The Nifty Fifty

Just last week, my daughter's school put on their annual Memorial Day event. I use the word event rather loosely because this particular event had elements of a tribute, a performance, a rally, and a ceremony. I'm not sure what to call it, but every year each class in the school (K-5) sings a patriotic song, the highest town and education officials attend, some veterans - both long ago and recent - are located and put in bleachers, speeches are made, the flag is raised and lowered, all in tribute to veterans on the eve of Memorial Day weekend. It is heartwarming and tear-inducing.

ANYWAY, my daughter's grade sang a song called "The Nifty Fifty," which includes the singing of all fifty United States in alphabetical order. (I think that is quite a feat.) My daughter was singing it around the house and my son, who is 2 years younger, started singing it too. Next thing you know, we're in the car, he's singing it, and I realized he'd gotten up to Massachusetts, all without anyone teaching him the song! And of course, I realize that his great memory and musicality must be due to Kindermusik, because he just completed the Kindermusik for the Young Child program (two years of age-appropriate music classes incorporating singing, instruments, listening games, sheet music and more). I had hoped his years of Kindermusik would pay off some day in him enjoying playing an instrument or singing with a vocal group, but I did not expect him to teach himself the 50 states in alphabetical order to a melody he had never heard before. So I was feeling like a pretty proud mama, both for bringing Kindermusik to my town and for having my kids take it.

Then last night at dinner the kids started singing the song again. He got into the N's and we worked on the N's and got up to Ohio (which is sung with a flourish.) I decided we were going to go all the way (but over the course of the next few days because by that point, it was time for his bath.) And then I started thinking it would be fun for the kids to sing the song to their grandfather on Father's Day as a present. And then my imagination really took off, and I realized I could videotape them singing it and send it out to the whole family, and from there it was a small leap to Youtube, and the next thing you know, I could see them on the Letterman show getting interviewed by Dave. I cracked up out loud just thinking about that.

So getting on Letterman probably isn't going to happen, but I am still impressed with how my son picked up the song, I've really enjoyed seeing them work together to teach the rest of it to him, and plus, there is nothing like live music, even if it is just in your kitchen or in the middle row of the minivan. Which is why I hope all children, from babies and toddlers to older kids, can be exposed to and hopefully be taught some fundamentals of making music.
- Lili, who is hoping to learn from Ohio to Wyoming this weekend