Welcome to Little Woodstock Music Together! Yes, it really is like Woodstock for little people...




Music Together® classes are a community of families coming together each week to sing, dance, play instruments, drum, pretend and experience The Joy of Family Music® making. The Music Together curriculum is research based, and classes are based on a multi-age learning model.

Classes are carefully designed to reach children of all different learning styles and personalities, whether your child is a "careful observer" or a "mover and a shaker". Parents and caregivers attend class with their child (or children) and model participation. It's really just that easy!

One thing a Music Together family will tell you is that the music and activities from class become a regular and cherished part of daily family life. My families often share wonderful stories about this. I believe this is one of many things that sets Music Together apart from other early, childhood music programs. The music and the structure of the classes appeal to all members of the family. Parents are often astonished at how quickly their child recognizes, requests and actually joins in with the music from class. There is a very good reason for this... songs are actually researched and developed to be both accessible and appealing to little ones. A handful of songs in every song collection is a "song without words" sung on syllables. You will NOT see words on posters at Music Together classes, but you WILL see and hear adults and children actively engaged in making music! At class, at home, and even in the car.

Music Together classes build on your child's natural enthusiasm for music and movement. Music Together classes will help you provide your child with the basic musical skills needed to enjoy school and social musical activities, and to study an instrument should he or she choose to do so.

Check out the national Music Together Website for more information and great videos of Music Together classes. www.musictogether.com






What's New

Dec 19, 2009
Sad News...
It is with a very heavy heart that I am posting this to our Music Together community tonight. I wanted to let you all know that Margaret and Aki's mom, Katsuko, passed away Thursday night. Katsuko had gone back to see her family in Japan with Margaret and Aki about 3 weeks or so ago. Mark had just gone last week and brought Margaret and Aki back, and was going back to bring Katsuko back this weekend. Unfortunately, something happened and she was rushed to the hospital where she slipped into a coma. Mark and the kids did finally manage to get a phone line into her room (communication is quite difficult due to language) and they were able to have someone hold the phone to her ear while they talked to her. Mark, Margaret and Aki all sang to Katsuko (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star). She passed away within an hour of their phone call to her. It has been very hard on the three of them, and I think Mark was distraught over not being with her. Although things had not been going well with her health, it was still quite sudden and totally unexpected. It was just six months from her initial diagnosis to her passing.

I am teaching preschool music at Bethany Lutheran where Margaret attends preschool. I will be doing something with her classmates at the memorial service involving music. Not sure yet what that will be. A memorial service to honor Katsuko Kimura will be held Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 1.00pm at Bethany Lutheran Church, 7968 Finch Rd, Bainbridge Island. A light reception will follow the service. I know many of you were in classes with Katsuko, Margaret and Aki and so many of you who had never even met her attended the Arms Around Bainbridge fundraiser and or generously offered your financial support. I was absolutely stunned that Music Together Directors and families from other parts of the country mailed checks to Arms Around Bainbridge, it reminded me again of what a beautiful community I am so fortunate to be a part of... I want you all to know how greatly appreciated that was. The goal of keeping her children close to her, no matter the outcome, was achieved and that was indeed a beautiful thing. In Katsuko's last post to the Helping Hands website she implored us to notice that everything around us is beautiful, everything is so beautiful. I will take her request to heart, and try to see the beauty surrounding us all the time and to never take it for granted.

I will always remember them in my classes. I can still see Katsuko chasing Aki all over the mini-gym bringing him back to the circle. She was a wonderful mother. So patient, and totally devoted to her children. She is already missed by all who knew her. I hope you will all join me in offering your thoughts and prayers of peace for Mark, Margaret and Aki. Perhaps I will see some of you at the memorial service next Sunday.

Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo,
& Silverdale, Washington