The Program
Background:
In designing the Music Together® program the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton had an important objective: to help families, caregivers, and early childhood professionals rediscover the pleasure and educational value of informal music experiences in the context of daily life. To create the Music Together song collections, Ken Guilmartin teamed with Lili M. Levinowitz, Ph.D, a national authority on early childhood music education. As a Professor of Music Education at Rowan University, author of numerous articles in professional journals and popular magazines, and Ph.D. recipient from Temple University, she also served as the director of the Children's Music Development Program. In 1987, after two years of dedicated collaboration, Ken and Lili pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally-appropriate early childhood music curriculum with materials for home use that strongly emphasize and facilitated adult involvement regardless of music background or ability. All children are musical:
CMYC recognizes that all children are musical, and that every child needs a stimulating, supportive music environment to achieve basic competence in the wonderful human capacity for music making. The Music Together approach supports development of the basic music competence that is every child's birthright and emphasizes actual music experiences rather than simply concepts or theory. Says Ken and Lili, "We believe that music ability is as much a basic life skill as walking or talking and that all children can achieve basic competence in music, provided their early music environment is sufficiently rich." Basic competence is defined as the ability to sing in tune, keep a beat and participate with confidence and pleasure in the music of our culture, including instrumental study if one so chooses. Participation not perfection:
The mixed-age format of a Music Together class is unique. Ken says, "I've always thought of a Music Together class as something like a song and dance time at a traditional multi-family picnic. The idea isn't to create perfect performances, it's for everybody to join in and have some fun. Infants blend with any age group, especially if attending with an older sibling" (age 8 months and under attend free with a registered sibling at Yellow House Music Together). "Many parents find this surprising, but our experience shows their musical development benefits tremendously from early exposure." In 1987, Ken and Lili invested all their efforts and knowledge into the creation of a program that would allow our children to develop their abilities to their greatest potential -- musically, intellectually, and socially. We can't ignore such a great asset today and this unprecedented opportunity for our children. Curriculum:
The Center for Music and Young Children (CMYC) has developed nine non-sequential song collections, each characterized by its own graphic, color, and instrument. These collections each include a recording and songbook and are designed to be used one collection per semester. A family can begin Music Together® classes at any time with any collection. Each family enrolled in the program takes home a beautifully illustrated songbook and two cd's each semester. The music is pitched in just the right range for children’s voices and includes songs, rhythmic chants, tonal and rhythm patterns, and instrumental play-alongs, all in a rich variety of tonalities and meters. Original songs and arrangements by the program coauthors make these collections especially unique. Each of the nine Music Together Song Collections also includes traditional american folk songs and chants, music from many other cultures, always including at least one song per collection in another language. Outstanding instrumentalists play a variety of instruments, such as guitar, bass, flutes, keyboards, and percussion. And all of the songs are suitable for mixed-age groups, perfect for childcare centers or families with children of different ages. Music Together's song collections are research-based and artistically conceived and produced. They are also classroom- and family-tested. Since 1987, the feedback of hundreds of teachers and thousands of families has been incorporated into these constantly evolving materials. For a more extensive look at the Music Together program please visit www.musictogether.com
