The Cincinnati Lullaby Project: A Partnership of Melodic Connections and Weill Music Institute of Carnegie Hall

Melodic Connections is partnering with Weill Music Institute of Carnegie Hall to bring The Lullaby Project to Cincinnati. The Lullaby Project pairs pregnant women, new mothers and fathers with professional artists to write and sing personal lullabies for their children. The first original songs will be created in 2020 in partnership with fathers in The Talbert House Fatherhood Project and with mothers through the YWCA Greater Cincinnati, through their partnerships with Every Child Succeeds and Hamilton County Job and Family Services

Melodic Connections is one of more than 40 partners internationally, creating and performing original songs that strengthen connections and attachment bonds between parents and children. The Lullaby Project supports parental health, aids child development, and strengthens the bond between parent and child. Extending across the country and through several international programs, the Lullaby Project enables partner organizations to support families in their own communities.

Why Lullabies?

A lullaby is a simple and intimate expression of the most universal human condition, the bond between parent and child. These personal songs bring people together, span generations, and tell stories about where we come from, who we are now, and our hopes for the future.

Lullabies play with language, and the language is musical. Babies love and crave this connection to language, and it helps them learn about their language and their world.
Lullabies use rhyme and rhythm. Predictability and repetition help achieve what many experts on parenting call “attunement,” which describes the way a parent and child become connected through a common experience, like singing or swaying together.
Lullabies allow us to take a deep breath. A good lullaby gives the parent a chance to breathe—both by having short, comfortable, singable phrases, and by being soothing enough to let the parent calm down and take a breath at the end of the day.
Lullabies tell us who we are. Lullabies from different cultures make an invitation to a child by telling him or her something about their world.
Lullabies can express frustration or sorrow. Sometimes a lullaby can be a coping tool to deal with the difficulties of new parenting, or an outlet for a parent to sing her real thoughts and feelings to a child, especially when the child is too young to understand the words.
Lullabies are about love. In little and big ways, lullabies praise each child for the unique person they are, and for bringing joy into the world.

Three Songs from Three Mothers

To kick-off the project, we paired three moms from our Melodic Connections community with staff member James Stephenson. Together, they wrote beautiful and heartfelt songs for their children which were performed at our annual celebration Music. Here. Now! on October 19, 2019. Watch the video to learn more about The Lullaby Project and hear from the moms who helped launch it in Cincinnati.

Song Excerpts

Paula Mounce co-wrote “Ever Yours, Ever Mine, Ever Ours” for her son Kyle.

What’s got you in such a hurry?
Tell me the problem, slow down don’t get worried
And if you feel you’re unworthy
Send up a prayer, say the word; I’ll be there
In these quiet hours
Ever yours, ever mine, ever ours

Jenny McCloy co-wrote “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” for her son Sam.

So, think of me
When you need a reminder, to be stronger, to be kinder
You’re all that I needed to see
You are exactly who you’re supposed to be

Terri Hogan co-wrote “Green Train” for her son Bayley.

Just think back when, he could have been
Another stranger on a city street
Or were you dreaming of him? Did you love him
Before you ever had the chance to meet?
Sometimes a second chance is your best defense
To brave the dangers of the wilderness
You’ll do great things because you finally reached your green train.

We’re excited to begin this project which will impact lives across Cincinnati. You can support The Lullaby Project by making a donation.

Read the project press release here.

Donate to Give a Lullaby