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For years, Kathy South-Woodford drove with her children - Noah is 5, Liam is 3 and Kira is 1 year old - from Stagecoach to Steamboat Springs for a 9 a.m. music class.

At the Music Together sessions, South-Woodford joined parents and children from across the county in singing, dancing and playing. This fall, she'll teach two Music Together classes of her own in Oak Creek, eliminating travel time for interested South Routt County parents.

"We all teach our children how to walk and talk, and they learn so much from us. : This is kind of modeling how to make and create music," South-Woodford said about the class, which is part of a national music education program that originated in Princeton, N.J., for children ages 4 and younger and their parents, grandparents, caregivers or other adult guardians. The program encourages parents and children to sing and play music as a group.

"I think a lot of households, you put the music on, you listen to music, but the children don't have a bond with the TV or the stereo, they have a bond with their parents," South-Woodford said.

Beth Wendler brought Music Together to Steamboat Springs about five years ago and will teach classes at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings this fall at Excel Gymnastics in Riverfront Park.

She asked South-Woodford - who taught general music at Soda Creek Elementary School, studied music in college, sings and plays piano and guitar - to consider teaching classes in South Routt.

"There are just so many young families with young children there, and lots of families have been coming up to Steamboat in the class. It's such a trek for them in the bad weather," Wendler said. South-Woodford's classes start Sept. 15 and are at 10 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays at the Let's Dance studio in Oak Creek.

"The real goal is to help kids sing in tune and keep a steady beat," Wendler said about the program. "I think for Kathy and I both, we just want families to love music with their kids and participate in music with their children, so kids are growing up loving music."

With each session's tuition, parents get two CDs of children's songs, a songbook and activity suggestions to use in class and at home. Classes provide a safe environment for parents and children, no matter what their music experience is, South-Woodford said.

Michelle Ideus, who has attended Music Together in Steamboat with her 2 1/2-year-old son, Nolan Laird, since he was 3 months old, said she joined the class to meet other parents and children and expose Nolan to music.

"Nolan remembers all the songs now and he's only 2 1/2," Ideus said. "He sings along in class, and he drums now - he's quite the gifted little drummer, even. Everything has been great, he has : a sense of rhythm."

Nolan also sings along with Music Together CDs in the car, Ideus said.

"We all know the songs now, and we all sing along. It's just a great educational tool from the beginning. And who doesn't love music? I think we all have a connection to music in our lives," she said.

South-Woodford said she hopes to start Music Together classes with her 1-year-old daughter, Kira, soon. The class has worked well for 5-year-old Noah and 3-year-old Liam, who are "always making up songs and improvising," South-Woodford said.

"Kids learn the language of music, and then they learn to naturally and spontaneously create their own music, which is something I think is cool about Music Together," she said. "They're observing, and they've (been) watching everyone, else and then they learn to do it themselves."

For tuition information or to register for Music Together classes in Steamboat or Oak Creek, call South-Woodford at 736-2630 or Wendler at 846-0746, or go to www.musictogethersteamboat.com.