Each week in Music Together®® Mixed-Age Classes at East Side Music Together, babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grownups who love them®® gather for 45 minutes of fun-filled family music time. Ms. Karen will lead you and the other families in music activities ranging from lullabies to full-on jam sessions (with child-friendly instruments, of course). It’s so much fun you won’t realize how much learning is taking place!
You’ll take home the award-winning music used in class, along with an illustrated songbook and other resources. As you discover new ways to play with music all week long, you’ll be supporting your child’s music-learning and overall development---even if you don’t think of yourself as a great singer or dancer.
Why Mixed Ages?
Child development researchers discovered that grouping children of different ages in one class encourages natural, family-style learning, so Music Together developed the Mixed-Age Music Class. In this class, everyone participates at their own levels: babies vocalize, listen, and observe; toddlers play and experiment; and preschoolers build confidence as they emerge as classroom leaders. Grownups are happy because everyone can come to class together.
This is the essential Music Together class, one that a child can attend
from birth through age five. 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.
This class is very much like the mixed age classes in that it is a family class which includes the parents. The combination and types of activities are research-based and support
children’s developing competence in tonality and rhythm. In addition,
activities evolve from the child’s world and include vocal play, animal
sounds, rhythm play, language play, and a good bit of genuine, silly
fun. Children and adults are able to let their imaginations run wild. Though some in this age group may still be in the observation stage during classes, the caregivers in their lives will see how the children take it on the road in the car and/or at home.