窪蹋勛圖厙 Professor Lisa Huisman-Koops offers research, encouragement for families looking to integrate music into their lives
You dont need to be musically inclined to parent musically. But incorporating music in your familys daily life can foster deeper connections with each otherand with music itself.
Thats a message from 窪蹋勛圖厙 music education professor Lisa Huisman Koops, whos spent the last 20 years researching how families can integrate music into their everyday routines and relationships.
The result: , Koops new book, which serves as a comprehensive toolkit with 70 activities tailored to engage families at every stage of life.
From singing and dancing to creating music together, Koops offers practical insights and research-based discussions to demonstrate the profound impact of music on family dynamics.
At the heart of this guidebook are four key themes: All humans are musical, music is important, there are many ways to be musical and expressing agency as a family with music, said Koops, who leads music education at 窪蹋勛圖厙s College of Arts and Sciences. By understanding and embracing these themes, families can unlock the transformative potential of music in their lives.
Central to Koops approach is the concept of musickinga term coined by musicologist Christopher Smallencompassing all forms of music-making, from listening to playing instruments. Through the Family Musicking Framework, readers are encouraged to analyze and enhance their familys interactions with musicand each other through music.
Koops also covers topics that include the role of grandparents and other important adults in childrens musical development, developing healthy approaches to practicing, and activity suggestions for children ages infant through 12 years old.Top of FormBottom of Form
Modeling musicking as parents is a key ingredient to it all, Koops said.
Children see the adults in their lives enjoying music, using playlists, and connecting with others through music, she said. They learn how to joyfully incorporate music into their own lives.
Its helpful, she said, that shes already established solid relationships in the industry. Koops launched the podcast in July 2022. The podcast showcases interviews with renowned musicians or their parents, featuring insights from industry luminaries such as Ziggy Marley and Maggie Baird, the mother of Billie Eilish.
For more information, contact Colin McEwen at colin.mcewen@case.edu.
