The Tuneful Parent Podcast: Recent Episodes
JoEllyn Sumner
We all have a voice, and this podcast will help you find yours! Your host, JoEllyn Sumner from The Tuneful Teacher, is a Christian, wife, teacher, performer, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping parents cultivate a tuneful home. Each episode will give you the guidance you need to confidently use music as a way of intentionally engaging and connecting with your children through songs, rhymes, and dances. JoEllyn and her guests will also share the research to back up the benefits of these strategies for whichever stage you are in, from prenatal to preschool. Let's get tuneful!
Dandling is the way a parent can play with their child in a beatful manner. This is a short episode based on the contents of Episode 12!
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I’m also a parental music coach, and I’m here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I explain what dandling is, tell you the definition, describe, and give you a fun rhyme to dandle to on the go or at home with your child. I have a freebie for you in the links below! I offer virtual music classes with structured activities and resources, you can access at any time through your phone, tablet or computer. Check out my First Steps in Music courses through the link below. Grab some Tuneful swag at The Tuneful Tee Shop!
Resources:
- Virtual First Steps in Music Parent/Child Classes
- The Tuneful Tee Shop
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
Beatfulness can be achieved when you regularly use musical play opportunities with your child so that they may understand beat.
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I’m also a parental music coach, and I’m here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I explain the best beatful activities to do at home (or on the go) with your family. If you're interested in virtual music classes with structured activities and resources, check out my First Steps in Music courses, link below. Grab some Tuneful swag at The Tuneful Tee Shop!
Resources:
- The Best Beatful Activities Blog & Video
- Virtual First Steps in Music Parent/Child Classes
- The Tuneful Tee Shop
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
Why are lullabies so important? Well, for many, they are the "foot in the door" for many people who may not think of themselves as singers. Lullabies are the accessible way for parents to sing to their children. The importances of lullabies for the child and for the parent are outlined in this episode of The Tuneful Parent. Find a link to a very special free lullaby resource below!
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I’m also a parental music coach, and I’m here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I explain the top 5 reasons why lullabies are important for a child, and why lullabies are important for a parent! I explain the real benefits for a child and for you; and how to incorporate lullabies starting today with Emily Noles free resource. If you're interested in virtual music classes, check out my First Steps in Music courses, link below. Grab some Tuneful swag at The Tuneful Tee Shop, and get on the waitlist for The Tuneful Home parental music membership in the links below!
Resources:
- The Lullaby Source
- Virtual First Steps in Music Parent/Child Classes
- The Tuneful Tee Shop
- The Tuneful Home waitlist
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
Did you know that when a child learns a new language, it creates new connections in their brain? And that these amazing new synaptic connections help to improve things like problem solving, multitasking and even memory. Well, if music is the language of the soul, then teaching it and using it with our children MUST have even greater benefits, don’t you think?
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I’m also a parental music coach, and I’m here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I explain the top 5 reasons why children need music! I explain the real benefits for a child and lead you, the grown-ups, in how to incorporate musical play into your everyday lives. If you're interested in virtual music classes, check out my First Steps in Music courses and get on the waitlist for The Tuneful Home parental music membership in the links below!
Resources:
- Virtual First Steps in Music Parent/Child Classes
- The Tuneful Home waitlist
- The Tuneful Tee Shop
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
Circle time is an integral time to help young children develop social skills through daily organized interactions. Not only do these activities help kids develop positive relations through engaging and fun musical activities, it is also used to address certain developmental issues like fear of socializing or distractions through a game format.
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I’m also a parental music coach, and I’m here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I explain how circle time is easy, fun and has the goal of getting your children ready for learning, while also not being super serious. I explain the real benefits for a child and lead you, the grown-ups, in demonstrations of these songs. I've also provided a free e-book with lyrics, game directions, and video demonstrations!
Resources:
- Fun Family Circle Games FREE e-Book
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
Prenatal music is important to the well-being of mom, spouse, and baby! In this week’s episode, I talk a little more about what's coming up in the last few weeks of my first pregnancy, what's to come with The Tuneful Teacher and give you helpful information about prenatal music and how it's helped me grow closer to my daughter in utero. Through easy, practical, and fun ways you too can incorporate prenatal music into your everyday. It’s easier than you might think!
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I’m also a parental music coach, and I’m here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I remind you of the importance of prenatal music on your unborn baby, but also on the family surrounding that baby. Prenatal music is essential to building communication, trust, and security with your little one while cultivating a creative, tuneful home full of joy!
Resources:
- Join The Tuneful Home Parental Music Membership
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
Pregnancy has been such a blessing for this musical mama, and I'm excited to share some of the details of my fertility journey, the process in choosing a name, and the importance of prenatal musical bonding time with baby!
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I'm also a parental music coach, and I'm here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I divulge lots of personal details of my own pregnancy and the importance of prenatal music on baby, but also for moms as well. Tune in!
Resources:
- Prenatal Journey of a Musical Mom to Be Blog Post
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- Get on Tuneful Home Parental Music Membership Waitlist
Sensory Play is so important for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers! Most times though, the sense of hearing and sound play can be left out! In this week's episode, I give you helpful information found in my collaboration blog post with Broccoli Boxes. Easy, practical, and fun ways to incorporate sound play into your sensory play. It's easier than you might think!
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I'm also a parental music coach, and I'm here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I remind you to incorporate inquiry and wonder into your exploration of sound through various activities which include close listening, hands-on music-making, sound discovery, and dance and movement to support in the development of a child.
Resources:
- Sensory Play Includes Sound Blog
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- Get on Tuneful Home Parental Music Membership Waitlist
Fingerplays are an easy and free way to bond with your child. Not only do they allow you to have precious teaching moments with your child, they also help to equip your kiddo for preschool or daycare. However, perhaps you are like many parents who are unsure of what a fingerplay is or why they are important, let alone where to begin using them.
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I'm also a parental music coach, and I'm here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I remind you of some common fingerplays, explain the value of fingerplays, and why they are important and what specifically fingerplays support in the development of a child.
Resources:
- Fun Family Fingerplays Freebie
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- Get on Tuneful Home Parental Music Membership Waitlist
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are a child’s first true teachers! In regards to play-based learning, they need to see YOU sing and be musical! Now I’m not saying you need to be a Disney princess to sing to your kids, but you should at least be the one leading your child through the world of music, not a random Youtuber.
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I'm also a parental music coach, and I'm here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I describe how important musical play-based learning on the development of a child. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers love to watch you, mimic you, and try new ways of expressing themselves. Just remember that you are enough! The benefits of musical play, a listening ear, a smile, a hug is truly enough for your child! I also talk about the effect screen time can have on a child's development. Children do not need the newest phone, electronic toys with all the bells and whistles, or some expensive app; they just want and NEED you and your attention.
Resources:
- Benefits of Musical Play vs. Screen Time for Kids
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- First Steps in Music Parent-Child Music Courses $10 off with code SPRING
- On-demand courses for Expecting Parents, Infant Parents, Toddler Parents, and Preschool Parents
"More Than a Music Teacher" is a phrase coined by a music colleague Franklin Willis of Prince Rhythm Company and F Willis Music. I think it's the perfect phrase to capture the essence of the first official episode of The Tuneful Parent Podcast! I'm not JUST a music teacher, I'm so much more, and I hope you'll listen closely to learn more!
Music teacher, expecting mom, professional singer, parental music coach, and now podcast hostess - I'm JoEllyn Sumner, The Tuneful Teacher. Thank you for listening in.
Resources:
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- First Steps in Music Parent-Child Music Courses $10 off with code SPRING
- On-demand courses for Expecting Parents, Infant Parents, Toddler Parents, and Preschool Parents
- Pearls Mahone - My Vintage Americana Music
Am I dating myself with the No Doubt reference? Oh well!
Of course we should speak to our child, but we can do so much MORE!
Dr. John Feierabend, the creator of the First Steps in Music for Infants and Toddlers & Preschool and beyond curriculua, once said, "We do not withhold speech from a child, until they can speak back to us. So why would we not sing to a child, just because they can't sing to us?"
Don't shy away from singing to your children, just because you have a few hang ups.
The most important voice your child will ever hear, is YOURS!
Play-based learning is integral for children, and musical play should not be left out. We, as adults, have to become more childlike, not childish, when it comes to play with our children. Creative, carefree, and fun!
Resources:
- The Tuneful Teacher Blog - Don't Speak Sing
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- First Steps in Music Parent-Child Music Courses $10 off with code SPRING
- On-demand courses for Expecting Parents, Infant Parents, Toddler Parents, and Preschool Parents
Why are wiggles important for your developing child and their sense of beat? Well good thing you came to The Tuneful Parent Podcast!
My name is JoEllyn Sumner and I am a certified Prenatal, Early Childhood, and K-12 Music Educator. I'm also a parental music coach, and I'm here to help you navigate musical play at every developmental stage from prenatal through preschool with your child at home.
In this episode, I review the physical, mental, and social-emotional benefits of wiggles in musical play with a child. I also discuss when is the best time to start, the importance of the role of the parent, and I have a free resource to try with your infant, toddler, and even preschooler!
Resources:
- Free Wiggle e-Book!
- The Tuneful Teacher Blog - Wiggles Create Giggles
- The Tuneful Teacher Website
- @TheTunefulTeacher on Instagram
- The Tuneful Parent Facebook Community
- First Steps in Music Parent-Child Music Courses $10 off with code SPRING
- On-demand courses for Expecting Parents, Infant Parents, Toddler Parents, and Preschool Parents