FAQs

Music Together® is an early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age eight, and the grownups who love them! First offered in 1987, our music classes help little ones develop their innate musicality, and much, much more.

Merry Music Makers offers Music Together® classes up to age 5.

Our early childhood music curriculum has decades of research behind it, in both music education and child development. We know what we're talking about, and we're good at what we do! And because we recognize that children learn through play, we make everything we do in class engaging and fun.

We also know that young children learn best from the powerful role models in their lives. That's where you grownups come in! Our family music classes show parents, teachers, and caregivers how to help their children become confident music-makers just by having fun making music themselves.

Yes! For our Music Together® Classes, the first child is $260, the second child is $205, and the third child is free! Enrollment tuition is prorated for Music Together classes based on the joining date. We do not offer sibling discounts for other specialty classes.

Each family enrolled for a Music Together® class receives an illustrated songbook to use at home and access to the song through the app and optional CD.

Clients enrolled in the Babies Only or Mixed-Ages class should bring a blanket to lie their baby on. In our Mixed-Ages classes, this communicates that the blanket area is a baby only zone for other curious children.

Yes, new siblings can join until they are 6 months old. New babies without siblings can enroll in our Babies Only Class up until 8 months or join a Mixed-Aged class anytime.

The Music Together® Mixed Age class is appropriate for children age 5 and younger. The Music Together® Babies Only class is for non-mobile children from birth to eight months.

Singing, dancing and playing with instruments! The 45-minute class includes a dozen music experiences ranging from playful free-movement to instrumental jam sessions to songs and chants in unusual tonalities and meters as found in other cultures.

Our teachers are trained in early childhood music education to teach Music Together®, a research-based developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Families are allowed as many make-up classes as needed during any given session. Music Together® classes can be made-up at any location on any day of the week. These can be scheduled by reaching out to the main office via phone or email or by using our online make-up scheduler.

Please note: Make-ups are NOT transferable between sessions. If you are enrolled in the next session, your make-ups can rollover.

Class times are subject to change or cancellation due to enrollment. A minimum of 5 families is required to run a class.

You may request a change to your original choice of class day and time subject to class availability. We provide makeup classes for most group classes. You can schedule a make-up class by calling the office 312-264-0569 or using our online Makeup Scheduler. Make-up classes must be used within the current session and do not transfer to future sessions.

Teachers are not responsible for handling tuition payments. You will receive the class materials on the first day of class, provided tuition payments are up to date. Should you need to withdraw before the first day of group class, a $25 fee will be deducted from your refund. No tuition refunds will be given after the first day of class.

Feeling sick? Please stay home to help keep everyone healthy!

Full credit on account for cancellations will be provided if written notice is received 14 days prior to the camp’s start date. Refunds of 50% of the camp fees are given upon request with a minimum of 14 days of notice prior to the camp's start date. With less than 14-days' notice, no credits or refunds are available. Camp dates may be changed by contacting us with your preferred date with a minimum of 14-days’ notice and is based on availability. Credits on account do not expire and can be used for any camp or group class.

Feeling sick? Please stay home to help keep everyone healthy! If any child falls ill during the camp day a guardian will be required to pick them up immediately (no refunds or credits are available).

I hereby grant MMM, its subsidiaries, licensees, successors and assigns the right to use, publish and reproduce for all purposes images of me and my child(ren) in film or video form as well as sound and video recordings of our voices in any and all media including without limitation the internet, cable, and broadcast television and for exhibition, distribution, promotion, advertising, sales, press conferences, meetings, hearings, educational conferences and in brochures and other print media. This permission extends to all languages, media, formats, and markets now known or hereafter devised. I further grant MMM all right, title and interest that I may have in all finished pictures, negatives, reproductions and copies of the original print. I waive the right to receive any payment for MMM's use of any of the material described above for any of the purposes authorized by this release. I also waive any right to inspect or approve finished photographs, audio, video, multimedia or advertising recordings and copy or printed matter or computer generated scanned images and other electronic media that may be used in conjunction therewith or to approve the eventual use that it might be applied. I hereby certify that I am the parent/guardian of the minor child(ren) that I am enrolling at Merry Music Makers and that I have the legal authority to execute this release. I approve the foregoing and agree that I and my child(ren) shall all be bound thereby. This permission shall continue forever unless I revoke the permission in writing.

Parents/guardians/caregivers are responsible for supervising the safety of their children at all times while they are on Merry Music Makers premises. Upon registering your child for participation in programs at MMM, you acknowledge that you will be waiving and releasing all claims for any illness and injuries that you or your child may incur while on MMM premises. This policy applies to MMM programs offered at any of our satellite locations, except for summer camp programs.

Research shows and teachers know that kids thrive in a solid routine. Real music development happens when little ones are comfortable in their surroundings and are surrounded by familiar faces. Attending the same class time with the same teacher each week allows both you and your child to get to know your teacher and get comfortable with each other. Their teacher can help point out important musical development milestones and encourage ways to help continue progress at home. You'll also get to know the other families in class when you see them each week. The connections between students, teachers, and families are part of what makes our classes special.

We sometimes host special sessions where drop-ins are allowed but the majority of our classes are hosted in sessions. (See above). If you have a sibling that is out of school for a holiday or school closure we welcome them to come! Please call or text 312-264-0569 first to make sure we have enough room!

Classes with children of different ages have intellectual and social benefits for both younger and older children. In fact, it’s the learning environment recommended by many early childhood researchers. Older children learn empathy and awareness of others, while developing leadership qualities and gaining self-confidence. Younger children learn by imitating the older ones and often show more complex behaviors earlier than usual. Even babies benefit by being in an environment that gives them lots of opportunities to observe the behavior of children of varying ages. Plus, it allows everyone—siblings, parents, grandparents, caregivers—to share in the musical experience together!

You might be surprised to hear that you are your child’s most important music teacher right now and it doesn’t matter whether or not you consider yourself musical. Young children develop dispositions for certain behaviors, including learning to love music by observing and imitating their loved ones. Simply by participating enthusiastically during class and playing with the ideas at home, you’ll give your children the modeling they need to learn to love to make music.

Children’s responses depend on their most dominant learning style and temperament as well as their age and developmental level. Some might follow the teacher right away. Others stay close to Mom or Dad, observing and listening. Some might crawl or toddle around; others are stimulated by the music and respond more actively, running, jumping, or dancing. All are perfectly natural responses to the new, musically rich environment. Throughout the semester, your teacher will help you tune in to how your child learns best so you can support their music development in class and at home. Feel free to ask if you have questions!

At Music Together®, children are never required to sit in the circle or expected to conform to an adult’s idea of participation. We know that children learn differently from adults. They learn instinctively and constantly, through observation, interactions with adults and older children, and through imitation, play, and, especially, movement. One hallmark of Music Together® is the insight that children will naturally develop music ability simply when they are immersed in a community of families all making music.

The one thing you know when you're expecting is this:​ ​​you just don't know what to expect!​ ​When will ​I go into labor? When will I give birth?​ ​How long will my recovery last? When will my newborn sleep? When will my infant be on a schedule? How soon will I be ready to get out of the house and meet up with other new moms and babies?​ Merry Music Makers has created the postpartum program to provide you and your family with the greatest amount of flexibility during this exciting, exhausting, and unpredictable stage of life.

Families who have participated in our classes at least once already are eligible* for our perinatal discount when their next child is due within one month before or after the start date of our semester. We offer this discount with the intention of providing your older child or children a sense of continuity during a time of exciting and disorienting change.

Your perinatal tuition includes a new, fully illustrated songbook, a CD, and digital access to all of the new music so you can enjoy the music all week long. Your baby, toddler, and/or preschooler is welcome to attend any class that works with your schedule with you or with any other caregiver you choose.

We'll reserve your spot for the day/time that you plan on attending most often so you'll always have a spot in that class. If you'd like to attend any of our other classes along the way, just let us know you're coming via the makeup scheduler. That way, we'll know to expect your infant or big kid, or both, at whatever time you choose.

You must register through the office to receive the $165 perinatal tuition.

* Exceptions may be made for new moms and new dads who have not attended our classes before but who are eager to get started on their musical journey with their firstborn!