Notasium: Music based play space and music school
4.5(91)4.5 out of 5 stars, 91 reviews Durham, NC
About Notasium: Music based play space and music school
Notasium offers a vibrant, music-filled environment ideal for young children to play freely and engage in structured musical activities. Its unique value proposition lies in the blend of imaginative play with interactive musical elements, personalized attention from staff (especially in classes like 'Notes for Tots'), and smoothly run birthday parties featuring creative activities.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Parents seeking structured music and dance classes for toddlers/preschoolers (e.g., 'Notes for Tots').Birthday parties for young children (e.g., 3-8 years old) looking for a musical theme with staff-led activities and play.Families needing an indoor escape on hot days, offering active and musical play.Children who enjoy imaginative play with musical instruments, slides, bounce houses, and karaoke.Playdates where children can 'go wild together in a musical environment' and interact socially.
Why families love it
- Highly engaging 'Notes for Tots' class led by exceptional instructor Caitlin, noted for her ability to connect with kids, fostering social development, self-esteem, and a love for music and dance.
- Smoothly run birthday parties with staff actively managing activities and music time, allowing parents to focus on decorations (which they can bring themselves).
- Interactive musical play elements including a 'big guitar slide' that plays notes when stepped on, and dedicated karaoke rooms.
- Parties include creative hands-on activities, such as making home-made kazoos, which children particularly enjoy.
- Dedicated musical play environment with various instruments and toys designed to encourage exploration and 'unleash their inner musician'.
- Interactive 'big guitar slide' where notes play when stepped on, providing a unique and engaging sensory experience.
Insider tips
- Consider visiting during the 'mid-afternoon lull' to avoid larger crowds, especially if your child prefers a quieter environment.
- Plan visits on weekdays or non-Saturday times, as the venue is explicitly closed on Saturdays.
- If attending a party, note that parents can provide their own decorations, allowing for personalization.
- It's a great indoor option for hot weather, but be aware it can get crowded quickly, even on Saturday mornings.
Good to know before you go
- Do not plan visits for Saturdays, as the venue is closed.
- If your child dislikes crowds or you prefer a calmer experience, avoid peak times like Saturday mornings or potentially other busy periods, as the space can feel small when full.
- The venue is closed on Saturdays, which is a key weekend day for many families.
- The space is described as 'pretty small' and 'not a little bit bigger,' suggesting it can feel crowded or cramped when busy.
- The space 'quickly filled up' on a hot Saturday morning, indicating potential for high crowd levels during popular times.
- Crowds
- Experiences a 'lull in kids mid-afternoon,' suggesting quieter times for those who prefer fewer crowds.
- Value
- No specific pricing details were mentioned in the reviews, making it difficult to assess direct value for money, but the overwhelmingly positive reviews suggest high satisfaction with the experience provided for its target audience.
- Food
- Parents are able to provide their own decorations for birthday parties. No explicit policy on outside food/drinks for general admission or parties was mentioned.
- Accessibility
- No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews.
- Safety
- Staff are described as 'on top of things' and ensure parties 'ran smoothly,' implying active supervision and management of children during events and music time.
What parents say
"Young kids really like it, and get to go wild together in a musical environment. Never gets old. The Notes for Tots class with Caitlin is a wonderful sing and dance circle. Caitlin is so in tune with the kids, I think she is single handedly responsible for them loving the class, the songs and the dances she teaches them. Really pays attention to them. This has really contributed to my grand daughter's social development, self esteem and joy in music and dance. I highly recommend it. Thank you so much Ms Caitlin!"
2 months ago
"Kids love this place! My friend's son had a party there recently and all the kids and some adults had a ball playing in the common area and singing along with the staff during the music time. My friend provided the decorations but everything was set up well. The party ran smoothly and the staff were on top of things. No complaints."
5 years ago
"Been here several times and the kid loves it. Apparently there's a lull in kids mid-afternoon so that might be a good time to go if your kid doesn't like large crowds. I’ve gone to a few birthday parties here and each one has been great. They include play time and an activity. At one we made a home made kazoo which the kids loved."
5 years ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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