Rhythm Kids® by Music Together® For ages 4–8 · Pre-K through 2nd grade

Music classes for big kids in East Nashville.

Rhythm Kids® is where your kindergartner, first-, or second-grader puts down the screen and picks up a djembe. We drum, sing, move, and make music the big-kid way — and they’ll be dying to show you what they learned.

See classes & register Try a free class

45-minute weekly classes Drop-off friendly Drums provided

Licensed Music Together® Center

Rhythm Kids® by Music Together®

Your music kid isn’t done

The Music Together® journey continues.

Rhythm Kids® carries that journey through age 8 — giving growing musicians a confident, big-kid place to drum, sing, move, create, and lead.

Babies / First Year → Mixed-Ages 0–5 → Master Class 3–5 → Rhythm Kids 4–8 ✦

…and after that, the stage is calling. See where Rhythm Kids leads next ↓

A teacher and child drumming together in a bright East Nashville music studio

Two classes, one journey

Find your child’s level

Rhythm Kids meets kids exactly where they are. Pre-K drummers start in Level 1; once they hit kindergarten they’re ready for the independence and challenge of Level 2.

★ Where the big-kid journey begins

Two preschool-age children sitting with djembe drums, hands raised and smiling

● Level 1 · Pre-K

Rhythm Kids® Level 1

Ages 4–5 · caregiver welcome to stay

The first big-kid step. With a grownup nearby, four- and five-year-olds drum, sing, dance, and start playing music-based games — learning to take charge, lead others, and be musically creative as they:

make up their own drumming patterns
invent new ways to play shakers, sticks & more
create their own movement ideas for songs
build beat-keeping, improvising & ensemble skills
take their very first drum solo!

Level 1 is taught by Ms. Jodie or Ms. Allison, depending on class time — experienced Tenn Little Birds teachers who know how to help young musicians feel confident, connected, and ready for their first big-kid music class.

★ New for Fall — taught by Ryan

Two early-elementary children playing a hand-clapping rhythm game and laughing

● Level 2 · K–2nd Grade

Rhythm Kids® Level 2

Ages 5–8 · kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade · drop-off

Independent, ensemble-driven, and seriously fun. Our kindergarten through second-grade musicians integrate rhythm into everything they do as they:

learn multicultural drumming patterns by ear
build repertoire across a range of percussion
explore movement & dance while singing
play strategic, rule-based music games
solo, conduct, compose & lead the ensemble

Level 2 is taught by Mr. Ryan — EAST Collective co-founder, TLB teacher, and seasoned actor/singer/musician with a focus on confidence, independence, and ensemble skills.

Music Learning Supports All Learning®

What 45 minutes of songs and movement actually builds

Rhythm Kids is play-based and joyful — and underneath the fun, it’s strengthening the exact skills kids carry into the elementary classroom and beyond.

Music Musicianship

Rhythm & tonal competence
Composing, conducting & choreographing
Independent, confident singing
Confidence in movement
Creative musical expression

Everything Whole-child skills

Leadership & social skills
Executive function & focus
Emerging math skills
Creative problem-solving
Cultural exposure & appreciation

A great stand-alone class — and the ideal on-ramp to piano, guitar & formal lessons.

In the room

We drum & dance. We stomp & sing. We conduct & compose.

Drum

West African djembes, hand percussion, and patterns from around the world.

Move

Folk dances, scarves, and full-body rhythm games that get every kid up and going.

Two older kids playing an active rhythm game with hoops

Create

Solo, improvise, conduct the group, and invent brand-new patterns of their own.

Sing

Vocal play and independent singing build the musical ear under everything.

Two kids celebrating with hands raised in a drumming class

A passport in 45 minutes

Rhythms & songs from cultures around the globe

Kids learn drumming patterns, dances, and songs adapted for their age — building cultural appreciation alongside their musical ear.

Mali West African djembe & Gahu

Japan Taiko drumming

Brazil Samba grooves

Puerto Rico Afro-Caribbean rhythm

Turkey Mediterranean meters

Beyond class

The fun continues at home

Every family gets the tools to keep making music all week long. Tuition includes:

The Animal Collection songbook & download code each semester
Interactive play-along videos with Rhythm Kids creator Tom Foote
Music-reading-readiness activities & in-home activity pages
Pre-recorded classes to watch on demand

It’s their very own music class — that comes home with them.

Gear up

Every drummer needs a djembe

Drums are provided in every class. For practicing at home (recommended for Level 1, important for Level 2), grab a djembe at least 12″ tall — 12″–16″ is the sweet spot for kids.

12.5″ tall (7″ head) great for ages 4–6

16″ tall (7.5–8.5″ head) great all-arounder

20″ tall (9.5″ head) for grownups & big kids

Rhythm Kids families get 5% off + free shipping at Djembe Direct with code RHYTHMKIDS. We love shopping local, too — ask us where!

Everything’s included

One tuition, the whole experience

① Weekly 45-minute classes, led by trained Rhythm Kids teachers

② Animal Collection songbook + digital download code each semester

③ Online video tutorials, play-alongs & music-reading readiness

④ On-demand recorded classes & in-home activity pages

Woodland St. studio · East Nashville

Classes & registration

Rhythm Kids runs alongside our toddler classes, so siblings can attend on the same trip. Currently enrolled families preregister first; registration opens to everyone shortly after.

Class	Level	Schedule	Starts	Teacher
Rhythm Kids (4–8)	Level 1	Wednesday · 4:30 PM	Fall 2026	Jodie White	Register
Rhythm Kids Level 2 (new)	Level 2	Day/time TBA	Fall 2026	Ryan	Join the list

Please read our Health & Safety Guidelines before registering. Questions about placement? Call 615-358-8544 or contact us.

When the stage starts calling

Ready for more than music? Meet EAST Collective.

Some kids fall in love with the spotlight. EAST Collective is East Nashville’s home for creative & theater arts — acting, music, visual art, and crafting for the same kids who grew up drumming with us. Rhythm Kids builds the confidence, focus, and ensemble instinct; EAST gives it a stage.

Explore EAST Collective

Mock note: links to the EAST page we still need to build on the TLB site.

What educators say

Music teachers can spot a Rhythm Kid®

Quotes shared by Music Together® about the Rhythm Kids® program.

“I love the program. The music alone is sophisticated and diverse — so good for children to hear and learn. It gives them a solid foundation in the whole music experience: singing, movement, rhythm, and early theory.”
— Music Teacher

“I'm a piano teacher, and Rhythm Kids® feels so right to me. It's building musicians first — the play-based approach, internalizing concepts through repetitive, fun, social music-making. That's key!”
— Piano Instructor

“Rhythm Kids® students come to me with a solid foundation in music and drumming. Often they already know the pattern I'm showing them. I can identify a Rhythm Kid right away!”
— Percussion Instructor

Educator endorsements provided by Music Together®. Swap in real Tenn Little Birds family quotes here as you collect them.

Good questions

Parent FAQ

What ages and grades is Rhythm Kids for?

Rhythm Kids serves children ages 4 through 8. Level 1 is for four- and five-year-olds in Pre-K. Level 2 is for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade (roughly ages 6–8). It’s the perfect first music class for elementary-age kids — and the bridge from early-childhood music to formal lessons.

Do I need to stay, or is it drop-off?

Both levels are drop-off friendly. In Level 1, caregivers are welcome to stay, sing, and drum along — many parents do for the first few weeks, then take the 45 minutes for themselves. Level 2 is built for independent big kids, so most families drop off.

My child has never taken a music class. Can they still join?

Absolutely. Rhythm Kids is designed so any child can jump in and start growing their skills — no prior Music Together® experience required. Kids learn patterns in a fun, repetitive, social way that meets every beginner where they are.

Do we need to buy a drum?

No — drums are provided in every class. A home djembe is recommended for Level 1 and important for Level 2 so kids can practice with the online play-along videos. Families get 5% off + free shipping at Djembe Direct with code RHYTHMKIDS.

How is this different from our old Mixed-Ages or Master Class?

Mixed-Ages and Master Class are caregiver-and-child early-childhood classes. Rhythm Kids is the big-kid level: more independence, real drumming technique, ensemble work, conducting and composing, and music-reading readiness. It completes the Music Together® pathway from birth through age 8.

Is Rhythm Kids a good fit before starting piano or guitar lessons?

It’s ideal. Rhythm Kids builds the rhythm, tonal awareness, focus, and confidence that make formal lessons click. Many piano and guitar teachers specifically recommend a foundation like this first.

East Nashville · Woodland St.

Let’s make some noise.

Give your 4-to-8-year-old a music class they’ll beg to come back to — and a foundation that lasts a lifetime.

Register now Try a free class first

Tenn Little Birds · Rhythm Kids® by Music Together® · East Nashville, TN · 615-358-8544

Music Together art & logo design copyright © 2016–2026 Music Together LLC. Music Together is a registered trademark. Tenn Little Birds is licensed by Music Together LLC. For more Music Together locations: www.musictogether.com
Rhythm Kids® by Music Together® logo

Licensed Music Together® Center — Mockup placeholder: swap in the official Music Together®/Rhythm Kids® Combination logo from the Marketing Portal before publishing. —

Rhythm Kids® for pre-K to 2nd grade at Tenn Little Birds