KathyAnne Baumgardner thinks no child is too young to learn about music. Most of her music students are barely old enough to walk, but she’s seen them tap their toes to a song’s beat and heard them sing a song’s melody.
“Kids can learn about rhythm and tonality without even knowing,” she said. The idea that all children are musical is the driving principle behind Music Together, an internationally recognized early childhood music program taught across the country.

Baumgardner, a Gig Harbor resident, is a trained Music Together teacher, and each week she helps children and their parents build a connection through music. Babies,
toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners all participate
in the classes, which are held at Rainy Dayz Playcenter and Harbor Place at Cottesmore.

That KathyAnne would eventually become a children’s music teacher is no surprise to her daughter, Sarah Baumgardner. Sarah, 20, said music was “always a big thing” growing up; her mother, a longtime vocal coach,
would often walk around the house singing.

Singing is an essential part of Music Together: The lessons are structured around call-and response songs, during which Baumgardner will ask for kids’ input on what they sing.

Calling herself “Crazy Kat,” Baumgarder will begin by leading the class in the traditional version of the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and then follow with variations that teach her young students about pitch and tempo. The “Very Whiny Spider” is sung in a high-pitched voice; the “Very Busy” spider is sung to a sped-up tune.

The versions result in plenty of laughing, both from parents and children, but some of the youngest kids are busy watching Baumgardner with careful concentration.
Aidan Myhberg, 2, does his best to follow the actions of his teacher and of his mom, Jessica. When Baumgardner sings about sneezing, Jessica and the other moms mimic fake sneezes. Aidan waits a minute before touching his hands to his nose, his best imitation of a sneeze. And that’s the point of Music Together: Even the youngest participants who might not completely understand what’s happening during class will still benefit.

Stephanie Charbonneau and her son, 19-month-old Tyler, drive to Gig Harbor from Port Orchard for the classes. Even if he can’t always follow all of Baumgardner’s instructions, Tyler still claps, dances and coos to music.“The program is designed for them to just absorb the music,” said Charbonneau, who also is a trained Music Together teacher.

Holly Steurer of Vaughn said her son, Henry, doesn’t sing much during class, but he sings and dances along to music when he’s at home. “He’s learning to sing before he
can speak,” she said.

Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and their parents. Since 1987, the program has offered a research-based, early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.