Why Mozart Sounds Like A Picnic in the Summertime, and Beethoven Sounds Like a Dancing Fairy, and Why That is A Very Good Thing

It seems to be the inevitable fate of every busy parent, to spend a significant portion of most days confined to our cars.  Between carpools to and from school, trips to the grocery store, the post office, the park, dropping off kids at a friends house, another trip to the grocery store for the bread you forgot the first time, doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and concerts and lessons and practices, we become pretty familiar with the inside of our minivans,  (or giant, green, Excursions, as the case may be.)

With all the time I spend in my car, listening to music on the radio is a definite sanity saver.  I love singing along to my favorite songs, but to find my favorite tunes, I have to wade through a sea of commercials for shoe inserts or mattresses, and way too many songs that overuse the word, "baby".  When I just can't take it anymore, I hit the number one preset on my radio, and find some solace in Schubert or Stravinsky.

My kids haven't always been happy with my fallback choice of classical music.  Loud, exaggerated sighs and the word, "boring", have often been used to express their displeasure.  Lately however, I have been pleasantly surprised by a change in my kids attitude toward classical music.  This positive change didn't come about because I took them to the symphony, (although this is a great idea), or because I subjected them to long lectures on the virtues of classical music.  My kids have learned to appreciate classical music because of a game. 

One day, driving with a car full of kids, I turned on the classical station, and spontaneously asked my kids, "What does this song make you feel?  What do you think of when you hear this song?"  My kids paused, and listened, and then came up with answers like:  "This sounds like a fairy dancing in the rain", or "This sounds like a marching band", and my favorite, "This sounds like when Perry the Platypus had to walk away from Phineas and Ferb."  Once this game was started, it became natural and easy to ask follow up questions like, "Does this sound sad, or just peaceful?  Why do you think the music changes so much throughout the song.  What do you think the composer was thinking when he wrote this piece?"  I don't think my kids realized that they were learning anything, but they did quickly realize that classical music was actually pretty cool. 

A few days ago, after loading up my kids in the car, I heard the most beautiful words that I have ever heard..."Mom, turn on the classical music!" 

I'm excited about the lessons my kids have learned through their new favorite game, but I'm even more excited about the lessons I've been learning...Some of the greatest teaching opportunities come through taking advantage of everyday moments, and allowing for spontaneous and unrehearsed conversation can sometimes be the best way to connect with and teach our families. 

Today's a new day, let's make it purposeful!
Kara