Frequently Asked Questions
About Music Together® | About the Music Together In School Curriculum | About Play Along by Music Together
About Music Together:
- What makes Music Together research-based?
- How do I know which Music Together offering is best for my school?
- We are doing remote learning this year. What are my options?
What makes Music Together research-based?
Our educational approach, teaching principles, and developmentally appropriate activities are grounded in research on how children learn best. Our program developers considered both how a young child's brain processes and organizes music, and how developmentally appropriate learning can be supported. They consulted, and continue to consult, the fields of neuroscience, early childhood education, and developmental psychology, and stay abreast of the most recent music education and early childhood research. Music Together programs are often studied by independent researchers at various educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, as well as by our own research and development teams. Together, we're committed to furthering the understanding of the powerful role of music in child development. Learn more at www.musictogether.com/about/research.
How do I know which Music Together offering is best for my school?
Both the Music Together In School curriculum and Play Along by Music Together are appropriate for any early learning setting. Our staff can help you determine which offering is the best match for your needs, whether you are looking for an fully integrated music curriculum or a music enrichment resource for your classroom teachers. Contact us to learn more.
We are doing remote learning this year. What are my options?
Both the Music Together In School curriculum and the Play Along by Music Together enrichment resource can be delivered in a distance-learning format. We provide guidance and teaching tips for online classes and bonus video content and activity ideas to send home to families. Regardless of whether your classes are in person or via distance learning, families receive the music recordings and songbook. And, what's great is that classes can easily transition from online to in-person classes (and back to online!) throughout the year, making Music Together a constant for children and their families during this school year that may otherwise be unpredictable and ever-changing.
About the Music Together In School Curriculum:
- Do I have to offer Music Together to every class in my school?
- Are there class size requirements?
- Can the Music Together in-school curriculum be used as a pull-out program offered as an elective to families?
- Are there teaching or training requirements?
- Can my school begin offering Music Together at any time during the academic year?
- How much music will I have access to each year?
- What type of music can I expect to use as part of the curriculum?
- Beyond the music, what kinds of support would I receive as a school, Music Together In School licensee, and/or specialist?
- Which ages does the Music Together In School curriculum serve?
- I work with children with special needs/neurodiverse learners. Can I use this curriculum in my classes?
- My school serves children and families facing situational, chronic, or systemic risks. Do you provide any additional support for this population?
Do I have to offer Music Together to every class in my school?
No, but every child in the participating classrooms must be included in the weekly classes and receive the at-home materials.
Are there class size requirements?
There are no minimum or maximum class sizes required. The curriculum can be delivered to any class size established by the school.
Can the Music Together in-school curriculum be used as a pull-out program offered as an elective to families?
No. The Music Together in-school curriculum is designed to be part of a participating classroom's core curriculum for all of the children in the classroom and may not be offered as a pull-out program.
Are there teaching or training requirements?
The person who teaches the Music Together curriculum in a school or early learning setting is called a music specialist. Anyone can become a music specialist (e.g., a school's existing music teacher, a classroom teacher, a school director, or any other staff member!) as long as they can pass our music pre-assessment and complete our comprehensive online training specifically designed for teaching Music Together In School. The training can be taken at any time, and is included in the cost of the curriculum.
Can my school begin offering Music Together at any time during the academic year?
Yes. Although most schools start offering Music Together in the fall, many schools begin in the winter or spring. Some even start in the summer!
How much music will I have access to each year?
There are three year-long rotating song collections in total. Each collection contains 44 songs, rhythmic chants, and instrumental play-alongs.
What type of music can I expect to use as part of the curriculum?
Our three in-school song collections include a mix of original songs and traditional tunes in a variety of genres, styles, and cultures, including folk, blues, classical, rock, jazz, and world music. In each collection you'll find songs, chants, tonal and rhythm patterns, and instrumental play-alongs in varied tonalities and meters. The music is fun, sophisticated, and loved by children and grownups alike!
Beyond the music, what kinds of support would I receive as a school, Music Together In School licensee, and/or specialist?
When our comprehensive curriculum is used in schools, licensed schools and specialists receive rich and varied materials and print and online resources, as well as an extensive array of ongoing support services. For more details, see Core Components or contact us.
Which ages does the Music Together In School curriculum serve?
The in-school curriculum is designed to serve children from birth through and including kindergarten. Some schools have used the program with first-graders. Contact us to learn more.
I work with children with special needs/neurodiverse learners. Can I use this curriculum in my classes?
Yes. The curriculum is designed to support all learners, including children with language, cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and/or neurological needs and impairments, and works well in both special needs and inclusion classrooms. Music Together specialists are supported by a board-certified music therapist at Music Together Worldwide who can assist in making the Music Together class accessible to all of your students.
My school serves children and families facing situational, chronic, or systemic risks. Do you provide any additional support for this population?
We want all children to experience our curriculum, including those from low-income/high-need communities who might not have access to high-quality music education. To help bring music to as many children as possible, we offer a special rate for qualified schools serving children in need. We're proud to say that our curriculum is also supported by a wide range of funding sources. Please contact us for more information.
About Play Along by Music Together:
- Do I have to purchase the Play Along music enrichment resource for every class in my school?
- Are there class size requirements?
- Are there teaching or training requirements?
- Can my school begin using the Play Along resource at any time during the academic year?
- How much music will I have access to each year?
- What type of music can I expect to use as part of the enrichment resource?
- Beyond the music, what kinds of support would the classrooms receive?
- For which ages is the Play Along enrichment resource designed?
- I work with children with special needs/neurodiverse learners. Can I use this curriculum in my classes?
Do I have to purchase the Play Along music enrichment resource for every class in my school?
No. Play Along can be purchased on a per-classroom basis. However, only those children in a participating class will receive the in-class and at-home materials.
Are there class size requirements?
No. The Play Along resource comes in a range of class size tiers and can accommodate classes with under 10 students to over 25 students. Our staff can help you determine the best package size for your class(es).
Are there teaching or training requirements?
No. Play Along is designed to be easily implemented by classroom teachers and other classroom staff. No music background is necessary, and no training is required. For an additional fee, our expert workshop leaders can provide staff with an online introductory workshop and other professional development workshops if desired.
Can my school begin using the Play Along resource at any time during the academic year?
Yes. Schools begin using the music and materials in the fall, winter, and even spring if they run year-round or have a summer program. However, the beginning of each academic year marks the beginning of the renewal period with a new set of materials for the incoming students.
How much music will I have access to each year?
There are two year-long rotating song collections, each with 25 songs, rhythmic chants, and instrumental play-alongs.
What type of music can I expect to use as part of the enrichment resource?
Each song collection includes a mix of original songs and traditional tunes in a variety of genres, styles, and cultures, including folk, blues, classical, rock, jazz, and world music. The music is fun, sophisticated, and loved by children and grownups alike!
Beyond the music, what kinds of support would the classrooms receive?
Each classroom package comes with developmentally appropriate instruments and in-class materials for teachers to use with the children. Teachers also get access to an online resource center filled with a wide variety of teaching, implementation, and family engagement support.
For which ages is the Play Along enrichment resource designed?
Play Along is perfect for preschool children ages 3-5 given how well it supports state early learning standards, however many schools also use it with children younger than 3.
I work with children with special needs/neurodiverse learners. Can I use this curriculum in my classes?
Yes. Play Along can easily be used with all learners, including children with language, cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and/or neurological needs and impairments, and works well in both special needs and inclusion classrooms. When appropriate, activity adaptations are provided, and supports guides are available.