Music Together^® Celebrates

March 2012

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!

Share Your Musical Memories

To celebrate Sing With Your Child Month this year, you are invited to share your favorite musical memory with us—and enter to win a free semester of Music Together.

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

 Read one family's musical memory.

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!

Family Music-making Activities

Here are a few of our teachers’ favorite activities for songs from this semester’s Bells Song Collection. We hope you’ll have fun trying them with your own families! If you have a musical activity you’d like to share with the Music Together community, please email it to: SWCYM@musictogether.com.

• Use “Mr. Rabbit” as a play-along at home. Take out those pots and pans or any musical instruments you have and go wild! Or, free-dance to it. You might also try using “De Colores” as a lullaby.
  
  —Melissa K. Smith, Director, Miami Kids Music LLC
   
• To pass the time during a long car trip, try singing “The Bells of Westminster” as a round.
  
  —Nicole McKenzie, Director, Sandcastle Music Together
   
• “Trot Old Joe” is my all-time favorite lap-bouncing song! Try laying on your back with your legs up and bent, and put your child on your knees for a great face-to-face bounce. Big kids like to somersault all the way over for "Whoa, Joe!!”
  
  —Kathy Rowe, Director, Music Together of Phoenix

• My families love singing “Lukey's Boat” in the bathtub with little boats. They love that this activity is listed in their songbook, too! (Check yours out!)

Another favorite activity is singing "Trot Old Joe" with stuffed animals on our laps. One mom shared a musical story with us: After singing "Trot Old Joe" as a lap song with children (not stuffed animals), the mom heard her little girl (who just turned 2) in her room singing. She went in and found her daughter with a stuffed animal on her lap singing the song—and doing the "Whoa, Joe" falling back like we did in class. She said this went on for a good half an hour. Then, the following week she said the little girl directed all the family (Mom, Dad, big brother) to get stuffed animals and they all sang "Trot, Old Joe." Hilarious! I loved it that even Dad played along!

—LouAnne Dunfee, Director, Family Music Time

• Lullabies! The one time of each day that is somewhat ritualized offers the perfect opportunity to sing ANY song as a lullaby. “My Lady Wind” is a beautiful lullaby. Even “Mr. Rabbit” works: 

Mr. Rabbit, Mr. Rabbit, you look a little sleepy,
Yes, you're right, and my eyes are getting droopy. 
Every little, little soul must sleep, sleep, sleep, etc. 

Also, “Brahms' Lullaby” is incredibly easy on the ukulele. I’ve encouraged all of my families to try it. There are plenty of free tutorials on how to play and tune the uke on YouTube. How great would it be to sit down with your uke at lullaby time and serenade your child?

—Lizz Anderson, Musical Me, Inc.

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.