Te-gar-zik and Ampi-Name

(I swear that this picture was not set up.)

My kids love music. Well, that's not exactly accurate. I'm sure you are thinking, duh, all kids love music. Let me clarify. My kids have a consuming love for music. To say that my kids are obsessed with singing, playing instruments, and performing may be an understatement. Also, let me say that I know the statements above make me sound like a psycho stage mom justifying why she pushes her children so that she may live vicariously through them. For the record I am not. I promise that I won't be putting make up on them and taking heads shots or managing their careers. No Jean Benets or Macaulay Culkins in this house.

My husband was a music major for three years of college. He changed his major in his last year of undergrad. He determined that teaching in the public school system would take all of the joy out of this talent/skill that he was so passionate about. He didn't want his life to end up like the movie, Mr. Holland's Opus. Brian plays guitar, piano, but he most enjoys singing and composing. Before we had kids, he taught music to kids in the neighborhood after work. He often took the afternoon off from work so that he come sing and play for my kindergarten students. His pint sized demographic thought he was quite the rock star. He so looked forward to sharing his love for music with his own children one day.

From the moment we brought our first son home, Brian sang to him and played guitar for him. He went from writing rock songs to writing kids songs. He has a whole catalog of songs that he has written for and about our boys. We have a song for EVERYTHING! A song for walking up the stairs - a song for going down the stairs - songs for going to bed - songs for cleaning up - songs for washing our hands - a song for eating chicken - you get the idea. He has figured out a way to include our boy's names in just about every song. He has let them strum his guitar since before they could sit up. Brian has proudly accomplished his mission. He has two year olds walking around singing classics from The Beatles, The Temptations and Otis Redding to name a few. He has created three little music maniacs.

Aidan got a little electric guitar for his second birthday. He loves that it has strings and a shoulder strap, just like Daddy's guitars. Recently, Aidan discovered The Wiggles. He has become so entranced by their movies and songs. He has become particularly enamored with Anthony (the wiggle in the blue shirt). This didn't surprise me, because for years kids have thought my husband was Anthony the wiggle, do to their resemblance. For awhile there, Brian was a flower girl magnet. Every single time we attended a wedding reception, it seemed that the flower girl was always trying to "cut in" so that she could dance with "Anthony".

Aidan walks around with his little red guitar attached to his body all day. His life would be perfect if it wasn't for his mean mommy. She doesn't let him take his guitar to bed, in the car, or in the pool. Aidan turns everything from the coffee table to a shoe box into a stage. He holds his guitar and strums perfectly, as if he has been given formal lessons. He even works tirelessly on his stage presence, perfecting his power stance, playing while pointing the guitar in front of him and playing while suspended between the couch and coffee table, all while rhythmically tapping his foot to keep time with the music. He has now decided that his name is no longer Aidan. He know wishes to go by his stage name, Anthony or should I say, "Ampany". When I call him Aidan, he whines, "No Aidan! AmpiName Mommy!".

My other big boy is just as crazy about music as Aidan is. He too loves the guitar, or as he says the "Teegar". He seems to really be drawn to percussive instruments like the piano or drums. He is also big on melody. His developmental specialist has discovered that he remains attentive during their sessions if they speak in a repetitive, melodic, sing songy kind of way. That boy is all about routine. The other night Brian tried to put them to bed without their usual pre-bed jam session. Scooter started whining, "Tegarzik, Tegarzik Daddy!!". Apparently, my two older boys seem to have a thing for mixing two "words" together to create a new "word", when they whine.

Luca cracks me up! He is the only baby that I have ever seen that could sing a song, before they could talk. He's been singing nonsensical babble to the tune of probably a dozen songs, since he was about nine or ten months old. He doesn't just sing the songs, he sings them at the top of his voice and with a whole lot of attitude! He also has some serious dance moves. What is even more funny, is that he seems to have a special connection with Reggae music. The second someone switches our digital cable to the Reggae channel, Luca starts dancing. It's like the music takes control of his body. He just can't fight the feelin!

I think my husband secretly fantasizes about creating a modern day Partridge Family or his own personal version of the movie School of Rock. It remains to be seen if any of Brian's boys are budding musical prodigies. But one thing is certain, my house is going to be very noisy for the next 20 years!