Singing is as old as the world. Men sang as they plowed the fields. Women sang as they washed and ironed. Young people sang at husking bees. Soldiers sang as they marched. On sultry evenings, families sang on front porches, accompanied by banjos, guitars, and harmonicas. Sadly, our American heritage of singing declined as radio broadcasts and recorded music became ubiquitous. Other cultures still sing in spite of technology, but the average American sings little. What caused us to lose that singing spirit? Understanding the roadblocks to singing and the reasons for singing will guide us to the restoration of singing as part of our family cultures.
Roadblocks to Singing
Beliefs. Reluctance to sing is often rooted in false beliefs about singing. Teens believe singing is not cool. Adults don’t want to embarrass themselves. Singing in public is taboo. Unattainable ideals of perfection fostered by highly-edited performances of world-class artists cause the average person to inaccurately conclude, “I can’t sing.” Personal electronic devices, headphones, and a steady stream of recorded music cater to the belief that music is a commodity: artists create it, we consume it.
Beggary. A poverty of memorized, singable repertoire hinders singing, too. Most people can sing if they try and have the right repertoire. Folk songs are fun to sing and were designed by and for untrained, average voices. They are meant to be sung by the masses, but after generations of neglect, they have been lost from our collective memories.
Busy-ness. On the whole, Americans are over-scheduled. We rush from place to place eating fast food in the car. We don’t have time for an hour-long songfest of an evening. While covid forced a slower pace for a while, the pace seems to be spinning out of control again! Life is too busy for singing. Or is it? Are there good reasons for making time for singing?
Reasons for Singing
Community. Singing may be done in isolation, but it is much more fun in community! Singing folk music and other standard songs connects people across generations and cultures. On Christmas Eve early in World War I, German and British soldiers sang Silent Night, each in their own tongue in their separate trenches, resulting in an informal Christmas Day cease-fire and a friendly soccer match between the battle lines. Singing transcended even the enmity of war!
Culture. What children sing, they rarely forget! With a little curiosity and a few reference books, songs can become important teaching tools. Old Abe Lincoln includes details of the President’s life, including that he was the 16th president. The song Erie Canal mentions geographical points while describing the life of a canal muleteer. Elements of the natural world, birds, trees, flowers, find their way into songs. Traditional songs convey the spirit of the times in which they originated, connecting the singer with the thoughts and emotions of the past. Singing spirituals enlightens one to the suffering of the slave and his longing for liberty. Sea chanties contain the flavor of a sailor’s life. Folk songs enhance cultural literacy, foster patriotism, and increase appreciation of allusions in literature.
Restoration of Singing
Sources. If you are unfamiliar with folk songs or other standard song literature, you will need resources to learn them. Old songbooks open up a vast range of possibilities and are a wonderful resource if you can find them in good condition. There are a few current publications of folk songs. Titles in the WeeSing series include patriotic songs, folk songs, and Bible songs. Diana Waring’s three History Alive through Music songbooks also include a little historical background for the songs. A new resource from Professor Carol, Hurrah and Hallelujah! contains 100 folk songs and hymns from the American tradition and around the world. Even if you do not read music, get the songbooks as a starting place. You can hunt for recordings online, but don’t fall into the passive listening mode. The goal is for YOU to sing the songs!
Schedule. You may think your fast-paced, busy life is too full to add singing. If you can, make singing a part of family time each week or part of your homeschool Bible and history curricula. But, if you cannot restructure your schedule, use times together in the car, gardening, cleaning up the supper dishes together, or while doing housework. Be creative; you can do this!
Side by Side. Singing can be a solo event, but the most enjoyment is found when sharing songs with others. If you sing enthusiastically, your little children will, too! Older children unaccustomed to singing may require creative incentives to begin singing. When your family has learned a small repertoire, visit a retirement home and watch the residents’ eyes light up as you sing the songs they sang in their youth! Sing on family vacations around the campfire! Sing when you have guests in your home (be sure to have extra songbooks or copies of public domain songs). Share singing in community, not as a performance to be applauded, but as an act of selflessness to bless others. And in the process, you will be blessed yourself! Banish the screens! Ban the headphones! Bury the inhibitions! And belt out some songs!
Dr. Christy Oliver is a writer, musician, scientist, artist, and teacher. She holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal and Range Science from North Dakota State University. She was a 2007-2008 American Association for the Advancement of Science Congressional Science Fellow. With almost 30 years of teaching experience, including over 10 years homeschooling, Christy has taught every grade, including college level, and most subjects at some point!
Absolutely wonderful article and message. In our family of nine, with four sisters, singing was a huge part of my growing up. My parents saying; we sang at church; we sang in school; and as senior citizens we are still singing together. I love harmony and though I do not read music well, I am learn from practicing and listening. Thank you for this encouragement to try to get this going again in my life.
Amen!!!