History of the J Man

Jonah, Julie and I attended a music class today. We wanted to test it out and see if he’d like it, and he certainly seemed to have a great time banging sticks, shaking maracas and watching the other kids do their thing.

The instructor’s name was Jennifer and she did a nice job of leading everyone through the songs, cleverly opening with a number where she introduced everyone’s name. I was unfamiliar with a lot of songs they played, and I’d like to name some of them for you, but alas, we weren’t supplied with a songlist, so I’ll just have to wing it.

As I recall, there was a song about a frog who ingested soap bubbles, though for what reason the song did not explain. At the end of each verse, everyone tossed a handkerchief into the air and said “Pop!” I think it was representative of the frog belching or possibly exploding, I can’t remember which, though if I had to guess, I would say belching. Another tune involved each child naming their favorite animal, which got worked into the song, which was about the daily activities of said animal. Monkeys swung, penguins swam and cows stomped their hooves. The class was encouraged to make the appropriate hand motions for each creature. For the last few songs, each child got to select a few noisemakers and smash them together in unison. Pretty much good times all around.

Jonah seemed to take in the entire spectacle with aplomb. At several junctures during the class, he made for the door and reached for the handle and then would look back longingly at Julie and I and wonder why we kept waving him back. I think this was only an attempt to continue the party in another room rather than an attempt to get the hell out of there. He started to crab during the quite lullaby song (of course), but by the time we got to the noisemaker song, he was once again in his element.

So now we need to decide whether to spend the $200+ for a 12-week session. One part of me really wants to go and belt out songs about exploding frogs every week, yet another part of me wants to spend $5 on a children’s song book, haul out a couple of pots and pans and call it a day. I think the ultimate decision on this one is TBD, though I suppose in the interest of giving my child every opportunity, it would behoove us to kick out the dough and learn a few songs from someone with actual musical talent. I know this, and yet I also know the pots and pans will come to me in a dream tonight and sing me a lullaby of my own: “The best things in life are free.”