×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Sing Me A Song

I have a grandchild story. I’ll be brief but to the point. My 3¢-year-old granddaughter Hannah June “read” me a story book the other evening. With her 2-year-old brother dozing off to sleep next to her, she opened the book. It was titled “Old McDonald Had a Farm.”

Just about everyone is familiar with “Old McDonald.” He’s the fella who has a cow, horse, sheep, etc. Without missing a beat or a page, Hannah began. She did not read the book, but rather sang the words as she turned each page. The story is rather lengthy and somewhat complicated for a child but putting the words to music made the task easy. Hannah successfully “read” the book via the song.

It made me think about all the ways music has helped us to learn. Most generations have learned their ABCs by singing the alphabet. Some of us became familiar with our letters while enjoying “Romper Room” and “Captain Kangaroo.” Later “Sesame Street” and “The Electric Company” on PBS became our home-schooling lessons long before home schooled was a popular notion.

We were the recipients of educational stuff and didn’t know it. Who would have imagined a big, purple dinosaur named Barney or a larger-than-life yellow Big Bird would be among our children’s first teachers? Children danced and mimicked the songs and steps these lovable playmates provided, all the while learning to distinquish colors, shapes and the sounds of musical instruments.

How about the gravely-voiced Oscar the Grouch? He lived in a garbage can and often had a testy outlook on life. Yet, he made kids laugh and taught them such virtues as patience.

And the most iconic of shows featured a soft-spoken, cardigan-wearing Mr. Rogers. His methodical entrance to his TV show — changing his shoes and buttoning his sweater — were genuis ploys for calming a cranky preschooler. He rarely strayed from that routine, all the while asking questions of his audience in that gentle voice. It was mesmerizing, soothing.

Mr. Rogers captivated his viewers, young and old. He taught our kids that it was a good idea to clean up their toys when finished playing. He showed them how things worked, from toilets to trains. Mr. Rogers educated youngsters about people who were different. He acknowledged various nationalities and brought people in wheelchairs to the show.

Many of his shows were groundbreaking for the times. We, as parents, owe him a debt of gratitude for helping us find the words to talk about cancer, divorce and losing a pet. And he never missed an opportunity to incorporate music into his show.

In the Ohio Valley, we are blessed with wonderful music programs in our schools and a professional symphony orchestra. From violins to steel drums, we have cornered the market on encouraging the talents of our young student musicians. Mr. Rogers would be proud.

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at: hziegler@theintelligencer.net.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today