provides a cumulative learning sequence, a minimum of three semesters is recommended, with six or more preferred. Music Together has found in its pilot programs that younger children are not developmentally ready for the structure of a Big Kids class so to be eligible to participate, your child must be at least kindergarten age. In order to participate, children need not have participated in Music Together parent/child classes, so please tell your friends and neighbors about Music Together Big Kids.
			Music Together^® Guitar Class for Grownups: Become a Guitar Hero in Your Child’s Eyes! Do you have a guitar at home that you haven’t picked up in months (or years)—or have you always wanted to learn to play? Did you ever dream of being a rock star (and didn’t we all?)? When you learn how to play your family’s favorite Music Together songs, you’ll be a star in the eyes of your child—and provide a wonderful music-making model for him or her, too! In the Music Together Guitar Class for Grownups, you’ll learn how to play songs in the current Music Together song collection. Even if you’ve never picked up a guitar before, you’ll leave the first class able to play one song and ready to lead your family in musical jam sessions. The perfect reason to pick up that dusty instrument or to begin to learn a new one is to find a new way to bond musically with your son or daughter. About the Guitar Class Classes are open to parents and caregivers currently enrolled in Music Together classes. The Guitar Class is appropriate for beginners and those who already know a little guitar and small classes allow for relaxed, individualized learning. During class, students learn basic strums and chords for more than a dozen songs from the current Music Together song collection. Participants receive a Guitar Workbook each semester to complement the song collection’s family songbook and recording. Students should bring a guitar and capo to the first class (and an electronic guitar tuner if they have one). During class, you’ll meet and connect with other parents, grandparents, and caregivers as you learn Music Together songs together in a warm, supportive environment. If you take the class for several semesters, you can develop fluency, learn full chords, and use advanced strums. Most importantly, you’ll have fun while developing a new skill! “Actually the best part of the class is the children at home, and how they gather around me when I practice! They think I’m a rock’n’roll star! I’m in trouble, though, because when I play “Ram, Sam, Sam” my daughter keeps saying faster, faster, faster!!!" Lisa, Parent Music Together Princeton Lab School