Bonding with Grandkids Through Music — From Elvis to Ed Sheeran

Music is one of those things that can easily bond generations. Songs have a universal power to connect people and make lasting memories. Sharing your favorite “old-time” songs with your grandkids is a great way to share your stories with them and show them how you were when you were younger. 

Also, you can bond with your grandchildren and discover new music and new artists. They may be into pop music, hip hop, rock, or techno, but one thing is certain: it is very different from the music you grew up with. 

Musical Memories

Every decade has its own types of music. You don’t have to share the same musical taste as your grandkids, but it’s essential to keep an open mind. What matters most when bonding with your grandkids through music is the exchange you create and the opportunities to share memories. 

Share Your Era and Stories

Sharing the music that you listened to when you were their age opens doors for you to tell your stories of when you were young. Share with them how you listened to music (vinyls, tapes, CDs, etc.) Remember, your grandkids listen to music in a very different way than you did when you were their age. Today, music is mostly listened to from online streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music.

Explain to them where you went to listen to your favorite artists and bands and how you danced. 

List of things to consider sharing:

• Show them a record player and some vinyl records if you still have one.
• Listen to some music with them and show them how you danced to it.
• Show them photographs of you and your friends in the era.
• Tell them about your first-ever concert.
• Ask them if they have any questions.
• Ask them to show you how they would dance to the music of your era.

Read more: How Many of These 1960s Dances Do You Remember? (Including Vintage Videos!)

Discover New Music

Be open-minded and don’t enter with a mindset of “we had the best music ever!” We probably did ;) But that doesn’t open the door to a true bonding experience with your grandkids. 

Some of the music that they will introduce you to may surprise you. Ask them to show you some music videos from their favorite artists and let them explain why they like them. 

You may even notice that some of the new artists draw inspiration from classics like Elvis or Stevie Wonder. 

Share Vinyls and Create Playlists

A few years ago, a trend emerged where vinyl became popular again. Many manufacturers jumped on the trend and offered vintage-looking new record players. 

Consider getting one of these new record players if you have vinyl records but no functional turntable to play them on.

Victrola The Quincy 6-in-1 Bluetooth Record Player & Multimedia Center with Built-in Speakers – 3-Speed Turntable, CD & Cassette Player, AM/FM Radio, Wireless Music Streaming

The easiest way to share music nowadays is by creating playlists and sharing the link to them. Create a playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music and call it “Grandma & Me” or “Generations of Groove,” for example. You can add some of your favorite tunes, and they can add theirs to the same playlist. 

Attend Concerts Together

Another great way to bond with your grandchildren through music is to attend concerts together. It can be a large concert hall or even your community park with a small local band. Ask your grandkids what concert they would like to see. 

You can also introduce your grandchildren to classic musical movies like “Singin’ in the Rain”, “My Fair Lady”, “West Side Story”, “Grease”, and “Hair”, for example.

How to Spark Musical Conversations with Your Grankids

Here are some questions for you to answer to help start conversations with your grandchildren:

• What was your first concert?
• What was your wedding song?
• Who was your favorite artist?
• What is your favorite song to dance to?
• What song reminds you of summer/winter?
• What song reminds you of your teenage years?

Here are some questions to ask your grandchildren about their musical interests to start conversations:

• Who´s your favorite band or singer right now?
• If you could see any artist perform (past pr present), who would it be?
• Can you name a song you think I would like? Why?
• If our family had a theme song, what would it be?
• What song always makes you want to dance?
• Name your top 10 favorite songs.

One of the best things about sharing music is how it triggers memories. Your grandkids will probably learn things about you that they didn’t know. These moments will help them understand that you were someone young and cool before becoming “grandma”.

Read more: The Gift of Music.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is your favorite era in music? Do you have a favorite song? What was your first ever concert? Do you enjoy bonding with your grandkids through music? Tell us about it in the comments below.