Music Together^® Celebrates

March 2013

It is no accident that we celebrate Sing With Your Child Month in March—a month symbolizing rebirth and growth, which reminds us of our most precious resource—our children. As parents, we have only a finite amount of time to connect with our children before they grow up. When looking for activities to do with your family, remember that singing and making music doesn’t cost a dime—and it supports your children’s development, too.

When we take the time to sing and make music as a family, we form everlasting bonds, which ultimately allow our children to feel safe and secure as they grow, putting them on the road to future success. In addition to the bonding that occurs when parents sing and make music with their children, the children grow into confident music-makers who are able to participate with joy in the music of their culture. And, music learning supports all learning™ by promoting creativity, personal expression, and social interaction.

The beauty is that making music with children does not require special skills or “musical talent.”  In fact, this may be the one time in your life when the audience (your children!) will always be thrilled with your participation—and want more! These experiences will live in your children’s memories for the rest of their lives and help them develop the necessary qualities to grow into loving and confident adults.

The impact of singing and making music with your child is immeasurable, and the rewards of this simple act will help us make the world a much better place than it is now. Sing a song, grab a drum (or even a plastic bowl and wooden spoon!) and join us as we celebrate Sing With Your Child Month this March.

Be Part of Our “One Little Owl” Music Video

To celebrate Sing With Your Child Month this year, we are creating a music video for the Music Together song “One Little Owl” (that’s now a Singalong Storybook!)—and we want your family to be in it. Everyone who submits a video clip for the music video will have a chance to win great prizes, too—including a semester of Music Together classes! 

 Visit the contest page to learn more and submit your entry.

 

Giveaway of the Week

Each week during Sing With Your Child Month (March), you will be able to win a musical prize from Music Together LLC—just by answering a trivia question about Music Together or sharing how you use music with your family! 

March 25-28

This Week’s Prize: Small Percussion Set and Train Whistle ($26.50 value)
This Week’s Question: Music Together recording artist “Grandma Yvette” Glover is the mother of which tap-dancing sensation? (Hint: You can find out on our website!)

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter the giveaway by Thursday, March 28. All responses will be entered into a drawing for the instruments. (New to Rafflecopter? Watch this 45-second video on how to enter.) The winner will be announced on Friday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You may also earn extra entries by sharing with your friends and by liking
the Music Together Facebook Page.

Family Music-making Activities

Some of our teachers have shared their favorite at-home musical activities for songs in this semester’s DRUM song collection. Check them out here! If you have a favorite activity you’d like to share, email it to us at SWCYM@musictogether.com and we’ll add it to the list.

 
What does your child love to do?

Last week, during “Everybody Loves Saturday Night,” I each parent sang about what their child loved. After one mommy sang out loud and clear, “Lisel loves to use the potty,”I realized how useful this song might be at home in all sorts of situations.

How about “everybody loves to take a bath”? Can’t you see families dancing towards the tub carrying their rubber duckies? “Everybody loves to put on shoes!” might help get kids dressed a little faster. And, of course, “everybody loves to eat broccoli.” Not sure that will work—but they can try!

—Kathy Eckhaus, Music Together in Susquehanna Valley

Check out this page of lyric-substitution ideas for
“Everybody Loves Saturday Night” submitted by families!

 
Create a Lullaby from Your Child’s Favorite Song

This week, I am challenging parents in my classes to create a lullaby from their child's favorite song. I did “She Sells Sea Shells” as my example and sang it as the lullaby for class. Here are the words:

(Child's name) closes his eyes tonight (2x)
Go to sleep; I love you, my little one (2x)
Dreams in the night. Singing songs. Sleeping Tight! While . . .
(Child's name) closes his eyes tonight (2x)

You might also think about having a family jam night! Break out the music and instruments (or pots and pans!). My family having a song-and-dance night when I was a kid and and my siblings and I still remember them and talk about them!

—Brandi Cartwright, Eversong Music, Nacogdoches, TX
 

Sing and color!

Check out these coloring pages from Music Together’s One Little Owl Singalong Storybook. Don’t forget to sing while you color!

"Who's in your tree?"

"One Little Owl"

"Can you draw more leaves?"
 

Bring music into your storytime

Check out this video on how you can bring music into your reading time.  

 
Some More Easy Ideas You Might Try

• Substitute your Music Together song for your child’s before-bed book one night this week.
   
• Turn the CD off in the car and sing all the songs you can remember without it!
   
• Ask your child’s grandparents what their favorite lullabies were and ask them to teach you and sing it together.
   
• Sing a song in a place you wouldn't normally sing (like at the grocery store).
   
  Here’s an example about grocery shopping using “Rig-a-Jig-Jig”:
   
  As I was shopping for some food, for some food, for some food. . .
  As I was shopping for some food, hi ho, hi ho, hi ho!

 

Deeper Learning

Would you like to learn more about your child’s music development? Check out the “Deeper Learning” page on For Enrolled Families, where you’ll find videos, links, and other resources.

If you have questions, ask your director or email us at SWYCM@musictogether.com.

Our Music Videos

Check out our music videos for the “Hello Song” and “Ridin’ in the Car,” featuring clips submitted by Music Together families from all over the world!

“Ridin’ in the Car” Around the World

 “Hello Song” Around the World

We’ve posted some of the submitted video clips to Music Together's YouTube channel, so be sure to check them out, too. And, if you didn’t get a chance to share your clip for the music videos, feel free to upload it to the page now!