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[Editorial published 2/14/08]
Hi Everybody,
This past weekend my husband and I watched Julie Taymor's Across the Universe (DVD). I was moved by this story of six people's different journeys thru the Sixties and was amazed by the use of a well-known catalog of songs (from the Beatles) to weave an emotional tapestry. The creative team did something interesting by shooting the actors singing "reduced" arrangements of these recognizable songs to draw the viewer into each character's soul -- often dodging the "I'll sing along too" audience response. If you are looking for a romantic film that is visually stunning, cleverly choreographed and musically uplifting, share this with your partner (PG-13). Onto the editorial, this week let's begin to scrape the surface of Music and Kids.
Our home is a bit different than some, because we don't have a TV in the living room. In the 3 rooms where the kids play most, there is a music network device. We have music on for a few hours each day and my son (4) knows how to control his favorites.
Our kids are genuinely excited by music. For the December holidays we had a nine-day festival where the first 8 days featured new music and/or new craft projects, and the kids received toys on the last day. The music or crafts were not gift-wrapped and were introduced at different times of day. This 9-day plan worked out better than my wildest expectations and the kids glowed every time one of their radio-favorites was added to the home network. The biggest hit was Diego's: Morning in the Rainforest song which can put my daughter (2) into a happy mood almost instantly. (My kids hadn't yet seen the show when they fell in love with this song on the radio.)
My son's favorite songs span a wide gamut from a soulful version of Handel's Messiah to Daughtry's Crashed. He practices drumming along to songs from the Blue Man Group: he was hooked after seeing their live concert at the Children's Museum last summer and subsequently watching the concert DVD. He launches his favorite BMG songs and then plays along on
X-drums. My daughter is a fan and happily sits in the chairs he sets out for his concert audience.
At night we keep music cycling in the playroom across from the bedrooms. In 2006, we used soothing heartbeat rhythms. In 2007 it was Mozart's Clarinet Concerto - Adagio. And this year, the most soothing piece has been With this Love from Peter Gabriel's
Passion score. When that is going, the kids relax since it is our "sleepy song".
+ For TV watchers, both my kids adore(d) the Little Einsteins around the age of 2, and the Backyardigans around the age of 3.
Some episodes of those shows are much better than others; I'll make recommendations in another editorial.
+ On DVD, together we enjoy Sesame Street - Let's Make Music (featuring the cast of Stomp) and the genuinely awesome Pipe Dreams piece from Animusic.
+ For a video that introduces the musical instruments, our favorite is Meet the Orchestra. Yes, it is from the controversial Baby Einstein team, but it meets its objective: my kids have acquired an uncanny skill for identifying instruments in other songs.
+ If you're seeking beautiful classical music paired with coherent animation, I can't say enough about the 3-DVD
Classical Baby series. Ideally, catch the "best of" episode on HBO Family. Otherwise, I recommend starting with the Art disc for the visual fun (all 3 discs have excellent music).
This month my kids are hooked on the Nutshell Kids by Maurice Sendak. These are a series of musical poems that you may remember from your childhood. It's a popular request to watch in our car. Last week, we had a tough diaper change and my son calmed his sister by launching into the alphabetical Alligators All Around. I hadn't heard him try it solo before and where he couldn't remember a piece of the song -- she usually did! Since then it's been a source of much joy in our home. I printed him out a lyrics sheet so he can practice his reading, and shhh.. I found him the Carole King CD and books for his birthday next month. That'll be my gift and I'm sure it'll stick with him longer than any toy.
Music is a powerful tool for connecting with your kids.
I hope your week is filled with laughter,
Jill
p.s. It is always a good idea to test-drive video content before introducing it to your kids.
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