Featured Family: Harmony in Our Home

Four years ago, my wife and I attended a Music Together class with our daughter Ava. We loved the class and our teacher Daisy Klaber. However, we never expected that, four years later, we would still be avid Music Together attendees and that Daisy would be joining us to celebrate the first birthday of our third child Juniper!

Music Together has been the backdrop for our children’s infancy and toddler years. The “Flute” CD always makes me remember when my son Sullivan was a newborn and I patted his back to the tune of “The Earth is Our Mother” in an effort to get him back to sleep. The “Drum” song collection makes me think of Ava’s first class, when I learned to play “Kookaburra” for her on my guitar.

As a teacher, Daisy always creates a validating, positive atmosphere and her classes are meaningful to each of my children in a different way. Four-year-old Ava is quick to participate and often leads her own classes at home. Three-year-old Sullivan often sits quietly in my lap or directly in front of Daisy and takes everything in. Someone who didn’t know him might think he wasn’t paying attention until they heard him singing the songs to himself at home. One-year-old Juniper loves music class because she can run around and “taste” egg shakers without anyone telling her no!

Growing up with Music Together and Daisy has helped give our children an appreciation of music—and the confidence in their own abilities to create it. I am sure music will continue to be an important part of their lives for many years to come. As for right now, whether it’s the “Hello Song,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” or something entirely of their own creation, nothing makes me tear up quite like hearing all three of my children sing together.

—Jeff Sanger and his wife Amy McDonough take their three children to Music Together at Household Harmony in Pittsburgh PA.