Taking Music Together® with You:
The Story of One Exceptional Grandma

Jennifer with some Music Together gifts for her birthday in May

Hearing stories from Music Together® families always makes our day, and some of our favorites are the ones about multi-generational music-making. The “together” in our name includes all members of the family: parents, caregivers, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, and (of course!) grandparents.

This spring, we heard about Jennifer, a grandmother who has been enrolled in Music Together with her four grandchildren since 2017—in five cities in three different countries! We sat down with her to chat about why she made sure her grandkids kept coming to class no matter where in the world they were living.

Jennifer with some Music Together gifts for her birthday in May.

Tell us about your family and where you’ve taken Music Together®.

I have four grandchildren between my two daughters: Florence, who took classes in Ontario, Canada, and Jersey City, NJ; Jack, who took classes in Richardson, TX (in-person and online); Remy, who took classes in Geneva, Switzerland; and Viggo, who takes classes in Kingston, NY. Viggo turned three in July, and our days with Music Together will be over after he’s done with the program.

How did you find Music Together®?

I have two very close friends, who I met when our daughters were in preschool together. They had grandchildren a few years before me, and they told me all about Music Together when they each took their own grandchildren to class. They loved it! So, in 2017, when my 8-month-old granddaughter, Florence, came to live with me in Ontario, Canada, I signed up to take her, too.

What did you like most about Music Together®?

Every teacher we’ve ever had has been fantastic. They’ve been great at engaging the kids . . . and in helping parents and caregivers understand how to bring music into your home. The teachers have all said, “When you go home, here is how you can practice that...” They have taught me a lot! Music Together really helps parenting. And it is just so fun because rather than putting the kids in a lesson where there’s no involvement, Music Together is something you can do with them.

I always wanted my grandchildren to have some music background. I didn’t have a lot of that myself. Music helps in so many areas of development, you know. Cognitive, languages, rhythm… all of those things. It's just as important as anything else, including STEM.

Was there anything that surprised you?

At the time I first got involved, I had no idea Music Together was worldwide! There are so many locations. And to know that the same sessions were being done all over the world, at the same time, I felt connected.

Sarah DeHart from Music Together Kitchener-Waterloo during the special “porch class” with Jennifer's granddaughter

How have you made music with your family over the years?

I never had any formal music classes, but I always wanted them. So, when I was 62, my daughter and her husband bought me a guitar, and I’m still taking lessons. My daughters and their children live in different cities, but when I get all of my grandkids together (at “Camp Grandma”), one of the things we do is singing time. We sing some of the Music Together songs, and sometimes I play my guitar for them!

Any favorite songs you’d like to share?

Whether my grandchildren were living with me or just spending a week or so with me, I have always rocked them to sleep singing Music Together songs to them. One song we sang a lot together is, “May All Children.” They all know that song. “See the Pony Galloping” is Viggo’s absolute number-one favorite song right now. Then there’s “Great Big Stars,” and my favorite of all time is “There’s a Little Wheel a-Turnin’.”

What about a favorite Music Together® memory?

During COVID, my daughter Julie and her husband moved back up here to live with us, so I signed Florence up for online classes with teacher Sarah DeHart [director of Music Together of Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario, Canada]. As part of that online session, you got to have the instructor come to your house for one class, so we had a socially distant class on our porch! The way the teacher brought music to life really made me want to keep doing Music Together with all of my grandkids.

Sarah DeHart from Music Together Kitchener-Waterloo during the special “porch class” with Jennifer's granddaughter

What will you miss about Music Together® after Viggo finishes his last session?

I’m going to miss watching how the kids interact with the program. For example, Viggo was very shy . . . until they brought out the instruments for the play-along. I have bought some instruments and have songbooks at my house, so I plan to keep the music-making going!

How will music continue to be a part of how you spend time with your grandchildren?

It's been great to see their evolution in music and the arts. Nowadays, I try to get to all of their performances. Jack was just in a production of “The Lion King,” and Florence now goes to a performing arts school. She just finished doing “The Little Mermaid.” She had a solo in it. I’m taking credit for that! I’d like to take them to musical shows like we always did for our daughters. Music is a great way to round out their education.

Messages to Jennifer from her teachers all over the world
and Music Together Worldwide CEO, Susan Darrow

Thank you, Jennifer, for making Music Together such a big part of your family life since 2017. We are so glad that making music with your grandchildren in class and at home has helped you foster a lifelong love of music for your whole family. And the fact that you supported that in so many parts of the world, is truly, well, exceptional. We hope you will be able to keep the music going in your family for many years to come!