Mixed-Age Music Classes for Kids:

Classes for babies through 5 years . . . and the grownups who love them®

The cornerstone of the Music Together® program is our Mixed-Age music class, for children from birth through age 5—and the grownups who love them! All our classes are active music-making experiences, designed to teach the way children learn: through play with the grownups they love.

Gathering babies, toddlers, and preschoolers together makes each class fun for all. There are lots of group activities for kids out there, but Music Together offers a true family music class for the youngest infant to the oldest great-grandparent, and everyone in between. Imagine an extended family with a dozen or more kids and a bunch of caring adults, and you'll get the idea!

Each week, a trained Music Together teacher leads the class in singing, dancing, and playing songs that range from tender lullabies to boisterous jams using child-friendly percussion instruments. Our award-winning music, illustrated songbook, and other print and online resources will help you continue the music-making fun at home and nurture your child's musical growth—even if you don't think of yourself as a great singer or dancer. Like parenting, making music requires no previous experience or expertise, just a willingness to get down on the floor and get silly with your child!

The Rationale for Mixed-Age Classes

Music Together was the first early childhood music program to offer music classes for mixed ages. Child development researchers have known for a long time that the natural, family-style environment of mixed-age classes is the best way for young children to learn. In our experience, it works! In Mixed-Age classes, the older children love to show what they know, and the younger ones love to watch and imitate. The relaxed, no-pressure environment lets all kids learn at their own pace.

The Benefits of Music for Children

The effects of music on children are magical. Music can be both energizing and calming, and it can enhance bonding and help with transitions. Anyone who has sung a fussy child to sleep knows that music can be transformative. And as you’ve undoubtedly discovered while trying to wrestle your little one into their clothes, singing to make the process fun also makes it a whole lot easier!

These benefits of music are a compelling reason for you to make every day with your child a musical one! And as it turns out, there’s a lot of learning involved, too.

Music Learning Supports All Learning®

In our research-based Music Together® classes, the benefits of learning music for children include learning how to sing in tune and how to keep a beat. Another important benefit of learning music is that it can allow your child’s creativity and self-expression to blossom and increase your child’s confidence.

Learning music also supports your child’s overall development—something we call Music Learning Supports All Learning®. Active music-making creates unique connections in the brain that support your child’s language, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development, too.

Benefits for Babies, Toddlers, Nursery-age children, and Big Kids

There are benefits of learning music for children at every stage. Read more about your child’s stage and the type of class that is right for them.

Your baby is a natural-born music-maker—cooing when you sing a nursery rhyme or wiggling when you dance to your favorite song. Even wee babies are alert to musical sounds and respond to melody and rhythm. In one of our Babies or Mixed-Age classes, you’ll learn musical ways to interact and bond with your baby, support their brain development, and nurture their inner musician.

Babies

Your always curious, sometimes furious toddler is starting to learn about the world and to interact with grownups and other children in new (and often surprising) ways. Toddlers learn by watching others, playing, and experimenting. Our Mixed-Age classes are perfectly aligned with this type of learning because they allow children to participate in their own way in a relaxed, family-style atmosphere.

Nursery

Big Kids

Your nursery-age child's musical creativity, enthusiasm, and skills are growing by leaps and bounds! In our Mixed-Age classes, these children are the class leaders and are encouraged to contribute their ideas and lead the younger children, who love to watch and imitate them. And because Music Learning Supports All Learning®, your child will also be developing other skills they’ll need to succeed both in school and in life.

Your big kid has increased confidence and new leadership skills. Older children like challenges, and structure, and games with rules, but don’t be fooled—they still like to play! Our active classes tap into how children this age are wired to learn, with music games, animal rhythm stories, and lots of stomping-flying-climbing fun.

Toddlers