Building a Musical Community in Your Music Together® Class
- support83921
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Getting out of the house with young children can be challenging. You already know this. But once a week, you gather your littles, making sure they are wearing clothes and socks (or maybe not!), and travel to your Music Together® class. Why? Yes, the music is great; yes, singing and dancing with your child is a lot of fun; and yes, research has shown that music is great for your child’s growing brain.
But what about you?
Are you meeting other local parents with kids the same age as yours? Are you learning the names of the other children in your class, who may end up being your child’s classmates? Maybe you’re making coffee dates or playdates with the other families. It may even be that spending time with people who are going through what you’re going through can help you feel less alone.
That’s the power of music to create and support community-making.
What are the Benefits?
We know humans have been making music for tens of thousands of years, and it has been a powerful way to build community for just as long. You make music in a community when you're all doing the "Cha Cha Slide" at a wedding, singing in the car with your family on vacation, chanting for your favorite team at a stadium, or singing "Happy Birthday" around your kid with your friends and family gathered around. Making music in a group helps people experience feelings of togetherness and cohesion, and your heart rates can even sync up!
For those other brain nerds out there, here's some fun science about what making music in a group does to your brain:
Brain imaging scans (MRIs) have shown that while listening to the same music for the first time, different people’s brains can show activity in similar patterns. In addition, group music-making can support positive social interactions and foster empathy, demonstrated by syncing of heart rates of people engaged in group music-making. And, when you come together to make music in a Music Together class, all of these things are happening for you and your children. |  |
How do we build community in our class?
In a Music Together class, we do all kinds of activities like fingerplays, lap songs, playing instruments, and dancing. Even though everyone expresses these activities in their own unique ways, everyone in the class is working toward a common goal: to make music together.
In each class, everyone shares the same musical experience, even though they may move differently, or play a different rhythm, or sing differently. You're all making a song together. Each class is our own little musical community. Now you know a little more about the benefits being a part of that little community has, not just for your child, but for you!
So here's your invitation to make a friend, or to strengthen a connection you've already made!
Your child might get a new friend out of it... and you could, too!
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