Tuneful Tuesday: Making a Joyful Noise
Summer Music Activities for All Ages
Summer is the perfect time to let music run wild in your house. Not with rigid practice routines or formal lessons, but with playful, joyful exploration.
You don’t need a music degree or even an instrument to make music part of your summer rhythm. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to join the noise.
Start with singing. Don’t worry about pitch or technique—just sing! Pick a song you all know, like a favorite theme song or nursery rhyme, and try singing it faster, slower, or in a silly voice. Sing during chores, in the car, or at bedtime. You’re not training a performer—you’re building musical confidence. Since many families play music videos during trips, this gives you an opportunity to sing the Disney, My Little Pony, or Trolls songs together. I can’t emphasize the importance of hearing Mom and Dad sing the song the child is singing.
Use what you have ar home for musical instruments. Pots and pans become drums. Rubber bands stretched over a box make a homemade guitar. A plastic container filled with rice becomes a shaker. Invite your kids to build their own “band” and then hold a backyard concert. Record it on your phone and let them watch their performance—it’s a guaranteed hit.
Add movement. Clap to the beat. March around the room. Freeze when the music stops. These kinds of rhythm games build coordination and listening skills, and they’re especially good for younger kids who learn through motion.
True story: when I was about 11 my cousins and I held a parade around the yard and back alley. (We saw local parades and high school marching bands on all the holidays.) My cousin wanted to be a majorette, I wanted to be a director. Even my little brother marched with us, carrying my dad’s trombone and pretending to play it. As teens we all marched in out high school bands. (Although my cousin played clarinet instead of twirling a baton. I played the glockenspiel while my brother did play a trombone.)
Explore musical storytelling. Play a short piece of instrumental music and ask, “What do you think is happening in this music?” Make up a story together. Is it a dragon chase? A rainy day? A quiet forest? This kind of imaginative listening builds emotional awareness and creative thinking.
Make playlists together. Invite each family member to pick a favorite song and explain why they like it. Not only does this spark great conversations, but it also helps kids learn to articulate opinions and listen respectfully to others. You might even discover a new favorite artist together.
For instrument learners: Summer is a great time to lighten the load. Instead of drills and scales, ask your child to pick one song they want to learn. Even just five minutes a day spent working on something they chose will keep their skills fresh and their motivation high.
In short, let music be the soundtrack to your summer. not the homework. Play, laugh, dance, sing. That’s where the real learning begins.