Music Together® Celebrates
Thank you all for celebrating Sing With Your Child Month with us this March! We hope you had a great time singing, dancing, and making music with your families. And, don’t forget to continue the music-making fun!
Coming Soon . . .
Some pictures from Sing With Your Child Month celebrations around the country.
Photo- and Video-sharing Sweepstakes
Thanks so much to everyone who posted a photo or video to our Facebook Page! Our lucky contest winner will be contacted soon. Don’t forget to visit us on Music Together LLC’s Facebook Page and check out all of the families making music together at home!
Family Music-making Activities
Although Sing With Your Child Month is ending, remember it doesn’t have to be a special day to make music with your child. Here are a few more ideas to keep you going. Have fun, and keep making music together!
Form a kitchen play-along band!
Get out those pots and pans, plastic bowls, whisks, pie plates, and wooden spoons for a family jam session! Sing and dance while you play nonbreakable kitchen “instruments” made of wood, plastic, or metal without points or sharp edges. You might put some beans into a soda bottle and tape it shut—or try a simple wooden spoon and an ice cube tray. Jam together, or adults and children can take “solos.” Feature Daddy on pans, for example, or Grandma on spoons! Check out “Playin in the Kitchen,” the perfect accompanying melody, which is available on the Music Together® Family Favorites® CD.
Dance a waltz with your child’s favorite stuffed animal!
Put on your favorite waltz and give your child a favorite stuffed animal or doll for a dance partner. You can take a “partner,” too, and model dancing around the room. Sway to the left, then right, in time with the three-beat feeling of the music. Try fancing a waltz, one big step, followed by two small ones RIGHT-left-right, LEFT-right-left. Use your favorite waltz music, or try the Music Together song “Dancing with Teddy,” available on the Music Together® Family Favorites® CD.
Make a family train with “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”
Sing this favorite traditional song while making a family train—move your train in a circular or serpentine fashion around the room or house! Stop and wield imaginary sledgehammers as you work on the railroad and then see how fast you can go. Then, why not ask your child be the leader and let Mommy or Daddy be the caboose?! The Music Together version of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” is available on the Music Together® Family Favorites® CD.
Music Together Program Developer Carol Ann Blank
Featured on Music Therapy Show
On March 7, 2009, Music Together Program Developer and board-certified music therapist Carol Ann Blank, was featured on the Music Therapy Show with Janice Harris. Carol Ann spoke about Sing With Your Child Month and how Music Together can be used in music therapy practice to reach children with special needs. The Music Therapy Show, hosted by music therapist Janice Harris, is a weekly call-in radio show for music therapists looking for new ideas and anyone looking to use music to enhance their capabilities. It airs every Saturday afternoon at 4 PM CST (5 PM EST).
Hear this show "On Demand."