Music Together Alexandria

Norman, Lucia & Carmen Lodato, lodatomusic@comcast.net or 703-548-7195

www.musictogetheralexandria.com

Instructors: Kelly Cronenberg, Cindy Gossman, Molly Patrician

Spring Session begins the week of March 27, No classes April 10-15 for Spring Break

WELCOME! Thank you for joining us for the 10-week spring session. The following information
will help answer many frequently asked questions. Please save this for future reference.

PARTICIPATION: In our classes it is very important for the adults to participate! The children
learn their attitudes and motivations from you, and you can help them become enthusiastic music-
makers by enjoying the class and participating fully. You will be an excellent model regardless of
your musical ability a sense of fun is all thats required.

YOUR CHILD: Our most basic rule is to let the children be free to explore, to play, to discover.
Children have the amazing ability to teach themselves through play, and even the most well-meaning
adult can disrupt that process by giving too much direction. Allow your child to experience the class
in his or her own unique way whether thats by moving constantly, sitting and staring, tasting in-
struments rather than playing them, etc. We know from working with many children over the years
that each child is busily processing the musical information, even if thats not apparent during class
activities. Trust this process, relax and let your child be, and you will begin to see new musical be-
haviors emerging as the semester progresses.

Classroom Etiquette
SING, DONT TALK: Although we use an informal teaching method, this does not mean that we
are casual. We especially ask the adults to maintain focus and avoid side conversations between class
activities. This is a time to listen, for often a child will spontaneously sing into the silence. Talking
will only distract your child from the musical experience we are so carefully creating.

FOOD & TOYS: We prefer to keep our 45 minutes together as musical as possible. Please leave
toys in the car. If your child needs juice or a snack, please take them out of the room, to avoid inspir-
ing other young snackers.

PHOTOS & VIDEOS: In order to support our learning environment, we ask that you put away
phones or other video equipment during class. We find that taking photos or video during class often
disrupts the learning process and creates an atmosphere of performance rather than participation.
We are happy for you to stay after class to capture your children with the instruments or props.

Enjoying Music Together At Home

MATERIALS: We hope you continue to enjoy making music together at home. This spring you will
receive a songbook, two CDs, and a code to access the Family Music Zone, where you are able

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to download the songs from the MARACAS song collection and explore new content. To access the
Family Music Zone, you just need to visit www.musictogether.com/account and create an account
using the code found on the inside back cover of your CD booklet.

Our Policies
ABSENCES & MAKE-UPS: Two absences can be made up during each session, provided there is
availability. Please use the online make-up scheduler on our website: Go to the classes tab, choose
schedule a make-up under the pull down tab, and follow the directions to schedule your make-up.
An automatic e-mail will be sent to the director and your teacher regarding your changes. You may
schedule or change a make-up until 10:00p.m the day before class.

GUESTS: If you bring an unregistered child to class (either as a guest or sibling out of school that
day), you should pay $18 for each extra child or you may use that class as a make-up for your regis-
tered child. Adult guests (visiting relatives or friends) may attend free, but please let the instructor
know ahead of time. Please note that we cant accommodate more than 2 adults per family in our
classrooms due to space limitations.

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