Raising Musical Adults with Music Together®
The Zalewski Family’s Story

Your child was born musical! You’ve seen it in the kicks, wiggles, and happy babble when music plays. And being a musical adult isn’t limited to concert halls or the artists you stream. We express our innate musicality when we sing in the car, join a birthday chorus, or cheer on our favorite team with their fight song.

Building a lifelong love of music starts early. When children see music woven into everyday life by the grownups they love, they get the picture that music-making is something everyone does—and, no-brainer, they want to do it, too. That’s why Music Together® is all about inspiring you to make music with your little ones (in class and at home). With lots of chances to play with music, children build on their natural musicality and grow into adults who confidently use music for connection, learning, and celebration.

One Family’s Music Together® Story

Over the years, we’ve heard from many Music Together alumni about how music shows up in their adult lives. Some became professionals (including one Billie Eilish!), while many others found their own ways to be musical. Meet mom Lauren Zalewski, whose two Music Together grads still have music as a part of their lives, decades later. Read their story, and then share yours with us on Instagram (@musictogetherworldwide).

Who They Are

In the late 1990s, Lauren Zalewski saw a Music Together ad in her local central New Jersey paper. Feeling a bit stuck at home with her newborn, Riley, she was looking to meet other new parents and introduce Riley to music early. At the time, Music Together was the only program with classes for infants, so she signed up, expecting a playgroup with some instruments.

In class, Lauren found much more. She enjoyed bonding with other moms who “were in the same boat,” and friendships soon bloomed. Plus, she was surprised that the activities were intentional and well designed—and the music stood out right away. “It wasn’t cringe-y kids’ music!” she recalls.

Keeping the Music Going

As their family grew to include Jake, the Zalewskis stayed with Music Together, and soon the whole family was immersed. They kept coming to class, sang their favorite songs together, and played the recordings (tapes at first!) in the car.

In Music Together, children experience many ways to make music: singing, dancing, instrument-play. Every class also includes a jam session where a variety of kid-friendly instruments come out, and each child chooses what they want to play, experimenting with music-making in their own way.

Lauren felt this structure had a powerful effect on Riley and Jake. They were given the freedom to explore and “be goofy” making music, and she was free to be goofy with them. Making music with her children and the class opened their eyes to this “beautiful thing called music.” They kept coming until they entered kindergarten.

Jake and Riley’s Paths

Early and consistent music-making experiences that included Lauren, and other adults they loved, helped make music a natural part of Jake and Riley’s lives. Though Riley started out painfully shy in class, she emerged from her shell as she grew and the songs became more familiar. And, today, Riley makes her living singing and dancing! She’s building a career in musical theater, with Broadway aspirations. Most recently, she’s been a star performer on cruise ships (including as a “friend” to some Princesses!).

Jake took up drums, did some musical theater, and played some battles of the bands throughout high school. He later taught himself bass. Now pursuing an engineering degree, Jake keeps music as a passion—collecting vinyl, enjoying every genre, and playing with Riley and their father, Rob, in the family band.

The family band is still going strong: Rob plays guitar, Jake plays bass, and Riley sings. Lauren sometimes adds harmonica or kazoo “just for kicks.” She’s seen firsthand how positive making music has been for her family. Every once in a while, someone will remark on how musical her children are. She tells them it’s because both were a part of Music Together for so long!

What Will Your Family’s Musical Story Be?

Lauren credits their wonderful Music Together teacher, the research-based curriculum, and starting in infancy with helping her family become fully immersed in music. She’s long believed that music supports learning, growth, and the way children think, but what she treasures most is that Riley and Jake’s love of music still shines today. Music Together offers the same invitation to every family: come as you are, make music in your way, and carry it forward for life.

Find a Music Together class in your neighborhood on our Class Locator.