The top national programs are:

Music Together

Music Together has a wonderful dual purpose: the musical education of your child and demystifying the musical education process for parents. The program sees parents as baby's first teachers and Music Together leaders work hard to get shy parents singing and dancing with their children. Based on research originally conducted into early childhood music education at Princeton University, the program has been in existence for over 20 years. Classes are 45 minutes in length and you enroll in a 10 week semester. Each class features a welcome song, unique child-size instruments for each song, a group jam session, harmonies, dancing and a goodbye song. Kids are free to roam, as the program believes children are learning even while listening and they respect different learning styles and temperments. $280/semester, with discounts for returning families. Includes 2 themed CDs and parent education booklets.

pros: solid teacher training, teachers often professional musicians, strong emphasis on parent education, emphasis on learning same songs

cons: pricey, long semesters, broad 0-4 age grouping

Kindermusik

Kindermusik is the nation's oldest franchised children's music education program, in existence for 30 years. It sees the parent as the child's first educator and offers extensive take-home materials for those who enroll in its courses. Curriculum is broadly based, not just on music education theories, but early chilhood education concepts and national curriculum standards. A mix of singing, story time, dancing and games. It features extensive age range-based classes: Family Time, Birth to 18 months, 6-18 months, Sign and Sing, 18 months - 3 years, 3-5 years, 5-7 years. Classes are 40-50 minutes long. Prices vary by location, but range from $50-200.

pros: lots of classes by age, often offered at community centers

cons: 5-10 week classes depend on location, not all classes offered at all locations

Gymboree Music

Perhaps the easiest to find, as Gymboree classes are often at your local mall. A solid mix of physical play, a central clown figure who leads song time, commonly known songs along with crowd favorites, bubbles and the parachute. Features four different program tracks: 6-16 months, 16-28 months, 28 months-5 years, and Family class. $69 per month for once-per week classes.

pros: can do drop in classes, lots of classes available

cons: teachers are not professionally trained as musicians, easy for children to get distracted by gym equipment, can get crowded

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