Bright Start Music

What is Bright Start Music: Connecting the Dots for Infants and Tots?
Come join us for an exciting and musical approach to learning.  The Bright Start curriculum is designed to teach developmentally appropriate skills for premature infants, but we welcome all infants! 

The foundation for all Bright Start Music sessions are specific and observable child development skills.  Each song or activity is designed to provide an opportunity for the child to learn multiple developmentally appropriate skills.  Developmental areas addressed include gross and fine motor movement, expressive and receptive language, cognition, and social-emotional skills. 

Bright Start Music is based on the theories and techniques of music therapy, which sets it apart from other caregiver/infant music groups.  The emphasis of Bright Start Music groups is not teaching children specific music skills such as singing or keeping a beat, but rather enhancing cross-domain learning through the use of music.  Children will gain music skills during Bright Start Music groups as they simultaneously grow in all areas of child development. 

Why choose Bright Start Music?
Bright Start Music groups are research based and are involved in ongoing research studies with the Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy Institute at Florida State University.  Children ages 6 months to 2 years old and parents who have participated in Bright Start Music groups demonstrate more social learning with peers and other adults than children who do not attend Bright Start Music groups.  Additionally, children who attend Bright Start Music groups display more independent, cognitive, social, and musical behaviors over time.  Bright Start Music is fun, structured, and designed to help parents serve as their child's teacher at home in between attending music groups.  

What should I expect?
Bright Start Music groups are divided into three different age groups  6-11 months, 12-17 months, and 18-24 months.

A music therapist leads a group of 8-10 infants.  (Note: The groups are limited in group size to ensure appropriate attention is given to each participant). 

The Bright Start Music Curriculum is a series of 12 session plans divided into three different groups, by developmental age (6-11 months, 12-17 months, and 18-24 months) and is based on infant development among cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional domains. 

Parent/caregiver participation is part of the interactive nature of the group.
 
Siblings are welcome! 

Infant and caregiver participate in Baby sign language, movement activities, and cognitive activities all taught using live music.

All instruments/props are provided for use during music groups.

Additionally, suggestions are given in each session about possible interactions that can be recreated in the home and community environments for infants to acquire more developmentally appropriate learning opportunities. 

Play is the best way for children to learn!  All sessions are sequenced according to the development of each age group, as the infant advances, so does the curriculum. 

Bright Start Music provides the following benefits:
Network for parents/caregivers
Opportunities to participate in a meaningful way with your infant
Developmentally appropriate suggestions and handouts for parents/caregivers
Instructions during music groups to increase successful infant and parent/caregiver interactions
A positive environment for learning and growing
Board-certified music therapist experienced with premature infants will lead groups
Developmentally-based curriculum that is flexible and can be shaped to meet each infant's need
Small-group atmosphere for one-on-one attention
New songs!  The music is a combination of familiar songs as well as new original compositions.

When and where are groups offered?
Join us at the YMCA in New Cannan.