There is simply nothing like music to connect people to one another, or to raise a down mood! Who doesn’t tap a beat on the steering wheel when driving a long distance? Or start singing along with the current top hit or a favorite oldie? Your wedding was accompanied by a special love song. You sing your child to sleep with a favorite lullaby. Even picking up toys is done to the Barney “Clean Up” song. The iPod rage is another indicator of the pleasure millions of Americans receive from music.
But, did you also know… that,
Music - Just in Time for the Holidays!
- Music helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning
- There is a link between music and spatial intelligence—the ability to visually and mentally picture things. This is a type of intelligence used in math and solving problems. For example, researchers found that children given piano lessons significantly improved in their spatial-reasoning scores compared to children who received computer lessons, or no piano lessons (Rauscher, Shaw, Levine, Wright, Dennis, & Newcomb, 1997).
- Music is part of the arts. Arts promote creativity.
- Music provides a means of self-expression.
- Performing to an audience in a concert or chorus helps kids conquer fears. They learn that anxiety can be overcome.
- Information from the National Education Longitudinal Study showed that music students received more academic honors and awards than non-music students (Ingels, 1992.)
- Students with coursework or experience in music performance or music appreciation scored higher on the SAT (College Entrance Examination Board, 2001).
- “The musician must make decisions about tempo, tone, style, rhythm, etc. This makes the brain become incredibly good at organizing and conducting numerous activities. This has a great payoff for lifelong attentional skills (Ratey, 2001).
- Singing, chanting and rhythmic play can increase your child’s vocabulary, improve coordination, enhance self-esteem, contribute to emotional regulation and reduce stress (Campbell, 2002).
- Rhythm is essential. The brain’s rhythm-keeping regions, when not functioning properly, are often causes of depression and other psychiatric disorders. These regions are also in charge of regulating sleep, and this is likely why sleep problems are seen in children with mental health issues. Regulating heart rate and the release of stress hormones require the brain to keep proper rhythm as well (Perry & Szalavitz, 2006).
The short video, “The Case for Music Education” is worth the few minutes it takes to watch if you want to see more benefits—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUhylSoaJ1c&feature=player_embedded Really, the list could go on to fill volumes!
In therapy, I connect my iPod to a speaker. I find that even the most difficult children will settle down and gaze intently into their parents’ eyes during songs about family, love and adoption. So, in addition to all the benefits listed above, I find music a most powerful source of forging attachments between parents and their children.
Below, I am listing many of the songs I find beneficial to strengthen attachments. These songs are also those most liked by my clients (the kids and the parents). I’m giving you the name of the song, the artist and the album. On the right, in the “Readings and Resources”, I give you links to each of the albums which also include the MP3 download information. If you’re an iPod user, you already know how to find iTunes!
- Miracle by Celine Dion, album: Miracle
- Brahms’ Lullaby by Celine Dion, album: Miracle
- My Precious One by Celine Dion, album: Miracle
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Celine Dion, album: Miracle
- A Mother’s Prayer by Celine Dion, album: Miracle
- You’ll be In My Heart by Phil Collins, album: Tarzan
- My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion, album: Let’s Talk about Love
- Safe and Warm in My Arms by Fairy Dreams, album: Bedtime Lullabies
- With You In My Arms by Fairy Dreams, album: Bedtime Lullabies
- Face to Face by Jill Neville, album: Love to the Rescue
- I Found a Treasure by Jill Neville, album: Love to the Rescue
- I Just Cry by Jill Neville, album: Love to the Rescue
- Finally by Jill Neville, album: Love to the Rescue
- Spread Your Wings by Jill Neville, album: Love to the Rescue
- She Was You by Jill Neville, album: Love to the Rescue
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John, album: The Lion King (original motion picture soundtrack)
- These are the Special Times by Celine Dion, album: These are the Special Times
- The Greatest of These by Final Quest, album: Lullabies – For China’s Daughters and Their Adoptive Families
- I Promise by Final Quest, album: Lullabies – For China’s Daughters and Their Adoptive Families
- Home by Final Quest, album: Lullabies – For China’s Daughters and Their Adoptive Families
- When Love Takes You In by Steven Curtis Chapman, album: Declaration
- You Are So Beautiful by Kenny Rogers, album: A Love Song Collection
- This is Homeby Switchfoot, album: The Best Yet
- Your Song by Various Artists, album: Adoption…The Songs You Love
- Blessed by Various Artists, album: Adoption…The Songs You Love
- Because You Loved Me by Various Artists, album: Adoption…The Songs You Love
- Somewhere Out There by Various Artists, album: Adoption…The Songs You Love
- To Love You More by Celine Dion, album: Let’s Talk About Love
- Families Can Be Together Forever by Clive Romney, album: My Eternal Family
- Heal the Wound by Point of Grace, album: How You Live
- How You Live by Point of Grace, album: How You Live
- You Are Good by Point of Grace, album: How You Live
- Nobody Wanted Meby Rebecca Lopez, album: Do You Have a Little Love to Share?
- Do You Have a Little Love to Share? by Jenny Jordan, album:Do You Have a Little Love to Share?
- Because You Loved Meby Dave Tinney, album: Do You Have a Little Love to Share?
- Do You Love Me as Your Own? by Rebecca Lopez & Jenny Jordan, album: Do You Have a Little Love to Share?
- Let Me Be That Someoneby Bryce Neubert, album: Do You Have a Little Love to Share?
- Mama’s Lullaby by Jenny Jordan, album: Do You Have a Little Love to Share?
- Adoption Means by Mary Lambert, album: Family Fun
- Child of Mine by Carole King, album: Writer
- I Know What Love Is by Celine Dion, album: One Heart
- One Heart by Celine Dion, album: One Heart
- In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride, album: Martina
- From this Moment by Shania Twain, album: Shania Twain Greatest Hits
- Godspeed by Dixie Chicks, album: Home
- I Love You by Barney, album: Barney for Babies: Love and Lullabies
- When You Believe(from the Prince of Egypt) by Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston, album: #1’s
- Evermoreby Alison Krauss, album: Dog Train
- The Power of Love by Celine Dion, album: My Love
- Same/Same by Chuck Kent, album Same/Same: Songs for Adoptive Families
- Tell Me the Story Again by Chuck Kent, album: Same/Same: Songs for Adoptive Families
- This is My Forever Family by Chuck Kent, album: Same/Same: Songs for Adoptive Families
![Fotolia_8758757_XS[1]](http://www.perspectivespress.com/blog/images/Fotolia_8758757_XS1-300x240.jpg)
Give these songs a try! Let music bring your whole family closer together!
Do you have a favorite that isn’t listed? Please let us know by using the comment box below.
Related Blogs:
Books, Movies and Websites for Typical and Adopted Children
Neurofeedback: Training the Brain
Most of the children are very interested to learn piano via online piano lessons as there are many fun games offered too. To most of us, the general notion about piano classes is that of serious and sometimes dull coaching classes to be attended. But online piano lessons offer a different definition for learning piano. Kids are so eager to have their online piano lessons unlike in the cases of offline classes where the adults have to force the kids at times.
Dear Piano Lessons for Children,
Thank you for your comment! I didn’t know that piano lessons were available online. I am definitely going to go check this out – this sounds very interesting and from your comment, it seems like the kids like piano lessons online very much!
Sincerely,
Arleta
What is your advice to a teen who plans to become a rock music guitar player and the realities of how to getting there?
Dear Piano Lessons for Children,
It is certainly not uncommon that adolescents try on all different types of careers. Most teens go through a phase of wanting to be a rock star. As long as they are making decent grades and being respectful and responsible family members, we just let this go. Typically, the less we argue, the sooner they figure out that this may not be possible and set their sights on something more traditional.
Sincerely,
Arleta
When you give a child piano lessons you are giving them a lifetime of learning at an early age. The technical aspects and concepts that are offered with piano lessons for children are setting your children up for a lifetime of music.
The piano is the ideal instrument for a child to learn, and getting piano lessons for children will set them up to play other instruments as well.
Arleta – Thanks so much for this list. We also sing ‘After all’ by Cher – reworked the lyrics a bit (N sings this with me!):
Well here we are again.
It must have been God’s plan.
We started on our own,
but deep inside we’d known
I’d be back to take your hand.
I still remember when
our love was so brand new.
Every memory repeats,
every step I take retreats,
every journey always brought me back to you.
After all the stops and starts
we kept coming back to these two hearts,
two angels who God rescued from the cold.
After all that we’ve been through
it all came down to me and you.
I’m thrilled it’s meant to be,
forever you and me,
after all.
You were always just beyond my touch,
though I needed you so much.
After all what else is living for?
After all the stops and starts
we kept coming back to these two hearts,
two angels who God rescued from the cold.
After all that we’ve been through
it all came down to me and you.
I’m thrilled it’s meant to be,
forever you and me,
after all.