Program FAQs

It includes class materials with recordings and a songbook for home, as well as tuition for a one 30-minute class once a week for the number of weeks allotted for each curricula. 

Yes, there is a registration fee for each participant. This fee includes the materials (CD and licensed music download for online recordings, book and instrument) and shipping in addition to the registration process.

Yes, this program is designed to be age specific and work within the bounds of development for each age group:

Musical Babies is for infants up through 16 months, including lap babies, crawlers, pre-walkers, and walkers.  This encompasses a very wide range of behaviors, including vocalizations. Learning to listen takes time, and teacher/parent encourage listening as part of class.  The teacher supports the parent and gives ideas for success (like standing during rocking, or a specific movement).  Occasionally the child may need to be taken out for one minute to become calm if overstimulated.

Musical Beginnings is for ages 1 ½-3 ½, all walkers.  A young 1 ½ year old may stand in the middle of the circle and watch what is going on, and an older 3 ½ year will want to do all the activities by themselves, without help from a parent.  Careful attention is given to the movement abilities of the older children so that the little ones are not accidentally knocked down.  With parent and teacher providing guidance, this works. 

Why not a wide range of mixed ages?  It is not appropriate for older school aged children to add into the classroom on a regular basis.  Older children often quickly take over classes with ability level, making the younger child feel out of their comfort zone.  Very occasionally an older sibling may accompany, but with guidance from the parent.  We want the enrolled children to be the focus of the age-appropriate registered class in a calm, structured environment.

The class recordings have been professionally produced by recording artists and includes child-like song arrangements in which real instruments and child voices are used (not just synthesized music).  

This is available either in CD or digital online format.

There are song and pitch matching segments, animal sound recordings, classical and world music segments, and music that highlights loud/soft, fast/slow, high/low, crescendo/decrescendo, and other musical concepts.

The book is lovely with beautiful artwork, and songs are notated (written out with notes) for home use.  All the words and verses are listed in the book.  This is intended to be used during travel, at playtime, and before bedtime.  Each semester an instrument (bell, egg, sticks, shaker) or scarf is given with the packet. 

A parent or caregiver’s role is to support and encourage the child to participate at their own time in their own way, and to model behaviors such as tapping, clapping, drumming, waving, etc.  The parent wants to demonstrate so the child will want to participate, too.

Your child will love music because you do, and joyfully singing at home and outside of class will encourage your child to sing and move also.

It is hoped that all parents use their voice for singing to add energy and fullness to the class. 

Parents do not need any musical experience to be able to participate in and enjoy these classes.

 Many parents who have not been raised with singing and music want to give their child experiences they did not have.  Enthusiasm for activities and singing along, whatever your skill level, is appreciated!

“If you sing, your child will sing”.

“If you dance, your child will dance”.

“If you play games, your child will play games”.

The parent singer may or may not have experience in a music class situation, but will be welcomed and encouraged.  It is delightful to see parents enjoying their first musical experience along with their children. 

• Caregiver sits in the circle and participates fully with child and with traveling movement activities
• Classes are Montessori-based, and are non-performance based.  The child is encouraged to observe and participate when they are ready
• Classes are filled with musical and developmental information encouraging parents about music concepts:  melody, harmony, rhythm, sounds of instruments and ensembles, & how they make us feel
• A variety of music and movement activities includes focus on small & large motor skills, rhymes, fingerplays, and songs with repeating refrains
• Songs that are in Major and minor modes, as well as duple and triple meters
• Song content includes lullabies, call & response songs, story songs, and songs with important and significant command words. *Example:  Walk and Stop, I hear you/you hear me, Listen to the Bells
• Movement includes free dance, partner dance, circle dances, and dances with repetitive simple steps
• Use of equipment includes scarves, balls, hula-hoops, streamers, fabric, banners, and puppets
• Classroom Instruments includes sets of 10 in. Remo drums, bell jingles, rhythm sticks, and shaker eggs, as well as collections drums, bells, and auxiliary percussion from around the world (huge floor drum, African drums, shekere, djembe, xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, bongos)
• Accompaniment instruments include piano, lap dulcimer, autoharp
• Focused listening is part of class.  At specified times, the child is invited to listen only, and not blurt out first thoughts.  The sounds include animals, sounds from the busy world, vehicles, and instruments

Depending on the age, goal, and type of class offered, equipment used may include hula hoops, scarves, streamers, balls, puppets, stuffed animals, and other equipment.

Relatives are always welcome to visit, as long as you check with us first beforehand. We want to make sure there are enough equipment pieces for each participant to have so it’s helpful to know ahead of time who is coming.