Hugs 'n Harmony

Hugs 'n Harmony is back at the Rocky River Recreation Center!

Children ages 18-36 months and their caregivers are welcome! You do not have to be a resident of Rocky River to participate.

This class builds musical experiences around a weekly story and an animal. Each week caregivers will learn techniques and receive handouts to encourage the love of music at home.

The class will be held Wednesdays Nov. 16-Dec. 14 from 10:30-11:00 AM (no class Nov. 23). $58-member/$62-resident/$66-non-resident.

Call 440-895-2599 to register today!

*Please register by November 10.

Music FUNdamentals at the Rocky River Recreation Center!

Music FUNdamentals starts November 1st at the Rocky River Recreation Center.

It's not too late to register for this class!

Learn the basics of music through this action-packed program. This 5-week class will inspire kids to grow, giggle and groove!

The class will be held Tuesdays Nov. 1-Nov. 29 from 1:15-2:00 PM. You do not have to be a resident of Rocky River to participate: $72-member/$77-resident/$82-non-resident.

Call 440-895-2599 to register today!

Music Therapy Month Series: Music Therapy and Early Childhood

Music is prevelant in the life of a young child (and rightfully so!) This post will address how and why music therapy works for children ages birth-5 years.

In order to delineate music therapy from other ways young children experience and learn music, a quick definition:

Music therapy is an intentional and developmentally appropriate use of music by a music therapist to address a variety of goals.

These goals will vary based on the individual or the group. Often, early childhood music therapy focuses on meeting developmental milestones. These include communication, social/emotional, sensori-motor and cognitive skills.

Why is music therapy so successful in early childhood?

• Children are inherently musical. Did you know that even infants can "coo" on the tonic or dominant pitch (1^st and 5^th notes in a scale, respectively)?
• Music therapy is multi-modal: this means it is not only something one listens to, but can move to see and feel. ( and in the case of infants, possibly taste as well!)
• Music is motivating and engaging. Music permeates an environment—it is difficult to shut one’s ears the way one can shut his or her eyes! Music is energizing and can encourage motor skills and development. Alternatively, music can be calming and comforting as well.
• Young children learn through play. Music therapy is naturally playful and therefore a developmentally appropriate way to reinforce and increase cognitive skills.
• Even before a child can speak, music can provide a path of communication. Music can be the commonality that helps that child relate to others. Music making is a social event and can support and increase appropriate interactions with caregivers and peers.

MTEC provides individual and group sessions for young children—these children include "typically developing" chidren, children with disabilities and children considered “at-risk.”

MTEC is proud to be a part of Toddler Rock at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Toddler Rock is a pre-literacy program that serves children from underserved areas of Cleveland. Check out more information about this program here.

Music FUNdamentals at Westlake Recreation Center

Music FUNdamentals is back at the Westlake Recreation Center!

Learn the basics of music through this action-packed program. This class will inspire kids to grow, giggle and groove. Children up to 4-years old and their caregivers are welcome!

The class will be held Monday September 19-October 17, 10:30-11:00 AM.

Registrations will be accepted by mail, in person or by faxing to the Recreation Department. The Department asks that you send payment with your registration: $58 Member/ $62 Resident/ $66 Non-Resident.

Music Together® at MTEC

MTEC will be offering Music Together^® this fall at the office, starting September 27th. It is not too late to register for this class!

We are offering a FREE sample class at 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM this Thursday, so come give it a try!

~Please call ahead to register~



What is Music Together?

• Music Together is "an internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, first and second graders, and the adults who love them." (http://www.musictogether.com/)
  



• In other words, it takes a village . . . to make music! This class is for the grown-ups, just as much as it is for the kids. Be prepared to sing, dance and be silly to the music! You are your child's best musical model.
  



• The curriculum is research-based and developmentally appropriate, not to mention fun! Each participating family receives two CDs (one for home and one for the car) and a songbook. The CDs include the music that will be used in class for the 10 week session.

How is this different than music therapy?

• Music Together is a developmental music program. In order to meet musical milestones (check out the poster in our lobby), Music Together immerses the child in a musically rich environment and encourages them to participate in music learning through music experiences.
  



• While other skill areas may be enriched due to participation in Music Together, the program is designed to increase musical skills and behavior.
  



• Music therapy is "an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals." (http://www.musictherapy.org/)
  

Interested in learning more?

• Come check out the FREE demo classes Thursday, September 15 at 11:00 AM and also 2:30 PM! Children ages infants-4 years and their caregivers are welcome.



• Take a look at the Music Together website.