Class Descriptions

All Music Together® classes involve singing & chanting, dancing & playing, tapping & clapping, and having a fabulous time getting neural pathways firing to support your child's innate musical abilities in relationship with you. Children in Valley Cat Music classes (and their parents!) are exposed to a variety of musical styles from around the world, rhythms, tonalities, languages, instruments & props (drums, shakers, bells, scarves, rhythm sticks, parachutes, ukulele, etc.), and activities designed to nurture their musical development with the participation and modeling of their beloved caregivers.

Mixed Ages (birth to 5 years)

This is the essential Music Together® class, one that a child can attend from birth through kindergarten—and through all nine song collections (and beyond!). This basic class follows the recommendations of child development researchers—grouping children of a variety of ages in one class. This approach fosters natural, family-style learning where younger children enjoy watching and imitating older ones; older children learn by leading younger ones; and adults are happy because the children in the family can go to class together. Each child participates at his or her own developmental level in singing, moving, chanting, listening, observing, or exploring musical instruments.

We welcome the whole family to join in this important family music experience and any caregiver—parents, grandparents, nanny—can bring the child(ren) to class.

Music Together Online (birth to ?? years)

Please visit the landing page for Music Together Online for details. This truly mixed-age class welcomes all family members at home during class time, and if you have another caregiver (grandparent, second parent, nanny) who'd like to join, as long as there's bandwidth, they're welcome to join the Zoom!

 

Music Together Outdoors (birth to 5 years)

Gather in a private back yard with Valley Cat friends for a smaller-in-size but large-in-fun classic Music Together class! (See Mixed Ages above.) Everybody brings their own blanket (and optional instruments), and proof of vaccination is required for participation by adults. All families will have access to the private Remind class text where weekly notes on what instruments we're using, what music to focus on, what the weather's doing, etc., will be sent.

 

Babies (birth to 8 months)

Every child’s development benefits from early exposure to music and movement. Because the early months are so important, Music Together offers two options for babies. Babies eight months and younger at the time of registration may attend a Mixed Ages Class, whether registered on their own or attending free with an older brother or sister. Babies eight months and under (who are not yet crawling/independently mobile) may also take the special "Babies Class" offered as a one-semester introduction to Music Together. (This class cannot be repeated.) The music activities and materials are specially designed for parents to interact with their babies and to learn about music development in infants. Meet other parents of newborns and learn some fascinating music activities you can recreate at home with your baby.

 

Music Together Rhythm Kids® (K – 2nd grades/5–8)

The Music Together Rhythm Kids program is a drumming-based curriculum that builds on Family-class experiences but is its own program. Classes are for children who are kindergarten-age through 2nd grade without parent (though parents are always welcome). Families will need to purchase their own djembe for home practice and to bring to class, though drums will also be provided in class. Videos are included in the Music Together app and online for Rhythm Kids families, and the music has been written/culled specifically for this program. Please take advantage of this special opportunity and tell your friends! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!

 

Adult Guitar OR Ukulele Class (tba)

Join other parents or teachers from class to learn beginning guitar using the songs from your current Music Together collection (if everyone agrees, this class can be converted to a group ukulele class, but only if everyone is learning uke). This is a mixed-stage class, so students who have never played before can learn next to folks who are dusting off an old friend and reminding themselves how all those chords go... all without children and in the company of like-minded grownups. It's a fun time and open only to current registrants/teachers and their spouses. Classes begin the third week of the session and are held at Valley Cat Studio in Valley Village. Private lessons are also available (guitar and ukulele).

 

Holiday Interim Session

This three-week special session is an opportunity to enjoy music of the season as well as Music Together favorites at a time when we would otherwise be between sessions, waiting for our favorite music class to start again in January. In and out in three weeks, glowing from the ho-ho-hos and light motifs and ready to greet the season with a heart that's just a little bit (or maybe a lot!) warmer.

Children (and adults) of all ages are welcome to attend. If you have a sibling drop in, it's $25. Tell a friend! Every family receives a Music Together Lullabies download code to use in the free Music Together app, which also comes with eight free Music Together songs. We will use a combination of those songs, other Music Together winter-related songs, and familiar songs of the season.

The Holiday session is one of the two sessions where you can sign up to drop in for one class ($35). Because of this drop-in flexibility, there are no free demos. You can apply your drop-in fee to the remainder of the Holiday session if you visited the first week, drop in again, or register for the full winter session starting in January!

 

Music Together Generations™

We are looking for a retirement/nursing home in a central valley location (between Encino and Burbank) to hold a Mixed Ages+ class, where residents participate alongside children and parents to create a generational mix that is truly a gift to everyone involved. If you know of the perfect place, please contact the director.

 

Preschool (In-School) Curriculum
 

Valley Cat Music currently provides the Music Together In-School Curriculum to Almost Home Daycare in North Hollywood and is available to bring Music Together to your preschool, kindergarten/early elementary, daycare, or other educational institution that serves children up to age 8. Please contact Deborah Dietrich at [email protected] if you would like to schedule a meeting. 

 

Pajama Class—Lullabies & Loveys [ON HOLD]
 
This evening class is perfect for working parents and for kids who need a ritualized calming-down experience before bedtime. Bring your child's favorite lovey/stuffy (small enough for them to carry), a blanket, and a flashlight. We will follow the Music Together curriculum but adjust the flow to create a slow-down as we approach the end of the class so your children will be ready to snuggle into bed as soon as you get home! Contact [email protected] if you're interested in being placed on a waiting list to start this class.

 

Mixed Ages 0-5

Children birth to 5 years with parent(s) or caregiver. Enjoy playful music immersion with singing, dancing, chants and fingerplays, instrument play & exploration, jam sessions, and improvisation in a supportive, community environment.

This is the essential Music Together class, one that a child can attend from birth through age five—and through all nine distinct song collections. Teachers lead informal but structured instruction where children may or may not participate as they choose and do so according to their developmental level. This class is freely mixed with ages from birth to age five where the activities focus on adult-child interaction rather than child-child. Many childhood educators consider mixed-age groupings beneficial, and the process of music development throughout this age range is similar.

 Family Class - Summer

 

Children birth to 5+ years with caregiver. Enjoy five-six weeks of music immersion with singing, dancing, chants and fingerplays, instrument play, jam sessions, and improvisation in a supportive, community environment.

This is the essential Music Together class, one that a child can attend from birth through age five with siblings and relatives. Older siblings home for the summer may attend as well at director's discretion.

Teachers lead informal instruction where children may or may not participate as they choose and do so according to their developmental level. This class is freely mixed ages from birth to age five where the activities focus on adult-child interaction rather than child-child. Many childhood educators consider mixed-age groupings beneficial, and the process of music development throughout this age range is similar.

 

 

 Babies (0-9m.)

This class is designed for parents and their pre-crawling infants nine months and younger at the time of registration.

Every child's development benefits from early exposure to music and movement. Because the early months are so important, Music Together offers two options for babies. Babies may attend a Mixed Ages Class, whether registered on their own or attending for free with an older brother or sister. Babies nine months and under (who are not yet crawling/independently mobile) may also take the special "Babies Class" offered as a one-semester introduction to Music Together (this class cannot be repeated). The music activities and materials are specially designed for parents to interact with their babies and to learn about music development in infants. Meet other parents of newborns and learn some fascinating music activities you can recreate at home with your baby. 

 Demo - Family Class

Introduction to our classic mixed-age Music Together class.

 Babies - Summer

This class is designed for parents and their pre-crawling infants up to eight months at the time the session begins. The Mixed Ages class is recommended for crawling and sitting babies.

Every child's development benefits from early exposure to music and movement. Because the early months are so important, Music Together offers two options for babies. Babies may attend a Mixed Ages Class, whether registered on their own or attending for free with an older brother or sister, or they may also take the special "Babies Class" offered as a one-semester introduction to Music Together for babies up to eight months who are not yet crawling/independently mobile at the start of the session. The music activities and materials are specially designed for parents to interact with their babies and to learn about music development in infants. Meet other parents of newborns and learn some fascinating music activities you can recreate at home with your baby. 

 

 

 Big Kids® (5-8yrs)

The Music Together Big Kids class is for older children 5 up to 8 years old (4-1/2-year-olds may attend with director's permission). This 45-min. class encourages more independence (kids attend by themselves where possible) and reaches further toward music literacy while maintaining all the creativity and fun of the mixed-age class. We will add in more drumming to start learning aspects of the Rhythm Kids curriculum. All classes for older kids will be held at Valley Cat Studio in Valley Village.

 Adult Guitar or Uke

[If a guitar/ukulele class is not offered, please reach out to Deborah for private lessons!]

The Music Together Adult Guitar or Ukulele (one or the other, not mixed) class is open to adults related to registered students only. It's an eight-week grownups-only gathering that starts week 3 of a 10-week session and is designed to teach beginners through intermediates in a mixed-stage atmosphere. No advanced skills will be taught. You provide your own guitar (nylon-string classical guitars recommended for beginners), capo, and tuner, and I will teach you how to play songs from the current Music Together collection, starting with the Hello Song (plus one song of your choice from outside the Music Together repertoire). Your kids will love you, and you will be showing them that even "old" people can learn a new skill (and it feels great)!

8-week guitar class comes with curriculum materials in a binder, one per person. Childcare is not provided; adults only. 

3-week ukulele class during the Holiday session comes with music for Music Together Family Favorites or Lullabies and some seasonal tunes. Teens/tweens are welcome to this class.

 Rhythm Kids

Drumming-based music curriculum for kindergarten through 2nd graders, dropped off. See Rhythm Kids page.

 MT-Online Family/Mixed Ages

Music Together Online is a live class on Zoom, held weekly and recorded (teacher only) for on-demand use throughout the session. Class length is 45 minutes, plus time to greet and chat before and after class. The rest is pure Music Together educational fun in the comfort and convenience of your home! 

For the Music Together Online class, we invite all family members of all ages to participate for one price. The classic curriculum focuses on children birth through five, but the family musical interaction in your house (or the addition of a grandparent Zooming with us) is not only beneficial to your child—it's beneficial for you, too!

Each family with children must register separately, but a visiting cousin (or other class-age relative) may pay a drop-in fee if they're only able to be with us for one class. Siblings in same house are free; please enroll them so we have their names/bdays!

All registrants may invite one adult relative (or two on one device) to join a class during the session.

 

 MT-Outdoors Family/Mixed Ages

Gather outdoors with Valley Cat friends for a smaller-in-size but big-on-fun classic Music Together class! (See description of Mixed Ages 0 – 5.) Everybody brings their own blanket and, optionally, your own instruments (Valley Cat Music supplies all needed items). Proof of vaccination is required for all participating adults. Class families will be invited to join/added to the private Remind group text where weekly notes will be sent and class videos posted.

We welcome the whole family to join in this important family music experience, and any caregiver—parent, grandparent, nanny—can bring children to class.