One of the most important things a child can have in their life is a connection to music. Whether they're listening to it, playing an instrument, or experiencing it at a concert, music should be a part of their world. I grew up surrounded by it. My family’s duplex had two pianos, and my aunt would often play on her side of the house while my sisters tried to learn on ours. My oldest sister was a natural; she excelled at playing and even went on to take exams through the Royal Conservatory of Music.
I want my own daughter to have a similar exposure to music. My grandfather listened to classical music, my grandmother played popular artists like Liberace, and my mother introduced me to Elvis and folk musicians. It was there, listening to artists like Bob Dylan, that I developed my own love for folk music.
Nurturing a Musical Spark
We've tried to expose my daughter to music by both listening and playing. She has a little record player and a tablet with lots of different tunes, but at bedtime, we play music for her from her mother's computer. While she listens to a lot of generic kids' songs, we've also introduced her to artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, and Anne Murray. She especially loves Anne Murray’s song "There's a Hippo in My Bathtub."
She also has a variety of instruments to play with, from small xylophones to electronic music-making devices, a recorder, and a tin flute. Right now, it's mostly just sounds coming out, but her music is starting to become more structured.
One of the most heartwarming moments happened at a garage sale. I was chatting with the woman running it and mentioned that I wanted my daughter to get into music someday. The woman went back into her house and came out with a youth guitar, complete with a pick, music, and a case. When I asked her how much she wanted for it, she simply said, "I think she should have it." It was such a kind gesture, and the guitar is now in our closet, waiting for my daughter to be old enough to use.
Right now, music lessons are on hold since my daughter’s hands are too small for a guitar. But she listens to music regularly, especially since she's into Celtic dancing. One of her favorite things to listen to is bagpipes, which my wife has hinted at as a future instrument for her. While I’m not the biggest fan of the sound, we’ll see!
Music is a critical part of a child's life, and I'm so glad we're able to give my daughter that experience.
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