Has anyone else in the Twin Cities area done the "Music Together" classes? We are very interested in this, and are thinking about signing up for a late summer session.
Also, has anyone gone to the Arden Hills class that is held at the nursing home? I like the intergenerational concept. We are in St. Paul and there are 2 locations just off of Snelling that are close to us, but I am willing to travel if there are instructors/locations that come highly recommended. Thanks.
Thanks for the info, everyone! We are budgeting for fall classes, hopefully at Arden Hills if we can get in, otherwise in St. Paul. Thanks!
I have I have!!! I enjoy the classes very much and have been going on and off the past four years. They have a payment program which makes it easier to attend. I go to the Woodbury location because they are usually in need of more families during the day at that location so I help fill.
I can't say enough about the program. My first son was in it from 2-4 years and now does violin. I think that early music program trained his ears in ways that I couldn't even fathom.
My youngest started much younger - attending with the oldest (at 9 months). He enjoys it immensely and I think it will prepare him for musical studies as well.
I can't say enough about the 2 instructors that I've had in St. Paul: Paula and Amanda. They are very different in style from one another but both wonderful! I have an email from the director of the program that I will send to you separately to read.
SHE (Clarice) is another reason that the program is so wonderful. You don't "see" the benefits right away when they are this young, but I guarantee there are many!
Lastly, I think the inter-generational setting is a wonderful idea. Good for you for considering it!
Hey, C.!
My boy and I have participated in 3 rounds of MT classes, and it's been a really good experience for him. My mom actually taught Kindermusik for 18 years, and I have a music degree and background, so I can't say enough about the positive benefits of early music exposure! The difference between MT and KM classes is that MT is all-inclusive, including kids from Birth-5 and adults. Each class is 45 minutes long and a nice mix of song and movement, incorporating lots of props and instruments to keep it interesting and fun for the kids. Making music experiential is good for any age, but I think it's especially beneficial to really young kids (my boy is 20 months). Kindermusik is a little more curriculum-based. Each class is geared towards a specific age range (classes for really young kids include their parent/guardian), and they start introducing more basic musical concepts. I plan on switching over to KM when Joshua is just a little bit older.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have other questions! I live in and go to MT classes in Eagan (so I can't speak for the Arden Hills class), but I'm happy to talk more about exposing kids to music in general. :)
I have tried the Woodbury one out too and the kids and I all really liked it. I would like to do it again this summer too.
Hi C.. I have been doing Music Together for over 5 years - I'm on my second time around some of the song collections. I have taken classes at both of the studios off Snelling, and am now in the classes at Arden Hills. I find it's definitely worth the drive - the intergenerational classes are a lot of fun and the "grandfriends" say they look forward to it all week.
For your first class, though, and depending on the ages and temperaments of your children, it might be easier to start out in a studio where there are fewer distractions and places to run off and hide.
We've never had a bad teacher, but really enjoy Linda's classes.
Definitely try one of the demo classes if you haven't already. The next session won't begin until summer and it's a shorter session. You may be able to join in some of the classes underway but I don't know if there's any reduction in the fees.
