Lullaby Project: Connecting Families with Music
Spokane Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
As many new parents can attest, the feelings of love you have for your very own little human can be difficult to express. Now imagine if you could translate that feeling into lyrics for a customized and professional lullaby that your family can enjoy for years to come. In a unique blend of creativity, music, and family, the Lullaby Project, a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), connects parents with professional musicians to create their very own lullabies for their children. Through connections at the YWCA Spokane and the Salish School of Spokane, four families worked directly with Spokane Public Library Music Education Specialist Andy Rumsey and local musician Liz Rognes to incorporate their family values, culture, and experiences into their very own lullabies. Spokane Symphony violinist David Armstrong then created an arrangement for a symphony quartet performed at a free concert at Central library.
Challenge/Opportunity
The power of music can be used to support and unite families during the wonderful and yet challenging times of welcoming a new little member to their households. This program is a great way to introduce music to young children through having their parents compose a soothing lullaby. Symphony music is often inaccessible to parts of the population, and bringing a free concert to the public library introduces a wider audience to the magic of the symphony.
Key Elements of Innovation
The Library offers state-of-the-art facilities and services, removing some of the biggest obstacles to the project. As well as connection to musical talent capable of composing and crafting custom music. Spokane Public Library’s Music Education Specialist serves as project co-songwriter, studio engineer, and live-sound co-engineer and facilitates the back-end logistics. This program breaks down barriers, not only to write, compose, and record a custom lullaby, but also to present a beautiful symphony concert to the public for free.
Achieved Outcomes
The program resulted in four custom composed lullabies, a free symphony concert for the public, and a lifetime of memories for four special families. One former participant remarked: “We could not have welcomed our third baby in a more special way than hearing our song come to life on stage. This has been a beautiful chapter in our lives that helped my daughter build her confidence and love of music and pride as a first-time big sister.”
