“Music Together baked musical joy and fundamentals into our daughter’s DNA. Now 5, she has sung in a children’s chorus, enjoys piano lessons, and delights in music and movement of all types!”

— Alexis, parent

MUSIC TOGETHER CLASSES

I completed a Music Together training course in 2013 and have been happily leading classes in Arlington as part of Mystic Valley Music Together ever since.. 

The goal of Music Together is blessedly simple — to inspire families to make music together all day long.  The pedagogy, however, is surprisingly complex — immersing children and their accompanying grownups in a playful mix of rhythms, musical modes and improvisation.

"We loved our years with Mr. Will in Music Together! My children (now teens) and I have very happy memories of his warm, welcoming class, full of laughter and discovery. If only we could go back in time and do it all again!  — Bryn, parent

Music Together was started by a composer, Ken Guilmartin, and a music educator, Lili Levinowitz over thirty years ago in New Jersey.  Since then it has spread around the globe, with teachers in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and South America.

Each 45-minute Music Together class exposes children and their caregivers to a range of great songs — some traditional and some written to illuminate specific musical structures — while having a lot of fun. 

And within the flow of an individual class there is lots of room for spontaneity — which includes soliciting ideas from the children as well as the grownups.

"As a mother of 4 children and a grandmother of 10, I say that Music Together is one of finest programs for children I've experienced.  Mr. Will is a unique treasure to be admired and emulated.  Years later, we still listen to the CDs provided and still love them!" 
— Barbara, grandparent

Music Together classes provide a weekly oasis of joy and silliness for me and my participating families in the midst of the increasingly chaotic world in which we are living. And the Music Together pedagogy has changed how I approach my songwriting as well as my programs of music for adults. For example, I now incorporate many more opportunities for everyone to sing together. 

I also appreciate how precious and unusual it is to spend 45 minutes being playful with other human beings — uninterrupted by cell phones, emails, texts, tweets, and all of the other technology-driven distractions of the 21st century.

“Thank you for your wonderful classes and your lovely presence. It has been a gift and a silver lining 
to sing and dance with you during these challenging times.” — Nora, parent

When Covid-19 entered our lives, I began offering Music Together classes via Zoom, which worked better for some families than for others… Then we got permission from the town of Arlington to hold classes in a local public park, which lasted for over a year. Now we are back making music together indoors in Arlington Heights — with all of the adults in class wearing face masks, just to be on the safe side.

For more information about Music Together you can click here.

To learn more about the history and development of Music Together, you can click here.

And to see a few photos of Will in action, you can scroll down this page…

 

"We loved our classes through Mystic Valley Music Together. 
Mr. Will was such a loving, gentle, steady force in our children's lives in a very tumultuous time. He had a way of accepting the children as they were, while also gently 
guiding them to grow on their musical journey." — Hannah, parent

 

"Music Together classes remain a joyful core memory for my now-teens, who still sing the songs from the classes we took in their toddler years. I feel so grateful to have found Mr. Will and his classes. My kids learned so much through the joy of music." — Cate, parent
 

"Music Together was an incredible introduction to music and singing for both my children. [Mr. Will] always made classes fun and lively while learning about keeping a beat and carrying a tune. So grateful we found this knowledgeable teacher and class!” — Kirsten, parent
 

"Music Together was something me and my kids looked forward to every week.  [
Seeing Will], singing together, exploring our voices, and moving our bodies in a completely safe and judgement-free zone brought us such joy.  It's been nearly 6 years since we have taken a class, and we still sing some of the songs!" — Megan, parent