Music Together®: More than Research-Informed
Music Together® classes are enjoyable and engaging for children and their caregivers—and everything we do in class is rooted in research. Even as we near our fortieth year in the field, our curricula and teaching practices continue to be informed by new knowledge in early childhood music development. In fact researchers ask to partner with Music Together Worldwide. In this way, Music Together actively adds to the ever-evolving body of information about the benefits of early childhood music-making. Click here for some of the most recent studies involving Music Together.
What follows is a deep dive into one study that examined how Music Together can support the parent/caregiver role in their child’s school readiness.
Music Together and School Readiness
Research suggests that family engagement in a young child’s learning both at school and at home is among the top factors that support children’s school readiness.1, 2. A pilot assessment by the Michael Cohen Group in 2016 examined the impact of Music Together family classes in Bridgeport, CT, USA, on parent/caregiver engagement with their preschool-aged children in areas that can impact school preparedness. The study focused on areas such as parental awareness and knowledge of their child’s learning, parental belief in their ability to positively influence and support their child’s skills, and view of the value of music for child development.
Weekly, 45-minute Music Together classes were offered to families who qualified for social assistance by a group called Alliance for Community Empowerment (formerly ABCD Bridgeport). Parents participating in the Music Together classes were surveyed about their role in their child’s learning. Surveys were also given to parents who did not participate in Music Together (i.e., the control group).
At the beginning of the study, both the Music Together families and the families that did not participate in Music Together had similar feelings regarding their role in their children’s learning. At the end of the study, the parents who attended Music Together classes reported more positive feelings regarding their awareness, understanding, and ability to be successful in supporting their children’s school preparedness than the control group. Plus, the caregivers in the Music Together class reported more awareness of the value of music to support school readiness skills.
Important Takeaways
While this pilot study included only a small number of families in a specific setting, Music Together Worldwide Research and Inclusion Support Services Manager, Carol Ann Blank, Ph.D., MT-BC, points out that this work is important for two reasons:
- It supports Music Together’s assertion that children benefit from making music with their parents, and
- It sheds light on the ways in which Music Together classes can support parents’ knowledge of and confidence in their role in their children’s learning and development (in this case, through music-making).
To elaborate on these points, Dr. Blank credits the findings of this study to several elements of Music Together classes. Through a rich collection of songs and chants, Music Together teachers use developmentally appropriate approaches to demonstrate to caregivers how they can use music to interact with their children in sensitive and responsive ways. As part of these practices, the teachers also use parent education moments during each class, which help parents understand the important role they play in supporting their child’s development regardless of their talent. Parents and caregivers are made to understand that they serve as children’s first musical role models! While singing and dancing alongside their children, adults are encouraged to be joyful music-makers. Taken together, these factors may contribute to the increased confidence parents felt in supporting their child’s school readiness after participating in classes with their children. In this way, Music Together can say, Music Learning Supports All Learning®.
Remember This…
The study by the Michael Cohen Group supports Music Together’s assertion that you play a vital role in your child’s learning and development. Enrolling in Music Together classes is a wonderful way to develop and strengthen that role. So, as you’re singing, dancing, and playing with music in class and at home, know that your child is learning more than songs. They are learning important skills to help them be ready for their next adventure: school!
If you’d like to learn more about this study or have questions about the research behind Music Together, feel free to email us at research@musictogether.com.
References:
Michael Cohen Group LLC. Evaluator: Bridge Together ABCD. (February 2016). “Pilot Assessment of the Effect of Music Together on Parent/Caregiver Involvement.”
1. https://acf.gov/ecd/family-engagement
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281639048_Family_engagement_and_school_readiness