45 minute music and movement class for caregiver + child
To foster the musical development during the most critical and sensitive periods of age 0-4, caregiver and child become play partners in a rich musical environment
SPRING | Music Play
March 22 - June 14, 2025
SATURDAYS (3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/31, and 6/14)
Babies (0-16 months) @9am
Mixed (0-4 years) @10am
5/31 Classes @1070 Pleasant St. Worcester
6/14 Classes @3 Brussels St. Suite 224 Worcester
TT
Spring Tuition
$30 New Family Registration Fee
$170 8-class session
$140 6-class pack
$95 4-class pack
(per family)
Drop-in $35/class
“I was so pleasantly surprised by what Music Play offers local children. It is much more than singing and dancing and really focuses on the development of musicality with a natural and organic approach.
Ms. Jenie is dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate about music.”
-Chrystina
“We have incorporated not only the songs, but many of the lessons that we learned in class into our lives. Utilizing songs to give my daughter a direction or to help her follow a routine has been so helpful as she has entered the toddler phase. This use of music was a parenting skill that I learned from Jenie in class. In this way, the class was about more than just singing and moving together.
It was truly about fostering a love of music and weaving music into all that we do.”
-Stephanie
Through classes this year, I have come to value how much dedication Jenie puts into preparing for her classes. She always has a strategy for which songs will be in the rotation along with appropriate instrument exposure for the ages of the children. I have loved hearing my sons echo our voices in response to the music.
During all sessions with Jenie, she takes great care to engage each child individually.
-Corinna
Music Play Adventures
Coming Soon: Preschool Music
For the active and imaginative child | Ages 3-5
Embark on story-based musical learning adventures through play that encourages imagination during this special period a child’s life. Build musical understanding and coordination through singing, learning music vocabularies, movement, props, and playing instruments. Children will experience guided exploration and creativity where they can express their ideas and emotions through music and movement.
Sample Activities
• Use props and instruments for imaginative play while singing, moving and making music
• Explore and play percussive instruments while learning and creating rhythm patterns in the context of a song
• With guidance, collectively create music that depicts scenes and characters in a story
• Play musical circle and partner games
Classes will be formed based on families’ schedules.
Goals for Music Play
• Create an interactive environment that immerses the youngest children with rich musical experiences as early and as often as possible
• Serve the youngest children’s musical and total development through play
• Recognize, acknowledge and encourage children’s musical responses
• Learn songs + chants in multiple tonalities and meters
• Offer music and movement activities applying Dr. Gordon’s extensive research on how young children learn music
• Lay the foundation for a lifetime of music during the most critical period of a child’s musical development
First steps in music
Do babies and toddlers really need music class?
Research shows that the most critical period of musical development are ages 0-3 with music potential being the highest at infancy. During this period, the quality of the child’s musical exposure directly impacts musical understanding and activities throughout their lifespan. All children are musical, but the process of music development must be fostered with careful guidance and allowed to unfold naturally.
What is in a Music Play class?
• A Rich Musical Environment
Immerse children with songs in various tonalities and chants in different meters;
Allow children to learn through listening, absorption and exploration
• Ideas for Caregivers
Recognize musical responses and interact musically with your child
• Purposeful Space and Responsiveness to Child-led Play
Provide opportunities for children to process learning and respond to children’s spontaneous musicking
• Informal Pattern Guidance
• Body Awareness and Movement
Explore and model levels of movement including flow and to steady beat
Just like learning a language, music is best learned by immersion and repetition of live singing and spontaneous interaction. Music Play classes are not designed to entertain young children, but rather to create a playful environment that focuses on using the singing voice, chants and movement that best serve their musical development. To maximize music learning at this stage, use of recordings and language is kept to a minimum in our classes. The music educational process also takes consistency, purposeful guidance and the willingness of caregivers to participate in active music-making. Together, we will give children what they need - the foundation for a lifetime of music.
