Here's a terrific article about a weekly course currently offered at the University of North Dakota called "Musik Tanz" ("Music and Dance"). The first notable difference between this class and others offered by UND is the age of the students--between 15 months and 6 years. The second difference is in the rules--basically, there aren't any. :)

The class is based on the belief that young children learn best from the powerful role of parents or caregivers who are actively using music. Professor Andrew Knight says research shows children learn faster from the age of 12-and-18 months to 5 years. The idea is to let them learn music and dance the same way they learn nursery rhymes. And the wonderfully laid-back approach is best summed up by the words on the blackboard which greet parents and their little ones as they enter:

- You sing and they will sing.
- You play and they will play.
- Let them learn on their own time and in their own way.