The Music Together program has been developed in Princeton, USA by co-authors Kenneth K. Guilmartin and Lili M. Levinowitz. Guilmartin, Founder/Director of Music Together is active internationally in research and teacher training. He composes and arranges many of the songs and instrumental pieces for the Music Together song collections. “We believe that every child is musical and that each child needs a stimulating, supportive music environment to enjoy the wonderful human capacity for music-making,” said Guilmartin. “Parents may be surprised to find that they can support their child’s music development regardless of their own background in music.”
Music Together is a music and movement approach to early childhood that develops ev ery child’s opportunity for 
basic music competence by encouraging music experience rather than learning of information about music. Families are encouraged to attend class together, so younger children and older children in the same family can learn music and movement activities to enjoy at home. Parents also enjoy the classes because their skills and appreciation increase, too. “This is a great program and the instructors are special, interesting people who ‘let themselves go’. This helps the parents loosen up,” said a parent from Lawrenceville, USA: “Even the fathers in their button-down shirts break down after a few weeks, and become bunnies on the floor having a great time!” Music Together takes a holistic approach to music education, basing research on the writings of John Holt (“How Children Learn”, “How Children Fail”) and the writings of Joseph Chilton Pearce (“Magical Child”) and more.
Lili M. Levinowitz, Ph.D., a Professor of Music Education at Rowan College of New Jersey, USA, is an international authority on early childhood music. “Many adults are simply not aware of how well infants and toddlers and learn and enjoy music,” said Dr. Levinowitz. “Our parent surveys indicate that families play the Music Together recordings on an average of six times per week and that almost all infants and toddlers express clear preferences for the Music Together recording and for certain songs on each recording. Movement and music are excellent activities for the very young.”
In a Music Together class, twelve children and their parents or caregivers (au pair, babysitter, grandparent) meet for 45 minutes each week for ten weeks to experience new songs, chants, movement activities and instrumental jam sessions. Both adults and children sit in the circle and participate and are led by a teacher with early childhood and music skills. The teacher helps adults understand how to participate and the importance of relaxing and enjoying the activities with their children. Instruments are child-safe, and sometimes even made out of recycled materials—plastic bottles filled with rice or garbanzo beans, hand-me-down natural fiber scarves and more!
Children have many opportunities to play and create—making up rhythm patterns, making up new words to songs, and making up movements to express a sound. Some children simply stare and “study” the activity as they absorb the musically rich environment. Others sing, play, and dace freely because they know the songs and chants from the songbook and recording they take home. All experience a comfortable, encouraging environment that respects individual temperaments and learning styles. Twelve to fourteen activities are included in each class ranging from free movement to songs in unusual tonalities and unusual meters.
Looking for a “whole person” approach to making music with your young family? “Music Together Lucca Pisa” kicked off this Fall offering music and movement classes for children birth through kindergarten and their parents or caregivers. It was a great success. Classes are usually offered throughout the week and weekends in locations around Lucca and Pisa. Classes are taught in a combination of English and Italian and also in English-only. Registration is open now for Winter 2010 classes, which begin early January. Free demo lessons are held throughout the months of December and January at all locations. For information in “Music Together Lucca Pisa” classes, please call “Music Together Lucca Pisa and Firenze” at 377/1282512, email: info@musictogetherluccapisa.com or visit our website at www.musictogetherluccapisa.com
