Space is still available for the six-week Summer Songs early childhood Music Together® mixed age (birth to age 5) parent/child classes. Classes start this week in Hobart and Oneonta. Call 607-652-2330 or 607-441-8448. Email FunMusic4Kids@aol.com.
Discounts are available for siblings and returning families. An infant sibling less than 8 months accompanying an older sibling is free. Registration includes two CDs for home and the car, parent education materials, and an activity songbook.
In a Music Together class, up to twelve children and their parents or caregivers (nanny, babysitter, grandparent) meet for 45 minutes each week for ten weeks to experience new songs, chants, movement activities, and instrumental jam sessions. Both adults and children sit in the circle and participate, led by a teacher with early childhood and music skills. The teacher helps adults understand how to participate and the importance of relaxing and enjoying the musical activities with their children.
Children have many opportunities to create and to play—making up rhythm patterns, making up new words to songs, and making up movements to express a sound. Some children simply stare and “study” the activity as they absorb the musically rich environment. Others sing, play, and dance freely because they know the songs and chants from the songbook and recording they take home. All experience a comfortable, encouraging environment that respects individual temperaments and learning styles. Twelve to fourteen activities are included in each class ranging from free movement to songs in unusual tonalities and unusual meters.
Music Together is a music and movement approach to early childhood that develops every child’s opportunity for basic music competence by encouraging music experience rather than learning of information about music. Families are encouraged to attend class together, so younger children and older children in the same family can learn music and movement activities to enjoy at home. Parents also enjoy the classes because they spend special, quality time with their children, they get a low impact, aerobic workout, their musical skills increase, and they discover the joy of participating in a music making community.
Most importantly, children who have participated in the Music Together program have shown gains in cognitive, physical, language, social, and emotional development in addition to developing fundamental music skills that are essential to the success of more advanced musical development.
