A group of parents sits comfortably in a circle on the floor, some with babies in their laps, some with toddlers or kindergarteners next to them or moving around the circle. A teacher, seated on the floor with the rest, leads parents and youngsters in a cheerful greeting song, tapping and swaying to the rhythm. Then the class participants fold their hands, bow their heads, and sing Ave Maria.
This is Making Music Praying Twice, a Catholic early-childhood music program. Early-childhood music classes have achieved huge popularity throughout the United States. Parents are attracted by the benefits of early music exposure and the desire to have fun with their children.
Making Music Praying Twice (which takes its name from a saying of music-loving St. Augustine) adds an important dimension for Catholic families: praying with music and introducing hymns and chants linked to the liturgical year.
As Kate Daneluk, creative director of Making Music Praying Twice (sometimes called MMP2), explains: “When I first tested the program years ago, I wasn’t sure how children so little would respond to prayer time in a class, but music as prayer was something I wanted to give my children. [At first, the children] did not want to ‘calm down’ from the fun. Then, at one class, I said, ‘Let’s just let them be kids and ignore their attempts to get attention, and just pray together. That example will do more for them than any correction.’ We knelt and prayed together. The next week, we did the same; and the third week, when I announced that we would sing our prayer, a 3-year-old girl walked over to the statue of the Blessed Mother, knelt and folded her hands. The other children followed.
“We sang and prayed and smiled. After another week, the children started singing along at prayer time. The power of prayer combined with the power of music transformed the children, the families and the groups.”
MMP2 promotes a “child’s God-given musical aptitude.”
Daneluk drew on her own experience as a teacher certified by the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, N.J., to develop the specifically faith-based music program: “In the first three years of life, the human brain is hardwiring itself at the fastest rate of growth it will ever experience. While this is an inappropriate time for formal education, it is an essential time to have social and environmental stimulation. Exposure to the faithful music of our Church is also more powerful at this early developmental age.”
Parents report that the benefits quickly become evident for all members of the family.
Julie Anne Milelli, a mother of three, says, “The spiritual impact of MMP2 has been phenomenal. Often, I find myself lost in my daily obligations and duties [and] barely have time to thank God for all the wonderful things that I have in my life. When I attend a MMP2 class, I put aside all my worries and focus on the music and take the time to pray and meditate. MMP2 is another place where the boys are able to feel the presence of the Lord through music and prayer.”
And Hannah Scansaroli, who attends classes at MMP2’s home parish, St. James Church in Basking Ridge, N.J., says the program “certainly has made us more of a spiritual family through music.”
Classes, which include singing, musical movement and instrument play, meet once a week for about an hour. Families take home books and CDs to reinforce the learning at home.
Mary Magnier, who attends Daneluk’s classes, says, “It is one of the few extracurricular activities that all of my children (ages 4, 2, 1 and newborn) can be in together. It is definitely a bonding experience.”
Since becoming a full-time endeavor in 2009, Making Music Praying Twice has expanded to 30 parishes across the country.
As Daneluk explains, “We feel that MMP2 is deeply in the spirit of the New Evangelization. We look to fill a need that appeals both to faithful families and un-churched and lukewarm Catholics. Families who participate are not ‘hit over the head’ with the faith, and yet the faith is powerfully integrated into the curriculum. ... If parents find a nurturing place for their children with valuable activities at the church, we can attract them to church at a critical and powerful time of their lives, the birth of their children.”
In addition to basic classes, a “Family Edition” is available for parents at home who don’t have a class nearby.
While it’s usually ardent Catholics who are first attracted to MMP2, the class’ reputation and family-friendly price point also draw less passionate and fallen-away Catholics. Teachers have been approached for help to have children baptized or introduced to other sacraments. Fallen-away grandparents have returned to the faith. And already serious Catholics, like Scansaroli, note that they’ve become closer to their parish through Making Music Praying Twice.
Father Michael Saporito, pastor of St. Helen’s in Westfield, N.J., has promoted the establishment of Making Music Praying Twice at his parishes “as a way to attract young parents and their children right from the start, even before other programs of religious formation. MMP2 gives us a chance to establish bonds with the children and families early on.” He says the program is “very well received. After the initial start-up costs, training and purchase of instruments, our program basically pays for itself.”
Elizabeth Foer, associate director of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., Catechetical Office, has helped Making Music Praying Twice implement its program in five of the archdiocese’s parishes. She explains that “this is a wonderful way that parishes can tap into the model of the New Evangelization by starting this program and opening it to all (not just their parishioners) within their geographic communities.”
As the MMP2 website (MakingMusicPrayingTwice.com) sums up: “Music is a pathway to God. Making Music Praying Twice provides that path by bringing children and parents together on the wings of song. ... While the gift of music education is invaluable, the gift of music combined with prayer is immeasurable.”
Wendy-Irene Zepeda writes from Southern California.
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I have participated in the program since its conception and just love it. My now seven year old still sings along with the CD’s in the car as his sisters (age 4, 2, and 7 months) listen to the music. I love that I am able to expose my children to various types of music in a faith filled way. It is amazing to have such a strong program for children that is Catholic! What a blessing! Thank you to Kate and all who make it possible. I HIGHLY recommend this program to anyone with young children.
We own all of the CDs and everyone in our family loves listening to them, especially when we sing them to our one-year old, who lights up with a big smile!
I will second Steve’s comment on the quality of the music. It is not at all irritating like some “children’s music” out there. My nieces and nephews participate in the program, so the CDs are often playing in my house. Everybody, children and adults, enjoys listening! I’ve been known to leave the music on even after the children go home!
For over 40 years we have offered an Early Childhood Sunday program for children aged 3, 4, 5 years. During the 9:30am we hold “classes” for each age group where we sing, dance and learn about the gift of Our Heavenly Father. A topic is taught on a monthly basis, i.e., gift of senses, gift of community/family, gift of Jesus, etc. Its wonderful to hear of other parishes who see the importance of faith education on this level.
I have used the Making Music Praying Twice curriculum for my 4, and 2 year olds and it has been a blessing. My children have developed their musical skills as well as drawing closer to God at the same time. I recommend this music curriculum for all.
I can’t say enough about MMPT! It has been such a blessing to our family!
The cds have prayers intermixed with real traditional songs, not sugar-coated stuff. MMPT helps make prayer something even the babies can join in. Singing prayers takes away any “dry, adult” feeling and provides a genuine personal expression for the little ones. The classes and songs instill a love for beauty and the music allows little ones to express their love for God in a ways they don’t yet have words for.
Singing prayer melts away stresses and distractions. When my son was 18 months, he was quietly singing himself to sleep…singing Ave Maria. In fact, this morning, my 15 month old was twirling around (attempting to be graceful) and waving baby wipes in the air like they do in class with the colorful scarves. They sure don’t get that from me!
Our parish had a bible school last week and on Sunday our pastor invited the children up front after mass to sing a couple of songs from the school. It was great and the kids loved singing their kind of music. What makes church liturgists think that when those kids get to be in their twenties that they will want to keep coming to liturgies and sing old people’s songs? And we wonder why young people are not going to mass. Their music is contemporary and is based on electronic synthesisers and guitars. There is plenty of outstanding, beautiful and worshipfull contemporary music. I am only 84 and I hate the awful songs on those old organs which the diocesan music police make our churches play.
I attended one of these sessions in New Jersey with my adopted granddaughter, Bella, who just loved every minute of this event. At a grandmother, I enjoyed it, too! It is something every parish should have. They also had a few statues on a makeshift altar with flowers and started and finished each session with the kids praying to Jesus and Mary. It was awesome and very touching to see these little children kneeling in prayer with hands folded. They were very serious about it, too! Bella’s parents have a few of these CD’s which they bring home to play so she can learn the songs by heart. I highly recommend these to every pastor and DRE.
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