‘Music Together’ program tunes up for a new season

Babies, bang the drum slowly and the rest will come.

Ask Clinton violist and music teacher Kat Fritz, who knows about music for very small people.

Fritz is gearing up for a new season of her “Music Together” classes in Clinton and Coupeville, which she has been teaching on the island for more than three years.

“Music Together” is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners and the adults who care for them.

“The first thing that drew me to the program is the fact that it sees all children as innately musical,” Fritz said.

“I also liked the idea that it nurtures both the musical development of the child and the parent or caretaker.”

The Princeton, N.J.-based researched program was first offered to the public 20 years ago. It pioneered the concept of a developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes adult involvement.

The program involves 10 weekly 45-minute classes which teach a new song collection every fall, winter and spring.

To accompany the classes, parents are given a book guide and two copies of a CD with songs, rhythm chants, “play-alongs,” and tonal and rhythm patterns. Having a CD available at home and in the car makes the program easy to maintain a continuum of learning, which allows even the youngest child to recognize certain songs or exercises easily.

“The program is designed so that you can do it while changing diapers, cooking dinner or driving around,” Fritz said.

“The idea is to take it into daily life.”

Fritz said the people in Princeton were thorough in that they cleverly came up with an entertaining program, one that is sophisticated without being overbearing.

Fritz, who also teaches violin and viola in the “Suzuki method” of musical training to children and adults, said the “Music Together” classes take a similar approach.

Suzuki emphasizes the nurture-based approach to learning. It is modeled on some of the factors present in learning language such as immersion, encouragement, small steps and an unforced timetable for learning material based on each person’s developmental readiness.

“Suzuki maintains the idea that anyone can play music,” Fritz said. “This program does, too, and brings music into the home and gives people the tools to engage in music with their kids.”

Learning to sing in tune, keep a beat and participate with confidence is easier if students have an early support environment. And by emphasizing actual music experiences rather than concepts about music, “Music Together” introduces children to the pleasures of making music instead of passively receiving it from CDs, radio or television.

The program is non-formal and fun and can prepare children for a “formal” musical education later, said Fritz.

But, regardless of whether a child continues forward with music education, the program serves to make any child and their parent musically literate.

Fritz said students and their parents are not aware that they are often learning very intricate rhythmic patterns that go beyond the simple 3/4 and ½ time tempos, all while exercising their vocal chords in fun and challenging ways.

Movement and dance are also incorporated into the program while learning these rhythmic patterns.

“Parents or nannies or whoever is there with the child don’t need to be able to sing in tune,” Fritz said.

“Just the memory of mom getting excited about singing is what the child will remember,” she said.

Another aspect of the program that really grabbed Fritz’ attention was that it involves no computerized music. The music is all acoustic, human-produced sounds that involve a wide spectrum of instruments.

Classes are multi-age, from birth to 4 years. The mixed-aged classroom provides a richer experience by allowing the older, toddler-aged students to model for the babies. Fritz said the atmosphere promotes self-esteem and social experience — important areas for early childhood development.

Fall classes begin Sept. 17 at two locations. The new South End location is at Island Dance at Ken’s Korner in Clinton. Classes there are on Mondays or Tuesdays.

A second location is at Madrona Massage in Coupeville. Classes there are on Wednesdays.

All classes are from 10 to 10:45 a.m. in both locations.

For more info go to www.musictogetherwhidbey.com or call Kat Fritz at 321-4311.