If you are the parent, grandparent, or caregiver of a child or children ages 6 or under and are looking for a fun way to interact and learn with him or her, Music Together might be exactly what you have been looking for. You don’t need to know anything about music to participate, you just have to be willing to learn and engage with the class and the child you enroll. Parents and extended family are encouraged to attend, though since the emphasis is on music making as a family, at least one adult must attend from each family.

Kate Bryan, music teacher and first licensed provider of the program in Montana, has a lifetime of experience with music, as well as being the founder of the Singing Souls Senior Chorus at the Bozeman Senior Center, who meet on Tuesday’s at 1:30. Kate was instrumental in beginning the Groovin’ Women’s Chorus at Pilgrim Church because of her family history reflecting a connection to others and community through music.
As a child, some of Kate’s greatest memories revolve around making music together with her siblings and cousins at family gatherings. She grew up with the idea of family music making and those experiences were the foundation for her life long love of music and music making as a way to connect.

The Music Together program incorporates Kate’s own experiences with an established curriculum to create the prefect vehicle for Kate to share her love of music with children and their families and to build a lifetime of music appreciation and love as well as a basis for connection and friendship with each other and other people in the community.

Music Together, which is an international music program, has been operating in and around the Bozeman area since January 2010. At first the students were mostly families who had participated in the program in other locations, but through word of mouth there are five classes being offered on various days and times, including Saturday morning to accommodate different schedules and allow families to participate together.
Kate believes, “All children are musical; they just need a place to foster and develop it,” which is the foundation and premise behind the Music Together program. Adults participating do not need musical experience, just the willingness to learn and engage in the experience. Adults may even discover a hidden talent or passion for singing or music.

Eventually Kate plans to open a center specifically for the Music Together program, but for now, classes are available at the Children’s Museum and Pilgrim Church in Bozeman as well as at The River Rock Community Center in Belgrade. If you are new to the area, this is a great way to meet other families and make friends and connections within the community. Many families have built friendships that extend beyond the program.
The classes incorporate song, dance, drumming, rhythm making, and creative movement as well as improvisation. In order to further engage the children in the songs, the basic songs taught are easy to change and individualize to include each child. The hello and goodbye songs address each person in the class, and songs throughout the class bring in the children, including their names, favorite things, the clothes they are wearing, and even what rhythm should be used.

Rhythm instruments are used extensively. During the class I visited, the children and adults used Basic Beat egg shakers, tambourines, maracas, triangles, and guitar. There was lots of giggling, and not just the children, the joy and merriment was contagious and infectious. The bond between the parents and children was visible as they stand, danced, and moved with the music together – parents became horses, with children riding them. One dad uses the class as a way to connect with his daughter, since he only sees her on the weekends; they both look forward to their time at Music Together each week.

Kate introduces new and different instruments throughout the semester. Parents are encouraged to bring instruments they have and join in by sharing their music as well. During classes, the participants, both children and adults, are immersed in music, interacting with each other and the music in a fun way that allows for learning and enjoyment at the same time. The class participants learn about meter, rhythm, melody, and more while having fun. Nobody is forced to participate or engage, so if your child has a short attention span or is not interested in certain activities the group is flexible and relaxed and moves along, though everyone is happy when all are involved.

According to research, the average family only knows 3 songs they can sing together. Music Together offers 9 distinctive semesters, each containing 20 songs. The family is given a CD of the songs for the semester to practice at home and continue to enjoy, sing, and stay connected with each other though the music and memories made together in and outside of the class.

Guests welcome and are encouraged to join in the fun along with the regular participants, which gives you a great feel for what the classes are like. If you think Music Together is a program you and your family would like to explore, contact Kate Bryan at www.musictogetherbozeman.com to schedule a preview or trial class or to get more information about the classes.