Crazy Schedules Still Have Time for Music
How to create music time for your baby wasn’t even on your radar a few weeks ago. You would have thought that you couldn’t possibly add one more thing to your already packed schedule. Babies and kids take up a lot of time and it doesn’t take them long to mess up your schedule!
Although “social distancing” has rearranged your schedule drastically, you may still have a packed schedule OR you suddenly are looking for activities for your young ones (maybe even your whole family). Either way, I believe you can learn how create music time in your home and want to share with you some ideas about how to do it.
Make a Plan for Music Time
The best advice I ever received about making music a part of my daily routine was a practice plan I learned from one of my violin teachers. It is a simple plan of listing specific things I want to practice. I allot a certain amount of time for each part and set a timer. The idea works! I have built a consistent practice routine.
The beauty of this plan is that when “life happens” and I don’t get to practice, it is always there. I may go several days without practicing. But when I pick up my violin again and work the plan, it is almost like I never stopped practicing.
To help create music time for you and your baby, here is a plan that is simple to follow. It is easy to start, especially if you have already begun to gather your musical items.
Even if you have not started to collect those items yet, you and your baby can still start you “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey”.
Your “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” Plan
Listening
First and foremost, listen to your music CDs or downloads to start creating your music time. It is good to schedule a particular time during your day to listen and make its part of your routine. The truth is that this can be done anytime and the beauty of it is all you have to do is push a button! It’s just that sometimes it can be hard to remember to push the button!
Especially with the Lullabies and Action Songs CD, repeated listening will help you learn the words more quickly and make your musical experience more enjoyable. The added bonus is that your baby will also be absorbing a lot of language. Choose one of the Lullabies, push the repeat button, and play that for your baby as they fall asleep.
Listen to the entire CD. But also, choose one piece and play it repeatedly for you baby. (Special alert! YOU may tire of hearing the same piece over and over, but your baby will not.)
As you continue listening to the Lullabies and Action Songs CD, you will begin to know more songs to sing to your little ones especially at playful moments, nap time, or bedtime.
“If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. They get a beautiful heart”
Shinichi Suzuki
Singing
Second, SING your heart out! Your next step to create music time is to choose a few special minutes during the day to sing to your baby. Sing songs you know. If you know the tune, but not the words, then make up your own words. Hey, go ahead and make up your own tune and your own words! Babies aren’t critics. They just know it is their sweet mama or daddy singing to them, loving on them, and spending time with them.
“The heart that feels music will feel people.”
Shinichi Suzuki
Reading
Third, READ, READ, READ to your baby at every possible opportunity . Exposure to the printed page, the pictures, and the sound of your voice all work together to give your baby the foundation they need to learn how to think, speak, read, and write.
As you read, you will begin to learn what attracts your child’s attention and how they respond to the story. Reading at your music time will also help your child to listen and sing as well!
I just wrote a few sentences ago to read to your baby at every opportunity. Again, if you “schedule” reading time, you are more likely to actually do it. Maybe it can be just before nap time or right after a feeding or breakfast if your child is no longer a tiny infant.
“Skillfulness in rearing a child comes from knowing and feeling as he does in his heart.”
Shinichi Suzuki
Keep your Music Time appointment
Then, you are more likely to keep
your Music Time appointment.
Begin with these three steps. Actually write down on your calendar or planner when you want to do each of these three activities. Treat them like you would any other appointment you make. If you have made an appointment with the doctor or hairdresser, you usually make sure to be there.
Now I know that babies “do what they want” and aren’t really interested in “your” schedule. But doing your best to keep an “appointment” to spend time with your baby is the most important appoint you are ever going to keep.
Start Now
With these three steps, you and your baby will have a solid start to your “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey”. Join me in future posts, where we will explore some musical activities that are short and easy to do.
On the “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” with you,
Susan
Share Your Ideas Here
You have some good ones!
What music have you and your baby been listening to? Do you have a favorite song to sing to your baby? What is your baby’s favorite story to read together?
I would LOVE to hear your about your favorite music, songs, and story books. Reply in the Comments and and share your choices. We can all use new ideas!
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