Tips for the best music class experience:

1) Remember, you are your young child’s primary music teacher! Children learn dispositions from their parents and caregivers, so when they see the adults in their life loving and participating in music (no matter how musical or ‘non-musical’ that adult sees themselves to be), the child will do the same. Music learning starts with PLAY, and young children will learn what they love.

2) Listen to the playlist outside of class! In an ideal world, caregivers will sing the songs to/with their child, and bring the class activities home. However, we know life is busy! Therefore, even listening to the playlist during car rides, meal times, etc. will make a noticeable difference in your child’s processing and absorption of the music we use in classes.

3) It’s NORMAL for children to want to explore the room during class. Your child does not need to sit in your lap during class! Should your child want to explore the room, you can either join them where they are (keep participating in the music!), or you can remain in the circle. Oftentimes when they see their caregiver having a blast with the group, they’ll return to join the fun.

4) Even if your child is 9 mo+, you might not see your child participate in class, especially when you’re first starting music class. Children will often outwardly respond to the music much more outside of class, because during class they are in ‘absorption’ mode. This is common and normal.

5) We love it when our families get to know each other in our classes, but please keep conversations to a minimum during class, including in-between songs! This is not only much better for your child (who will get all the benefits of the class when they see you actively participating!), but it can be extremely hard for teachers to keep a class cohesive and engaged (and to have to sing loudly and irritate their voice..) when there is the din of constant chit chat. Both of our locations have coffee shops just around the corner (Ula downstairs at the Brewery, and The Square Root in Roslindale Village), so families can easily hang out after class!

Feel free to reach out to Christy with any questions you might have!