Music Together® Classes FAQ Page

• What is Music Together?
• What types of activities are included in class?
• What is my role as the caregiver?
• What can I expect from my child?
• Why are the materials so important?

What is Music Together?

Music Together is a research based music and movement program designed for children birth through kindergarten. The Music Together approach develops every child's birthright of basic music competence by encouraging the actual experiencing of music. Music Together is a developmentally appropriate early childhood music program that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement. The program began as an educational project of the Center for Music and Young Children in early 80's and is now being taught nationwide.

It is not expected that children will do everything the teacher and parents do in class. Music learning is very much like language learning. If children are exposed to fluent music making from a young age, they will gain the disposition to love and understand it. Some children observe during class, other children get a burst of energy, children also tend to 'practice' what they learned from class spontaneously at home throughout the week.

What types of activities are included in class?

• Singing
• Vocal play
• Rhythmic Chants
• Experimentation with Props and Instruments
• Tonal patterns and rhythm patterns
• Movement
• Ideas for making music together at home

Singing

Singing is an important part of the Music Together program. Most caregivers who are enrolled in the Music Together program are not professional musicians! Don't worry about how you sound, just have fun! If a child's caregivers are enjoying themselves singing, the child will have the desire to learn to sing too!. Songs are generally sung all the way through in class, because research shows that learning music is very much like learning a language. Song are in the keys that are most readily heard by children, and your teacher will lead songs in the written keys in class.

Vocal Play

Early Start Music is a strong believer in the value of vocal play. Vocal play is a creative way to grab attention, elicit spontaneous response in class and is the part of class that is most often repeated spontaneously at home. Vocal play can also help your child experience the whole range of his or her voice.

Rhythmic Chants

For children of all ages chant is probably the most prevalent type of spontaneous music-making. Chant can be a rhythmic, repetitive, recitation of words or phrases, have songlike qualities and be sung on one, two or three notes or have solo beginnings which then spread to the group.

Use of Props/Instruments

We use egg shakers, mini maracas, rhythm sticks, drums, triangles, resonator bells, scarves, balls, kitchen instruments, castanets, dyna bands and more! Props are used in 3-4 songs in each class and are meant to promote spontaneous and creative responses from the children (and sometimes the caregivers too!).

Tonal patterns and rhythm patterns

These short musical phrases are included in each class, and are also on the take home CD. The tonal and rhythm patterns are based on the song that proceeded them. Children often start singing these short phrases before whole songs because they do not contain words, and are shorter in duration.

Movement

Movement is used continually throughout the class, and is so important to every aspect of music. We can interpret musical expression, timing, phrasing and beat all through movement. Beat must first be experienced in the body. Later, children will begin to feel the beat on the inside. Plus, the children will enjoy creating their own movements in response to the music, therefore developing a movement vocabulary.

What is my role in class?

The role of parents and caregivers in class is simple; have fun making music! Research shows that parents who enjoy music will have chidren who enjoy music. Parents are the models in class, just as they are the models at home. Musical ability is not important; children will reach basic music competence whether or not thier caregiver sings in tune. What's important is the child has musical models, and exposure to a rich musical environment. Parents are expected to participate, bond with thier child or children and give thier little one the space he or she needs to react and 'play' with the music. There is no need to hold your child's arms or instuct your child verbally, most important is your own music making. The class is as much for you as your child!

What can I expect from my child in class?

Each child has their own, unique learning style.

Each child's response to the activities is unique and individual.

The Music Together program is designed for all types of learners and is process based not performance based.

When making music actively with thier caregiver, the parent/child bond is strengthened.

Primary music development will happen all by itself if children are part of a rich musical environment in early childhood (even newborns will benefit!).

Why have materials for each family?

There are 9 collections of music in the Music Together program. The take home CD's and songbooks introduce children to a variety of music, including songs from around the world and songs in different meters and keys. The materials are important because they extend what the child is doing in class into thier everyday life. If you watch your child closely, you will see spontaneous musical motions and sounds that they learned from class. The CD's will also bring back these musical memories, and enhance you and your child's class experience. The songbook will not only help you learn the words to songs, but is also great for telling stories, and extending the meaning of a song with 'musical play'. The song order in the songbook matches the CD. Have fun with the materials! Turn off the CD and make up your own verses, then turn it back on and get out your instruments! There is a diverse group of singers on the CD's and the voices are meant to represent a family, with a variety of children, a mom or aunt, a dad or uncle and a grandma. The songs are pitched in keys that children naturally sing in, and in class, songs are always sung in the keys from the recordings. While driving in the car, you may hear your baby, toddler or preschooler responding to the tonal and rhythm patterns that are played after some of the songs. For babies, this may be ther first thing they sing, because there are no words to hold them back. Each collection includes an illustrated songbook and 2 CD's. Repetition is the key to learning. Having materials for each family allows for reinforcement of materials as well as additional bonding opportunities at home. Practicing activities outside of class improves musical, intellectual, physical and emotional growth.

For Preschoolers bringing materials home also builds self esteem as the the children will be able to share all of the activities with their parents and siblings, creating stronger home/school connection.