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Imagine a
noncompetitive, nonperformance environment, where your child may freely
explore music through play, build skills in basic music competence, prepare
for future instrument or dance study and a lifetime of music appreciation.
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MUSIC AND MOVEMENT CLASSES FOR INFANTS THROUGH AGE SIX
AND
THE ADULTS WHO LOVE THEM!
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What are Music Together® Classes Like?
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In a Music Together class, twelve children with
their parents or caregivers meet for 45 minutes weekly for 10 weeks
to experience new songs, chants, movement activities and instrumental
jam sessions. Children range in age from infants to 5 years and
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. Infants are nurtured and stimulated
by their loving adults as they absorb this musically rich environment.
All experience a comfortable encouraging environment that respects
individual temperaments and learning styles.
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 the learning of information
about music. Children experience various macro and micro beats,
experiment with their vocal mechanisms in high and low ranges, learn
to use their upper and lower adjustments to sing and repeat both
rhythm and tonal patterns in a variety of modalities and meters.
Even the adults in class, both parent and teacher, become reconnected
with their ability to PLAY! Come experience the joy and wonder of
making music with your children!
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Music is a
Basic Life Skill
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We believe that music
ability is as much a basic life skill as walking or talking, and that
all children can achieve basic competence in music provided their
early music environment is rich. Basic music competence is defined
as the ability to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with
confidence in the music of our culture, including instrumental study
if one so chooses. |
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"We have really enjoyed this class - it teaches
us both and gives us a chance to spend quality time together!"
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Our intention is
to help families rediscover the pleasure and value of informal music experience,
(musical play) which does not seek perfect performance, but leads to a
lifelong love of music making.
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Fun, playful, interactive ways to focus on tonal and
rhythmic elements of music |
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Instrumental play: drums, resonator bells, sticks, egg
shakers etc. |
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Small/large movement as well as circle dances and free
dances |
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Music selected to provide a rich variety of tonalities
and meters |
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Parents participate as role models |
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Use of props (scarves, balls, etc.) |
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Opportunities for improvisation by children as well
as adults |
Class have a characteristic flow which allows for various ages to participate
and make music together, each at their own level. Certain rituals,
such as the "Hello Song" at the beginning and the sequence
of the Instrumental Jam Session / Lullaby / Good-bye Song at the end
of class, help children to internally pace their involvement and aid
in classroom management.
The atmosphere invites and encourages participation by both children and
adults, regardless of musical skill, talent, or
training. Music Together parents discover what a powerful role model they
are to their child, just by having fun with the
music themselves. In doing so, they often find that their own musicality
flourishes as well.
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"I would recommend Music Together to any parent!
I love the class and will continue with Colby for years to come
and bring future children as well"
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Child development researchers recommend mixed-age grouping because it
fosters natural, family-style learining. Younger children enjoy and benefit
by watching and imitating the older ones; older children learn by leading
the younger ones; and parents enjoy coming together for musica as a family.
Each child participates at his or her own develpmental level: singing,
moving, chanting, listening, watching and exploring musical instruments.
The class provides for a variety of adult-child activities that are fun
and offer new ways to play musically at home.
The whole family is welcome for this essential family music experience!!
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"My children really blossomed with their interest
in music (singing, dancing and instruements). Kate looked forward
to music class all week and ALWAYS wants to listen to the CD in
the car. She sings everywhere all by herself and even teaches her
own music class to her stuffed animals. Thanks!"
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Did you know that an infant will often change his or her personal cooing
tone to the resting tone or the fifth above the resting tone when being
sung to? A child's music development benefits greatly from early exposure
as an infant. While infants often attend and are wonderful in the mixed
ages classes, if you are the parent of a new baby, you might want to sign
up for the Babies Class, a one-semester introduction to the Music Together
program. This class is a delight to parents: many are enjoying parenthood
for the first time and are eager to learn and share experiences. Tell
your friends about this wonderful, fun and very beneficial mommy and me
class.
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"Great stimulation, music appreciation, social
and togetherness activity!"
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The Next Step:
As children in Music Together approach school age, parents naturally
begin to wonder, "What's my child's 'next step' in music?"
Often they are not sure their child is ready for formal instrument study,
and sometimes children feel more attracted to singing or to dance and
movement.
Whether or not it's time for lessons, many families want to continue
the fun and learning they've been enjoying in their mixed-age Music
Together classes. And more and more research shows that music and movement
enhance chidlren's neurological and cognitive development in many other
areas, such as verbal memory and spatial-temporal intelligence.
Music Together's 5-6 class is designed to continue the natural development
of your child as a music-maker. It helps develop skills children need
for singing at day camp or enjoying general music in elementary school.
And for those who so choose, it provides excellent preparation for -
or accompaniment to - beginning instrument, vocal or dance study.
Parent's participation and modeling remain curcial to your child's development
- and, we hope, a delight for you!
Curriculum:
Personal expressive skills (developing each child's singing and movement
for tonal and rhythmic expression)
Game Songs (independent singing, leadership, playing by the "rules")
Dance/free movment (learning specific steps and sequences, ensemble
movement)
Improvisation and Composition (vocal and instrumental "conversations,"
song-making
Solfege tonal and rhythm patterns (preparation for music literacy through
solfege play)
Song stories and dramatic play (acting out songs, creating musical accompaniments)
Instrument Ensemble Play (solos, dutes, trios .... and conducting)
The activities during the Music Together play along are more structured
and other instruments (xylophones, glockenspiels) are explored as opportunity
allows.
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