10 years of Music Together Classes at While They're Little in Rockville Centre, Great Neck and other towns on Long Island

Early childhood music education expert and teacher Judy Leff has announced that her company, While They're Little, has completed its tenth year of offering the internationally renown early childhood music and movement program, Music Together®, to the communities of western Nassau. This milestone comes after the year-long celebration of Music Together’s twenty-fifth anniversary. This pioneering, research-based early childhood music program now has over 2000 locations in 40 countries.

 While They're Little Director Judy Leff said, “We are so proud that While They're Little has been a place where nearly 3000 families have participated in making music together. I opened While They're Little after my second child was born thinking that it would be fun to combine my love for music and children. I never anticipated the effect this program would have on me, my family or the thousands of families that have come to our classes. Many families initially come with just one child or for just one semester, but, as they witness the joy it brings to their families and the benefits for their children, they bring all their kids and stay for many years.”

 “Playing and doing music in our rich environment brings out and nurtures children’s inborn capabilities to respond to and make music, even as babies. The program helps develop bonds between parents, siblings, caregivers, and other members of the extended family. Plus, because music-learning supports all learning, Music Together also fosters children’s growth in other key developmental areas, including the cognitive, language, physical, and socio-emotional domains. It is incredible to be a part of this in our community,” Leff continued.

While They’re Little is commemorating this milestone with a celebration event on September 8th at the Great Neck Arts Center – in the town where the first While They’re Little Music Together classes were held in the Fall 2003. All While They’re Little alumni are invited to this event, which will include instrument making craft activities, sing-alongs and an Alumni Choir performance.

 Celebrating its 25th Anniversary last academic year (2012-2013), Music Together® is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children birth through age seven. The Music Together curriculum, coauthored in 1987 by Kenneth K. Guilmartin (Founder/Director) and Rowan University Professor of Music Education Dr. Lili M. Levinowitz (Director of Research), is based on the recognition that all children are musical: all children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning.

Music Together offers programs for families; schools; at-risk populations; and children with special needs, in over 2000 communities in 40 countries around the world. The company is passionately committed to bringing children and their caregivers closer through shared music-making and helping people discover the joy—and educational value—of early music experiences.  More at www.musictogether.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MusicTogether.

Leff opened While They're Little in September 2003 with 26 families in Great Neck. Since then, she has expanded and now offers classes in Port Washington, Rockville Centre, New Hyde Park, Long Beach, Floral Park, Woodmere and Valley Stream.  She offers the traditional mixed age parent/child class as well as Music Together Big Kids (a drop off class for children 5-7years old), Music Together Babies (a special introductory class for families with infants under 8 months old), Music Together In-School (she is currently providing Music Together in two childcare facilities as well as a public school in Queens) and a special Music Together class in Hebrew. For more information and class schedules, visit www.whiletheyrelittle.com.