As a Music Together teacher I am frequently asked these questions about our early childhood mixed-age music classes: Are the same songs used every semester? Why should my child be in a mixed-age class? I’m not musical, Can I really help my child develop musical intelligence? And, my favorite: Do infants really benefit?
You’re in luck- I’m going to answer all of these questions for you. But, better yet, I’ll start my answers and let you learn the rest when you register for a FREE Music Together Demo class! That’s right – totally free. At the Grosse Pointe Music Academy we are currently accepting RSVP’s to our Demo Class schedule, certain times from August 29th thru September 14th. View all times online at our website, or call (313) 458-7723 to save your place now! Onto those intriguing questions…
Are the same songs used every semester? No – the same songs are not used every semester. Actually, each 10-week semester uses a different song collection. There are nine song collections in all, come to our music room and see the poster we have illustrating the repeating 3-year cycle of the Music Together curriculum.
Why a mixed-age class? Mixed-age classes are the optimal learning environment as recommended by early childhood educators. They allow children to participate at their own level and learn from each other. Older children model musical patterns, rhythmic motion, singing voices, and improvisation (to name a few) and younger children benefit from their example. The mixed-age model creates a family environment where siblings participate together. You’ll experience the parent-child orientation of the class rather than child-child focus, and build family relationships through music. Class sizes are a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12, with any number of adults accompanying each child.
I’m not musical. Can I really help my child develop musical intelligence? The short answer is YES! By participating in Music Together you will learn how to observe musical behaviors and how to give a musical response to your child’s development!
Do infants really benefit? 100% YES! Infants actually have very sophisticated music responses beginning at birth- they are “wired” for sound. I know this as a fact from my own daughter’s birth – I sang to her just after she was born and she cooed back to me on the same final note (the tonic) where I finished. It was amazing! This musical aptitude that all children are born with (most average to high) needs to be utilized immediately. As infants develop, senses that are not exercised begin to atrophy – you can lose your musical aptitude if not given a rich musical environment to play with and experience. Nuture their inner musician and bring them as soon as possible!
Any parents or caregivers who attend our FREE Demo Class will be given a FREE Music Together Welcome CD. So RSVP today online or by phone and come experience “The Joy of Family Music” – Music Together of Grosse Pointe.
by Sarah Boyd, Director of Music Together of Grosse Pointe at the Grosse Pointe Music Academy
by Sarah Boyd, Director of Music Together of Grosse Pointe at the Grosse Pointe Music Academy
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