Lebanon
Music Together Generations, taught by Katie Kitchel, Music Together program coordinator at the Upper Valley Music Center, involves young children, their parents and “grandfriends” — senior citizens in the community that are not necessarily related to any of the children attending. The 10-week program will be held at the Aging Resource center, which is also where an open house will take place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
“We’re creating a larger circle of music making and a larger circle of community,” said Kitchel, who has been a Music Together instructor for more than decade.
Music Together is an international music program for children from newborns up to age 5 that introduces youngsters to instruments and singing.
“The music that we are exploring here … will be the same music that they’re exploring in California or Italy,” Kitchel said.
Kitchel once had a grandmother who attended class with her grandchild in the Upper Valley and then was able to attend the same class with her grandchildren who live in California.
“She was able to share that connection between her grandchildren across the country which was really special for her,” Kitchel said.
While some families stay geographically close, “in our culture today there’s less of that and more spreading out,” Kitchel said. It may be harder for grandparents to visit their grandchildren, but Music Together Generations provides that kid-and-senior interaction.
“Seeing a little person a regular basis bring a lot of joy into a person’s life,” Kitchel said. “That provides an emotional boost as well as it just strengthens the community and enriches a person’s life.”
Featured songs include some that grandfriends might have “sang to their children when they were younger or danced to while they were dating,” Kitchel said.
Editor’s note: The cost of the 10-week program is $170 for families, with an additional $60 for siblings. It is free for grandfriends to attend. Families can register through the Upper Valley Music Center at www.uvmusic.org or by calling 603-448-1642. Seniors can register by calling the Aging Resource Center at 603-653-3460. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
