Matt's Music Together

For parents and caregivers across New York's Capital Region, particularly in and around Troy, finding enriching activities that support early childhood development is a top priority. Matt's Music Together stands out as an exceptional resource, offering a unique and engaging approach to music and movement education for young children and their families. This article will provide a detailed look at what makes Matt's Music Together a beloved and highly recommended program for locals. We'll explore its convenient location, the diverse range of services it offers, its key features and highlights, and ultimately, why it's the perfect place to foster your child's innate musicality and overall development right here in the New York community.

Matt's Music Together is a licensed provider of the internationally recognized Music Together program, an early childhood music and movement curriculum designed for children from birth through age eight, and the grownups who love them! Since its inception in 1987, Music Together has pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate music curriculum that strongly emphasizes active adult involvement. The core philosophy is that all children are inherently musical and can learn to sing in tune and keep a beat, much like they learn to walk and talk, given a sufficiently rich and supportive musical environment. Matt's Music Together embodies this philosophy by providing playful, non-performance-oriented classes where children learn through exploration, imitation, and joyful interaction. The program aims to make the world a more musical place, starting with families. Under the guidance of dedicated instructors like Matt Yaeger, families experience a fun, relaxed setting where children's natural enthusiasm for music and movement is nurtured, laying a strong foundation for future musical engagement and overall development.

Matt's Music Together has a primary location at 1915 5th Ave, Troy, NY 12180, USA. This easily accessible address in Troy makes it a convenient choice for families residing within the city and from surrounding areas in the Capital Region, including Albany, Guilderland, and North Greenbush. The 5th Avenue location is centrally situated within Troy, allowing for straightforward navigation whether you are driving or using local public transportation. Its urban setting means it's often well-served by local amenities and routes, making it easy to fit classes into a busy family schedule.

Beyond its main Troy location, Matt's Music Together also extends its reach across the Capital Region, offering classes at multiple sites to better serve the broader New York community. These additional locations often include Guilderland (e.g., Heldeberg Reformed Church at 435 NY-146, Guilderland Center, NY 12085), Albany (e.g., Westminster Presbyterian Church at 85 Chestnut St, Albany, NY 12210), and North Greenbush (e.g., New Hope Church at 470 Winter St Extension, North Greenbush, NY 12180). This multi-location approach significantly enhances accessibility for families throughout the Capital Region, ensuring that a high-quality early childhood music program is within a reasonable commute. Ample parking is typically available at these community-based venues, further simplifying attendance for parents and caregivers. The strategic placement of these locations underscores Matt's Music Together's commitment to making music education widely available to New York families.

Services Offered:

• Mixed-Age Classes: This is the signature Music Together class, designed for children from birth through age five, along with their parents or caregivers. It allows siblings to attend together, creating a natural family-style learning environment where each child can participate at their own developmental level.
• Babies Classes: Special classes tailored for parents with infants under nine months old. These sessions focus on interactive music activities that support infant development and provide an opportunity for new parents to connect.
• Rhythm Kids® Classes: High-energy music, movement, and drumming classes designed for children ages 4–8, fostering advanced musicality and rhythmic skills.
• Generations Classes: Unique intergenerational classes that bring together children (mixed-age groups) and older adults, often held at senior residential communities. This fosters meaningful connections and shared musical experiences between generations.
• In-School Programs: Matt's Music Together also offers programs designed to be integrated into preschools and childcare centers, providing a comprehensive music curriculum within early learning settings.
• Weekly 45-Minute Classes: Each session includes one 45-minute in-person class per week, providing a consistent and engaging musical experience.
• Family Resources: Families receive accompanying materials with each semester, including a professionally recorded song collection (CD and digital download code), an illustrated songbook, and access to online family resources (like coloring pages and musical games) to facilitate at-home music-making.
• Parent Education: Instructors provide guidance and information to parents and caregivers on how to understand and enhance their child's musical development, encouraging spontaneous music-making in daily life.

Features / Highlights:

• Research-Based Curriculum: The Music Together program is backed by decades of research in early childhood music education and child development, ensuring developmentally appropriate and effective learning.
• Emphasis on Parent/Caregiver Involvement: A key feature is the active participation of parents or caregivers, who serve as crucial musical role models, reinforcing learning both in class and at home.
• Inclusive Mixed-Age Setting: The mixed-age class format allows siblings to learn together and provides a rich social environment where children learn by observing and interacting with peers of different ages.
• Highly Engaging and Energetic Instructors: Instructors like Matt Yaeger are consistently praised for their warmth, humor, and boundless energy, making classes incredibly fun and effective at connecting with both children and adults.
• Non-Performance-Oriented Approach: The classes focus on the joy of music-making and active participation rather than formal performance, reducing pressure and encouraging natural exploration.
• Diverse Musical Repertoire: Each semester introduces a new collection of original and traditional songs from various genres, tonalities, and meters (including "unusual" meters), broadening children's musical understanding and audiation skills.
• Holistic Development Benefits: Beyond musicality, participation in Music Together supports children's language, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development, as music learning integrates various brain functions.
• Take-Home Materials: The provision of songbooks and recordings encourages continued music-making at home, strengthening the bond between class learning and daily family life.
• Community Building: The program fosters a strong sense of community among participating families, providing opportunities to connect with other parents and caregivers who share a love for music.
• Positive Role Modeling: For many, the presence of energetic and engaging male instructors like Matt provides a valuable role model for young boys, often a highlight for parents.

Contact Information:

Address: 1915 5th Ave, Troy, NY 12180, USA

Phone: (518) 461-7744

For families in New York's Capital Region, particularly those seeking a foundational and joyful introduction to music for their young children, Matt's Music Together is an unparalleled choice. Its prime location in Troy, complemented by additional sites in Albany and Guilderland, ensures widespread accessibility across the region. What truly makes this program shine for locals is its adherence to the research-based Music Together curriculum, which understands that young children learn best through play and the active involvement of their loved ones.

The classes at Matt's Music Together offer a unique blend of fun, engagement, and developmental benefits. Parents and caregivers consistently praise the enthusiastic and connecting instructors, who create a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere where even the most reserved child can blossom. The mixed-age format allows for natural learning dynamics and sibling participation, while the rich and diverse musical repertoire broadens children's listening skills and cultural awareness. By providing take-home materials, Matt's Music Together ensures that the musical journey continues beyond the classroom, integrating seamlessly into family life. For New York parents looking to nurture their child's innate musicality, foster holistic development, and connect with a supportive community, Matt's Music Together is not just a preschool program, but a cherished family experience.

Matt's Music Together

1915 5th Ave, Troy, NY 12180, USA