“Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.”
1 Chronicles 13:8 (NKJV)
Advent is to be a season filled with music. Isn’t the making of music a natural extension of our praise for a newborn King? I want my children to know the rich musical heritage of our church. I strive to expose them to beautiful music and a have chance to make music themselves.
Each morning during Advent we gather around the piano to sing Christmas hymns (being Lutheran, we are obligated to sing the old hymns!) and read parts of the Christmas story. We are learning about the meaning behind hymns like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Silent Night”. This naturally brings about discussions of great theologians and musicians – people such as Charles Wesley and George Friederic Handel.
Perhaps my favorite resource is Christmas Carols for a Child’s Heart. This book tells the Christmas story through scripture, along with the stories behind hymns, and even includes a CD if you don’t play piano. We gather, with Christmas tree lights reflecting in the piano, and admire the beautiful artwork and just SING. I’ve been amazed at how much my children look forward to this time.
Other ways we include Christmas music throughout our days:
- Play beautiful Christmas music ALL THE TIME! … my favorites are Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, and of course we love all of the contemporary Christian artists and their Christmas music.
- At night, when my children are laying in bed, I like to go to the piano and play Christmas music for them to end our day. You could also choose a different recording of Christmas music each evening as a bedtime serenade. This relaxes and focuses our whole house.
- Wee Sing Christmas – I’ve found these CD collections to be well done and catchy for kids. Get a tambourine, jingle bells, rhythm sticks and maracas and let your children play to their heart’s content!
- For older children, encourage them to sing in a choir, play carols on the piano, or even learn recorder. Design a unit study about Bach or Handel. There are so many possibilities!
I just love the words of Martin Luther:
“Music is a fair and glorious gift from God. I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art than can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart.”
I hope you take the time to incorporate beautiful music into your lives this Advent… what a way to praise the birth of our Savior!
Mary is a former public school music educator turned homeschooling mom. She taught for ten years before “retiring” to stay at home and educate her own children. She runs a small piano studio out of her home and enjoys all things music, children’s literature, and technology. She is enjoying the chance to learn daily through her children’s eyes. She is the author of Homegrown Learners and also one of the Three Thinking Mothers
We love the Wee Sing series…and by we I mean my toddler.
We actually have a few different CDs from that collection, and each one is a hit. I didn’t know there was a Christmas cd, but I think I will order it for next year.
Oh, and my husband is Lutheran {I’m Catholic} so between the two of us we totally sing the old songs!
Stephanie ~ I also loved all of the Raffi recordings and also Sharon, Lois & Bram. Music is ESSENTIAL for our little ones. 🙂
Love those recommendations!! We have Hymns for a Childs Heart – and LOVE that book – so I am sure the Christmas one is wonderful too! I LOVE music, and wish I was good at making it/singing it! I am not, but I try anyway! My daughter seems to be musically inclined and I have been thinking lately about how I need to find her some music/singing classes to participate in – before I ruin any natural ability she might have! LOL! 😉
Katie, I think simply by encouraging her you are doing so much!! I tell everyone if you love music then you are MUSICAL!!
I love music too! It is great for memorizing as well. Have a blessed Christmas! Stopping by from the Hop.
Yes…great for memorizing! We were just digging out a song to memorize all of the presidents – so helpful! Thank you for your comment!
Great post…and truly love the way music does set a tone in the home. Wish I could play the piano as well as you do, Mary…always beautiful to the ears! Perhaps, I’ll have the chance to learn one day! Merry Christmas!
Thank you. We all have different gifts.