Our Story
Why Bracy’s Music Together Began
Bracy’s Music Together grew from a simple idea: meaningful music experiences should be able to reach children where they already learn, play, and grow.
What began with one memorable Music Together family class eventually became a school-based program created to bring joyful, developmentally appropriate music-making into early childhood communities.
It Started With One Music Class
In 2006, Bracy’s Music Together founder Leisl Bracy accompanied a friend and her toddler to a Music Together family class. She wasn’t there with plans to start a music program. She was simply joining them for the experience.
What she encountered stayed with her.
The class was relaxed and comfortable, yet deeply engaging. Children and their adults could participate at their own comfort level, without pressure. Together they sang, moved, listened, and explored music using instruments and props such as egg shakers, rhythm sticks, bongos, and movement scarves.
Most of all, it was joyful.
What If More Children Could Experience This?
Leisl left that class thinking about the children who might never have an opportunity to experience music and movement in this way simply because enrolling in a private family class might not be financially practical for their families.
That question changed the direction of the idea. Instead of focusing only on bringing individual families to music classes, she began thinking about how music could reach children through the places they were already learning.
From Discovery to Purpose
A Path Toward the Classroom
After that first experience, Leisl began researching Music Together and learned more about its approach, teacher training, and opportunities to bring the program into different learning environments.
She later completed Music Together teacher training, and in 2011 established Bracy’s Music Together.
The in-school program became a natural fit for what she wanted to accomplish: bringing a rich music and movement experience to groups of young children through their schools while allowing the musical experience to extend to teachers and families as well.
- 2006First Music Together family class
- 2011Bracy’s Music Together established
Why Bring Music Into the School Day?
Schools create an opportunity for music to become part of children’s shared learning experience. Instead of requiring each family to seek out and purchase a separate private class, an in-school program can bring children together for consistent music-making within a familiar educational community.
At Bracy’s Music Together, classroom teachers participate alongside their students, receive resources for continuing music-making between specialist visits, and help give the musical experience continuity throughout the week.
Families become part of that connection too. Participating children’s immediate families receive music materials, and twice-yearly Parent Events invite caregivers to experience music-making with their children firsthand.
Our Approach
Music Is Learning, Connection, and Joy
Children Learn Through Participation
Young children learn by listening, moving, repeating, experimenting, observing, imitating, and participating. Music creates opportunities for many of these experiences to happen together.
Participation Can Look Different
A meaningful music environment does not require every child to participate in exactly the same way. Children can listen, watch, move, sing, explore, imitate, and gradually find their own ways into the musical experience.
Music Connects Communities
Music can create shared experiences among children, educators, and families, giving them songs, rhythms, movements, and joyful moments they can experience together.
Building Connections Between Music, Classroom, and Home
The goal is not for music to exist only during one weekly session. Bracy’s Music Together is designed to create connections that can continue beyond the specialist’s visit.
Specialist
Guides the weekly music and movement experience.
Classroom
Teachers participate and receive resources for continuing music-making during the week.
Family
Music materials and Parent Events give families opportunities to connect with the musical experiences their children encounter at school.
Bringing the Original Idea Into Schools Today
The idea that began after one family music class continues to guide Bracy’s Music Together today: create joyful, developmentally appropriate opportunities for young children to experience music as active participants and make those experiences meaningful within the communities surrounding them.
Today, Bracy’s Music Together provides school-day music and movement programming for UPK/Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms across New York City and Westchester.
Bring Music Into Your School Community
If you’re exploring music enrichment for your UPK/Pre-K or Kindergarten classrooms, learn more about the school program or tell us about your school.