What's It Like Teaching Early Childhood Music?

Drip, Drop, Drip, Drip, Drop...

Dark gray clouds blanket the Bay Area sky above as the wind blows the rain sideways. Down the street from the Burlingame Recreation Center, umbrella in one hand and stroller in the other, a young mother and her child are toiling in the wind and the rain attempting to navigate around the multiple mini rivers of rainwater flowing from driveway to street gutter. In the recreation center parking lot, a nanny is hastily unbuckling her child from the car seat, using a diaper bag as a shield against the horizontal pelting of the wind and rain. From across Washington Park, a dad with his little girl held up his arms, make their way to the center’s door, clumsily clodhopping the spongy grass field in galoshes and ponchos. It’s 10am on a stormy Tuesday, and the Burlingame Recreation Center is bustling with anticipation for Teacher Andrew’s next Music Together class. Drip, drop, drip, drip, drop....

Music Awaits

Inside the recreation center, strollers and diaper bags pile up in the hallway, the more mobile children climb on padded chairs and bang on vending machine windows, infants quietly feed from lukewarm bottles, nannies change one more poopy diaper, and two dads (a rare sight at a Music Together class) stand around looking awkward and unsure of what to do.

From the other side of a closed white double door, the muffled sounds of children and parents singing the Music Together goodbye song can be heard. Like the swirling wind and rain, the waiting area begins to stir. Expectant Music Together participants begin gathering their belongings, anticipating the opening of the white double doors. Finally, the rumbling sounds of palms slapping against a padded mat let’s everyone know the 9:15am class is almost over.

High pitched screams of laughter and joy begin to ring out from inside the room. Tiny feet can be heard running here, there, and everywhere as mothers and nannies patiently try to put shoes, jackets, and hats back on their children. The first mom emerges from the closed double white door. Child in one hand, bag full of baby gear in the other, she smiles and greets one of the waiting mothers. “How did Danny like class today?”, says the waiting mom. “He just absolutely loves this class. Teacher Andrew is wonderful!”.

What the Children See

Teacher Andrew is a tall man, and from a two year old’s perspective, a gigantic man. At an initial glance, if you saw Andrew walking down the street, complete with dark blue jeans, brown faded boots, horn-rimmed glass, a green plaid shirt, and unkept beard, you would never suspect this man is adored by numerous babies and toddlers. Looks can be deceiving, however, there is nothing deceptive about Teacher Andrew.

Hello Everybody

With quiet confidence, Teacher Andrew shrinks his large frame down to the eye level of a toddler, he takes his place on the mat, and starts making animal sounds. Moo, moo, moo-moo-moo-moo. Ears perk up, and big and little bodies begin to settle. The once rain soaked, chaotic stroller pushing, bag carrying, child wrangling bunch take the cue and join Teacher Andrew on the mat. From cow to duck to chicken to dog to cat, Andrew’s takes his class to the farm and back again. Hello everybody, so glad to see you! (Guilmartin, Ken. Music Together LLC) the class sings and claps out. The group enthusiastically greets all the children by singing their names. The mommies, daddies, nannies, and Teacher Andrew get a pleasantly sung hello too. 

Teacher Andrew Teaches

In a seamless flow, Teacher Andrew moves from one Music Together song to the next. His teaching approach is organic, growing from the wants and needs of the children. He skillfully plays off what the children are doing. If a child sings out, Andrew sings out. If a child wants to do a silly dance, Andrew will do the same silly dance. There is nothing contrived or unauthentic about Andrew. Care and respect for children are readily apparent in his personality. He is goofy and fun without being over the top. He artfully blends explicit musical instruction with just letting the children be.

Teacher Andrew is a wonderful Music Together teacher. He leads his classes with charisma and confidence by expertly knowing the Music Together curriculum. He is a facilitator through and through, and the children and parents in his classes feel comfortable with him and trust where he is going to take them musically. The families and children are very so much so in love with Andrew’s style and approach to early childhood music education. 

Want to Learn More About Music Together?

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Music Together please visit the Music Together corporate website. If you would like more information about Teacher Andrew and when and where he teaches please visit the Peninsula Music Together website.

I also teach for Peninsula Music Together. I find having the opportunity to be around kids and families so absolutely amazing. It is fantastic being witness to my students growing and developing. I'm grateful for my talents in music and my ability to be able to teach it.