To my little aesthetes*,
I’m so pleased you appear to have a taste for the Arts. You already show an interest in literature. I mean, what is more classic than The Gruffalo? You look forward to ballet classes each week and you produce inspired artwork on a daily basis. And you’re quite the keen film buffs – Frozen, Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp and more – if it’s Disney and it has no scary parts, you’ve seen it!
However, I do feel the need arising to begin addressing your taste in music. I understand you are just four years old, two and one so it is only natural you would be partial to nursery rhymes. I get this and I can tolerate The Wheels on the Bus and Twinkle Twinkle on repeat when I have had enough sleep.
Unfortunately, there seems to be disharmony of opinion on the appropriateness of Christmas songs in April. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the My Little Pony version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas as much as the next mother…in December.
Also, there was a time when I quite liked Taylor Swift. It wasn’t until one rainy day, when I had to endure Welcome to New York at least 23 times, that I decided I was no longer a fan.
I’m told music is good for brain development, it can help to calm and relax and it inspires creativity. No doubt it was soul-food from the time you were in the womb but surely this does not result from exposure to all music?
A post on healthychildren.org reveals how some music has positive effects while other types proves to have a negative impact on almost everyone who listens to it. Sadly, I was not able to find research in support of my theory that Mary Had a Little Lamb is bad for all our health. It is, in fact, grunge that is most detrimental. I won’t introduce you to Nirvana just yet.
There are some days, however, when we seem to hit a healthy compromise. I have listed a few of our shared favourites below for future reference:
- Charlie Hope – If I must endure endless nursery rhymes, I’m quite happy to listen to the tasteful versions by Charlie Hope. Many a car journey has been made tolerable by singing along to Cowboy Boots or Mr Sun.
- Movie soundtracks – I have always loved musicals. In fact, I had my heart set on the West End during my latter teen years. Unfortunately, my talent did not match up to the requisite standards so instead you are forced to endure me living out my dreams in the kitchen via Apple Music. You don’t seem to complain and we all love a good belt out of The Greatest Showman soundtrack. The same can be said for Disney songs. You’re just lucky I love a good sing along. Songs like Under the Sea evoke memories of my own childhood and Let it Go afford the aforementioned living out of unfulfilled dreams.
- Worship Central, Hillsong and Rend Collective – some of my favourite people in the world are featured on the latest Worship Central album and I will gladly replay Stir a Passion as many times as you request. Worship albums are good for the soul and a great way for me to maintain a positive attitude on days when motherhood takes its toll.
- Classical music – I have always loved the soothing effect of listening to classical music. I recall a time when the only CD’s I owned were the ones that came free with the first volume of a weekly classical music magazine. I listened to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Holst’s The Planets so many times I reckon I used to hum entire suites in my sleep. It pleases me no end to see you opting for a peaceful composition and allowing it to play in the background as you potter or play.
- Imagine Dragons – granted it is only one song, Thunder, which you have shown any interest in but for about a year I would crank this up purely for my own amusement. Thanks to your Granny, you were convinced the lyrics were not “Thunder, th-th-thunder” but were in fact “Bum burp, b-b-bum burp”. Cracked me up every time. But then, as children do, you wisened up and began to question the logic of “lightning and bum burp”. *sigh* You’re just too sharp for anyone’s good.
We can do with expanding our agreed upon repertoire. For now, when you request access to the music on my phone and I say “Yes, but nothing annoying”, the above list is what is deemed acceptable. Anything outside of this has the potential to raise my blood pressure and negatively impact the tone of the household.
I may be a mother and I know it is requisite that I act selflessly on most occasions. However, I am a person too. And a sensitive one at that. Like you, music affects my mood and we all know that my mood affects us all.
So, let’s save The Wiggles for when Daddy is on duty, okay?
Love,
Mum
*a person who has or professes to have refined sensitivity toward the beauties of art or nature.