About the Program

Music Together^® has, for nearly 25 years, been dedicated to helping children achieve Basic Music Competence during the early years.  As music educators, we have also been keenly aware that there is a gap between the family-style environment of a typical Music Together mixed-age class and the formal, goal-oriented approach that is the primary method used in private instrument lessons.  We know that five-, six-, and seven-year-olds are capable of so much more musically than their younger counterparts, but we also know that play is still a vital and important way for these children to learn.  So, after years of developing, testing, and refining, Music Together is very proud to introduce an exciting new program for older children which blends some elements of Music Together that parents and children love with new activities, skills, and challenges that are developmentally appropriate for 5 through 7-year old children.

Music Together Big Kids™ for 5, 6, and 7-year olds, focuses on Basic Music Literacy, laying the foundation for formal music instruction in school or in private instrument lessons, as well as a lifetime of joyful music making.  In Big Kids, your child is introduced to a developmentally appropriate curriculum that includes solfege, instrumental solos and ensembles, choreography, harmony singing, vocal development, and drumming skills.  Your child will have opportunities to conduct, improvise, and learn more complex musical concepts like chord function, musical form, and reading notation.  Additional elements include take home Solfege Cards, and HomePlay pages, as well as your child's own curriculum binder of music and of course his or her own Big Kids cd!

Parent participation is the hallmark of the Music Together program, but many children of this age are ready for more independence in the classroom, so parent attendance in each Big Kids class is welcome but not required.  Guided by the take home materials, the entire family can continue the fun and learning at home and you can stay connected with what your child is learning in class.  On her own in class, your child will build life skills like leadership, decision-making, and teamwork at the same time as she builds her music skills.

Classes are 60 minutes long 

• While this can be a "drop-off" class, you (or another caregiver) should plan to attend the first and last class of the semester.  You may attend any and all classes if you wish.

• We cannot accommodate younger siblings (except for babies younger than eight months if you are attending.)  You and any younger siblings are welcome and encouraged to join the last 10 minutes of every class.

• Your child must be FIVE to be eligible for this class - by September 1st for the fall semester; by December 31st for the winter semester; and by March 15th for the spring semester. 

 FAQs

What is Big Kids?  Your 5, 6, or 7-year-old is developing quickly and exploring new activities, mastering new skills, and gaining independence. As a parent, you may be making choices about extracurricular activities that complement his new school experiences and support their growth—in music and in life. The Music Together Big Kids program helps your child take the next step in music development by blending the elements of Music Together that parents and children love with new activities, skills, and challenges that are developmentally appropriate for 5 through 7-year-old children.

Will you teach my child how to play an instrument?  No, not in the way we think you mean.  Formal instrument training in piano, guitar, voice, or another instrument tends to focus on the mechanics of playing that particular instrument without paying particular attention to the innate musicality that is the key to fine musicianship.  Success with this can vary tremendously for this age group for a number of reasons, the greatest being that a child is often times, simply not ready for the rigors of practice, focus, and commitment that learning to play an instrument entails.  Frustration often ensues in the child, instrument lessons are often dropped, and interest in music wanes as a result.  In Music Together Big Kids we focus on your child's primary instrument - his or her own voice and body.  By introducing developmentally appropriate activities such as solfege, instrumental solos and ensembles, choreography, harmony singing, vocal development, and drumming skills, your child will gain a fluency in the language of music, which will lay the groundwork for successful formal training, should you choose to take that path.  If your child is already taking formal instrument lessons, Music Together Big Kids can also be a wonderful accompaniment to lessons.  The work that your child will do in Big Kids will strengthen her musical skills in a different way than lessons will, by allowing her to express in her voice and body the rhythms and melodies that she hasn't yet mastered on her instrument.

Can I drop my child off?  While this can be a "drop off" class, you should plan to attend the first and last classes of the semester.  You and any younger siblings are also encouraged to attend the last 10 minutes of each class.  If your child is a young five and is having some difficulty with separation anxiety, we would advise you to attend class with him or her and transition out of the classroom as your child gets comfortable.  Your teacher will work with you and your child if such issues arise.  

Can my younger child attend as well?  Younger children are not developmentally ready for the structure of a Big Kids class. To be eligible, your child must be FIVE years old - by September 1st for the fall semester; by December 31st for the winter semester; and by March 15th for the spring semester.