Certified Music Trainer and Play Along Editor, Susan Hoffman makes a legitimate argument in support of mixed-age classes.

She posted this question, in a recent newsletter, “I can see that mixed age classes might be great for families with two or more children, but I have only one child. Wouldn’t he do better in a class with children all his own age? Her response was in support of how older children learn empathy and an awareness of others and develop leadership qualities while younger children in the group learn by modeling after the older ones. She applauds that children are encouraged to develop musically at their own pace–with minimum comparisons, in a natural, family-style setting.

AT LEARNING WORLD we support and nurture emergent literacy activities–expressed with language and with music.

In our program we endeavor to provide a rich literary environment in order to fully realize musical potential among our participants. We see the unfoldment of musical ability because of the direct experiences through our play as the children express themselves through musical experiences. The opportunity for improvisation, small and large movement, instrument exploration and play combined with a variety of musical genres and tonalities brings forth in children a delightful array of positive musical behaviors.  Just observing infants coo in the tonality of the song we are singing is convincing proof of the advantages of playing together with the language of music.