Play Out Loud

Understanding the importance of music in our lives

By Lindsay Taylor

There’s an old expression: Before we walk, we dance; before we talk, we sing; before we write, we draw. The artist lives deep within each of us, and our littles understand this perhaps better than we do.

The research is clear: Music matters in childhood development. Music is proven to be a powerful tool in brain development and self-regulation. In a world where we often experience overstimulation, music is a powerful tool to soothe. Music can be a tool for language development, using songs to introduce new words in a child’s vocabulary. Music can be used to learn about emotions. Singing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” accompanied by different facial expressions gives toddlers the opportunity to practice and recognize different emotions.

For school-aged kiddos, music classes are a crucial part of learning. Studies show that classrooms that use music during testing improves concentration and relieves test-anxiety. Using songs to teach a concept improves understanding and recall. How many of us adults remember the songs from Schoolhouse Rock or perhaps the song listing our 50 states in alphabetical order?

In Santa Fe, we are lucky—our public school system continues to invest in music education. Our school board and administrative staff understand that kids need music in their lives. Schools across our district have beloved orchestra programs, guitar programs, band programs, and mariachi programs in addition to general music classes. Even more impressive, most of our elementary schools have multiple music educators on staff. In fact, Santa Fe Public Schools has been honored eight times with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.

In other schools across our state and nation, students aren’’ so lucky. Music and other art programs are often cut due to lack of funding. Music might be available once a week after school as a club, or general education teachers bring instruments into their classrooms for specific units throughout the year. When selecting a school for your kiddo, it’s important to select it for not just academic achievement, but also for its arts programs. This becomes even more important if your kiddo struggles in traditional academic or social settings. Music can be a relief for many kids, especially those who are neurodivergent.

So now what? How can we advocate for our kids’ music education or empower them to learn an instrument? For many of us, music is competing against our own childhood. Many parents did not have great music education growing up, and don’t know where to begin. Or, perhaps you had a mean piano teacher who smooshed your fingers on the keys and made you practice scales over and over and over again. Why on earth would you want to subject your kiddo to that experience?

The first is to make music fun for you and your family. Stop and listen to the musician who is busking on the street. Hold impromptu, silly dance parties in the living room. Play music while you’re driving and be sure to sing along so loudly that your kids roll their eyes at you. Go to free concerts throughout the summer at SWAN Park, the Railyard, or at the Santa Fe Children’’ Museum. Sing lullabies with your loved ones at the end of the day. And, explore the myriad offerings of music programs in Santa Fe.

At Queen Bee Music Association, we begin music classes as early as possible. Our twice weekly Kids Sing Along classes for babies and toddlers are free to attend, thanks to the generosity of the Brindle Foundation. These classes are a great opportunity to not only get your kiddos moving and bopping along to music, but also to meet other parents and caregivers with young children.

For kids ages 5+, we host group classes on ukulele, percussion, singing, guitar, violin, and music production/songwriting. These group classes are held weekly after school during Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions. For young ones in particular, exploration is key. Don’t expect your kiddo to pick an instrument and stick with it for life. Sometimes it takes a while to find the instrument that resonates with them most. The most important thing is that they have fun, and music becomes something that they can use to express themselves, to self-soothe.

Learning an instrument takes time, and it’s a great way to teach those soft skills around learning slowly: patience, perseverance, and concentration. Even spending five minutes a day playing an instrument, especially if it’s time away from a screen.

Now after some exploration, you might find that you have a very musically inclined kiddo in your house. There are so many music programs in Santa Fe that can help keep that passion alive as your kid gets older. Our friends at Candyman Strings & Things host Summer Rock Camp for ages 8+, an incredible education in being in a rock band. Local songwriter Lucy Barna hosts a songwriting camp for girls ages 10 to 17. The Hummingbird Music Camp in the Jemez Mountains is celebrating its 67th summer season of sleep-away camps centered around band, orchestra, and choir. The Santa Fe Symphony hosts youth programs in orchestra, jazz, and mariachi. And at Queen Bee Music Association, our group classes continue for kids as they turn into teens, and then onto adulthood.

Now, a more personal note for you adults reading: I can’t tell you how many people say to me, “Well I’m not musical” or “I had a teacher who told me I shouldn’t ever sing in public.” That teacher lied to you. Humans are naturally musical. Just because you didn’t become a classically trained violinist playing at Carnegie Hall does not mean that you should not participate in music. Music is for everyone. Sometimes you just need a little help getting back to your musical nature, and it’s never too late to find that music again.

I highly recommend taking a music class throughout the week. It’s a great way to decompress and forget about the world around us for an hour. If you’re new to music, start with ukulele or singing. Ukuleles are the most accessible instrument, both in ease of playing and cost. And singing, well–that’s your voice! Learning to love and empower your voice to sing out loud brings a sense of catharsis that is indescribable.

And remember, music is for everyone. Let’s all play out loud a little more this year.

Lindsay Taylor is the executive director and co-founder of Queen Bee Music Association, a community music school in Santa Fe whose mission is to bring people together to learn, create, and share music. She also performs with the folk band Glorieta Pines. More information can be found at queenbeemusicassociation.org