Music and My Child
Yesterday we took the time to drop by a music store to pick up REAL instruments for our little daughter. Last weekend, we shopped for these toy musical instruments at Toy Kingdom, which delighted Drian no end. But we noticed that she still wanted more out of the toys.
When we walked into LYRIC, a music store in Quezon City, I saw for myself just how at home my daughter is being surrounded by anything musical. It was then I realized that we did the right thing…We were picking out some REAL instruments for her to enjoy.
It’s been an amazing eye-opener for me, seeing how music affects the growth and development of my soon-to-be two year old. She delights in expressing herself through instruments, although obviously she hasn’t had any formal musical training yet. But she is showing signs of being a great listener, imitator, and observer.
I remember a few months ago, when I was singing a song called “Loving You” by Minnie Riperton, and Drian had been listening all along. As I sang the part that goes, “Lalalalala, lalalalala, lalalalalalalalalalala, doodum, doodum, doodoo…” followed by that “whistle” part, I saw her face light up. So I tried singing the la la la’s and stopped just before the “whistle” part, and gestured her to fill in. She opened her mouth and did a long whistle note (just the first one though, and not all the other notes), but it was so beautiful that she could follow so quickly that I couldn’t help but engulf her in my arms and applaud her as only a proud mother can.
She loves banging on her drums (she has a toy djembe, two small drums) and it pleased me no end when I heard from her Ninong Junjun (my drummer bandmate who happens to be one of the country’s best drummers…his Dad, my Ninong Jun —godfather in our wedding—happens to be Asia’s Best Drummer, and Junjun’s older brother, Nino is also the country’s premiere session drummer) that Drian held the drumsticks the right way from the very start. He says that’s what matters when a child is trying out an instrument for the first time.
Whether or not my child wants to pursue this musical interest is entirely up to her. I’m not going to force her if she decides to let go and move on to other things. But while she is showing a keen interest in music, I do intend to give her all the opportunities so that she could be exposed and so that she could learn and see for herself what a beautiful world it is when experienced through music.
At the music store, she was happily clinking away on every piano keyboard she passed, tinkering with strings of the guitars on display, and happily shouting “Cymbals!” when she caught sight of a drum kit with big cymbals in the middle of the room.
When I asked the sales lady to show me a new metronome, Drian followed close behind. She knows the metronome to be “MR. TEMPO” since there was a metronome cartoon character in one of her baby music videos, and I asked her, “How does Mr. Tempo move?” To my amusement (and the sheer delight of the sales ladies and the customers in the store), my daughter started swaying back and forth, in perfect time to the metronome scale that was ticking side to side.
What is it about music that makes a person feel and come alive?
A part of me is truly grateful that even at this young age, my daughter is exhibiting a lot of expressive qualities. I appreciate that there are so many open doors of learning for children nowadays, so many great avenues to expose them to and soak up knowledge from.
We picked out simple things…What was important to me was that my child would be able to enjoy using and playing real instruments this time, and I knew that the experience of touching these instruments and making them create sounds would offer her a fresh insight on actual playing later on.
We got her egg shakers and a new (small drum) and wooden sticks. I wanted her to sharpen her percussive skills, or at least tap into them some more. We’ll find out later on, when she’s a bit older if it’s playing the drums that she finds most enjoyable. We also got her a xylophone. And wooden maracas.
I have to say this…Being in the music store for me is like being in a candy store for a child. Hahaha! Although I can’t say I’m a proficient guitar player (I only dabble in guitar-playing to be able to write songs and sing these songs, not to play guitar for an audience—although I’m sure that would be a great thing to learn to do well…I want to learn to play the piano, though), I also picked out two things for myself…A guitar chord book of Michael Jackson songs (yes, I’ve been a fan of this artist since I was five!) and a guitar tuner my darling husband pointed out that I purchase so I can easily tune our guitar at home.
I also picked out a cute sticker book filled with nearly 500 pieces of stickers that are filled with affirmations, motivations, and encouragement that I plan to use daily with my daughter. She enjoys playing with stickers, and I intend to use this simple tool to also teach her about simple rewards while filling her up with the right amount of praise and a balanced sense of discipline.
Also picked out a basic piano book. We don’t have our own piano yet, but this book has photos of the keys and very simple lessons that I know I can start teaching my baby girl.
I love these few quotes:
From the beginning of his education, the child should experience the joy of discovery. –Alfred North Whitehead
If music be the food of love, play on: give me excess of it… –William Shakespeare
Music is given to us with the sole purpose of establishing an order in things, including, and particularly, the coordination between man and time. –Igor Stravinsky
Children learn to talk by experimenting and listening; they can learn to make music by experimenting and listening–unless we stop them! Place children in surroundings that are full of “invitations to learn,” provide them with encouraging and sympathetic attitudes from adults, as well as knowledge, and amazing things can happen–especially to the sensory perceptions that are central to the arts…do we have the courage to embark with them on what are frequently unknown seas? –Emma D. Sheehy
I honestly feel moved every time I see my daughter enjoy herself in musical activities, or when I observe her listening intently to a song and quickly knowing the words to it a while later. I love it when I sing to her in the car and she fills in the lyrics, or leans her head on my shoulder and embraces me as I rock her to a melody of a song we both love.
Music is one of our big bonding activities. It’s part of when we both wake up and sometimes burst into song so early in the day, but more often, it is how we end our day…with a lullabye and a prayer.
I love music, and I love my child. What a joy to find that my daughter is slowly learning to love it too, on her own terms.
Whatever my daughter hopes and plans to be, I always say that my husband and I will always be here to support her. But more importantly, I have to add to that statement…And we will always be there to show her that she is loved, no matter what.
2 Responses to “Music and My Child”
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doesn’t surprise me a bit that it comes naturally to her! You are, after all, a gifted musician and she’s exposed to that. My one year old sings in tatatas but definitely in tune and my eldest loves singing to songs from the 50s and 60s, hehehe.Thank God, Jay is still playing beautiful music and our kids are exposed to it. I understand your joy!!!
Can’t wait to read your blogs on Drian playing instruments, hehehe.
blog on, Adjeng
Thanks for being such an encouragement, May. The Lord is truly faithful in everything, and music (as you and I both very well know) is among His wondrous blessings, I remain in awe at how it impacts our families, and the world! Keep those comments coming. Blessings to you and the family!