Why every Charlotte Dad needs to attend music class with their baby

I’ve said to my wife, “What the heck is our baby boy signed up for?” And, “We’re on a startup budget, what is this $190 expense for 9 baby music sessions, really?”

I needed to go. It was time to jam out with my 5 month old son.

So last Wednesday at 11:30 am, I drove to the Tom Sykes Recreation Center in Dilworth to our son’s Music Together class.

To be honest, I was a little anxious and skeptical. But, I figured it’s only 45 minutes and I could check my phone if it got weird. Then, my mind and heart were blown.

Music class is unreal, here’s why.

Music. I listen to the “acoustic pop songs” channel on Songza (don’t judge). So, when Liz Seegers (the instructor) whipped out her guitar, I was excited. Then she sang. Unreal. Beautiful. I chatted with her after the class and she was incredibly interesting and a Charlotte native. Her band “The Jolly Lollies” just released a CD, she hosts baby summer camps and you can book her band for baby parties (I will).

Laugh. Is there anything better than watching your baby laugh? Instead of shaking the maraca, my son tried to eat it. Then he laughed so hard. He laughed when the parachute thing went up and down. He laughed when my wife made the bird hand gestures to the “Blackbird” song. He laughed when the baby girl to our left smiled at him. It was glorious and warmed my soul.

No Judgement. You dance. You sing. You get spit up on (likely). There is even a 3 minute freestyle dance. There is an understanding amongst the parents that as silly as you may be acting, it’s cool, everybody’s doing it.

Knowledge. Woven into the fun and chaos, Liz drops some baby speech and development knowledge. For example, she told the class that the first note a child will sing is often the last note of the song, so throughout the class there is an emphasis on the final note. Fascinating useful nuggets.

Perspective. I work hard. You probably work hard too. Managing my time is critical. That said, faith and family come first. Period. If you think you don’t have 45 minutes to dance foolishly and sing out loud with your baby, you’re wrong. It was refreshing to dance and sing with my 5 month old son because the look he gives me is so much more powerful that any business success. I feel it in my heart and it brightens my soul.