At Music Together of Folsom and El Dorado Hills, we believe that all children are inherently musical. Whether they achieve musically is a matter of exposure and experience—exposure to many kinds of music and experience in making music. Music Together classes are forty-five minutes long and include an artistically conceived flow of songs, movement activities, nursery rhymes, instrumental jam sessions, and finger-plays. The types of activities are research-based and support children in developing tonal and rhythm competence. Activities evolve from the child's world and include engaging music, animal sounds, and a good bit of genuine, silly fun!
Music Together Is:
45-minute classes meeting once a week for a 10-week semester with mixed ages from birth to age 5
Singing, rhythmic chants, creative movement from finger-plays to large motor movement activities and instrument play
Free of performance pressure encouraging children to participate at their own level, when they are ready
Developmentally appropriate and research-based
New music each semester featuring original and traditional songs
To encourage a better learning environment, early childhood educators are now recommending mixed-age groupings. Older children learn from being in a leadership role and younger children benefit from the example of an older child—both promote social skills and self-esteem. Music Together® classes are free of age-specific expectations and encourage children to participate as they choose. Activities focus on adult/child interaction rather than child/child, so children of different ages (such as siblings) can enjoy classes together. Class size is between six and twelve children.
Every child’s development benefits from early exposure to music and movement. Because the early months are so important, Music Together offers two options for babies. Babies eight months and younger at the time of registration may attend a Mixed Ages Class, whether registered on their own or attending free with an older brother or sister. Babies may also take the special “Babies Class” offered as a one-semester introduction to Music Together. The music activities are specially designed for parents who want to learn as much as possible about music development in babies. Meet other parents of newborns and learn some fascinating music activities you can recreate at home with your baby.
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 but not required. 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.
A parent is a child's most important teacher. Research shows that children learn their disposition toward music from their primary caregiver! A parent that has a difficult time singing in tune can still teach his or her child that music is fun and important by modeling enthusiastic participation. We offer parents' education during class to increase the understanding of the relevance of the activities to your childs' development. We encourage you to model joyful music-making in class and at home.
Music Together® was founded in 1987 in Princeton, NJ at the Center for Music and Young Children. It pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement. For more information and additional locations please visit www.musictogether.com or call (800) 728.2692.