Music Together® Program
2013 Annual Evaluation Report
The Music Together for Babies program is a 6-week
class for parents and children that integrates hands-on
learning in singing and musical play with parenting
messages that provide information and strategies for
effective parenting. Music Together® is an internationally
recognized model for promoting positive parent-child
relationships, language learning, and increased brain
function through music and movement.
HEA is partnering with the Goshen College Music Center
to provide this opportunity to parents and their
babies from newborn to 8 months old. HEA believes that
Music Together® has the potential to impact parent
engagement very early in life, helping to ensure that
each child has the opportunity to develop the essential
cognitive and non-cognitive skills needed for success
throughout life.
(I learned)
different ways to
play with our
baby through music
and about the way
babies develop
through music.
Program Enrollment: Who did we serve?
Total Enrollment: 90 Babies with their parents or caregivers
Ethnicity:
Language:
Education Level
Hispanic: 28%
Caucasian: 57%
Multiracial: 11%
Other: 2%
No Answer: 2%
English: 65%
Spanish: 17%
Either: 10%
No Answer: 8%
Less than 9th grade: 2%
9th-12th grade: 5%
HS Diploma or GED: 16%
Associate’s Degree: 3%
Bachelor’s Degree: 39%
Graduate Degree: 35%
Evaluation Methodology: How do we know
whether the program is effective?
Participants were given a retrospective pre-post survey on the final day of class. The survey asked them to rate their satisfaction with the
class. It also asked participants to rate their level of agreement with statements about their knowledge and behavior as parents, both
before the program and after the program. Participants then responded to some open-ended questions about their experience with the
class. 64% of participants completed this survey. The survey data was analyzed to assess differences between pre and post scores. Data
analysis by ethnicity and level of education was also completed in order to analyze any differences between groups.
One year after participation, follow-up surveys will be conducted with a random sample of participants to ask about their parent
engagement. This follow-up will help us track the long-term impact of the program on parenting behavior. This data will be included in
future reports.
Participant Satisfaction: How well are
participants being served?
Participants’ responses reflect strong overall satisfaction and enjoyment of the program. The table below shows the percent of participants
that either agreed or strongly agreed with the statements provided.
I felt comfortable participating in the class
98%
I felt satisfied with the teaching of the class
100%
I looked forward to attending class each week
96%
The class provided time for me to engage in focused interaction with my baby
98%
I would recommend this class to other parents with babies or young children
100%
I plan to enroll in another Music Together or similar music class
80%
100%
of ParentS
Would
Recommend
class to other
Parents with
babies.
Quantitative Results: Did parents experience
growth in their parenting knowledge and skills?
68% of parents experienced significant growth in at least one area on the pre-post questions
89% of parents felt the class provided valuable information about their child
87% of parents felt the class provided valuable information about parenting
96% of parents felt the class increased their comfort in musical play with their children
Specific areas of significant gain included understanding their child’s response to music, knowing how to use music as a tool for effective
parenting and knowing songs that their baby will enjoy.
The chart below summarizes the before and after program means, with responses based on a five point scale
with 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree.
5
4.91
4.6
4.46
4.82
4.64
4.95
4.79
4.41
4.39
4.04
4
4.04
4.09
3.69
3.41
3
4.86
4.79
3.3
2.84
BEFORE Mean
AFTER Mean
2
1
0
I am able to
I am able to
I feel
identify
identify my
comfortable
my baby’s
baby’s new
singing with
characteristic developments. my baby at
response to
home.
hearing music.
I know
I am aware of
many songs
different
that my baby
ways I can
will enjoy.
use music as
a tool for
effective
parenting.
I feel
I feel
Music has an Reading to
connected
comfortable
important
babies is
to other communicating influence on
important
parents
with my baby
my baby’s
for their
with young
through
development. development
children.
music.
and learning
Quantitative Results: Was behavior influenced
as a result of the class?
At the end of the session:
• 100% of parents reported engaging in at least one type of musical activity with their children three times a week
• 89% of parents reported reading to their children at least three times a week
Gains in both of these areas were statistically significant, with Hispanic parents and parents with lower levels of educational attainment
reporting greater gains in many areas of parent engagement behaviors.
Qualitative Results: What were parents’
experiences with the class?
• Intentional Time for Focused Interaction: Parents appreciated the intentionality of
time set aside for interaction with their babies and with other families
• Valuable Information and Experience: Parents valued the information provided
during class about their baby’s development and the ability to witness their child’s development over the weeks of the class
• Effects of Music: Parents enjoyed observing the effects that music had on their babies
• Effective engagement: Parents learned how to combine music and play in their
engagement with their babies
• Comfort with Engagement: Parents gained comfort in engaging with their children in this singing, dancing and musical play
(I learned)
my voice is the
best soothing
tool; music is
powerful.
Summary and Recommendations: What can we
improve going forward?
•We will need a stronger focus on reaching parents with lower levels of educational attainment. These parents demonstrate even higher levels of growth from the program but our enrollment numbers remain low for this population.
•Some parents suggested that they would benefit from additional resources and materials to take home with them. This could help ensure that parents continue their engagement after the class ends.
•This data from the first year of the program shows that participants
experience significant value from participating in the class. Our focus going forward should include broader efforts at enrollment and evaluation of the program, as well as tracking whether the program effects continue over time.
I loved seeing my baby’s response
to music. She loves it!
For information about this evaluation, please contact Aliah Carolan-Silva, Ph.D., HEA Director of Research,
at [email protected]
124 East Washington Street
Goshen, IN 46528
(574) 849-0492