Mixed-age Classes
This is the essential Music Together class, one that a child can attend from birth through age four through all nine song collections. This basic class follows the recommendations of child development researchers—grouping children of a variety of ages because this fosters natural, family-style learning. Younger children enjoy watching and imitating older ones; older children learn by leading younger ones; and adults are happy because the children in the family can go to class together. Each child participates at his or her own level in singing, moving, chanting, listening, watching, or exploring musical instruments. Any caregivers—parents, grandparents, nanny—can bring the children. The whole family is welcome for this important family music experience.
Babies Only Classes (please contact us for update schedule)
This
class is designed for babies who are 8months old and younger and are
not crawling yet with their parents or care taker. All Music Together
classes geared towards encouraging the parents' participation. However,
this particular class provides the opportunity for the parents to sing
& dance to & with their babies even more.
Is My Baby Too Young?
It's
never too early to start making music with your baby, since as
suggested by many studies, early exposure benefits a child's musical
development. The music activities used in class such as finger plays,
lap songs and songs without words are designed especially for newborns
and non-movers. They will also provide the parent or care taker with an
endless repertoire for changing diapers and playing with their baby,
creating musical memories that will grow with the family.
Research
suggests that even infants can discriminate pitch and sounds. So come
meet other parents and learn about musical development in infants,
toddlers and preschoolers.
3's & 4's YEAR OLD CLASSES (FALL'12 possibly on Mondays at 3pm)
We
strongly recommend that a child who is 3, 4 or even 5yo attends the
mixed age classes. However, due to schedule conflicts, sometimes the
morning classes are not a possibility for the children who are now
attending pre-school. We offer an afternoon class designed to suit the
schedule of the 3 to 5 year old children.
WHAT ABOUT MY PRE-SCHOOLER?
Three
to Five year olds thrive in a mixed age environment as it affords them
the opportunity to practice their leadership skills. Often, preschools
and other programs separate by age but research shows that mixed age
environments allow for more development in many areas. Think of a room
with all 4 year olds and in that room is usually one child who always
has the answer and is quite confident. This is the child who receives
the most attention, whether positive or negative. In a mixed age
environment, the oldest child is given the opportunity to participate at
their own level and perhaps even "shine." In addition, the most
important piece in your child’s development is you and in a Music
Together class you are present and involved in your child’s development.
Music Together Big Kids®™ Classes
Music Together Big Kids™™ is a 60-minute class geared to the interests and abilities of
5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds. The program blends the elements of Music
Together that parents and children love with new activities, skills, and
challenges that are developmentally appropriate for this age group.
Big
Kids classes lay the foundation for Basic Music Literacy, complementing
music instruction in school or instrument lessons, and leading to a
lifetime of joyful music-making. The curriculum includes solfège, solos
and ensembles, folk dances, harmony singing, vocal development, and
drumming. In a safe, fun environment, your child can experiment with new
activities like conducting and improvisation, story songs, and game
songs.
Parent
attendance is welcome and not required. In the Music Together of
Marblehead center, we require 3 attendances per parent (1st and last
class, and one of the the other 7 classes). We should have one of the
parents in every class.
Each
family receives a Big Kids songbook, CD, solfège cards, and HomePlay
activities, so that the entire family can continue the fun and learning
at home and parents can stay connected with what the child is learning
in class.
Younger
siblings are NOT recommended to participate in this class due to a
difference in the approach of activities and their age development.
