Our Program

At Joyful Hearts Music, we believe music is more than a fun activity for babies and young children—it is an important part of early childhood development.

During the first years of life, children are constantly absorbing the sounds, patterns, rhythms, and movements in the world around them. In many ways, learning music is similar to learning language. Children do not learn to speak because we explain grammar rules to them. They learn because they are immersed in language every day through loving, repeated, meaningful interaction.

Music learning works in a similar way. When young children are surrounded by songs, rhythm, movement, and musical play, they begin building the foundation for lifelong musical growth.

That is what Music Together® is all about.

What Is Music Together®?

Music Together® is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age 5—and the grownups who love them®.

The Music Together^® curriculum is grounded in research in early childhood development and music learning. Classes are designed to support the way young children naturally learn: through play, imitation, repetition, movement, exploration, and meaningful interaction with the adults they love.

Each week, families gather for a 45-minute class filled with singing, movement, rhythm play, chants, dancing, and instrument activities. Classes are relaxed, playful, and developmentally appropriate, giving children the freedom to participate in the way that feels natural to them.

Some children may sing, dance, or play instruments right away. Others may prefer to watch, listen, or move quietly at first. All of these responses are part of the learning process. Children are still absorbing, processing, and learning—even when they are not visibly participating.

Why Start Music Early?

Early childhood is a powerful time for music learning.

Just as babies and young children are wired to absorb language from the people around them, they are also ready to absorb the language of music. Through repeated musical experiences, children begin to develop their sense of rhythm, melody, movement, and musical expression.

You do not wait to talk to your child until they can answer you back. From the beginning, you surround them with language, and over time, they begin to understand, respond, and eventually speak for themselves.

Music develops in a similar way. Children need opportunities to hear, feel, move to, and experiment with music long before they are expected to sing in tune, keep a steady beat, or play an instrument formally.

Early music experiences do not need to be rigid or performance-based. In fact, young children learn best when music is playful, interactive, and connected to the people they love.

More Than a Baby Class

There are many wonderful classes and activities available for young children. What makes Music Together special is that it is not just entertainment or a way to pass the time—it is a research-based music and movement program designed to support your child’s natural musical development.

In class, children are not expected to sit still, perform on command, or “get it right.” Instead, they are invited to explore music in a joyful, age-appropriate way.

Through singing, chanting, movement, instrument play, and repetition, children begin developing the building blocks of music: listening, rhythm, tonal awareness, coordination, creativity, confidence, and expression.

These early experiences help children build a strong musical foundation that can support future music learning, whether they later choose to sing, dance, play an instrument, or simply enjoy music as a meaningful part of their lives.

Your Role Is Essential

You are your child’s most important music teacher right now—and you do not need to be a great singer or dancer to make a difference.

Young children learn best from the people they love most. When your child sees you singing, moving, clapping, dancing, or simply enjoying the music, they are more likely to engage and explore too. Your participation shows them that music is something joyful, natural, and worth joining.

In each Joyful Hearts Music class, you’ll learn songs and simple music activities you can bring into your family’s everyday life—during playtime, car rides, bath time, bedtime, and all the little moments in between.

Your teacher will help create a welcoming, playful space where you and your child can relax, participate, experiment, and have fun together.

Music Learning Supports All Learning®

Music learning supports so much more than music.

Through singing, rhythm, movement, and play, children strengthen important skills that support their overall development. Music experiences can support listening, language development, coordination, balance, social connection, emotional expression, creativity, confidence, and self-regulation.

Most importantly, Music Together classes create meaningful shared experiences between children and their grownups. These joyful musical moments can become part of your family’s everyday life long after class is over.

Ready to Experience It for Yourself?

We’d love to welcome your family to Joyful Hearts Music.

Join us for a Try a Class event or Register for an upcoming session, and discover how joyful family music-making can support your child’s development while bringing more music, connection, and play into your everyday life.

The Research Behind Music Together^®

Want to learn more about the research behind Music Together? Visit our Research Behind Music Together page to explore how early music experiences support children’s musical, social, emotional, language, and cognitive development.