Family music classes are classes babies and preschool age kids take with their parents. These fun programs have been scientifically proven to improve your child’s development. In the Twin Cities, we are blessed to have so many different options of music classes. Even the music teachers who teach these classes love to attend them!
This post is made possible by participating music studios.
Meet FFTC's Partner in Play
Lundstrum Performing Arts is Minnesota's premier training program for dance, voice and drama. Our teachers are Broadway veterans and industry professionals with the expertise to guide students to launch professional careers. We are passionate about helping students of all ages discover their gifts in mind, body and spirit. Lundstrum Performing Arts works with students of all skill levels in a supportive community that welcomes all and recognizes each student's unique talents. Our classes start at $190 for a 10 week session.
We're located at 1617 North Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Briana Lyn Studios | In Home + Online Lessons | We are a traveling music studio that comes to our students’ homes across the Twin Cities. We also offer online music lessons.
Minneapolis & St. Paul Family Music Classes:
- MacPhail Center for Music • Minneapolis music school with studios in Apple Valley, Chanhassen and White Bear Lake. The school offers Sing, Play, Learn classes for preschool children and their adult. They also offer individual lessons and sessions of many styles for all ages.
- Sarah Jane’s Music School • Locally Owned by Sarah Jane Perbix • Offers Sing Play Move and Family Rock classes for babies through pre-K as well as classes and lessons for older kids and adults.
- Songs with Sarah • Locally Owned by Sarah McCaffrey Ritchie • This research based music school in South Minneapolis specializes in early childhood music-play-based parent-child classes and piano classes starting at age 4.
- Wee Bop • Locally owned by Chellie Brown • Classes in NE Minneapolis, Hopkins & Roseville ECFE, locally owned and developed music classes for young children. Classes are designed and taught by certified music teachers with degrees in music and education.
Twin Cities Metro Family Music Classes:
- Brighter Minds Music • Brighter Minds has locations in Mendota Heights, Eagan, West St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. They offer music classes and lessons for babies through adults.
- Kindermusik • Kindermusik is a national early-childhood music program with Twin Cities locations in Burnsville, Chanhassen, Minnetonka, Excelsior, and Spring Park (Zoom class).
- Ladybug Music •
- Music Together: Sing Dance Play Learn! • An international music program with several local franchises, the curriculum is research-based for early childhood with play-centered classes that incorporate parents into the fun. Offering online classes.
- School of Rock • Located in Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and St. Paul, the school offers special music programs for preschoolers, as well as programs and lessons for ages 5-18.
- Sprouting Melodies Early Childhood Music Classes • Age specific early childhood music classes offered for babies, toddlers, and preschool-age children focused on parent and child bonding; having fun; learning to use music to calm, stimulate, and engage; and social, emotional, cognitive, preacademic, musical, and physical growth and development. Offering online classes.
More Music Classes for Kids
Classes for older kids get who are ready to take lessons on their own.
- Minnesota Youth Symphonies• This Saint Paul youth orchestra offers classes by audition only.
- Northwestern University Academy of Music • Private, group, ensembles and summer camps. Offering virtual and in-person callses
- St. Paul Conservatory of Music• Suzuki through adult classes.
DIY At Home Family Music Idea – Maestro Classics
If you would like to strike out on your own with your early childhood music education, we recommend Maestro Classics. You can do this entirely for free because Hennepin County Library has most of the CDs in their collection and Maestro offers free curriculum guides on its website. This program can grow with your kids. In the beginning you may want to keep listing sessions short and concentrate on the having fun to the music together — use your shaky eggs and dancing scarves or just dance around the living room. Later, kids may become more interested in the deeper tracks and the more grade-school appropriate curriculum suggestions.
The program consists of 12 classical pieces that are particularly kid-friendly with fun narration to help children get into the stories these pieces tell.
- Peter and the Wolf (a perfect start with preschool kids)
- The Nutcracker
- The Story of Swan Lake
- Carnival of the Animals (a fun one to do a stuffed animal parade with)
- My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music (this was interesting but maybe wait until the kids are a little older)
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (If it is not already on your bookshelf, order the picture book to go with this CD)
- The Soldier’s Tale
- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (definitely pull out the Fantasia version of this at the same time)
- Merry Pranks of Master Till
- Casey at the Bat
- Juanita the Spanish Lobster (in English) (leave this one until last)
- The Tortoise and the Hare
There are some downsides of using the library 1) the library copies are older and sometimes scratched; 2) This program is pretty popular, so the wait time can be a little long; 3) The titles are not always easy to find on the library website (searching by “Simon, Stephen, 1937-2013” has netted me the most results) and 4) You may want to revisit these stories over the years and would have to re-request a copy each time you use them.
We like this series enough that we have become affiliates for the program. If you choose to buy the product (they are offered as CDs & MP3s – individually and as a set, you can help us out by purchasing through our link. Family Fun Twin Cities receives a small commission off of sales through our site.
Find hundreds more things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul with kids!
Hello I’m looking for classes for my twelve year old grandson. He deals with ADHD and I feel it will help him focus and relax. If you could give me any direction it would be great.
Hi Victoria. I think any of those programs we list above for older kids would work. Also check out our List of Services for ADHD here.
You have “Songs with Sarah is an audition based music school” when it should be “audiation” (meaning…thinking music). Just wanted to put that out there as to not confuse it the two.
Thank you for that clarification Mykou. We’ve made the edit.