Early childhood educators consistently recommend mixed-age groupings as an optimal learning environment for children under five years because they foster natural, family-style learning. 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 level.

Classes have a family feel, rather than a school orientation, an environment your child will have ample opportunity to experience when he enters the world of formal education in a few years. In addition, children of the same age are not necessarily in the same stage of music development and a mixed-age environment creates a space for exploration and discovery, rather than peer pressure. The Music Together curriculum is designed to teach on many levels of complexity at once, and our teachers are trained in the art of mixed-age learning.

Absolutely. Just as siblings in multi-child families learn from each other, so do the children in our mixed-age classes. Babies will engage at their own level, vocalising, moving, listening, observing, and exploring musical instruments. And any or all of your child’s caregivers—parents, grandparents, nannies—can come share in the experience, both in class and at home.

Please ask your teacher for the ‘Babies in the Mixed Aged Class‘ guidebook as this will provide you with guidance on enhancing your experience both in class and at home with your baby.

No. You may notice your child revisiting some behaviours she has moved past but do not confuse this with regression. Your child will not UN-learn skills she has already gained. This process of revisiting actually affirms the progress your child has made as she recognises that she no longer exhibits these behaviours. It also signifies empathy as she adjusts her behaviour in order to relate to the younger children in the room.

Absolutely! In each class we strive to create a musically rich, developmentally appropriate environment where the whole family can enjoy music and nurture skills at the level right for each child. Mixed-age classes also provide a rich learning environment because children of different ages thrive when they interact with each other.

We have good news on that front! It doesn’t matter how well you sing or dance, it only matters that you do it. Your children don’t learn how to sing from you, they learn to sing. So, if you have fun playing with music, your child will learn to love it too. It’s really that simple! Your role is essential regardless of your musical ability!