Classes

Next session will start in the Fall!

Thanks for your patience!

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WEEKLY 45-MINUTE CLASSES
Our weekly classes are 45 minutes in length. 

SMALL CLASS SIZE
UpBeat Music Together classes include a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 registered children, accompanied by a parent or caregiver. 

MIXED-AGE FORMAT
The essential Music Together^® class is composed of mixed ages, from birth through 5 years, accompanied by their parents or caregivers. Early childhood educators see tremendous value in mixed-age learning environments. While older children learn from being in a leadership role, younger children benefit from watching and imitating their older classmates; and such experiences promote social skills and self-esteem. Furthermore, children of the same age are not necessarily at the same stage of musical development, and the curriculum is designed to teach many levels of complexity at once.

MUSICAL PLAY
We create a community of families sharing songs, chants, movement, dance, and instrument play in a relaxed, playful, non-performance-oriented setting. Our focus is on supporting children in their process of exploration and discovery while not directing their behavior. Children are given the freedom to participate according to their developmental level and temperament; some simply watch and listen intently, quietly absorbing the class experience, while others play and experiment with their voices, bodies, and an exciting variety of instruments.

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AS MUSICAL ROLE MODELS
Central to our approach is that young children learn best from the powerful role model of parents/caregivers who are actively participating in music-making, regardless of their musical background. The more involved and enthusiastic you are during class (and at home!), the more comfortable and engaged your child will be.

NINE DIFFERENT SONG COLLECTIONS
A new song collection is offered every semester for three years, after which the cycle repeats. Each collection features 25 to 30 arrangements of both original and traditional songs and chants, representing a wide variety of tonalities, meters, and cultural styles. 

WHAT IF MY CHILD CANNOT SIT STILL FOR 45 MINUTES?
Children are encouraged to move about freely during class, and to participate according to their individual development and temperament. Wandering and exploring away from our immediate circle are totally fine, provided that the attending adult is supervising the child's safey.