Learning In Harmony

About a dozen parents and their children waggled their tongues, waved flags and crouched down and popped up again at the  one recent Sunday.

They were led by Julie Capuano, director of the "Music Together: the Joy of Family Music", the Monroe/Newtown chapter.

As she sang, she offered tidbits of advice:

• "When you sing or chant with your child, you make the chore less 'choreful.'
• "You have to be silly because that's how children learn: through play."
•  During a patting/clapping exercise: "This is really great for left and right brain integration."
• "Anytime you want to keep your child in your lap for any reason, try a horse song. It always works."

In one exercise, she had the parents crouch down. "Here's Jack! Let's put him in the box."

Then they chanted, "Jack in the box, still as a mouse and deep down inside his little dark house. Will you come out?"

"Yes, I will!" they shouted, and all jumped up. The crowd also shook egg-shaped maracas and waved silk scarves to the tune of "Row, Row, Row your Boat."

The program serves Trumbull, Shelton, Monroe and Newtown.

"The Music Together early childhood music program provides parent-child music and movement classes for children of ages birth through kindergarten. Classes are held worldwide in over 2,000 communities," Capuano said. "The program helps parents and children create an everlasting bond through the magic of music."

For more information, log onto www.musictogether.com.