What to Expect In A Music Together Class

Finding their own way

Children often take many weeks to warm up to a new activity or new environment, and every child will approach this experience in his or her own style. Please don’t be concerned if your child isn’t actively joining in, or does something different from the rest of the group. The class is the setting where children are absorbing new ideas, and they often practice these ideas once they get home. The best way to help your child absorb these new musical skills is to participate and have fun in class yourself. You don’t have to be musically skilled! Just participating in class activities at your own comfort level will help your child develop the disposition to be musical - and this is a gift your child will enjoy for a lifetime. You may have fun noticing how your child’s response to music changes over the course of the class, not just in the classroom but at home as well.

We’ll offer a variety of activities, often with the same song over a period of weeks. Your child will modify these ideas to fit his or her needs - which may mean sitting while everyone else is standing, or jumping while everyone else is sitting. Often a child who appears to show no interest in class activities is really quietly absorbing them, and will repeat them perfectly once back home. Feel free to encourage your child to participate, but let your child have the choice about how to do it. 
 

Children's Behavior 

 We are used to children fussing from time to time as all children (and adults) do! If the behaviors are not addressed, however they can become a distraction to other families in class. When your child is in distress, use your judgment. We recommend several actions you can take depending on the distress level of your child.

A Simply fussy child usually is protesting a change in activities that they sense or hear happening. Reassurance may be all they need that more fun is on the horizon. Try holding them or giving them a moment to wander until the next activity starts. Staying engaged in the class yourself may help bring them back to focus as well.

A slightly more distressed child may be afraid of all the chaos going on at their level. Try picking them up, standing yourself to help them get out of the activity. They may calm simply by staying to the side of the room for a period

A truly distressed child may need to go out of the room for a few minutes to calm down. A few moments outside of the room, preferably not wandering, but in your confident arms, can help many children regain their sense of self and help them transition back into the music. Your judgment is the best tool in determining whether a child is ready come back into the classroom. We want to be your partners in ensuring Music Together is an enjoyable experience. Please discuss with your teacher any behavioral concerns you might have.

Your teacher will prepare consistent lesson plans including several ritual items your child can count on: the Hello song opening; The Goodbye Song closing; the play along and lullaby/quiet song just before the Goodbye Song.

Parent Education Moments – during each lesson your teacher may talk about research in the field of early childhood music education, or what our experiences with children have taught us, or how what’s happening in your class. 

We welcome all levels of music and dance experience. It doesn’t matter to your child if you are a
wonderful singer or that you “can’t carry a tune in a bucket” and it doesn’t matter to your teacher either!

You do not have to be a musician

Enjoy! No matter what your child does (unless he or she is about to get hurt or about to hurt someone else),
their adults should model music making – playing, singing, moving, and chanting.

Keep It Musical! Please keep Caregiver/Parent talking to a minimum. During class we want to do things musically, so when you need to communicate with your child, try singing it! Music Together is a great way to meet other parents or to attend with friends, but please have your conversations and make your plans before or after class.

Find Your Own Way! Feel free to “do your own thing” during the play along and free movement activities. If you a ‘tentative mover’, follow another adult, or follow your teacher. Sometimes we’ll suggest motions, sometimes, we’ll coach you through a group dance. During the small movement and finger play activities feel free to model in a way that is genuine to you. If it is not distracting the musical experience than it is usually just fine with your teacher.

Enjoy the music at home.This class is only a jumping off point. The songbook is full of suggestions for enjoying the music with your child at home, and you may think of many other ways. Even if you don’t read music, you might look at the pictures together, or follow along with the CD. Feel free to change the words to suit bath times, bedtimes, etc. It’s your music - you can change it any way you want.