The Research Behind Music Together®

At Joyful Hearts Music, our classes are joyful, playful, and fun—but they are also grounded in research about how young children learn.

Music Together® is a research-based early childhood music and movement program. The program was created from research in music education, early childhood learning, psychology, neuroscience, and child development. Music Together^® Worldwide continues to stay connected to current research through its research team, early childhood music experts, and Lab School in Princeton, New Jersey.

This page includes official Music Together research resources, along with parent-friendly articles that explain how music supports young children’s development.

Music Learning Is Like Language Learning

One of the most important ideas behind Music Together is that young children learn music in many of the same ways they learn language: through immersion, repetition, play, experimentation, and meaningful interaction with the people around them.

Babies do not learn to speak because adults explain grammar rules to them. They learn because they are surrounded by language every day. They listen, babble, experiment, imitate, and gradually begin to communicate.

Music learning develops in a similar way. Children need opportunities to hear music, move to music, vocalize, experiment with rhythm, and participate in musical play long before they are expected to sing in tune, keep a steady beat, or begin formal music lessons.

Early music experiences do not guarantee that every child will become a professional musician, but they can help children build a strong foundation for their own musical growth, confidence, and enjoyment.

Learn more here:
Music Together as a Research-Based Program

Music Together® Research

Music Together Worldwide describes research as central to the creation of the program and to its continued growth. Their research page also explains how curriculum changes and new programs are tested through the Music Together Lab School.

Music Together® Research

Music Together^® as a Research-Based Program

This PDF explains the research foundation behind Music Together’s philosophy. It discusses how young children learn music, why parent and caregiver participation matters, and why a playful, non-performance-oriented environment supports music development.

Music Together as a Research-Based Program

Independent Research on Music Together®

Music Together has also been studied by independent researchers. This page summarizes research related to school readiness, effortful control, parent-child language interactions, social-emotional development, and family music experiences at home.

Independent Research on Music Together®

Music Together® and Sensitive-Responsive Parenting

This article shares research on how Music Together classes can support sensitive-responsive parenting. Sensitive, responsive interactions between children and caregivers are an important part of early childhood development.

Recent Research Shows Music Together® Supports Sensitive-Responsive Parenting

Music and Executive Function

Executive function includes developing skills such as attention, waiting, impulse control, working memory, and flexible thinking. In this article, Music Together coauthor and Director of Research Dr. Lili M. Levinowitz explains how music and movement activities can give children playful opportunities to practice these important skills.

How Does Music-making Support Executive Function?

Music and Babies’ Brains

Babies are already listening, moving, vocalizing, and responding to sound. This article explains how early music experiences can support babies’ developing brains, relationships, and early learning.

What’s Happening in Babies’ Brains During Music Experiences? Big Things!

Music and Early Vocal Development

This article is a helpful parent-friendly explanation of how babies’ vocal play connects to music development. It also supports the idea that adults can nurture musical growth through playful, repeated interaction.

Music + Your Baby: Talking or Singing?

Why This Matters for Young Children

There are many wonderful activities available for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. What makes Music Together special is that it is not simply entertainment or a way to pass the time.

Music Together classes are designed to support children’s natural music development through playful, repeated, meaningful music experiences with their grownups.

In class, children are not expected to sit still, perform on command, or “get it right.” Instead, they are invited to explore music in developmentally appropriate ways: singing, moving, listening, chanting, dancing, playing instruments, observing others, and experimenting with sound.

Over time, these experiences help children build a foundation for rhythm, melody, listening, movement, creativity, confidence, expression, and connection.

Learn More

If you enjoy reading more about early childhood music development, we encourage you to explore the Music Together research pages and articles linked above.

The best way to understand Music Together, though, is to experience it. In class, you will see children listening, moving, experimenting, connecting, and growing through joyful family music-making.

We’d love to welcome your family to Joyful Hearts Music.