Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cost of the Program?
Each 10 week-semester is typically $175 for one child (siblings under 12 mo's old are free), $260 for two kids (both over 12 months old) and if you have a third child that child will be free if there is space in the class. If a class is less than 10 weeks the cost will be adjusted accordingly. Summer sessions are at a significant reduction because we consider our time to really market the program to families and it is only a 6 week session.
What is Included in the Cost of the Program?
Music Together® believes that families should be able to experience the activities learned in the classroom at home - so the CD's and Materials are included in the price of the class. You will recieve two CD's (one for home and one for the car), a DVD on Early Childhood Music Education and the SongBook (which includes illustrations and activities to do at home).
How do I register for the Class?
You can either Pay Online through our registration page (you do not have to have a Pay Pal account to pay online). As an alternative, you can request a paper registration form online by sending an email to eberry@jamminbaby.com or through the contact us page or you can call 919.338.2978 to register and pay over the phone. Please be advised that your space will not be guaranteed until payment is recieved and the registration information has been submitted.
Are the same songs used every semester?
Each semester has a different group of songs (rotated over more than three years) and a non-sequential songbook.
Where Are Classes Offered?
We currently have classes in Durham, Apex and Chapel Hill.
How does the mixed ages work in class?
Most of the children are 2 to 3 years old, the next largest group is toddlers between 1 and 2 and many 4 year olds and infants also attend, often as an older or younger sibling. We mix these ages since the activities are parent/child activities, not child/child, so the children don't need to be with the same age group.
Early childhood educators are recommending mixed-age groupings now as better for social development; older children get to be the "big guys," the leaders. The atmosphere is like an informal, family-style gathering.
Won't my four year old be bored in the same class with babies? In our experience, musical age is very different from the child's age in years. Activities are structured so that children of all ages can participate at their own level with their mom, dad or caregiver.
Can a different adult attend class with the child?
Sure, any number of adults can attend.
Do infants really benefit?
Just think of the way they learn language. They "participate" very little during the first six months to one year, but without that exposure, they would not be able to develop speech as they grow older. Although their participation will be passive, they are very actively absorbing what they are seeing, hearing, and feeling so they can act upon it as their body and nervous system matures.
What is the class atmosphere like?
Our atmosphere is informal, and children are allowed to move freely around the room. We like to let the children explore freely at their own level. Children play with rhythm instruments like egg shakers, drums, triangles, etc.
I’m not musical. Can I really help my child develop musical intelligence?
Yes! A parent is a child’s most important teacher. Research has shown that children learn their disposition toward music from their primary caregiver. A parent who has difficulty singing in tune can still teach his or her child that music is fun and important to one’s well being by modeling enthusiastic participation. Experiencing the class, live concerts, and recorded music will teach the child to discriminate accurate pitch and rhythm.
Why do parents stay in the class with the kids?
Because parents are the most important role model for music. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly musical, your children don’t know, they’re not evaluating your performance. They will see your disposition to make music and having fun, and they will develop the disposition to make music and have fun. The teacher is there for you, you are there for your child.
What happens if I miss a class?
There are classes every day of the week all around the Triangle - you can make-up a class at any location you choose.
How do I know if my child is ready for class?
All children are musical. Language and music are two branches of the same tree-expression. The reason we don’t all sing in tume and keep a steady beat is simple neglect. We all talk because we are immersed in language from birth. We are not immersed in music like this. So, is your child ready for class? You bet. They may be quiet or seem uninterested at first, for many reasons-new environment, new people, new activity. But usually by the fourth or fifth class, if you are enjoying yourself and having a positive experience, your child will start to loosen up a bit and be more observably participatory. But do remember, that there are many different learning styles, and some children are observers/private practicers. In truth, about 50% of children tend to watch for the first few weeks. Gain-it’s all about the parent enjoyment and modeling.
I have an infant. Should I take the babies class or the mixed age class?
There have certainly been many 2 or 3 month babies who have started MT in a regular mixed age class. If this is your decision, then your instructor will give you specific directions for interacting with your baby for the activities. However, we will offer a babies class for newborns to not yet crawling, usually 8 months old or so. The babies class is a regular 45 minute class. There is more talk about development, and more time for parent sharing and feedback, specific to babies. Please contact us if you are interested in a Babies class as we are beginning to think about offering it in the Spring/Summer Sessions of 2008.
Do infants really benefit?
Yes! Infants’ participation will be passive at first, as they actively absorb what they are seeing, hearing and feeling. By reading the parent guide and through parent education in the class, parents will learn to recognize their infants’ musical responses and observe them reaching musical milestones. As their bodies and nervous systems mature, the infants will be able to show progressively more complex musical responses and evidence of song recognition. Parents will learn in class how to enhance their child’s musical development, and to create or enhance their musical bond with their child.
How is Music Together different from other children’s music programs?
• Music Together fosters family music-making, so mixed-aged classes teach family groups how to play together with music, bringing a joyful human experience back into family life.
• Music Together classes are 45 minutes (not 30), providing a longer, effective class which is well-paced and well matched to the child’s way of learning and providing more opportunities for varied experiences.
• Music Together does not organize class content around themes and ages as other programs do. These themes are more apt to reflect an adults’ concept of music education than a child’s’ way of experiential learning. Music Together provides many and varied experiences, with very little explanation or directed teaching.
• Parent involvement is a centerpiece of the Music Together experience. We consider the parents to be students as well as the children; therefore it is a family program. Music Together educates the parents about basic music development in childhood and involves them actively in all activities. At home, parents and caregivers are asked to play, sing and move with their child, both with and without Music Together recordings.
Erica Berry
Director, JamminBaby
919-338-2978
