FAQ

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About Music Together

Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers and the adults who love them. First offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement. The Music Together Curriculum now serves 2500 communities in over 40 countries around the world. Find out more at the Music Together curriculum website.

Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical.

All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning. By emphasizing actual music experiences rather than concepts about music, Music Together introduces children to the pleasures of making music instead of passively receiving it from CDs or TV.

Central to the Music Together approach is that young children learn best from the powerful role model of parents/caregivers who are actively making music. The program brings families together by providing a rich musical environment in the classroom and by facilitating family participation in spontaneous musical activity at home within the context of daily life.

All of our teachers have successfully completed Music Together’s training program and an additional internship.

Teachers enjoy ongoing skill development workshops and support throughout the year, and they become part of an international teaching and learning community on the cutting edge of music education.

Using the CD: Play your CD at home and in the car as frequently as possible, especially during the first few weeks of class. Make it available to your child to listen to while playing or before nap or bedtime. SING ALONG! Once you learn the songs well enough, you can sing them together without the CD, and make up your own, fun new variations and versions.

Using the songbook: Each song is brought to life through colorful and engaging illustrations. The new book will inspire your family to play with music all week long. You’ll find it helpful to learn the lyrics, as a jumping-off point for creative storytelling, and to learn more about the songs you’re singing in class. Your child may enjoy snuggling with you and singing through the whole book at once—or opening to a page to tell you what song they want to sing!  Try using the songbook at story time instead of a regular book, and sing through the songs as you go along. Seeing the printed notes on the page will help children understand that music is something that can be read, like words. Familiarization with notation will help them when they are more ready for formal music instruction, typically when they are school aged.

Other fun things to try are:
• Make up new words to tunes you know already and include your child’s name in the song – could be about what you see around you or related to activities like getting ready for bed.
• Have a play along jam in the kitchen with all of the pots and pans and big spoons and whisks etc. Put on the Music Together CD and jam along or choose one of your favourite bands and introduce some new music to your child.
• Pick at time of day and create a ritual moment where you make music with your child. Perhaps it’s a lullaby before bed, a song during bath time, a dance jam when mom and dad get home from work, a brushing teeth song, or a wake-up and get ready song.
• Sing in the car! This is a great place to play with part singing and rounds or singing along with your favourite music.
• Use props like bouncing balls, scarves or sheets to play with the rhythm and form of the music.
• Invite your child up on your lap and sing your way through a horsey ride, a crazy car ride or and airplane ride.

New Music Together parents receive a Parent Education Guide and a Growth Chart.
​During class, your teacher will refer to topics and point out examples of music development. We are also happy to discuss your child’s individual progress in obtaining musical competence at any time outside of class. If you are a returning student and it has been months or years since you have read the Parent Guide, re-read it! You may be surprised how valuable it is, especially after having personal experience observing your child’s music development.

Also, please log on to The Family Music Zone on musictogether.com  to access (as an enrolled family) the extensive resources provided, mp3 versions of the songs for download, special activity ideas, videos, and more!

The Family Music Zone is an online network for all parents around the world to share information, experiences and to download additional resource material (video, illustration, songs, researches).

We have a wide variety of un-pitched instruments such as Drums, Triangles, Tambourines, Bells, Shakers and Rhythm sticks.
Developmentally-appropriate unpitched instruments are used so that the children will never feel they are playing a “wrong” note and can join in however they like.
You too will be playing along on these instruments!
We sometimes use balls, stretch bands and scarves to intensify a multi-sensorial experience and have more fun!

About Children & Parents

Early childhood, a period of rapid change and development, is the most critical period in a child’s musical growth and has been identified in the literature as the “music babble” stage (Moog, 1976; Gordon, 1988) or primary music development (Levinowitz and Guilmartin, 1989, 1992, 1996).

Even the youngest infant is wired to receive music and discriminate among differences in frequency, melody, and stimuli (Bridger, 1961; Trehub et al, 1990; Standley and Madsen, 1990; Zentner and Kagan, 1996).

Just as in language development, babies are taking in information and processing it, creating new understandings of the language and experience of music that will lead to later stages of development.

​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. Here is a link to an article about how your baby’s brains develops (pdf).

Yes! All children are musical, and we welcome children with special needs!

Our classes are structured to offer a wide variety of musical activities and experiences, which children can process at their own pace and developmental level, regardless of age or individual need. Furthermore, research has shown that music can help to strengthen gross motor, fine motor, speech and socialization skills in all children and often proves an invaluable resource to parents, who through music find a deeper way of interacting with ​their children.

Music Together classes maintain an informal atmosphere in the classroom and we do not expect children of this young age to sit still throughout the whole class.
Normally we have about 3 or 4 activities during the class where we all get up and move around the room. Also children are free to wander about the circle or around the room any time during the class as long as they are obviously still mentally engaged in the activities.
We honor the fact that each child will have their own unique response to the music and to new experiences, and we welcome and encourage all types of learners, including kinesthetic learners!
​Parents are free to take the activity over to a child who has left the circle, to engage them or try to bring them back to the circle, but modeling their own participation in the group is all we ask of parents, and it’s all your child needs from you!

Enhance your child’s experience in class by remembering to sing, sing, sing and move, move, move your body. Your active participation is the key to your children learning and growing musically.

Support the creation of a music only environment while in class by not talking to your children or other adults during the 45 minutes. Since it is difficult for a young child to mask out adult conversation please wait to socialize till after class, and instead contribute to the creation of a musical environment for the children to absorb.

Try not to give verbal directions. It can be tough to restrain the impulse to give your child directives such as “Do what she is doing, hold your instrument this way” but children respond best by just seeing and hearing you doing (and enjoying) it yourself!
​Wandering toddlers is fine, but If you want your child to come back to you, avoid calling to him from across the room. If necessary, redirect your child physically back to you or the circle. Of course watch out for your child’s safety, but mostly your job is to just relax, and have fun!

You are your child’s most important role model, no matter what kind of singing voice or dancing feet you have (or think you have!!).
It is less important how well you sing than it is to model making the choice to sing. By your example, children will learn that music is a natural, enjoyable and important part of their lives.
You, the primary caregiver, are the only one who can give your child the gift of a positive attitude to make music.
​No CD can impart that! What your child loves and needs most is to hear your voice at home or in class. Throughout the classes you will also get more information on how to best support your child’s musical journey.

Yes. Any number of adults can attend and siblings under 10 months old can come for free. We encourage as many family members as possible to attend!

Yes, we totally support breastfeeding in class.​

About Offers & Promotions

Yes. Please get in touch with us to buy a gift certificate.

Refer a friend and win Up To 1,000 AED CashBack

How Does It Work:

  • if you are already enrolled – invite your friends for a FREE demo class
  • book their FREE demo now, here, and mention your name/surname in: “Where did you hear about us”
  • you all will get an additional 100 AED cashback when your friends will enroll for a full term​​

MULTIPLE TERMS 
Enjoy 10% off  when you purchase two terms in advance. The purchase is valid for 9 months from subscription’s date.
Enjoy 20% off when you purchase three terms in advance. The purchase is valid for 12 months from the subscription’s date.

BABIES
Babies younger than 12 months who have an older sibling enrolled enjoy enjoy FREE class’ entry.

TWO SIBLINGS
Families with more than one child over the age of 1 are required to pay the full enrollment for the first child only, any other children’s registrations will occur at a minimal fee.

REFER A FRIEND and win Up To 1,000 AED CashBack
How Does It Work:

  1. if you are already enrolled – invite your friends for a FREE demo class
  2. book their FREE demo now, here  and mention your name/surname in: “Where did you hear about us“
  3. you all will get an additional 100 AED cashback when your friends will enroll for a full term​​.

About The Class

When you enrol your child in one of our term, the followings are included:

  • Membership Fee at LEA Growing People that grant discounted prices at any of our coaching and mentoring service
  • Recordings and songbooks
  • 10 classes of 60 minutes each
  • A fully certified Music Together teacher
  • Classes in English, Italian and Spanish
  • An online network for all parents around the world to share information, experiences and to download additional material (video, illustration, songs, researches)
  • ​An on-staff, board-certified music therapist and special-needs consultant ​

Term vary from 8 to 12 weeks long. For information about our current or upcoming  term please contact us or call us on 055 8390260.

In a Music Together class up to twelve children and their parents or caregivers meet weekly in a 45-minute class to sing songs, dance, play with simple percussion instruments, have fun with chants, fingerplays, rhythm games and a rich variety of other music and movement activities.
​
Classes are informal and designed to be lots of fun, so the adults, regardless of their musical ability, feel comfortable and encouraged to sing, dance, and play as part of the group, giving the children a joyful experience of community music-making. The children are free to participate in any manner which suits them that day; each child develops at his or her own level in a noncompetitive, nonperformance based environment.

Yes! You can join any of our regular classes and try it. Your Demo Class will be charged 100 AED. You can get it for 50 AED by inviting a friend with you who will be your guest and, thanks to your invitation, will enjoy a complementary class.
​If you are considering joining a current term you may attend the first, second, or third week of the term on a trial basis. RSVP is required for all trial-basis classes!

Registering it’s easy!
If you want to book your first trial class simply follow this link.
If you want to enroll for the full term simply follow this link.
Alternatively, you may call us or send a message via Whatsapp on 058 584 4968 during office hours.

Our office hours are: Sunday to Thursday from 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM   

Normally there are 6-12 families enrolled in each class, or up to 14 children. Occasionally there may be one or two extra families sampling or making up a missed class. In mixed-age classes, each child or set of siblings is accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

Older siblings of registered students may occasionally visit if they are HEALTHY and if the visit is prearranged (2 visits max per term).
Visitation places are limited to two per class and are available on a first come, first serve basis.
These spots must be booked through our office or your teacher.

Here’s a few tips for bringing older siblings:

  • Please make your best effort to arrive on time with older sibs so they have a chance to say hello to the teacher and adjust to the class instead of arriving to a large group already singing adults they haven’t met yet.
  • Let older sibs know they are welcome in the class and we are looking forward to making music with them in the circle. From past experience I’ve found that it doesn’t work very well when older children read, colour or play with toys on the side while we are all making music in the circle. Little kids LOVE to know what big kids are doing!
  • Help older children to feel welcome by letting them know this is a family music making experience and everyone is welcome and participates to their own ability. The less they feel like they are being dragged their little brother/sister’s class, the better.

Please ensure that you and your child wear comfortable clothing and non-slip socks. 

No, each week we do 10-12 songs out of the current 30-35 song seasonal collection and the class enjoys new and surprising song versions, activities and games with the songs each week! ​

A different song collection is used each semester –there are nine different song collections– so when you re-register, you can look forward to expanding your repertoire with a variety of new songs and chants.

The mixed-age curriculum is designed so that families can continue classes for three years before revisiting a song collection. In three years, you and your child will learn over 375 songs!

​If you do continue in the program beyond three years (and we hope you will), your child will experience his or her first song collections in a brand new way, as a leader that can proudly model for the younger children once they’ve achieved Basic Music Competence.

As an enrolled family, you can download for free mp3 versions of the current song collection.

Please send us a message on Whatsapp or call us on 05508390260 during office hours.

Our office hours are: Sunday to Thursday 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM

Due to children possibly suffering from allergies, we ask everybody to snack before or after class and to leave all foods outside the classroom.​ Inside you can bring water and milk for babies and you can free breastfeed.