by Mary W. Giampietro

Spring whispers from just around a corner. Signs all around us catalyze our spirits with their simple beauty … Iris, daffodils, and snowdrops. Bird song in the early dawn. The sound of rain soaking the fertile earth. March in its delicate balance of forces is potent with creative energy, that which wells up within us as creatures of the earth. It makes sense to celebrate this time of growth as Sing With Your Child Month.

It is a time to focus on the simpler things. Making music at home with your children doesn’t cost a cent. For once, parents can let their guard down. Your kids won’t know or care if you’re out of tune. They will thrive off of hearing you sing and beg for more. Remember how important music is for them and how precious are these moments that you share together.

Children who have the experience of actively participating in music reap so many benefits throughout their lives. They find the courage to explore and the rhythm to move. Sharing music with your child is so invaluable because you are their greatest teacher. They love and trust you. When you sing together, they are learning to trust their own voice.

Integrating music education into daily life supports the overall development that occurs during childhood. In fact, studies suggest that making music with your children will help them to develop in other areas of learning such as language and spatial awareness. Every child is musical. By making music with your children, you are fostering the natural growth of their innate ability to create and explore in the world of sound and song. Not only does this aid in their development, but it helps them to feel safe and trust in themselves and a world that they have the power to create.

You will, of course, have to get used to your own voice. But from it, your child will experience a lifetime of joy in music, and they may likely be better than you at holding a tune as a result! Music learning in childhood supports all learning by encouraging creativity, self-expression, and social interaction.

Most importantly, it is these moments of connection in family music-making that your children will remember for the rest of their lives. These experiences will give them the tools to create a more harmonious world. So embrace the spring – sing.

Mary W. Giampietro is the Director of Music Together of the San Juan Islands.