by Daphne Berryhill

It’s long been said that music is the universal human language. This somehow feels so true when you watch your baby respond to music.

Whether it’s your little made-up song, sung way off key, but totally loved by your baby because it’s your voice.

Or the holiday music played overhead (not agaaain!) at the big-box store that your toddler is thoroughly enjoying, banging their rattle to the beat — reminding you to hurry up because you know once the song is over, they’ll no doubt want to get down from the cart so they can run around in the opposite direction of where you need to go.

Or maybe the music’s from your partner’s turntable playing their latest vintage, vinyl LP — which just so happens to satisfy two of your baby’s sensory needs at once: hearing rhythmic sounds and watching things that spin.

Wired for music while still in the womb

This response to music begins even before birth. Research has shown that prenatal exposure to music creates a memory that lasts for several months.

When I was pregnant with my fourth, I knew this little guy would no doubt be in the car more than he’d like (and more than I’d like too!) — running errands and running the older sibs around. So late in the pregnancy, I began playing several Kindermusik songs consistently in the car, occasionally patting my baby bump to the beat.

After he was born, those same songs were my go-to’s anytime I had to drive through the fussiness, staying on schedule for preschool pick-ups and band practice drop-offs. Clearly, he remembered them from his days in the womb.

The universal language of music

Every parent or caregiver knows: babies understand music. Music both soothes and excites. Music is understood, even when the words are not.

Recent research has put this “music is a universal language” idiom to the test, and it turns out, as far as babies go, it’s spot-on. A study conducted at The Music Lab, a program within Harvard University’s Department of Psychology, showed that infants responded to lullabies the same, regardless of language or culture.

With music having such a universal appeal for the young child, exposure to a wide range of music from different cultures is a great way to start broadening cultural awareness.

Sure, being a world-wide traveler would be great, but that’s just not in the cards for most of us.

Seeing beyond the bubble

Though the United States is becoming more culturally diverse, children aren’t necessarily seeing that in their day-to-day life. Many of us are separated, living in different bubbles.

A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office showed that school segregation by race, ethnicity and income persists, and this is especially true in the Midwest. Seriously addressing this segregation and the resulting inequities is hugely important, first and foremost for the kids being locked out of access to needed resources.

But even if you live in a diverse area, kids often have fewer opportunities nowadays to play with a wide range of kids. With less unstructured time spent outside, and play often being scheduled by the grown-ups, language and cultural differences can more easily become barriers to cross-cultural friendships.

In the end, we’re all missing out when we’re living in separate bubbles. An expansive sense of “us” from an early age can help build resilience against a future “us vs. them” mindset that we’re all susceptible to having as people.

Global music’s superpowers: ignites the mind & unites EVERYONE

So as parents, finding ways to broaden your child’s view of the world is often needed to help them see beyond their bubble. Global music is an accessible start to this process. And making it more accessible is a core Kindermusik value: “We believe in the power of music. We share it to change the world.”

For babies and toddlers, listening to a broad range of music is pure fun and joy. You never know which song will become their fave until you find it. You know, that one song that works like magic when nothing else can break a crying spell or calm a tantrum.

For older kids, a song from another culture is a learning opportunity. Learning about other cultures, through music, games and stories, is interwoven into the Kindermusik classroom and can extend into the home with activities for the whole fam.

Maybe you’ll want to try out a new recipe, play a new game or watch a new kid friendly docu-series. Or simply check out related library books to learn more about different cultures.

With my own kids, it’s been so cool to watch how learning about other cultures often leads to an expansiveness in thinking. It’s eye-opening when kids first learn that other kids, just their size, live in places with different geographies, environments, foods, cultures and traditions. This new awareness often creates a spark — well, what else is possible?

And at the same time, learning about the differences in cultures, really shows the sameness too. We may live differently, but we’re still all the same as humans. That’s another conclusion that kids seem to just come to naturally when learning about the world. Why wait until they’re older and in school? Kindermusik brings this cultural awareness to kids right from the start.

Sampling of Kindermusik’s global music

Kindermusik (“children’s music”) originated over 50 years ago in Germany as a young child music program that fostered creative expression. Today, Kindermusik is an international company, with classes being offered in more than 60 countries around the globe.

Kindermusik’s list of global music is long and growing. Here’s a sampling, sorted by type. Most songs are available on Spotify, iTunes, and other streaming services.

Traditional Folk Songs

Toembai - Hebrew circular dance song
Sorida - Zimbabwe welcome hand-clapping game
The Keel Row - lively instrumental from northern England
Tepok Amai-Amai - song about ladybugs from Singapore
Dipidu - Ugandan welcome song
De Colores - Spanish song, “Made of colors”
Alle Meine Entlein - German nursery rhyme
San Sereni - Spanish song about Saint Saturnin
Fum, Fum, Fum - Catalan Christmas Carol

Modern Folk Songs

Hava Nagila - modern Israeli folk song for celebrations
Toodala - American folk song from Texas

Lullabies

Rurru (fruit) - Mexican lullaby
Suo Gan - Welsh lullaby
Schlaf, Kindlein, Schlaf - German lullaby

English Dual Language

Fais dodo - Louisiana French, sung by children
Rime De Chocolate - Spanish
Heenai Rakevet - Hebrew
Armenian Lullaby - Armenian
Yama Ga Atta - Japanese

Celebratory Songs

Chiapanecas - Mexican hand clapping song
La Raspe (to grate) - celebration Mexican dance song
Rigaudo - French baroque dance
Obisana - circle game song from Ghana
Belfast Hornpipe - Northern Ireland instrumental tune
Lento y Rapido - dance song alternating between slow and quick
Mama Paquita - Brazilian carnaval song
Heel and Toe Polka - German dance

You also might want to check out the free songs available on the Kindermusik app.

Lastly, if you’re tired of listening to the same songs over and over this holiday season, check out Kindermusik’s holiday collection. Or if you’re into the retro stuff, Musical Pathways has Simple Gifts CDs left to sell (sorry, no vinyl available). Let us know if you’d like a copy.

As always, Musical Pathways’ holiday message is Peace on Earth — because we like to think big!

Kindermusik: Your Child’s Gateway to the Big, Wide World