Questions Directors Ask Before Hiring A Music Enrichment Program

When a preschool or daycare director first calls us about music enrichment, they usually have a list of questions ready. Some are about the kids, like how long a class runs and what to do with the babies. Others are about the paperwork, like insurance and background checks.

We hear the same questions often enough that we decided to answer them all in one place. If yours isn't here, give us a call and ask.

How long are the classes, and how do you split up the age groups?

Most of our preschool enrichment classes are 30 minutes long. We teach two classes per hour, so in one visit we can see two groups back to back. We bill by the hour, which keeps the program affordable.

We usually follow the groups you already have. If your school has an infant room, a toddler room, and a couple of preschool classes, we teach each one at its own level. A class for three- and four-year-olds looks different from a class for toddlers, and we plan for that.

What do you do with the babies?

This is the question directors are least sure about. A lot of people aren't sure a baby room should get music at all, or how long it should last.

We can do a short class of 10 to 15 minutes. That's a couple of songs, a chance to touch the guitar, and time holding shakers. Some schools pick the shorter class because of their budget, and that's fine.

We can also do a full half hour, and babies handle it well. In our experience, babies are the most engaged group we teach. They watch everything: the guitar, our faces, the other kids. If the budget allows, we recommend 30 minutes for the baby room too.

Babies also remember what they hear. ZERO TO THREE notes that babies as young as 8 months have shown they recognize a familiar piece of music after two weeks. Hearing the same songs each week gives them a chance to get to know them. For more on what music does for this age group, see our post on how music builds language and literacy in babies and toddlers.

Do you offer biweekly classes?

Yes, when we have the staffing for it. Weekly is the most common schedule, but some schools prefer to have us every other week. Programs run anywhere from 6 to 40 weeks, and we offer them during the school day or after school.

If biweekly is what works for you, mention it when you first reach out. We'll check our teacher schedules for your area and let you know what we can do.

If you aren't sure how long a program should run, a shorter session is a fine place to start. Some schools begin with a few months, see how the kids and teachers respond, and then add more weeks.

Do we need to supply instruments or materials?

No. We bring everything. Our teachers come with shakers, drums, and our Mystery Discovery instruments for the kids to see, hear, and try.

All you need is a space where the group can sit together and move around a bit. A classroom with the tables pushed aside usually works.

Are you insured?

Yes. Rockness Music is fully insured. If you need a certificate of insurance, we can provide one for each of your centers. Just let us know the name and address each certificate should list.

Are your teachers background checked?

Yes. All of our teachers are background checked. If your school or your state requires additional checks, we're glad to complete them. Tell us what you need, and we'll take care of it before the first class.

You can read more about who would be teaching your kids on our teachers page.

Beyond these, ask anything you'd ask any outside program coming into your building. How does the curriculum connect to what our teachers already do? Ours is aligned to early childhood standards. How will the class fit into our day? We can work around nap, snack, and outdoor time.

If you're still deciding whether music enrichment makes sense for your school, our post on whether preschools should have music enrichment classes covers that question.

👉 Have a question we didn't cover? Contact us or call 732-205-1971, and we'll walk you through how a program would work at your school.

Thanks for reading,
The Rockness Crew
Rockness Music