Elizabeth Gibson loves rhythm sticks. They're almost as good as egg shakers, but not quite as tasty as chime mallets.

Oh sure, she sees brother Jack, 4, and the other kids shaking their instruments in time to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." But Elizabeth, who is 1, wants to taste the instruments, not play them. In this music class, that's OK. It's what 1-year-olds do.

Music Together is a program that encourages young children and their parents to develop musical abilities together, at a child's level. Classes are built around hands-on, sing-out-loud exercises designed to be appropriate for children from birth through 6 years.

Founders of the program say that every child is born with the capability to speak the basic language of music. That includes singing in tune and keeping a beat. But, they say, if that language isn't learned in the preschool years, children could be doomed to become tone-deaf adults. The program also stresses that parents -- even tone-deaf ones -- are their children's most powerful teachers and role models in those early years.

"Music Together" introduces infants and toddlers to music sounds and instruments.

Stormi Greener

Star Tribune

The Music Together program began in 1987 as a research project of the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, N.J. The lessons and training materials were developed by composer Kenneth Guilmartin and music theorist Lili Levinowitz. Classes are now taught in 40 states, as well as six foreign countries. Dozens of classes are offered in the Twin Cities area, as well as in Rochester, Northfield and Ely.

A Music Together session costs about $130. That fee covers weekly classes, tapes, songbooks and parental guide to the program. Summer sessions, which begin in July, last six weeks and cost less. Siblings are encouraged to attend, at reduced cost. Classes are short, about 45 minutes, and are filled with ever-changing activities to match a child's attention span.

Trying out a pair of shakers.

Stormi Greener

Star Tribune

In one recent session, director Angela Barberg greeted students and parents with cheerful rhyming songs she made up as they arrived.

"Hello Charlie, we're glad to see you," she sang. "Hello, Elizabeth, we're glad to see you." Everyone was acknowledged. Anything can be a song, she sang, then proved it by singing hello to the clock, the instruments, every thing and every person in the room. Songs loaded with action verbs guided the class through a whirlwind of activities.

Tapping out a rhythm.

Stormi Greener

Star Tribune

"We generally keep them moving pretty quickly between stuff or you lose them," Barberg said.

Judging by the laughter in the room, that suited the kids just fine. Everyone sang as they walked on tiptoe, ran, hopped, skipped and hugged, all in time to music. They chugga-choo-ed around the room, chugga chugga choo, with shaker eggs clutched in tiny hands.

Finally Barberg brought out the big drums that the kids had been eyeing all morning.

"Try to use your body as much as you can to see the beat," she said. Barberg encourages them to explore different ways to use the instruments to make music.

That's exactly what Elizabeth was doing with that mallet in her mouth -- exploring music in a manner appropriate for a 1-year-old. Her mother, Lisa, believes that both her daughter and 4-year-old son, Jack, benefit from the classes.

"I think the program is great for exposing kids to music," she said. "It's been fun for all of us. Elizabeth will clap along and slap her knees and do silly stuff along with us. In class, [Jack] is not overly interested in singing, but he sings the songs all the time at home."

That's typical, said Barberg. While many kids participate with great enthusiasm in class, some are more reserved. But either way, the lessons come through.

"The kids are sponges," she said. "If they don't do it here, they'll do it at home. They'll get it, no matter what."

Darlene Prois is at dprois@startribune.com.

Music Together, a program that encourages children and parents to develop musical abilities together, offers classes in 40 states and six foreign countries. For information about Minnesota classes, call the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, N.J., at 1-800-728-2692 or check these Web sites:

• http://www.musictogether.com/

• http://www.familymusiccenter.com/

• http://www.ensemblemusic.net/

• http://www.rochmusictogether.com/