Music Together® FAQ

Research. Music Together was first offered to the public in 1987 and pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum. Today, classes are offered all over the world including a lab school in Princeton, New Jersey. Ongoing research at the lab school, as well as the research by cofounder and head of research, Dr. Lili Levinowitz, and others, continually informs Music Together’s work on program content and development, varied applications of the program, and teacher training. Everything we do in class has an educational purpose.

In class, 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.

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!

As a parent or caregiver in class it is your job to participate! In fact, your teacher will encourage, cajole, and love you into participating in the activities with your child.

Why? Children learn attitudes and actions primarily from the grownups they’re bonded with. Essentially, your child is in “Human School” and you are their teacher! If your child sees you joyfully participating in music making, they will be motivated to do the same.

To that end, please stay off your cell phone and limit chatting with other adults in class- you are always welcome to stay after class to chat!

YOU inspire your child to explore the world around them!

Each class has between 6 and 12 enrolled children (excluding non-mobile infants), plus their caregivers.

Families may bring more than one grown-up to class. Please talk to your teacher if you plan to attend class with more than 2 caregivers to confirm space is available.

All class types (Mixed-Age classes, Rhythm Kids™, and Babies) are approximately 45-minutes. All classes meet once per week.

We offer a 10-week Fall, Winter and Spring session, and a 6-week summer session. Babies  classes run for 8-10 weeks. 

We sometimes offer shorter mini-sessions throughout the year, depending on where holidays fall year-to-year. Check out our registration page for the most up-to-date classes.

Yes! 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 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 250 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. 

No, we don’t. Music Together® is backed with years of research, all of which suggests that consistent exposure to music in an immersive environment leads to more music learning. 

Our bodies are our first instruments, and in Music Together we help children develop the skills they need to use their bodies musically. When children have begun moving to a steady beat and singing in tune they have achieved Basic Music Competence (BMC).

Giving children consistent opportunities to make music in a relaxed environment are able to experiment and explore, which, over time, leads to Basic Music Competence, a greater connection to music, and to more success in music-making later in life. 

You can absolutely try a class! If you’ve never attended a class at Music Together at PPAS you can CLICK HERE to sign up for a sample class! 

Yes! There is a non-refundable $50 deposit and classes must be paid in full by week 6 of the session. Please contact us at payments@popovskyperformingarts.com if you’re interested in setting up a payment plan. 

No tuition refunds are given after classes begin. Families are responsible for class attendance. An non-refundable materials fee of $50.00 will be deducted upon cancellations occurring prior to the start of the semester. 

If we have to cancel a class for the semester due to low enrollment you will be provided with the opportunity switch to a class time that is running, or receive your choice of a full credit or refund.

We offer unlimited makeup classes during each semester session, provided that space is available. Makeups must be used within the same semester and cannot be transferred to another semester.

If you have a planned absence coming up late in the session it is wise to make up that class in advance. There tends to be more space available for make-up classes earlier in the session. 

You can take a look at our registration page to see what classes are currently running, then send an email to info@popovskyperformingarts.com letting us know when you’d like to attend class as a makeup. We will email you back to confirm! 

Consistency is important for your child’s learning, so we ask that you try to settle into your class in the first few weeks of the semester as the integral musical community is beginning to form between families and your teacher. However, we understand that especially with young children, schedules change and nap times shift, etc. Therefore, we will do our best to accommodate your schedule and find a class that works for you and your child subject to availability. Contact us via email at info@popovskyperformingarts.com to let us know if you’re interested in making a class time switch! 

Yes! Here are the details:

•Families who have never attended a class at Music Together at PPAS may attend one class free of charge as a sample opportunity. 

•Siblings of enrolled students may attend once per session free-of-charge. Additional visits are $20, the entirety of which goes to our Tuition Assistance Fund.

•Children in the care of a parent or caregiver whose child is enrolled in class may attend once per session free of charge. Additional visits are $20, the entirety of which goes to our tuition assistance fund. Children who are in your care regularly during class time should be enrolled in Music Together classes as a separate family and do not qualify for sibling discounts.