questions families ask before their first class (and after)
If your question isn’t answered here, text Mike directly at 202.251.7205. He actually responds.
Section 1: “Is This Right for My Family?”
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Families sit together in a circle and make music. Not watch it. Not listen to it. Make it — with real voices, real instruments, and real connection.
The teacher guides the room, but the music comes from the families. You’ll sing, move, keep rhythm, and play alongside your child. Your child will watch you, join in when they’re ready, and absorb more than you think — even when they’re crawling away.
There are no performances. No screens. No pressure to get it right. Just families singing together, which is one of the most natural and meaningful things you can do with a young child.
Most families say two words describe the experience best: joy and community.
Want to see for yourself? Schedule a free demo class →
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It’s not too early. In fact, it might be the perfect time — for both of you.
The first five years of life are the most powerful window for language, rhythm, and social development. Babies who grow up inside a musical community never have to learn how to be in a group — they’ve always been part of one. And the research is clear: the earlier families begin making music together, the deeper the foundation.
But honestly? The class isn’t just for your baby. Getting out of the house, being with other families who understand the stage you’re in, and doing something joyful together — that matters for you too.
We have a gentle babies-only class for infants not yet crawling, and our mixed-age classes welcome babies from birth alongside toddlers and preschoolers. Younger children learn by watching older ones. It works beautifully.
Come see what it’s like.Schedule a demo class → or text Mike at 202.251.7205 and he’ll help you find the right fit.
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This is the most common thing parents say before their first class — and the thing they’re most glad they got past.
Here’s what we believe: music is a birthright, not a talent. When you sing to your child with your real voice — imperfect, unsure, maybe a little off-key — you are teaching them more than any recording or professional performance ever could. You’re showing them that music belongs to regular people. That it belongs to your family.
Nobody will ask you to perform. Nobody will judge your voice. The room is full of other parents doing exactly the same thing you’re doing: trying, laughing, and discovering that they’re more musical than they thought.
That’s what families do. Try a class →
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Most children’s music classes put a performer at the front and kids in the audience. Parents watch from the edges or wait in the lobby. The child is the student. The adult is the spectator.
We do the opposite.
In our classes, adults are in the circle — singing, moving, and making music alongside their children. The teacher doesn’t perform for the room; the teacher leads the room so the families become the music. There are no screens, no recorded tracks, no recitals, and no evaluations. Just real people making real music together.
This matters because children don’t learn music from professionals. They learn it from the people they love most. When you participate, your child learns that music is something your family does — not something you watch someone else do.
Ready to experience the difference? Schedule a demo class →
Section 2: “Getting Started”
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Absolutely. We offer free demo classes so your family can experience what it’s like before you decide.
You’ll join a real class with other families — not a watered-down preview. One visit is usually enough to know whether this is right for you. (Most families know before the class is over.)
Schedule a demo → or text Mike at 202.251.7205 and he’ll help you find the best class to visit. He knows which classes have the most space and which teachers are the best fit for your child’s age and stage.
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Yes — and we love when they do.
In our classes, the adult who attends is a full participant in the music-making. That means nannies, au pairs, and grandparents aren’t just sitting on the sidelines — they’re singing, moving, and connecting with your child through music. Many of our nannies and caregivers are some of the most enthusiastic participants in the room.
The only thing we ask is that whoever attends is ready to be part of the circle. This isn’t drop-off. It’s shared music-making, and that’s what makes it work.
If your caregiver will be attending regularly, make sure they have access to the music at home too — the songs travel further when everyone in your child’s life knows them.
Questions about how it works with your family’s schedule? Text Mike at 202.251.7205.
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We have a lot of nanny share families in our classes, and it works great. There are just a few things to know up front so everyone has a smooth experience.
Each child needs their own registration. Even though one nanny brings both kids to the same class, each family enrolls and pays separately. The sibling rate doesn’t apply across families — that’s only for brothers and sisters in the same household.
The easiest way to handle it: coordinate with your nanny share family so you both register for the same class at the same time. Popular classes fill quickly, and we can only hold a spot for a child who’s enrolled. If one family registers and the other waits, that second spot may not be there when they get around to it.
Once both children are enrolled, make sure your nanny knows how to use the make-up scheduler on our website. If nap schedules shift or you need to miss a week, the nanny can book a make-up class — but she’ll need to reserve a spot through the scheduler so the teacher knows how many families to expect.
Your nanny is a full participant in the music-making circle, just like any parent or caregiver. Many of our nannies are wonderful singers and become a real part of the community. The kids benefit from having a consistent adult who knows the songs and brings that musical energy home with them.
Need help getting both families into the same class? Text Mike at 202.251.7205. He tracks enrollment closely and can often find workarounds when things get tight. If you loop him in early, he can usually make it work.
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Our classes are for families with children from birth through age five.
We offer two types of classes: a babies-only class for infants not yet crawling, and mixed-age classes where babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are all in the same circle together.
The mixed-age format is intentional. Younger children learn by watching older ones. Older children build confidence by modeling for the younger ones. And siblings of different ages can attend the same class together — which means one trip, not two.
This is the only window in your child’s life — birth to five — when you can truly do an activity together before classes become drop-off and sports become something you watch from the bleachers. We protect that window.
Find a class that fits your family. View the schedule →
Section 3: “I’m In (or Almost)”
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A semester is 10 weeks of classes. Tuition is $280 per child.
Siblings under 9 months attend free. Siblings 9 months and older are $150.
We know this is an investment — and we think it’s one of the most meaningful things you can spend money on during these early years. This isn’t just a class. It’s a shared family experience that comes home with you in the car, at bedtime, and at the breakfast table.
Every registration includes access to the semester’s song collection through the Music Together app, a family songbook, and the ability to schedule make-up classes if life gets in the way.
Ready to join us? Register for the upcoming semester →
Have questions about cost? Text Mike at 202.251.7205. He’s a real person and he’ll be straight with you.
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Life with little ones is unpredictable. Naps happen. Colds happen. We get it.
If you miss a class, you can schedule a make-up in any other class that has space — even with a different teacher or at a different location. It’s a great way to experience a new part of the community.
Here’s how it works: Log into your account on our website, mark your absence, then use the Make-Up Scheduler (found under “For Enrolled Families”) to book a spot in another class. If you’re re-enrolling for the next semester, unused make-ups carry over.
Trouble logging in or finding a make-up that works? Text Mike at 202.251.7205. He’ll help you figure it out.
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This happens, especially with popular time slots and teachers. We’re sorry when it does.
Here’s something worth knowing: the person your child is learning from most in our classes isn’t the teacher. It’s you. Your voice is the one they trust. Your singing is what they’ll remember. The teacher guides the room, but the music your child carries home comes from you.
So if your favorite teacher’s class is full, try a different one. All of our teachers are wonderful, and what you’ll remember from this time isn’t who was leading the room — it’s singing together with your child in a community of families. We’re just the guides. Your voice and your connection are what your child feels.
Register for whatever class fits your schedule, and don’t wait. Popular classes fill soon after we announce a new semester, and currently enrolled families get a few days of early access through pre-registration.
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We run four semesters each year: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters are 10 weeks each. Summer is a shorter 6-week session. There’s usually a short break between semesters — sometimes just a week, sometimes two, depending on holidays and weather make-up days.
We send reminders as the semester wraps up, but if you’re ever unsure whether there’s class on a given week, just text Mike at 202.251.7205. He’d rather you ask than show up to an empty room.
Ready for the next semester? Check the current schedule and register →
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Yes — and we encourage it. Word of mouth is how most families find us, and there’s no better way for a friend to understand what this is than to experience it.
Your friend can schedule a free demo through our website, or you can use one of your make-up class spots to bring them as a guest. Either way, just make sure there’s a spot reserved so the teacher knows to expect them.
If your friend falls in love with it (they will), they can register for the upcoming semester right away.
Have your friend schedule a demo → or text Mike at 202.251.7205 to coordinate.
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Every semester, all Music Together centers around the world learn the same collection of songs. Your family gets access to that collection three ways: through the Music Together app (free to download), through the Family Music Zone website, and through a code inside your songbook.
Listening at home is the single best thing you can do to enrich your child’s experience. The songs that show up in class will start showing up in the car, at bedtime, during play — and that’s when the magic really happens. Music stops being a class and starts being part of your family’s daily life.
A new songbook comes with each semester. Let your child decorate it and bring it to class. It’s theirs.
Need help accessing your music? Text Mike at 202.251.7205.
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We understand that plans change. If you need to cancel your enrollment before the semester begins, we’ll process a full refund. If the semester has already started, reach out to Mike directly and he’ll work with you on the best path forward.
We’d rather you come back when the time is right than feel stuck. Text Mike at 202.251.7205 and he’ll take care of it.
Still have a question?
Text Mike at 202.251.7205 or email mistermikesmusic@gmail.com.
He runs this program, he teaches in these classes, and he knows most of the families by name. Ask him anything.
Ready to try it?
Ready to register?
We just finished a great semester with Mr. Mike’s Music! Miss Linda was a fantastic instructor, and she did a really good job of engaging kids from 6m to 5 years old (and their caretakers!) in a fun and educational manner. We have already signed up to return for the winter semester!
— Stewart Bohan
