Grandchild #1, 5 years, 3 months, and grandchild #3, 2 years, 5 months, were staying at Grammy’s house while Mommy and Daddy went out to dinner to celebrate their September birthdays. Grammy wanted to follow up with the 5 year old to see if he was any more ready to sing a song with piano accompaniment than he was a month earlier when he buried his head under Grammy’s arm at the piano. She assumed that as usual, the 2 year old would want to do whatever his 5 year old brother did, and she was curious to see how that might play out. To Grammy’s surprise, the 5 year old was more than ready to sing independently with piano accompaniment and became quite the “choral leader” for the 2 year old. Grammy and the boys decided to surprise Mommy and Daddy for their birthdays.
The parents were instructed to sit on the couch. The two little boys, like experienced choristers, stood next to the piano facing the parents. They sang two of Grammy’s songs with piano accompaniment—a little Art Song in Dorian tonality and a peppy little song that invited movement—both in the beginning singing range. The 5 year old led the singing tunefully and confidently, while the 2 year old sang along, tuneful most of the time, grappling with the words. The two held hands and bowed after each song, with rousing applause from Mommy and Daddy. The parents were stunned by their birthday surprise, as was Grammy.
