Music Together Jam Bay

UP NEXT IS THE TRIANGLE SONG COLLECTION:) This Spring we’ll jump and jive with "Allee Galloo”, go to the beach with the Spanish “Maria Isabel”, create jazzy rounds with “Hey, Ho, Nobody Home”, dance in asymmetric meter to "Stick Dance" and layer rhythms on the drums with "Drummers Marching", just to name a few of the 25 songs and chants in the collection from around the world. In addition to your weekly 45-minute classes, your tuition includes materials for you to use at home, a family newsletter full of resources and music-making ideas. Continue your musical journey with your child, or get started this spring. Discover the joy of family music! DETAILS: Begins When : Wednesday, April 1st/Saturday April 4th Runs : 8 weeks (because there's a baby on the way;) Cost per child : $124 for returning families and $140 for new families (we DO offer sibling discounts:) (this is prorated from my regular session rates:) payable by PayPal...

$175 for new families/$155 for returning families creditcard via PayPal to upbeatmusictogether@gmail.com or cash/check. Watch for the location announcement! JOIN US for 10 weeks of song, rhythm instrument, play and movement!

10 weeks of the Maracas song collection:)at Bella Cova. April 14th-June 16th Same day and time. Mondays 11:00am-11:45am. payments by cash, check, or credit card via PayPal to upbeatmusictogether@gmail.com

This American Sign Language Browser out of Michigan State University is one of the best sites I have seen for user-friendly access to looking up words in sign. This week in your class, when we signed The Water is Wide, I just looked up the key words and moved my hands while we sang...so easy...so fluid...so beautiful. You can look up the words to your favorite simple songs here and then teach them to your child. Enjoy!

We have been getting from Netflix, the old Cosmos series. Wonderful! One episode explained of the amazing songs of humpback whales...they will sing part of their song in winter waters and then after traveling to summer waters, will pick up the same song on the very next beat, measure for measure...Truly Amazing!

So if you moms and dads haven't discovered Sia yet in your probable periodic search for new adult music for your IPod? Then...yes...wow....time to have a listen! This Aussie artist is just absolutely incredible and I have been listening to her for some time now. In this video , she also signs in Sign Language while performing. For a true taste of her style and personality, search for "Sia KCRW" on You Tube and listen to some of these really casual radio shows. She's just a delightful person.

Add some beautiful family music-making to your lives, your homes and your outdoors this spring and summer with a Music Together session at the Spokane Yoga Shala studio. Nine weeks starting May 4th. Join us!:)

Here's some Marley groove for your day...about halfway thru this home video, he actually starts audiating....he leaves out a word at the end of each phrase...letting his brain (and yours) fill in! Audiation is part of the means of developing Basic Music Competance: the ability to sing in tune and keep a steady beat. Groovy or what??

A huge thank you to all you BONGOS families, for completing the online feedback survey after the BONGOS collection in the Fall. As Music Together is a research-based program, your input is valuable to the National Office, for evaluating the effectiveness of Music Together classes. On a more personal level, though, when I get the surveys back, it helps me ensure that we are delivering a quality experience to you. I want you to feel like you are getting your $ worth, as well as that you and your child are getting the most out of the program musically, emotionally...on many levels actually. After the BELLS collection this winter, you will again have the chance to complete the online survey specific to that song collection and specific to your current teacher!

Our Saturday class is now full as well! You are welcome to contact us to be put on the waiting list for either class and be sure to check for updates for Spring Session and register early! We will be adding more class times if possible! Happy day to you!

Well, our Tuesday class is now full for our Winter Session starting Tuesday January 27th. Still have four spots left for the Saturday class though, if you'd like to make Music Together with your little one this winter.:)

So, even after teaching Music Together for two years now, I experienced something very cool tonight with my own kiddos. It's wintry and dark and they have lots of energy that needs to go SOMEWHERE when we can't get outside. My very wise hubby suggested we put on some music and do some calisthenics! It was sooo much fun! We were hopping around the room to John, the Rabbit (from yellow SUMMER SONGS 2) and running and swaying to Tailor and the Mouse which is a Sam favorite (from green STICKS)...Soo much fun to make music as a family! WOW! Hope you have registered for Winter Session, as the spots are going fast! We'll see you soon again, and then we'll make music together again... Melinda

Winter Registration is now open ! Hooray! We look forward to having you and your child in one of our classes. Read the bios of our awesome teachers here: http://www.upbeatmusictogether.com/teacher.html Sign up today in order to get a spot! Spaces will be limited this winter and so will go really fast. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

The bumblebee, the ladybug and the caterpillar/butterfly were all made by a great Puppet Company called Folkmanis !:)

Well, our Fall 2008 classes are coming to an end. What a fun collection this has been! You are still welcome to makeup any missed class this week if you want to take a scenic drive to Liberty Lake (Friday 9:30am) or join us on the South Hill (Saturday 10:45am) After your last class, I will be emailing you an online survey to fill out so you can provide class feedback. Since Music Together is a research-based curriculum, this is valuable data that will be compiled and evaluated. The link to the survey is here: and the Organizational Number to enter is 1944. Thanks for taking the time to respond and... "we'll see you soon again and then we'll make music together again..." Winter Registration will be opening soon. Stay tuned! Melinda

Here is the video I referenced in class of the way Little Johnny Brown is traditionally played as a game! It's fascinating to explore the ROOTS where music has sprung out!! oh and LOL, my two announcements were: 1) Bring your songbook to class next week and 2) Hop over to Spokane Community College this weekend for the Fall Folk Festival ...multiple stages of multi-ethnic music of all kinds...a real treat all under one roof!

Is your little one loving their songbook yet?

Hello Music Together Families! Well...how's it goin' at home?? How fun that you are probably seeing your child respond to and recognize the music on the BONGOS CD! I always love to hear anecdotal stories about what you are observing at home and sometimes we share those in class. All new families this semester received a Parent Guide that is now on DVD format. If you are a returning family, you may still want to view the information and you can do that here ! Interviewed are Ken Guillmartin and Lili Levinowitz, the founders and researchers at Music Together in Princeton, NJ. So take a look and meet them too:)

A Music Together family-friend recently introduced me to www.pandora.com via her blog. What an awesome concept, to be sitting at your computer, listening to the kind of music you most want to hear in that moment, in a radio format, randomly selecting that same genre of music, but some that you may or may not have picked out yourself. So for example, my Sam is laying out here on the futon almost asleep, so wanting something sort of soothing...I type in Enya and it starts me off with Watermark (my favorite Enya composition) and then...I get to hear something new: a song called "When I See You Again" by a group called 2002 on an album called Deep Still Blue. Really lovely.

My South Hill Classes are now full...you may email me to be put on the waiting list, as sometimes a family needs to change/postpone and I also can let you know about winter pre-registration.... Liberty Lake classes still have room, though. These changes will be noted soon on the website:) "We'll see you soon again and then we'll make music together again..."