As someone who studies, teaches, writes, and performs music but who now spends much more time making spontaneous music for her toddler than doing any other sort of music-making, I absolutely agree with this.
Personally, I would also rather hear a real human singing something spontaneous than most music on the radio. I love your story of your child’s birth because not only was he so lucky to be born into a world of immediate song, but everyone in the room was blessed and touched in that moment as well. We crave this!!
Another hidden benefit is that the more you create music like this, the better at music in general you become :)
That's a good point about how the more you allow your own spontaneous music, the "better" at it you get! These are the origins of folk music, and we tend to forget that. People have always sung and learned to sing among the wheat or by the cradle or while hauling line.
It is music's origin story. I love that it was also part of my son's origin story!
I used to sing spontaneously a lot more, but as an adult I don’t sing as much. But recently, I’ve been trying to more, as it was bright to my attention what a wonderful way it is to express emotion!
I also find it fascinating and lovely how my third daughter (Cecilia :) sings to herself a lot. It’s so sweet.
Really, really loved this, Dixie. Especially the part at the end about the fact that amateur or even off-the-cuff, at-whim creations do not negate the need for the truly refined stuff. We need it all! Poems, paintings, melodies, all of it. Big or small. They are something we can enjoy as desired, for the sheer fact we can and they are very human!
I notice that I'm more inclined to sing or hum something on my own if I have mental space, a lag in undistracted time, which lends itself to being more in tune with what the heart is feeling.
Thanks, Haley! Your last point is intriguing: we have to feel our feelings, so to speak, in order to make this kind of music. We have to have the space to feel them in order for them to emerge like this. Wonderful to think about -- is the decline in this as a musical morn in our cultural (fewer people whistling than used to, for example, at least based on what I've noticed) partly because we no longer allow ourselves time or silence?
Wow! I hope you have read fellow Substack writer Ted Gioia's book Music, a Subversive History. Despite reservations about "subversive," he is an amazing historian and what he writes about is the ancient, global power of music in our hearts and in personal and collective healing. And group singing of any kind is one of most healing and uplifting acts. But I also looked back to read your article on folk music and loved that as well. Music is huge character in my life because I bonded with Oklahoma! at age 4 and then also starting in elementary school with our weekly music classes. Even in California circa 1960s we had wonderful music books in class which taught us not only how to read music but also to learn about and love the history and geography behind Oh Susannah, Red River Valley, and so on. Plus all the military songs we learned by heart. You just cannot replace this "holistic" education music brings.
Yes! My husband and I have always made up (mostly silly) songs together spontaneously if the situation prompted it. There has been a lot of basic jazz style jamming in the kitchen, with scat singing and vocalised bass pizzicato and trumpet effects, that kind of thing. When we had children this developed further as we found ourselves inventing little signature tunes for each of them, and songs to go with activities like bath time. I firmly believe that music making is a general human characteristic. The fact that there are the musical equivalent of Olympians shouldn’t inhibit anybody else from their musical walk round the block or parkrun.
Isn't this such a fun way of living life for those who like music? We do a lot of making up of songs on the spot, too. Often these are meant to be funny, but there are also lullabies and names songs and I won't pretend we didn't also make up songs about our children's favorite toys.
My family also generally enjoys wordplay, and wordplay + music makes for a lot of fun.
My mom taught me a lot about spontaneous music because she grew up in an authentic folk music culture. So singing was just something done as part of life, not just as performance.
"So go ahead and sing if you want to. Don’t reject your own music because you are not an Artist. Each one of us is an artist with a small “a,” not because we are so trained, or even so skilled, but because we are human. And these human instincts to art and action are natural, normal, and, indeed, sacred — they express something for us all. "
So glad I finally made time to read your article this morning. I couldn't help but think of Our Lady and her song after The Visitation! When there is such joy to be had, what else can we do but sing our praise to God?
I'll surely think about this post next time I wonder who might be around when I start singing to my daughters.
As someone who studies, teaches, writes, and performs music but who now spends much more time making spontaneous music for her toddler than doing any other sort of music-making, I absolutely agree with this.
Personally, I would also rather hear a real human singing something spontaneous than most music on the radio. I love your story of your child’s birth because not only was he so lucky to be born into a world of immediate song, but everyone in the room was blessed and touched in that moment as well. We crave this!!
Another hidden benefit is that the more you create music like this, the better at music in general you become :)
I had a feeling you might like this one, Greta!
That's a good point about how the more you allow your own spontaneous music, the "better" at it you get! These are the origins of folk music, and we tend to forget that. People have always sung and learned to sing among the wheat or by the cradle or while hauling line.
It is music's origin story. I love that it was also part of my son's origin story!
I used to sing spontaneously a lot more, but as an adult I don’t sing as much. But recently, I’ve been trying to more, as it was bright to my attention what a wonderful way it is to express emotion!
I also find it fascinating and lovely how my third daughter (Cecilia :) sings to herself a lot. It’s so sweet.
It is really lovely to hear small children doing this, isn't it? They know something we don't know.
I often forget how much a little music can help ease emotions. It's something I repeatedly return to when I remember, though!
Really, really loved this, Dixie. Especially the part at the end about the fact that amateur or even off-the-cuff, at-whim creations do not negate the need for the truly refined stuff. We need it all! Poems, paintings, melodies, all of it. Big or small. They are something we can enjoy as desired, for the sheer fact we can and they are very human!
I notice that I'm more inclined to sing or hum something on my own if I have mental space, a lag in undistracted time, which lends itself to being more in tune with what the heart is feeling.
Thanks, Haley! Your last point is intriguing: we have to feel our feelings, so to speak, in order to make this kind of music. We have to have the space to feel them in order for them to emerge like this. Wonderful to think about -- is the decline in this as a musical morn in our cultural (fewer people whistling than used to, for example, at least based on what I've noticed) partly because we no longer allow ourselves time or silence?
It's hard NOT to sing to a child or to dance. It's silly fun or calming to an agitated toddler.
Absolutely! Quite right.
Yes! I’m not a music person per se, but really appreciate the reminder to do good things regardless of ability!
Thanks! Yes, it is definitely not just music! We should not let lack of expertise get in the way of doing something we enjoy.
Wow! I hope you have read fellow Substack writer Ted Gioia's book Music, a Subversive History. Despite reservations about "subversive," he is an amazing historian and what he writes about is the ancient, global power of music in our hearts and in personal and collective healing. And group singing of any kind is one of most healing and uplifting acts. But I also looked back to read your article on folk music and loved that as well. Music is huge character in my life because I bonded with Oklahoma! at age 4 and then also starting in elementary school with our weekly music classes. Even in California circa 1960s we had wonderful music books in class which taught us not only how to read music but also to learn about and love the history and geography behind Oh Susannah, Red River Valley, and so on. Plus all the military songs we learned by heart. You just cannot replace this "holistic" education music brings.
Sounds like a great book! I haven't read it, but I'm intrigued by your description.
You are so fortunate to have received this kind of education! That's wonderful.
Yes! My husband and I have always made up (mostly silly) songs together spontaneously if the situation prompted it. There has been a lot of basic jazz style jamming in the kitchen, with scat singing and vocalised bass pizzicato and trumpet effects, that kind of thing. When we had children this developed further as we found ourselves inventing little signature tunes for each of them, and songs to go with activities like bath time. I firmly believe that music making is a general human characteristic. The fact that there are the musical equivalent of Olympians shouldn’t inhibit anybody else from their musical walk round the block or parkrun.
Isn't this such a fun way of living life for those who like music? We do a lot of making up of songs on the spot, too. Often these are meant to be funny, but there are also lullabies and names songs and I won't pretend we didn't also make up songs about our children's favorite toys.
My family also generally enjoys wordplay, and wordplay + music makes for a lot of fun.
My mom taught me a lot about spontaneous music because she grew up in an authentic folk music culture. So singing was just something done as part of life, not just as performance.
"So go ahead and sing if you want to. Don’t reject your own music because you are not an Artist. Each one of us is an artist with a small “a,” not because we are so trained, or even so skilled, but because we are human. And these human instincts to art and action are natural, normal, and, indeed, sacred — they express something for us all. "
So glad I finally made time to read your article this morning. I couldn't help but think of Our Lady and her song after The Visitation! When there is such joy to be had, what else can we do but sing our praise to God?
I'll surely think about this post next time I wonder who might be around when I start singing to my daughters.
Thank you, Derek! I'm glad you liked it.