As of January, Daniel's Music Foundation (DMF), an East Harlem music center, is offering two Baby & Me Classes: Rock By Baby for children ages newborn to 1 and Tots Rattle & Roll for children ages ages 1-2 ½. The NYC children's music center welcomes children of all abilities into small, intimate classes providing a safe space for learning, self-expression, and exploration through music. DMF offers a wide variety of music classes for kids with physical and developmental disabilities as well.
Both classes aim to connect individuals with disabilities to those without disabilities through the universal language of music, starting at an early age. Rock By Baby classes occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-10:15am and Saturdays from 10-10:45am. Tots Rattle & Roll occur at the same time on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Saturdays from 11-11:45am.
“Through our experience visiting schools and working with children at our center, we've realized that they are typically curious and without any preconceived notions of others, especially at the young age of newborn to 2.5 years old. It was a natural extension of our program and has been very well received by the families,” says the Trush Family, owners and founders of Daniel's Music Foundation.
The story of Daniel's Music Foundation starts with a boy named Daniel Trush. When Daniel was 12 years old, a ruptured brain aneurysm sent him into a 30-day coma from which he’d never be the same. Rallying around him and his recovery, his family searched for the right program, one that would incorporate the joy of music with group interaction and awareness for children with disabilities. This proved near impossible. So the Trush family took the matter into their own hands, and in 2005, DMF was born.
Students at DMF can participate in private lessons, including voice, guitar, keyboard, songwriting and percussion. Group classes in keyboard, singing and performance and instrument exploration are also available.
Parents interested in registering for either of the two Baby & Me classes can do so in a first-come, first-served basis by emailing babyandme@danielsmusic.org. Rock By Baby is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-10:15am and on Saturdays from 10-10:45am. Tots Rattle & Roll is held at the same time on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Saturdays from 11-11:45am.
Main Image: At Daniel’s Music Foundation, students can participate in private voice, guitar, keyboard, songwriting, and percussion lessons as well as group classes.
Courtesy Daniel's Music Foundation
