Does it seem like a while since I’ve written a blog post?

Well that’s because it has been and the reason is…I had a baby!!

She arrived three weeks earlier than expected, which means I sure was glad I had planned ahead and gotten my music therapy sessions covered, my freezer meals made, and the baby’s room ready….well partially ready!

Things have been a wonderful, beautiful whirlwind since she entered the world.

Today I want to share a story about the power of music and how it is working in our lives.

This past school year I taught a course at University of Miami called Music & Development. In the class, we discussed research that shows that babies recognize songs they heard while in utero.

Once I learned this I knew I had to try it out and see if it held true with my little one!

So almost every evening, before I went to sleep during the last trimester of my pregnancy, I listened to the song “Fields of Gold” by Eva Cassidy. It’s always been one of my favorite songs and I thought it would be the perfect soothing song to relax my little one if she got fussy once she entered the world.

My husband and I really weren’t sure how it would all play out once she was here with us. But during our very first night in the hospital, we got to see.

It was three o’clock in the morning and we could not get the baby to settle down.

We’d changed her diaper, fed her, rocked her and held her, but she still would not stop screaming. As new parents we were getting completely frazzled. So I told my husband frantically, “Play her the song!”

He took out his iphone, pulled up “Fields of Gold” on YouTube and began playing the song.

Something incredible happened.

Almost as soon as the opening chords were played, she stopped crying. Her little eyes opened and searched the room, as if she was looking for where the music was coming from. It was as if she recognized the song. And she did. Right there in our arms, to the beautiful sound of “Fields of Gold,” she calmed in our arms. She relaxed and no more tears were cried.

My husband and I looked at each other and we both had tears streaming down our faces.

It was probably once of the most incredible and emotional moments I’ve had.

We’ve all heard about putting research into practice and this was one time I am so glad I did.