Which class is right for my child?
Babies and Mixed Ages and Rhythm Kids - OH MY! There is some overlap in the classes, and you may be unsure which class is best for you. Mixed Ages are for EVERYONE 5 and under - so it's a safe bet you'll be happy there. But use the chart below for a more nuanced description for your decision-making.
For Babies Classes, you may be feeling a little unsure about your newborn in close proximity to toddlers, or you may want to meet parents who are in the exact same phase of parenting as you, to grow friendships that will last into your school years together. OR, on the contrary, you may want to be around more experienced parents so you can ask questions, watch their children in action, and allow your baby to observe the riveting action that only Mixed Ages classes can provide. There is no wrong choice - it's based ONLY on how you, the parent, are feeling and what kind of class you're looking for.
For your preschool-aged children, I like to use an analogy when describing the difference between Mixed Ages and Rhythm Kids. Think of when you're teaching a child to draw a flower. You might offer the idea of using shapes: some circles, ovals, a line for the stem. Your child is eventually able to follow your direction and draw a flower. That would be Mixed Ages - we provide your child with the basic building blocks of music education and the child follows our lead. When children become older, they might draw a whole garden of flowers, with different shapes, sizes, colors - perhaps adding a tree and a sun. They are creatively expressing the idea of a flower in their own way. This would be like Rhythm Kids! The ability to uniquely EXPRESS oneself through music comes only when the basic building blocks are mastered.
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My child is younger than 6
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I'm looking for something special to do together with my child
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I want my caregiver engaging my child in a beneficial weekly experience
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I want to meet other parents!
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I have mulitple children under age 6 that can all benefit from a family music class
mixed ages
Rhythm Kids
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My child is older than 4 OR almost 4 AND has taken at least 2 semesters of Music Together Mixed Ages classes
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My child LOVES to play music and sing/dance at home
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My child is comfortable being in a class without me
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My child could benefit from an independent learning opportunity to help bolster confidence and creativity.
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My child loves coming to Mixed Ages classes, but needs more of a challenge to keep his/her attention.
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My child is interested in taking more formal music lessons and we want to try something to get him/her ready.
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My child is younger than 8 months
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I'm looking for something special to do together with my child
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I want my caregiver engaging my child in a beneficial weekly experience
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I want to meet other parents!
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I am still a little unsure about bringing my newborn around larger groups of active toddlers.
babies
Photos by Erin Harris Photography
Mixed Age Class Description
During your 8 or 10-week “semester” at Music Together North Shore’s Mixed-age Family class, you and your child (or your caregiver and your child) will explore a rich array of music through hands-on interactions. During each 45-minute class, children will participate in small/large motor movements, call and response, lap activities, and hands-on use of noise-making instruments (resonator bells, shakers, rhythm sticks, etc.). They will discover a love of music with their loved-ones leading the way. Your Music Together instructor will let the grown-ups know exactly what to do to model behaviors, and children will be given the space to explore each musical experience in his or her own way.
The classes are ideal for brand new babies, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. You may be wondering how newborns can participate with preschoolers? Children learn differently than adults. They learn instinctively and constantly, absorbing the world almost through their very pores. They learn through their environment, through every interaction with adults, other children of all ages, and through imitation and play. The family-like setting of Music Together Mixed-Age Classes offer an ideal learning environment for young children. It enables siblings to attend together, and allows each child to participate at his/her own level. You will be amazed to hear the tiniest of babies begin cooing at the end of certain songs, to stay quiet and alert for long stretches during the class, and who go on to be our most enthusiastic toddlers as they grow in our classes!
During your “semester” at Music Together North Shore’s Mixed-age Family class, you and your child (or your caregiver and your child) will explore a rich array of music through hands-on interactions. During each class, children will participate in small/large motor movements, call and response, lap activities, and hands-on use of noise-making instruments (resonator bells, shakers, rhythm sticks, etc.). They will discover a love of music with their loved-ones leading the way. Your Music Together instructor will let the grown-ups know exactly what to do to model behaviors, and children will be given the space to explore each musical experience in his or her own way.
The classes are ideal for brand new babies, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. You may be wondering how newborns can participate with preschoolers? Children learn differently than adults. They learn instinctively and constantly, absorbing the world almost through their very pores. They learn through their environment, through every interaction with adults, other children of all ages, and through imitation and play. The family-like setting of Music Together Mixed-Age Classes offer an ideal learning environment for young children. It enables siblings to attend together, and allows each child to participate at his/her own level. You will be amazed to hear the tiniest of babies begin cooing at the end of certain songs, to stay quiet and alert for long stretches during the class, and who go on to be our most enthusiastic toddlers as they grow in our classes!
Babies Only Class Description
Our Babies classes are designed JUST for brand new parents and their newborns 0-8 months old. These classes will follow the same curriculum as our Mixed Ages classes but will provide activities you and your tiny little one can enjoy together. Babies are as fully prepared to learn the music of their culture as they are to learn its language, and they learn both in the same way - through adult modeling and interaction. In your Music Together class, you will explore ways to make music with and for your baby, giving them the music-making model that they need in order to become the music-maker they were born to be.
The unique, "babies only" classroom offers a quiet intimacy that our Mixed Ages classes can often be too busy and boisterous to provide! New parents will be in this together, creating a special community of moms and dad who are all in the same boat, learning not only how to be a parent, but how to connect with their babies in meaningful ways. Need to nurse? No problem! Have a diaper explosion? Us too! Need to mix up a bottle? Go for it! We're all in this together and we're all learning as we go.
Rhythm Kids Class Description
Music Together North Shore is pleased to be offering Rhythm Kids by Music Together in Milwaukee's North Shore! Just like our Mixed-Age classes, Rhythm Kids classes include 45-minutes of musical learning and fun in each weekly class. However, this is a class for children ages 4-8 and parents are not required participate. The big focus in Rhythm Kids is: Creative expression through music!
The Rhythm Kids curriculum is designed to be used by "big kids" who are ready for more independent learning. Ms. Kristen will build off the creativity that bubbles out of children and craft each class to meet the children where they are. While many of the songs will be the same as our Mixed Ages collection, Rhythm Kids classes include many new songs designed just for them. A strong focus on hand drumming with a Djembe drum will foster a greater understanding and practice of rhythm. Lots of call and response, independent vocals, creating rhythm patters and dance - Ms. Kristen will challenge these kiddos to use their whole bodies to make music together.
Objectives of Rhythm Kids Classes:
* Foster confidence by establishing a "culture of contributing" where children can volunteer ideas and make meaningful contributions to the class.
* Understand, articulate and demonstrate basic djembe drumming technique
*Understand, articulate and demonstrate musical dynamics
*Understand, articulate and demonstrate basic music terminology
*Continue pitch and rhythm competence
After taking 2 or more classes, Ms. Kristen will begin to incorporate the following:
*Identify and understand musical notation
*Develop sight-reading techniques
*Begin working on Solfege
*Confident understanding of music vocabulary and notation recognition
Is Mixed Ages or Rhythm Kids the right fit for my child?
If your child can repeat a rhythm pattern, click sticks or clap on rhythm for a few measures, enjoys singing and dancing, and loves making music, then your child is ready for Rhythm Kids! But - that doesn't mean he or she won't still enjoy our Mixed Ages class. Children are only little once, and you may want to savor your time together in Ms. Kristen's circle. Ms. Kristen also loves having "big kids" in the Mixed Ages classes to serve as role models for the toddlers. Children don't "graduate" from Mixed Ages into Rhythm Kids. Rather, enrolling your child in Rhythm Kids is a choice you can make if you feel your child would enjoy the class. There is special pricing available for families who wish to do both Rhythm Kids and Mixed Ages.
Djembe Drum Requirement
In order to participate in class, each child will be required to use a djembe hand drum in class. **For virtual classes, a sturdy table top will suffice**
Option 1: Drum Rental - $10 nonrefundable rental fee
A 7" colorful djembe drum will be provided for the duration of the session. The drum will be returned to Ms. Kristen after the last class session concludes.
Option 2: Drum Purchase - $35-$65
Djembe drums like these are an outstanding learning tool for children to improvise!
Generations Class Description
DUE TO COVID-19, ALL GENERATIONS CLASSES ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD. STAY TUNED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE MUSIC WITH OUR GRANDFRIENDS AGAIN!
Music Together North Shore is pleased to be offering the first Music Together Generations™ Class in Milwaukee! Just like our Mixed-Age classes, Generations Classes include 8 or 10-weeks of musical fun during our weekly 45-minute sessions. The big difference between Mixed-Age classes and Generations classes, is that we will be joined by some very special "grandfriends" each week - residents from Milwaukee Catholic Home. Additionally, we will not meet in the studio, but rather will meet at the Milwaukee Catholic Home - which includes a parking lot!
Why would you choose Generations over Mixed Age? It's a personal decision for you and your family to discuss, but here are some things to consider. Regardless of age, spirits are lifted, learning across multiple domains is stimulated, and meaningful connections are made through intergenerational play. Children and families, especially those without extended family nearby, discover the value of intergenerational relationships and become more comfortable engaging with older adults. Elder participants enjoy witnessing children’s joyful music-making and find a sense of purpose in being a part of young children’s learning, which combats isolation and depression. Click here for a researched-based article on the benefits of intergenerational music-making, written by Music Together founder and Music Director, Ken Guilmartin.