Music

My son loves music. He regularly sits down at the piano and "plays." He loves to play the piano when we sing our nightly hymn. He smiles and really gets into it. He even plays faster, slower, softer, and louder. He's actually starting to make more music and less noise.

He loves to dance, especially if it's in front of a reflective surface. He really wiggles his body, even his little behind. When he's done, he claps his hands and says, "Yay." He expects all of us to clap for him. Surprisingly, he seems to get the beat.

Ever since he was born, I've played music for him when he goes to bed. Sometimes, it's children's songs, but usually it's classical music. I'm hoping that it's not only helped his brain stimulation, but has given him a subconscious understanding of music. I plan to give him piano lessons when he's a little older. I'll be interested to see how he does.

I think music has a dramatic effect on us. In fact, inside our hymnbook the First Presidency states, "The hymns can bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and can inspire love and unity among family members. Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones."

I've noticed that as we've sung hymns in our home that we've experienced less fighting and felt the Spirit more abundantly. I love to sing the hymns and my son loves to lead them.

I'm thankful that he enjoys music so much and look forward to seeing how he uses it in his life. Maybe he'll be the next Beethoven.