The value of what we do extends beyond our family classes. Did you know that Music Together® is offered in schools as well? In early November 2024, representatives from the Music Together In-School Services department attended the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference & Expo in Anaheim, CA. This is the largest early childhood education conference in the world, and we were thrilled to have an exhibit booth and to present three sessions for early childhood educators, with between 100 and 175 attendees at each!
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), established in the 1920s, is an organization that supports and promotes high-quality education for children from birth to age eight. Their focus is on “practice, policy, and research.” This aligns with the core of Music Together, as we are committed to offering high-quality, research-based, and developmentally appropriate music classes to young children and their caregivers (including their teachers!), through family classes and our in-school curricula. All of this sounds pretty important. And it is. But both NAEYC and Music Together adhere to the philosophy that all children learn best through play.
With the mission of inspiring early childhood educators to incorporate playful music experiences into their classroom, Music Together worked to show NAEYC conference attendees how such experiences can support and enhance child development. Given the robust attendance, these educators were interested in what the experts at Music Together Worldwide had to say!
One session was led by Music Together’s Director of Research, Lili M. Levinowitz, Ph.D., and Director of Early Learning, Lauren Guilmartin. The session centered on using movement and music activities to support child development and achieve early learning goals regardless of music ability. In other words, music learning supports all learning®. Lauren says, “It was so inspiring to be surrounded by thousands of passionate early childhood educators from across the country, who dedicate their time to nurturing and teaching our youngest citizens.”
The next session was led by Kayla Hughes, a veteran Rhythm Kids® by Music Together® teacher, mentor, and workshop leader. Aimed at elementary school educators, Kayla imparted ways to use immersive rhythmic activities in the classroom. Such activities, when presented in a playful and holistic way, can support not only music development, but social and emotional skills, too.
Using music to support healthy social and emotional skills in early childhood was the focus of the third session as well. Led again by Dr. Levinowitz, along with expert teachers and members of our In School staff, Ellen Acuna and Katie O’Dea, this session was geared toward preschool educators. Attendees were shown how using participatory music and movement activities can support the development of the social and emotional skills that are so important for school readiness and later school success.
Music Together has been a leader in the field of early childhood development since our start in the early 1980s—and we know development, and the power of music to make a difference isn’t limited to music classes. We continue to show that young children, whether singing in family groups or in school settings, benefit so much from immersive music experiences. So, sing and play with your children, and don’t forget that even with all of this background and information, at its heart, music is fun!
For more information about our curricula and resources for early learning settings, visit our website: Music Together In Schools
For more information on the sessions we presented at the NAEYC conference this year, follow these links:
Music learning supports all learning! Music and movement activities that naturally support children’s development in key early learning domains Presenters: Lili M. Levinowitz and Lauren Guilmartin
Drum, play, create: The benefits of rhythm-based music activities on children’s music development and social and emotional learning Presenter: Kayla Hughes
Creating harmony: Supporting preschoolers’ social and emotional development with music and movement Presenters: Lili M. Levinowitz, Ellen Acuna, and Katie O’Dea
Find more information about NAEYC, their resources for families, and their advocacy work here: