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Did you know October 2nd was Kids Music Day? A #Holiday that celebrates the importance of music in children’s lives and education. Created by the nonprofit organization Keep Music Alive, Kids Music Day is observed on the first Friday in October. It encourages families, music teachers, schools, and organizations to help children experience music through lessons, performances, instruments, and other activities. You can learn more at Keep Music Alive.
And as a mom who homeschooled both Suzanne and Charlie, I can tell you that music was always part of our learning experience. We didn’t need a fancy classroom or expensive instruments to enjoy it. Sometimes all we needed was a little music, some creativity, and a few pots and pans from the kitchen cabinets!
Suzanne and Charlie have always loved music, especially old time rock & roll. But just like any two children, they were as different as night and day when it came to what they liked to listen to. Suzanne was 100% country. Charlie was 100% rap. Can imagine how different the music sounded around our house if they had been here at the same time?
But there was one place where they met in the middle: old-time rock and roll. David and I brought them up listening to old-time rock and roll from the time they could walk. It was part of our home, our family time, and the memories we made together and its the music we still listen to.
Music gave Suzanne and Charlie something they could both enjoy, even when their individual tastes were completely different. And I think that’s one of the wonderful things about music. It can bring people together, even when they don’t always agree on what should be playing next.
When we were homeschooling, we always made time for music class. Each and every week, we would listen to a new artist and explore their music. It gave us an opportunity to discover songs, learn about different styles, and enjoy something together that wasn’t always found in a textbook.
One of the wonderful things about homeschooling is that you can think outside the box. Learning doesn’t have to happen only at a desk, and you don’t have to follow the same routine every day. You can include music classes, find local lessons, explore instruments, listen to different artists, or even teach your children yourself if you have the skills and interest.
And if you don’t know how to play an instrument, that doesn’t mean you can’t make music part of your #homeschool. You can listen to songs, talk about the instruments you hear, explore different kinds of music, sing together, or make your own instruments at home. There are so many ways to learn, and music gives you another opportunity to make those lessons memorable.
When Suzanne and Charlie were little, I would bring all the pans out of the kitchen cabinets and put them on the floor. Then the kids would sit down and make music. They could spend hours doing it! Let me tell you, I could have used a pair of headphones during some of those music sessions. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any. But I let them play because they were learning.
They were exploring sounds, making rhythms, experimenting, and using their imaginations. They didn’t need to know how to read music or play a real drum set to enjoy making music together. Sometimes the simplest activities create the best learning opportunities.
And that’s one of the things I loved about homeschooling. We could turn an ordinary afternoon into a learning experience without needing a special lesson plan or expensive supplies. The key point in life is learning. And sometimes children learn best when we give them room to explore, make a little noise, and have fun.
One thing I wanted to remind you is music is more than something we listen to for entertainment. Kids Music Day, organized by Keep Music Alive, highlights the value of including music in children’s education and encourages hands-on ways for children to participate. Activities can include trying instruments, student performances, introductory lessons, and group music-making.
Music can also give families a chance to share their interests and introduce children to artists and styles they might not discover on their own. If you love the Beatles as much as I do, you might enjoy visiting the Beatles mural on Ray Street. And if you’re in the area, you can also look for the Dolly mural at the Lone Star Ballroom.
Murals like these give us another way to celebrate the artists and music that have become part of our lives. Music can teach us about history, culture, creativity, and the people who have shaped the sounds we enjoy today. It can also bring back memories of family members, special occasions, and moments we never want to forget.
Making Music Part of Your Children’s Day
If you’re homeschooling or simply looking for something fun to do with your children, here are a few simple ways to bring music into your day:
- Have a family music day: Let each person choose a favorite song and share why they enjoy it.
- Explore a new artist: Pick someone your family hasn’t listened to before and learn a little about their music.
- Make homemade instruments: Use safe household items to create shakers, drums, or other instruments.
- Try a music lesson: Look into local music teachers, community classes, or introductory lessons.
- Have a family sing-along: Choose songs everyone knows and enjoy singing together.
- Explore music from different eras: Listen to music from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or another decade and talk about how styles have changed.
You don’t have to do all of these activities, and you certainly don’t have to spend a lot of money. Sometimes all it takes is turning on a favorite song and letting the children join in.
I wanted to share Kids Music Day because music was part of our lives while Suzanne and Charlie were growing up, and it was also part of our homeschooling experience. Suzanne and Charlie may have had very different musical tastes, but they shared a love of music and had old-time rock and roll in common thanks to David and me.
I remember those days when the kitchen floor became a music room, and the pots and pans became instruments. I might have needed headphones, but I also knew the kids were learning, exploring, and having fun. As parents, we don’t always need to have every lesson planned out. Sometimes we just need to give our children opportunities to discover something new and enjoy the process. And that’s what learning is all about.
Today, I encourage you to take a little time to enjoy music with your children, grandchildren, or family. You might introduce them to an artist you loved growing up, try a new instrument, sing along to an old favorite, or simply make a little music with whatever you have at home.
You never know what kind of memories you’ll create or what your children might discover along the way. For Suzanne and Charlie, music was one of the many things that made their childhood special. And for David and me, those memories are something we’ll always treasure.
Happy Kids Music Day!
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Gracias,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
