The Top 10 Ways to Make Music with Your Child - As seen on Kare-11 Showcase Minnesota

1. Sing!
Change the words to familiar songs to fit family activities. “This is way we —tie our shoes, comb our hair, eat our spinach!—early in the morning!”

2. Chant!
Play with favorite nursery rhymes to explore vocal range, dynamics, “character voices”, animal sounds.

3. Move!
Change the verb in an active song to see how many ways you can move your body. “Skip or-hop/Run/Jump/Tiptoe/Stomp/Gallop- to my Lou!”

4. Experiment!
What do different household items sound like when played? How many sounds can you find on a Nature walk? Fill old cans with listening surprises to make a fun guessing game.

5. Make Believe!
Act out your favorite stories and songs using costumes, puppets, toys, or stuffed animals. Cut out a window in a cardboard box for an impromptu puppet show, or perform for family and friends.

6. Listen!
Share your favorite recordings with your children. Attend kid-friendly concerts together. Share your own music-making with your children.

7. Read!
A wealth of illustrated books exist with music in mind! Try singing a storybook, or making up funny character voices. Keep a steady beat while reading rhyming books. Bounce your child in time to a poem.

8. Record!
Make a cassette or video recording of you and your child making music together. These can become creative keepsakes and gifts.

9. Travel!
Learn songs from different lands. Explore instruments from other cultures. Listen to music from around the world.

10. Celebrate!
Turn your next family gathering into a themed celebration! A pool party could become a way to sing fishing, boating, or bathing songs. Remember to bring bubbles and your rubber ducky!