Photos and video

Music Together faculty

Jennifer Newman
Music Together® and Preschool Music

Jennifer Newman became a registered Music Together® teacher in 2005, she then taught Music Together® in the Des Moines Metro area for two years. In 2008 Jennifer relocated to the Iowa City area with her husband and two children and joined the Early Childhood Education team at the Preucil School. Jennifer teaches Music Together® classes and preschool music.




Jennifer Winegarden
Early Childhood Music Teacher & Music Together® Specialist

Jenny graduated from the University of Iowa in 2001 with Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy.   She has been teaching Music Together and Preschool Music at Preucil sice becoming registered with Music Together in 2003.  She resides in Iowa City with her husband and two children.

Registration policies and forms

To put your child on our waiting list for Music Together:

1. Read the Placement and Financial Policies for Music Together
2. Print the Placement Form: Early Childhood Education (ECE) Placement Form


Send placement forms for Music Together to:
Preucil School of Music - North Campus
2916 Northgate Dr.
Iowa City, IA 52245-9570

Philosophy and curriculum

Music Together® is an innovative, research based program for children ages newborn to four years old and their parents or caregivers. It was started in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987 by Kenneth Guilmartin and Lili Levinowitz, and has gone on to become an early childhood education success story nationwide and around the world. Co-author Guilmartin states, “We believe that every child is musical, and that each child needs a stimulating, supportive music environment to enjoy the wonderful human capacity for music-making.”

· Weekly 45-minute classes
· Three Ten-Week Sessions per year plus a Six-Week Summer Session
· CD and Songbook for each session
· Parent(s) or caregiver participation
· One make-up class per session
· Siblings come to class at reduced tuition
· Newborn-3 months are free when attending with an older sibling
· Music Together teachers take teacher training and are registered

Music Together classes are based on the idea that making music with children, in the family, and in a community of families enriches the lives of both children and parents and promotes musical growth in children, nurturing their musical aptitude.

The Music Together teacher leads the class in songs and rhythm chants featured in the song collection for the current semester. The songs are presented through a variety of musical activities which incorporate:

· Fun, playful, interactive ways to focus on tonal and rhythmic elements of music
· Small and large movements
· Free, expressive dance
· Instrumental accompaniment
· Use of props (scarves, balls, etc.)
· Opportunities for improvisation by children as well as parents

Parent education during class will increase your understanding of the relevance of class activities to childhood music development. The atmosphere invites and encourages participation by both children and adults, regardless of musical skill, talent or training. Music Together parents discover what a powerful role model they are to their child, just by having fun with the music themselves!

How does the mixed age format work in class?

The curriculum is designed to teach on many levels of complexity at once, which allows children to develop at their own rate. The activities are parent-child oriented, not child-child, so children don’t need to be with children of the same age.Mixed age groupings encourage a better learning environment.
Older children learn from being in a leadership role, and younger children benefit from the example of an older child. Mixed-age classrooms also promote social skills and self esteem.

Do infants really benefit?

Yes, we believe they do. Infants’ participation will seem passive at first, as they actively absorb what they are seeing, hearing and feeling. Parents will learn in class to recognize their infant’s musical responses and observe them reaching musical milestones as they develop. As a result, a special musical bond will develop between parent and child.

The Music Together approach develops every child’s birthright of basic music competence by encouraging the actual music experience through song, rhythm, movement and instrument play. For more information please visit www.musictogether.com.