All you need is a joyful noise!

Everyone is born musical. Whether our God-given abilities are cultivated and encouraged will determine how musical a child will be when they grow up.

We tend to view musical ability as a “talent” you either have or you don’t… even when searching for an image for this post, all I found were “performance-based” images of professional or trained musicians. I don’t think our American culture encourages us to cultivate a love of music in family or social settings; music is for the elite performer and the rest of us are just spectators at a sport we believe we can never play. 

How often do we carry this musical misconception with us, or pass it on to our children when they see us shrinking from initiating or participating in musical activities?

I distinctly remember in middle school one of the popular girls snidely told me I was off key and that’s why they didn’t want me to be part of their quartet special for a program… later, another girl who was a good singer quietly told me it wasn’t me, but the girl next to me. Still, the cutting comment had done its damage, and made me shy to sing publicly for a long time (I still don’t relish it!).

Nobody expects kids (or adults) to have any talent when they pull together a street game of basketball or a picnic volleyball game. Everyone plays simply for the enjoyment of the game.

Why don’t we sing simply for the enjoyment of music? Why do we place performance over participation? Music is something we can all enjoy no matter our skill level! Let’s stop feeling embarrassed to have a sing-a-long at the fireside… or anywhere! 

My husband and I delight in our son’s jumbled, half-lines of songs that he half-sings, half-shouts. It reminds me of how God delights in our joyful noise, not asking for any kind of performance or perfection.

Let’s start looking at music in a new way, as an enjoyable activity everyone can be part of regardless of “talent.” As someone without that performance-ready voice, I know I will continue to struggle with this, but I plan to sing my heart out in front of my children so they grow up feeling confident and comfortable with music regardless of how good they are in the rest of the world’s eyes.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Psalm 98: 4

Do you agree that our society puts music performance over participation? How do you cultivate a love of music in your home?