Have you ever wondered what you can do to nurture the musical growth of your child, regardless of your own musical ability!  At WEMS we are pleased to include Music Together® as a part of every child's Montessori program.  Music Together is a nationally recognized, research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music program that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.  Developed over fifteen years ago as an educational project of the Center for Music and Young Children® in Princeton, NJ, the Music Together approach seeks to help families rediscover the pleasure and educational value of informal musical experiences within the context of daily life.

Originally designed as a music program for infant, toddler, preschool and kindergarten children and their parents or other primary caregivers.  Music Together has evolved to fit into a school setting as well.  At WEMS, the Toddler and Primary Programs will have a Music Together class once every week.  Music for our Elementary Program is integrated into the Arts Curriculum with additional weekly rhythm and singing instruction from specialist Dr. David Eslick, as well as an opportunity to take guitar and piano lessons.  Miss Jen and Michele's class will have music on Thursday, taught by our Music Together Director, Emily Boddy. Miss Vickie's class will have music on Wednesday.  Miss Kelley's class will have music on Tuesday.  The Toddler classes will have music on Tuesday or Thursday.  Classes will enjoy songs and rhythm chants from a Music Together song collection.  Activities will include fun and interactive ways to focus on tonal and rhythmic elements of music, small and large movement, instrument play and improvisational opportunities.  Because participation and modeling of parents and caregivers is essential to a child's musical growth and because musical growth is encouraged in a musically rich environment all classrooms will be provided with Music Together materials.  For this same reason each WEMS family will be given two different Music Together collections each year. These materials include two professionally recorded CDs, a songbook with illustrations and activities, and a guide designed to help parents understand and enhance their child's music development.  Music Together will help you discover new and fun-filled ways to experience the joy of moving and making music as a family. Throughout the year other parent education opportunities will be available and WEMS Family Music events will be scheduled.

At WEMS we also offer Parent/Child classes for children ages birth through age four.  Classes during each 10-week session meet once a week for 45 minutes.  Children participate at their own level in classes of mixed ages by singing, moving, chanting, listening, and exploring musical instruments.  These classes are open to WEMS families and families in the community as well.  Classes are open to WEMS students on days that they are not already in school.  Download a session enrollment form or see Emily.  She can also be reached via phone at (804)523-7536 or email at musictogether@westendmontessori.com.

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