Exploring the role of music in parenting: A case study of a musical family

With the aim of contributing to research on musical interaction within family settings, this case study focused on investigating the musical practices utilized within the Georgiou family, a family that included a professional musician parent and an amateur enthusiast parent. I explored the musical practices employed by parents in the everyday routine of the care of their infant son, and their perceptions of the value of family musicking. Two questions framed the research. (1) In what ways do the parents use music in the day-to-day care of their infant? (2) In what ways do the parents perceive the value of musical interactions in the family setting? Data included interviews with the parents and weekly journal entries by the parents, including video recordings, photos and other artefacts. Constructivism provided the theoretical framework for data analysis. Findings uncovered the rich, multifaceted musical environment parents created for the care of their infant and for enhancing bonding and well-being for all the three members of the family.