Music

I went to a workshop last night that was for caregivers of children entitled "Music, Movement and Meaning". The workshop stressed the importance of music in a child's life, beginning in infancy, as well as how music aids in a child's development. To give you a better idea, here are just a few examples -

1.) When a child uses all of their senses to experience music, that child is more likely to remember what they learned while moving (so of course it makes perfect sense that we make our young children sit behind a desk most of the day to learn, right? Subject for another day!).
2.) When a child listens and understands the words to songs, that child will be more likely to sing words before they can even say them.
3.) When a child hears repeated notes and rythyms in music, that child is more likely to identify patterns and understand sequence, an early skill for reading, math and memory.  The child is also learning to think of what comes next.
4.) When a child sings together with others, that child will be more likely to interact with others and express themself. They learn to make eye contact, take and follow the lead in interactions, follow direction and have fun!

Pretty impressive stuff, no? We also had a children's music teacher at the workshop, teaching us songs to share with our kids. She asked this question - "When it comes to music, what do you think is most harmful to a child?" One woman yelled out, "RAP!" which gave us all a good laugh. Actually, the answer to that is, not being exposed to it.

I grew up in a very musical household. Piano, flute, trumpet, trombone, guitar, accordian, these were the sounds that rang out in our home during my childhood. I loved those sounds! No sound wrapped me in love more though, than the sound of my parents voices when they would look into each other's eyes and sing to each other. I could watch and listen for hours. What a shining example of love those two were for us!

So many of my best childhood memories involve music.  I took piano lessons for about ten years while growing up and spent just about every free minute I had as a teen sitting at the piano, playing and writing songs. I still recall the words to the very first song I wrote at age fifteen for my then boyfriend, now husband -

"Time has a way of healing the pain for the lost one. My road was clear, until you appeared like a shadow. And now I feel like I'm losing all my senses, and it's hurting. I can't reason, with reasons, any more." Oy vey! What a wonderful outlet I had for all of my teenage angst! What a wonderful stress reliever music is at any age.

I watch a show faithfully called American Idol. This year there is a contestant on who has a very intense stuttering problem. At times when he speaks, he's difficult to understand because of it. Amazingly enough, when he sings, the stutter is completely undetectable.

I don't think I could accurately convey the importance that music has had, and continues to have in my life. I have a radio on my kitchen table which goes on even before the coffee maker when I come downstairs in the morning. The first thing I do when I get in the car is make sure the music is on. I even have a radio in my bathroom so when I shower and put myself together, I can listen. Most nights I'm asleep by 9:00, but bring me out where I can listen to live music and I'll last as long as the music does. What about music's ability to bring us back in time to a certain place or situation? That song comes on and you are instantly back there, feeling the same feelings that have long since been gone. Pretty powerful stuff indeed.

I remember when Mom was in the hospital that last week before her death. She was pretty out of it for much of that time, but then she'd suddenly spring to life and come out with one comment or another. We all laughed when she came out with this one, "I wonder if I'm going to hear Michael Jackson singing in heaven?" Michael Jackson had passed away just a few months prior. My response was, "One can only hope Mom". Even in her last moments, music was important to her.

So whether you are nurturing children, or your own soul, fill your days with music, because music changes lives.

xo,
Carrie