Music Together IS Music For All

Tanner and Abigail are currently enrolled (and LOVING) their second semester of Music Together. Last semester they (and I) had so much fun singing and playing to the "Bongos" music collection that I couldn't wait to sign them up for the next semester, "Bells".

Tanner and Abigail (as honeybees for Halloween)

"Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and the adults who love them. First offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.

Abigail and Tanner singing the "Button, Button" song.

Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning. By emphasizing actual music experiences rather than concepts about music, Music Together introduces children to the pleasures of making music instead of passively receiving it from CDs or TV.

Friends from class

Central to the Music Together approach is that young children learn best from the powerful role model of parents/caregivers who are actively making music. The program brings families together by providing a rich musical environment in the classroom and by facilitating family participation in spontaneous musical activity at home within the context of daily life.

photo by Marti Stone

Music Together is committed to helping families, caregivers, and early childhood professionals rediscover the pleasure and educational value of informal music experiences. All our teachers have successfully completed Music Together’s training program. Music Together applies the latest research in early childhood music development to the program. A curriculum pioneer since 1987."

Friends from class

Tanner and Abigail became great friends with several of the kids in the class and we were thrilled that their parents signed them up for a second semester! We listen to the Music Together CD all the time (probably more than my husband would like) at home and in the car. We brought the CD to Nanny and Papa's house a few weeks ago and had fun jamming with cousins Emily and Elizabeth! I can't say enough about this wonderful program or our superb instructor, Jessica Day. Tanner, Abigail, and I love her enthusiasm, caring nature, and most of all her love for children and music.

photo by Marti Stone

Jess offers a week of FREE demo classes before the start of each new semester so parents can bring their children and check it out. We attended a demo when the Twinkies were about 10 months old. We didn't sign up for the class because I felt that it was going to be too much for me to handle two babies that were barely sitting up on their own at that point. That being said the class that we attend now has a child just under one year old (who attends with an older brother) and another who is about four months old (who attends with an older sister).

Tanner and Abigail jamming to "Bongo Jam"

Jess offers weekday and weekend classes in Belfast, Thomaston, and Rockport. Bay Chamber offers scholarships for students who enroll at the Rockport location. Tanner and Abigail receive a partial scholarship from Bay Chamber without which we probably wouldn't be able to afford the tuition (thank you Bay Chamber). If you live in midcoast Maine visit the Midcoast Music Together website for more information about classes, FREE demos, or to enroll for an upcoming semester. To find a class in your area or to learn more about the Music Together philosophy visit the Music Together website.