Family Class (0- 4 yrs)
This is the essential Music Together® class, one that a child can attend from birth through age four - and through all nine song 
collections. Child development researchers recommend mixed-age groupings because they foster natural, family-style learning. Younger children enjoy watching and imitating older ones; older children learn by leading younger ones; and adults are happy because the children in the family can go to class together. Each child participates at his or her own level in singing, moving, chanting, listening, watching, and exploring musical instruments. The class provides a variety of adult-child activities that are fun and offer new ways to play musically at home. Parents, grandparents, or nanny, individually or together, may accompany the children. The whole family is welcome for this important family music experience.
During the Fall, Winter and Spring semesters, classes meet once a week for 9 weeks. During the Summer, classes meet once a week for 6 weeks.
Why mixed ages? Early childhood educators consistently recommend mixed-age groupings as an optimal learning environment for children under five years. In this setting, older children learn from being in a leadership role (a role they may not take when they're in a group of their peers), and younger children benefit from the example of an older child. Classes have a family feel, rather than a school orientation, an environment your child will have ample opportunity to experience when he enters the world of formal education in a few years. In addition, children of the same age are not necessarily in the same stage of music development and a mixed-age environment creates a space for exploration and discovery, rather than peer pressure. The Music Together® curriculum is designed to teach on many levels of complexity at once, and Music Together teachers are trained in the art of mixed-age learning.
Should my infant be in class with older children? Absolutely. Just as siblings in multi-child families learn from each other, so do the children in our mixed-age classes. Your baby will learn by watching and imitating you as well as the older children in the room.
Will my older child regress being in class with babies? No. You may notice your child revisiting some behaviors she has moved past but do not confuse this with regression. Your child will not UN-learn skills she has already gained. This process of revisiting actually affirms the progress your child has made as she recognizes that she no longer exhibits these behaviors. It also signifies empathy as she adjusts her behavior in order to relate to the younger children in the room.
May I bring both of my children to the same class? Yes! Not only may you, we encourage you to! In each class we strive to create a musically rich, developmentally appropriate environment where the whole family can enjoy music and nurture skills at the level right for each child. Mixed-age classes also provide a rich learning environment because children of different ages thrive when they interact with each other.
Babies Class (infants, not crawling)
Every child’s music development benefits from early exposure to music and movement. Because the early months are so important, Music Together® offers two options for babies. Infants may attend a mixed-age family class, whether registered on their own or attending free with an older sibling. They may also be registered for the special “Babies Class” offered as introduction to Music Together. The music activities and materials are specially designed for parents who want to learn as much as possible about music development in infants. Meet other parents of newborns and learn fascinating music activities you can recreate at home with your baby. Babies should not be crawling on the first day of class. Most babies in this program range from 3-5 months at the start of the semester.
What age are the infants in a babies class? Infants range from only a few weeks old to several months in this program! Babies will range anywhere from 3-5 months at the start of the semester. We recommend infants older than seven months register for mixed-age classes. The babies are non-mobile for the majority of the semester. If your baby is crawling before the start of the semester you may want to consider a mixed-age class. Feel free to contact the office to discuss: 704-449-6761.
My baby is under 7 months. Should I take a babies class or a mixed age class. What’s the difference? The Babies class is structured in much the same way as a mixed-age class. In both classes your teacher will lead you through a variety of activities, facilitating fun and creative ways for you to interact musically with your baby. The main difference lies in parent education. Because the infants are non-mobile, there is a calmer energy in this class which allows the teacher more opportunities to explain the ‘whys’ behind the ‘whats’ and to point out emerging musical behaviors.
At what age should I start class with my baby? Now! Babies learn music the same way they learn language; by being immersed in it. Just as it is never too early to start talking to your baby, it is never too early to start singing with your baby.
Family Class - New Teacher
At Music Together of Charlotte, we take great care when hiring a new teacher. All potential teachers audition and participate and pass an intensive three-day training. After that, each potential teacher mentors with an experienced Music Together teacher for a full semester. In an effort to recognize that, even with all that experience and training, new teachers still need a room full of supportive parents helping them continue to improve. That’s why we offer families that register for a class taught by a new teacher a 10% discount!”
Rhythm Kids® 4.5-8
This Rhythm Kids® class for students aged 4.5 - Kindergarten (8 years old) and encompasas the experiences of both the RK1 and RK2 classes.
Music Together® con Español
Music Together® con Español is a bilingual English/Spanish music class for babies-age 5 and their caregivers. If you love the idea of a Music Together class but also quiere probar algo nuevo—want to try something new—then the latest addition to our Music Together class lineup may be just what you’re looking for! Music Together con Español is a bilingual English/Spanish family class for Spanish speakers looking for a more accessible way to experience Music Together, as well as for families who want some exposure to the Spanish language through music. For all families, it’s Music Together con un giro—with a twist!