Tot Music: Baby steps to life’s harmonies

Tot Music transcends melody and song; it fosters a sense of community, nurtures cognitive development, and empowers parents to become their child’s first music teacher.

Monica Moyers started Tot Music on Long Island 23 years ago; in fact, her first-ever class was on Sept. 11, 2001.

“My coworker asked me that day what to do, and I said, we sing!” said Moyers. “We cried, and we sang. This is what I do for peace.”

As of current, Moyers, with the help of one other music teacher, runs the three program offerings: Music Together, Tot Music Drum, and Canta y Baila Conmigo, a Spanish twist on Music Together.

“Canta y Baila Conmigo is special in that it gets everyone in the room. I have native English families, native Spanish families, and even bilingual families.”

The collaboration with Music Together grants Moyers the materials, which families can take home for practice outside of classes. Music Together also emphasizes sound-embellished storytelling, using instruments and actions to share emotions with the music. This is especially important for the Canta y Baila Conmigo classes, which teach children Spanish through song by using picture cards and body language.

Moyers runs about two to five classes six days a week in six different locations across Long Island, including Patchogue. Currently, approximately 70 families are registered for regular classes with Tot Music. The classes welcome both infants and expectant mothers and has had children up to 10 years old.

“Music education supports every other kind of learning,” said Moyers. “The earlier you can start, the better they are set up to learn everything else. It’s time well spent, and it’s so gratifying.”

Before starting her business, Moyers was an aspiring performer. However, after attending a Music Together training in New Jersey, she fell in love with teaching music almost instantly.

“Within literally the first two minutes of being there, I thought, this is what I was born to do,” said Moyers with a big smile. “And I have to say, 23 years later, I love it just as much now.”

Moyers reminisces about familial influences that shaped her musical identity. From grandparents who owned a dance studio to parents who strummed guitars, music was not just a hobby, but a way of life.

“My parents both played guitar and sang,” said Moyers. “I thought everybody grew up like that! And to this day, I think everyone should grow up that way, which has become a big part of my mission.”

With a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Moyers’s research specialization was in young parenting and toxic parenting styles. Although she does not have a music degree, the connection between her psychology education and her mission to teach music is strong.

“In my research, my area of interest was young families and parenting styles,” said Moyers. “And the thing that I ran into in my research was that allowing parents to gain empathy for their children above all else is what allows a shift away from child abuse.”

As a result, an equally important part of Moyers’s classes are the parents. Parents of children up to 8 years of age are expected to be part of the classes as well, so that they can effectively teach their children at home later.

“It’s very much helping them to experience the class, see what we do from the eyes of the child,” said Moyers.

A core mission of Tot Music is to break the mindset that music is only for those who are talented. Moyers and Tot Music believe that every child is born musical and promotes music regardless of inherent talent.

“Just like a bird never stops to ask if it’s good at flying, we should never stop to ask ourselves if we are meant to make music,” said Moyers. “And I don’t want the parents in my classes to pass those inhibitions on to their children.” n

Nistha Boghra is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.