“Read this one, read that one.” Little children frequently pull favorite books off the shelf, requesting that a loved one read them. Grammy thought they might similarly request, “Sing this one, sing that one,” if they could access their favorite Art Songs as they do books. She created a “Songbook” for each of 6 Art Songs that Grandchildren #2 & #3 had experienced in the Online Music Classes. Each “Songbook” was a single folded page with a picture on the outside and the notation inside. These became quite a hit with the two toddlers.
While babysitting for Grandchild #1, 2 years, 10 months, Grammy suggested at bedtime that she and the child read a book and then a “Songbook.” In true two year old fashion, he didn’t want to and played with something else. Grammy sat in the rocking chair and began reading the book. He couldn’t keep himself away from it. When she finished the book, Grammy put the child on her lap and picked up one of the “Songbooks.” It happed to be “The Frog and the Cherry Petal.” She sang the song through about 6 repetitions when he interrupted with an enthusiastic, “Let’s dance it on the floor!”
There in his little bedroom, with flowing movement, Grammy and Grandson went through another 10 verses. There was such movement energy in his little body, such deliberate artistry, yet toddler style. He was singing, too, occasionally on pitch. The look in his eyes was pure and absolute joy throughout! Grampy joined the duo and all three moved and sang several more verses. What a beautiful, intimate engagement with a child’s musicality and with a child! What Grammy had witnessed for so many years in the classroom was happening in the intimacy of a child’s bedroom, in his own home, without his ever having been in one of Grammy’s live music classes. There it was, the essence of the child, the essence of music, the wonder of the artistry of a child.
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