Carter

Rogers' got the beat and he and his mom, Leslie are all

smiles. Tapping out a tune on a pint-sized drum is one of

the toddler's favorite activities during his once-a-week

music class.

Carter is

one of about a dozen budding musicians in Heather

Arnold's Tikes and Tots Music Time session. The 45-minute

class introduces the 5 and under set to rhythm, beat,

song and dance. While Arnold, the mother of a 19-month

old son named Zachariah, directs the group in a series of

songs, impromptu jam sessions and movement exercises,

it's the moms who continue the program at home.

A tape, CD

and songbook accompanies each session, allowing parents

to plug in their children's favorite songs for a ride to

the supermarket or a morning break from Sesame Street.

The classes

meet in the aerobics room at Gold's Gym on Ga. Highway 74

in Peachtree City. Rogers said she and her son enjoyed

the class because it was "so much fun." Cheryl

Jashek, mother of 2-year-old Dylan, said he has adapted

comfortably to the class routine.

Arnold's

easy-going manner and ready smile sets a relaxing tone

for the class. The children move about the room at will

and are quick to respond to her soft-spoken directions to

select a pair of rhythm sticks or return the instruments

to the bag she holds open for easy deposit.

Circle time

activities unite mom and child for a rollicking variation

on the classic tune, "Itsy, Bitsy, Spider," or

a dramatic interpretation of "The Elephant

Walk."

Tucked in

between the songs and games are valuable snippets of

musical information. "By learning music and working

on the skills, anyone can develop their musical

potential," Arnold tells the moms. "We're not

just stuck with what we're born with," she adds.

Tikes and

Tots is a metro-based business using the techniques of

Rob Sayer's "The Music Class," a well known

children's music program offered in Atlanta. Kim Rash and

Scott Miller, partners in Tikes and Tots, claim the

program offers parents "an opportunity to help with

their children's overall development, as well as build

basic music competence."

"Our

company's mission is to help children develop to their

full potential. Music is one of the best ways to help

with the overall development in all ages, but especially

in infants, toddlers and preschoolers," Rash said.

For class

registration (Cost: $140 for 10 weeks) phone 404-325-7799

or visit www.themmusicclass.com .

An open

house is scheduled for June between and .

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