Like so many of you, my husband Brad and I have recently experienced a complete CLEANSING of our calendar and TO DO lists – which had been overflowing with concerts, festivals, deadlines, recitals, auditions and responsibilities – all a part of our work as faculty in the School of Music at Millikin University. Very suddenly choirs were cancelled and our teaching of voice lessons and music ed classes shifted to online interactions. As empty nesters, the two of us find ourselves solitary co-travelers in this CV-19 journey, confined mostly to our home, like everyone else.
Instantly losing the relational community of ensemble singing (through school, church or community choirs) has hit so many of us. Sharing together in ensemble singing is something we can’t do at home by ourselves. It is a healing, vitalizing and enriching art – and In these moments of having temporarily “lost” the ability to create the music we love (listening isn’t the same…and nothing we can do online takes its place) we realize what a valuable treasure we have!
We hear music educators, students and singers speak of the vacuum caused by this loss, and then we read anecdotes of parents of school-aged kids attempting to adjust to teaching and entertaining their kids at home 24/7. It strikes me that we could see our current circumstances as an opportunity. At the very least, we could introduce some wonderful musical distractions from the issues pelting us on the evening news. At most we could gain something we didn’t even know was possible. We could use this time to enrich our family’s story and discover something new: the joys of singing with our own kids – or whoever lives in our own “ship” on this quarantine voyage.
Brad and I began singing with our kids at bedtime from the time they came home from the hospital (he even made up a simple short song featuring each of their names IN the hospital…which he sang to them for years.) We started so simply, and they naturally began to enthusiastically sing along. Of course, we started by singing fun, simple unison songs together. Then one night our 3-year old suddenly was singing something else (?!)…and when questioned, she basically told us she was ready to begin the next phase (“Daddy, I’m singing the HARMONY!”) 😊
I know if you don’t teach music or sing in a choir it could seem overwhelming to take on such a task. The truth is you probably already have all you need to do it, but perhaps I can offer some encouragement and specific musical “starting blocks” to get you on your way. In response to several who asked some years ago, Brad and I eventually wrote Harmony at Home: A 6 step Approach to Family Part-Singing. We included some digital recordings of these songs for families, which help kids and adults learn the songs and enjoy them together.
Here’s one to get you started, which could work for families who are already doing some early singing: The Instruments, a partner song which has several simple melodies which fit together perfectly. You can start with just one or two of the melodies, split your family into “teams” or sing one on a part.
Here are recordings of each of the melodies:
If you want to hear all the parts at one time, listen here:
Have fun! What was cherished by our family could certainly morph into something new and unique for yours. I’m hoping that when you look back on this season of staying home together, you can smile at the memories of your Quarant-Sing.
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