Blog

When I took Music Together with my first born daugther, Lena, I did so because I loved music and wanted to share my love of music with my child.  I did not really understand that learning and singing songs to my child would be just as important as reading a books to her at bedtime.  But now I think that reading and singing are both essential to developing a well rounded human being.  We create a desire to read in our child by reading to them and modeling reading behaviors in the home, in the same way that we can create a desire to create music through singing or improvising with intruments in the home.   As a parent, we are our child's first role model, we are the center of their universe.  Being a parent is like being a "Rock Star!" - at least until they become teenagers (smile).  We have one opportunity to lay a foundation that will last a lifetime.  Some of you get it right away and already know this.  I have seen many a parent come to class with a child that does not seem interested one bit in my music class - they seem distracted and may cry or sit quietly in that parents lap.  Some parents may just decide that their child "does not like music".  But I challenge that parent to participate actively in the class and not to pay attention to the lack of interest the child may appear to possess.  I have done this with my own child in various settings just to make sure I am not making this up.  But I guarantee that if you keep coming and keep participating that the child will slowly come back to the circle or will step by step make his/her way to a particular instrument or will begin to humm in the car on the way home after his/her music class.

I know I am going on and on - but it is with repetition and role modeling that your child will get the concepts and the joy of music... It may not happen in one 10 week class - but it will happen.  Music Together is a curriculum of activities developed by people much smarter than myself.  They have been developing this curriculum for 20 years, and I can say as a Director/Teacher and as a Parent of a Music Together graduate and of a toddler who does sometimes roam and not seem to want to participate at times - that it does work!!!   It is a method that I have seen work with my own two eyes and it is amazing to see it work with my own children.

Sit back and let the world of music unfold through the mouths and out of the minds of children...You are driving right now Parents, so enjoy the ride.

Erica Berry, Director
Jamminbaby