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Mothering with Music
Mothers have always used music to soothe, comfort, reassure and teach their children
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Ethno-musicologists say the word ‘music’ is originally derived from the Greek mousike meaning ‘mother’, probably because music has always been associated with mothers, who have used it to soothe, comfort, reassure and teach their children.
These days, the mama singing songs to her babe has been replaced by the stressed out mom rushing round the house trying to keep up with her chores and deadlines, while little one is transfixed by Barney the purple dinosaur and his friends singing and dancing nursery rhymes like Broadway pros. Although Barney has a place and fulfils a need, as his massive success demonstrates, there is no doubt that complete, focussed, one-on-one time spent singing and dancing or rocking your own child is the greatest gift you can give her, even if it is something you have to schedule.
South African singer/songwriter and mother of three Jennifer Ferguson is passionate about the power of music in mothering. “Look at Africa: put your baby on your back and sing!” was her response to my query about where I could find therapeutic children’s music classes in South Africa. “Sing in the car, sing when you massage your baby, sing when you put them to sleep. Try to remember the songs your mother sang,” she encourages.
“Turn the music on, put your baby on your knees and drum gently on his back and bum, keeping rhythm. Babies trance out, it’s better than gripe water!” she laughs. “Or, if you’re too tired, give baby to Dad and ask him to dance around with him, but choose your music carefully.” She refers to Dr Emoto, the Japanese photographer who has done some fascinating experiments photographing frozen water crystals after exposing them to different pieces of music. The water forms beautiful crystals after exposure to the classical masters while heavy metal music has a shattering effect. His theory is that we are 70 percent water, and therefore our bodies would be affected in the same way (babies are 90 percent water, so are more sensitive).
Jennifer recommends folk and older forms of music, which allow spontaneity. “Singing and dancing with your child empowers you,” she says: “It’s cheaper than therapists and it’s good for you too. It allows you to explore your lost childhood! Use the whole of your being: dance, touch, keep physically close to your little one and explore the joy of life. Anything done with the intention of love can transform, and any human can do it!”
Jennifer and her husband Anders, a Swedish choral arranger and composer, have a daughter who has Down’s syndrome. “We have been constantly surprised by her level of language coherence compared with other Down’s children and we are sure it is because of these activities,” says Jennifer. She explains, “We used a lot of sign language and fun gestures. Babies are visually-orientated and sign language can be a useful bridge to language. So combining music with animated expression is the ultimate stimulation.” Chimes, bells, rattles and toning can all be used as musical tools for calming and distracting niggly or irritable little ones.
Motivating music
According to Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect, a study where recordings of nursery rhymes were played to premature babies in a hospital in Florida, USA showed that their stress levels were reduced and their weight gain improved. Tapes of nursery rhymes were subsequently played to babies after open-heart surgery, calming their heart rates and aiding their recovery.
Speech language pathologist Marci von Broembsen works with autistic and special-needs children. “Music motivates the children to attend, participate and be available for learning,” she says. She uses music with entertaining vocal lyrics, such as ‘Walking in the jungle’, an action song with a story introducing a range of wild animals. The process of learning is that they imitate the actions first, then verbal sounds with actions, then words, phrases and eventually with repetition they can use the words with total comprehension. “Learning language in the context of a song is a good way of functionally learning vocabulary,” Marci explains. “The music speaks to the children and brings them out of their shells. They learn from each other by watching and imitating, especially when they use instruments. Music is universally motivating, it crosses all boundaries.”
The power of a good tune
Drumming and percussion is a great musical activity to help young children learn appropriate social skills. When Marci offers round her bucket of rattles, bells and chimes the children have an opportunity to express their personality through their choice of instrument. They have to learn to take turns and share. They learn to participate as members of a group, wait their turn and play when it is their turn to play. “It makes them aware of themselves as individuals as well as part of a larger group,” Marci explains. “This is a big step for autistic children who have difficulty in seeing themselves as an entity in the world. They seldom have boundaries and are not aware of others.”
The ancient tribal ritual of drumming together is being recognised in modern society as an important tool for learning social skills and team building. Many schools have drumming as an extramural activity and it has become a popular event at birthday parties. Fun, age-appropriate drumming sessions are available for toddlers as well as older children. Little ones are drawn to storytelling using the drums, where older ones are keen to learn different rhythms and play together. The rhythmic focus drumming creates can be very calming and meditative as well as a good release for pent-up anger and stress. Drumming is a fun and easy way for parents to play with their children of all ages in a non-competitive, un-pressurised environment.
A widely available music programme for young children is Kindermusik, an international franchise developed in the 60s by a group of German educators and adapted for American families in the 70s. Four class levels are offered from birth to seven years. It uses music to develop language skills, emerging literacy, listening, problem-solving, social skills, self-esteem and musicality.
Music therapist Chris Wildman has developed an edu-care programme over a period of 20 years for four- to six-year-olds called ‘Music Play’. He says that in comparison to Kindermusik, which has the approach of formal cognitive music training, his work is more about using “music as a dramatic event than as a subject”. His instruments become characters in a story and the children are lead by sounds, rhythm and their imaginations on a great adventure.
Researchers have begun to accept music as a form of intelligence, not merely as a manifestation of it. Music is like a mother in the purest sense, creating a sacred space where healing can take place. “Music is sound medicine,” says Jennifer Ferguson, “and when you open your heart and voice to its great gifts you become the physician.” So whether you are inspired to sing and dance with your babies or need to schedule a focused session with a facilitator, or both, enjoy it. And next time you are feeling worn down by the terrible tantrums of your sulky, strong-willed toddler, don’t underestimate the power of a good tune.
You put the lime in the coconut and drink the article up.