The Music Together Generations Class offers families with young children a rare opportunity to develop meaningful connections with senior residents at an assisted living community by making music across the generations every week.

What to Expect

• Singing, dancing, and playing — just like in a regular Music Together class
• A musically rich, multi-generational environment
• Freedom to observe, participate, and connect at your child’s comfort level
• Warm interactions with a wider circle of responsive adults who delight in your child's music-making
• A unique opportunity for children to develop empathy, social confidence, and connection

About the Venue: The Retreat at Decatur

Our weekly Music Together Generations Class takes place in the Retreat's beautiful community gathering space, making it easy for families and senior residents to connect in a comfortable, accessible setting.

Join us for a class that benefits every generation!

Special Pricing for Generations

Building Real Relationships Beyond the Preschool Bubble — A Note from Director Wendy Snell

As a mom of three, I found it challenging, if not impossible, to build real relationships beyond our little preschool bubble. But I discovered a way to do that — for me and my little one — and I still want to shout it from the rooftops!

All Music Together classes are full of singing, dancing, instrument playing, and FUN for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their grown-ups, but when we launched our Generations Class, we suddenly had a way to include a group of people who aren't usually in our circle. The Generations Class takes place at an assisted living facility, so the residents can join us in all the music-making. We are led by Music Together teacher Kenya Engram, a music therapist with expertise in using music to help new parents bond with their babies and help seniors improve their quality of life.

I attended this weekly class with my own little one. I watched our grand-friends' eyes light up as each family entered the room. I watched the toddlers proudly deliver egg shakers, rhythm sticks, and scarves to their grand-friends. I watched our wheelchair-bound grand-friends tap their feet to the music, and our more mobile grand-friends join us on the dance floor. I watched each of our grand-friends — even the least responsive of them — join us in singing, "You Are My Sunshine" as we wrapped up class each week. And I watched our grand-friend, who'd declared throughout the semester that she didn't have any grandchildren, so she had to "really soak up this time," receive, on the last day of class, a framed picture from one of the mothers with the inscription, PATTY'S GRAND-FRIENDS.

There was something almost sacred about that time for my son and me, the families, our grand-friends, and the staff. We were all changed for the better.

If you're a parent who has felt that same pull to build real connections — for you and your child — with people outside your usual circle of friends, I'd invite you to join us and see for yourself what's possible when generations make music together.