Is there anything you’d like to read more about in this blog or as an article? I’d love to hear your ideas.

During the months of February & March 2009, put comment on this post with your ideas and topic suggestions and I’ll send you my ebook 7 Keys to a More Meaningful Musical Life for FREE.

This ebook is about getting past ideas you may have that keep you from making music and provides ideas for small changes you can make to have music as part of your life whether you are a music lover or a music maker. My friends are really on me to start selling this ebook, so this may be the last time I offer it for free.

I look forward to hearing what you would like to learn about.

Deborah

I didn’t pay much attention to the game, but I sure loved playing to get the fans going and doing the half time show.

Even today when I hear “My Girl” I always think about the “Rude Tubas” at Delta State doing their own arrangement during the football games. Hearing about homecoming reminds me of standing on the field at Marengo Academy playing the theme from Ice Castles while the homecoming court passed between us. We did that song every year.

On a different level, the sound of Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” from The Planets always catches my ear because a hymn based on that tune was sung as I walked down the aisle to marry my wonderful husband. Even as I write this, the music is filling my mind and bringing me back–not just to my wedding, but my whole marriage.

I wrote an article for a Christmas themed ebook that is coming out soon. It is titled “Getting Personal with Your Christmas Music”. In the article I wrote “We all know that music can tell a story, but music also has a story.”

At the time I was thinking about what went behind the creation of the music– particularly Christmas music–that is so special to us. I thought about songs I knew and the history of the composer or writer, the circumstances that inspired them to write and the ways music has affected culture .

As I’ve pondered it for a while I’m reminded that the story in music is living. It’s not just the creator’s story or a tale of history. Its story is being rewritten by the listener and added to their own story. Their stories go one inspire the stories of others.

Music from every part of our lives act as markers to bring us back to a something that is beyond the intellectual self. It goes to the root of our soul. I think that’s why there are so many controversies around music. It is amazing the life that music has on every level of who we are–mind, body, and soul.  It’s amazing how much we miss of that reality everyday.

Deborah

For the most part, we just make music a casual part of how we live. He has had the benefit of playing with his toys while string quartets rehearse in our living room and he goes to Kindermusik class every week. Even with all of that, most of his musical education at home is very casual at this age.

We sing the Barney clean up song when picking up around the house. We also have lots of musical instruments (real ones and quality toys) all around for him to experiment on. 

Today, a friend came over and the boys had a sword fight with our boomwhackers. These are plastic tubes that are tuned to different pitches. They didn’t realize they were playing an interval of a major 2nd when they hit them together, but I believe these small experiences have helped my son grow musically. 

One thing I do is tap the rhythm on his back when we hear music, even from TV.  Sometimes I will tap the rhythm of the song and sometimes I’ll tap the underlying beat.  It really internalizes the beat for him and will hopefully develop a more natural sense of timing. I struggled with keeping time in my younger years, so I want to make sure he has a solid foundation.

Most of the music making is impromtu, but we do have one regular routine at bed time. We will all pile into bed for family devotion time. We start singing Gloria Patri followed by a Bible story. After that we say our prayers and end with the doxology. He almost always falls asleep after the Doxology.  It’s a great routine for us and it teaches him music of the church. At some point we will add other music from the liturgy. 

If you don’t have kids, you can still incorporate things for yourself.  Try to tap out the beat and the rhythm while you are listening to music.

Keep your instruments in plain sight. You are more likely to sit down and do something with them if they are easily accessible.

If there is a song at your place of worship that you are stuggling with, bring it home and learn it a little at a time. Sing it as you do things around the house. Maybe even memorize it.

There are lots of things you can do to make music part of your daily life. Just remember it is about growth and experience. Little things do mean a lot when it comes to music.

Deborah

I am quick to set them straight. Musical ability is something that can be developed. It is not the only indicator of what a person is capable of musically. A person doesn’t follow a path based mainly on their abilities in that area. What drives the person is their passion and desire to follow that path.

This was true in my family. My sister was one of those people who picked up music quickly and had a good ear. In my family she was considered the musical one even though I was the one who practiced all of the time.

It took me longer to develop my ear and sense of rhythm. As a matter of fact, I was told that I should never sing and my band director wouldn’t let me march my first year because I couldn’t stay in time with the music. To add salt in the wound, my younger sister was marched that year even though she was only in 6th grade.

I didn’t quit, though. I ended up with a music degree and professional acknowledgement that I do have an excellent singing voice. I also became band director of the band where I wasn’t allowed to march my 8th grade year.

Music was so important to me that I pushed through despite the setbacks. Aptitude and talent did not do it. I was able to develop those things in myself through hard work and proper training fueled by my passion for music.

This is why I am so passionate about helping others find their musical voice. My circumstances could have robbed me of something very meaningful in my life. Many others are being robbed. Music belongs to everyone and no one should go through life believing they if they don’t have “it” then they have nothing. It’s not an all or nothing proposition.

I encourage you to be careful. Don’t take the joy of making music out of your life or the life of your children.

Deborah 

This site is about the music in our life and how to tap into it, develop it, express it, and share it. Music starting at home doesn’t necessarily mean starting at childhood. It means making it a part of your life whatever your age. Whether you’re learning for the first time in a long time or ever…whether you’re advanced or beginner…making music an important part of you life is going to give you much more in return.

Stick around. More musical musings, encouragment, and tools to come.

Deborah