What is Music Together®? 

Music Together® is a research-based early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grownups who love them®. Since 1987, families around the world have experienced Music Together through classes for families, schools, and clinical settings. Today, classes are found in nearly 2,000 communities in 35 countries. At Sounds Good Westchester, families from Harrison, New Rochelle, Rye, Purchase, White Plains, and neighboring towns can experience the same internationally recognized program right here in our community.

What happens in a Music Together® class?

Each 45-minute Music Together class is a multisensory experience filled with singing, creative movement, visual props, instrument play, and other playful music activities. Children might be singing and shaking instruments one minute and dancing around the room the next. Some jump right in, while others watch or explore. Every response is welcome. Your teacher guides the activities while you participate alongside your child.

Why is music important for babies and toddlers? 

Music gives babies and toddlers so many ways to learn, grow, and connect. Singing, moving, and playing with music supports parent-child bonding and your child’s natural music development along with their cognitive, language, physical, and social-emotional development. And it’s never too early to start. Even the youngest babies are listening and responding to rhythm, melody, and the sounds around them. Music Together® classes turn those natural responses into playful opportunities to explore music with the grownups they love—and begin building a relationship with music that can last a lifetime.

My child doesn't sit still. Is that okay?

Absolutely. Children learn in different ways, and there's no expectation that they sit in the circle. Some children sing and dance right away, while others prefer to watch, explore, or move around the room. All of these are natural ways of participating and learning in a Music Together class.

Why are Music Together® classes mixed-age?

Music Together pioneered mixed-age early childhood music classes because children naturally learn from one another in mixed-age environments. Older children enjoy leading and modeling, while younger children learn through observation and imitation. The mixed-age format also allows siblings to attend together and encourages every family to participate at their own child's developmental level. Read more about the benefits of mixed-age learning.

What does "research-based" mean?

Music Together is built on more than 40 years of research in music-learning, child development, early childhood learning theory, neuroscience, and psychology. The end result of this research was four basic principles that are still the cornerstone of the Music Together philosophy today. Every song, activity, and teaching strategy is designed around how young children naturally learn: through play, movement, repetition, and meaningful interactions with the grownups they love.

Do parents and other caregivers participate in class?

Yes! Music Together is designed for children (and the grownups who love them®) to participate together. All you need is a willingness to sing, move, and have fun alongside your child. Your participation helps create a rich music environment where children naturally learn through observation, imitation, and play.

How does your membership model work?

With our monthly membership model, there is no need to enroll each session. It's the ultimate in flexibility because YOU get to choose when to start and stop your classes. You can join us at any time if there is space available in the class of your choice. When you register online for your class, you will initally be charged $47 for your first Music Together® Service Fee. This fee is charged seasonally (fall, winter, spring) and covers Music Together's materials, digital downloads, and fees for each music collection. Once you are confirmed in the class of your choice, you will be charged the first month's prorated tuition, and thereafter you will be charged on the first of each month via automatic monthly payments using a saved credit card. It is your responsibility to keep the credit card information up to date; you can make changes either by logging in to your account or by contacting us to make the changes for you. There will be a $10 charge for declined credit card transactions. We require a minimum two month enrollment, and at least 30 days emailed notice is required to cancel or freeze your membership. (But most families stay with us for years)! All memberships automatically end on July 31, 2027.

Can I change my class day and time once I'm enrolled?

Absolutely! We know that nap times and schedules change. As long as there is space in your new desired class, we can move you into it.

Why am I paying a $47 Music Together service fee four times per year in addition to my monthly tuition? 

Each season, we introduce a new Music Together song collection complete with songbooks and digital downloads. The $47 pays for these materials as well as other Music Together services. As long as you are a member, this fee will automatically be billed to your credit card at the start of each collection. Please note, there is no Music Together service fee for our Holiday collection as that is not a Music Together offering.

What is your cancellation policy?

We require at least 30 days notice to cancel or freeze your membership, and minimum enrollment is two months. Your child develops musically over time, so a minimum of two months is needed to ensure the best developmental experience for your child. Please send a written notification of cancellation to [email protected]. 

Can I just join for one semester? 

You get to choose how long you are enrolled in classes. As long as you take classes for a minimum of two months, you can then cancel at anytime. We don't officially organize our classes into "semesters", but we still follow the Music Together Song Collections schedule. 

What is the refund policy?   

Sing, dance, and have fun! You might be surprised to hear that you are your child's most important music teacher right now—and it doesn't matter whether you think of yourself a great singer or dancer. Young children develop dispositions for certain behaviors, including learning to love music, by observing and imitating their loved ones. Simply by participating enthusiastically during class and playing with the ideas at home, you'll give your children the modeling they need to learn to love to make music. Please wait to socialize or use your cell phone until after class and instead help us create a music-only environment.

Is it just "mommy-and-me" or can other adults bring my child to class?

Any loving grown-up(s) can bring your child to class.  We have many dads, grandparents, nannies, aunts, friends, and even great-grandparents who bring their children to class! 

What's expected of my child in class?

At Music Together, children are never required to sit in the circle or expected to conform to an adult's idea of participation. We know that children learn differently from adults. They learn instinctively and constantly, through observation, interactions with adults and older children, and through imitation, play, and, especially, movement. One hallmark of Music Together is the insight that children will naturally develop music ability simply when they are immersed in a community of families all making music.

Children's responses depend on their most dominant learning style and temperament as well as their age and developmental level. Some might follow the teacher right away. Many will simply want to watch and absorb, particularly in the first few weeks of class. Some might crawl or toddle around; others are stimulated by the music and respond more actively, running, jumping, or dancing. All are perfectly natural responses to the new, musically rich environment. Throughout the semester, your teacher will help you tune in to how your child learns best so you can support their music development in class and at home. Feel free to ask if you have questions!

How should we use the Music Together materials?

Play your songs at home and in the car frequently, especially during the first few weeks of class. Make it available to the music available for your child to listen to while she is playing or before nap or bedtime. Create your Family Music Zone^® account and download the Hello Everybody app for digital versions of the songs and more activity ideas to try!

Use the songbook to help you learn the songs and get new ideas for musical ideas to use at home. The music notation is in the book if you play an instrument and want to play along. Try using the songbook at storytime instead of a regular book and sing through the songs as you go along.

What happens after we complete a song collection? 

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

What if my child is sick?

Please do not come to class if your child is sick!  We have a generous make-up policy so that you don't feel compelled to bring a sick child to class -- nobody wants contagious illnesses to spread!

Can we eat in class?

We ask that you not bring food or drink into classrooms. Of course nursing and bottle-feeding for infants are always allowed!

Can I bring a guest or an unregistered older sibling to class?

Music Together® classes may be in session when older children have a school holiday, and it is natural to want to bring them with you to class. We ask that you speak in advance to your teacher if you would like to bring them to a class.

Can I take photos or videos in class?

We want everyone in class to be fully participating, so we ask for you to refrain from taking photos or videos during class.  Feel free, however, to take pictures before and after class;  we can even give your child an instrument to hold for the picture

Do you offer gift certificates?

Gift certificates toward classes can be purchased at any time. They make fabulous baby shower, birthday, or holiday gifts.