Bringing Families Together Through Music

Music Together of Monroe/Newtown, LLC announces two new locations. In addition to running classes in Monroe, director Julie Capuano has opened locations in Newtown and Trumbull.

Classes are 45 minutes long and include an artistically conceived flow of songs, nursery rhymes, instrumental jam sessions, finger-plays and movement activities. The combination and types of activities are research-based and support children in developing tonal and rhythmic competence.

Activities also evolve from the child’s world and include vocal play, rhythm-play, animal sounds, and a good bit of genuine, silly fun. Children ages newborn to 5 attend with their parents or caregivers.

All this has been skillfully crafted into materials – CD, tape and illustrated songbook – that go home with parents each semester to encourage music-making in the car and at home as well as in class. With active, ongoing experiences in music and movement from birth, most children can develop basic skills in music like singing and moving rhythmically.

“All children are musical,” says Ms Capuano. “We are nurturing our children’s natural enthusiasm to make music along with creating a musically rich environment giving young children opportunities for musical exposure and experimentation. Parents and caregivers model and participate in live music making, just as we model other basic life skills as walking, talking and eating.” The process is designed to be fun for the entire family.

“Music Together® is a constant source of pleasure for our family,” says Music Together veteran Beth Ulman. “The music is unsurpassed. We’ve been involved with the program for 4½ years and we never get bored.”

The Music Together® program was founded by Kenneth K. Guilmartin, a composer and educator. Key to his approach to family music was research in early childhood education, particularly the parent-child relationship as it supports learning.

The program drew from the work of leading educators and theorists, and Mr Guilmartin collaborated with researcher Dr Lili M. Levinowitz in developing the Music Together curriculum. The first classes for children and parents were held in suburban Philadelphia in 1987.

Music Together was the first program to offer music experiences for infants and toddlers, and it continues to be a leader in research and programs for young children and the adults who love them. In 2003 the Music Together program celebrated its 15th anniversary, both nationally and in several foreign countries. In Connecticut, the program is offered in Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland and Middlesex Counties.

Spring classes are forming now. For information on free demonstration classes in Trumbull, Monroe and Newtown call 203-381-0335.