Make Your Own Family Compilations

Musical Fun for the Family.

It’s easy to create your own family music playlist, teach your kids about the music that meant something to you, and get to know them better through their music.

Step 1: Make a list.
This involves everyone sitting around, maybe at dinner or on a car trip and brainstorming a list of favourite songs. This list should contain at least a few hundred songs and might take a few hours to compile. Don’t be shy, at this stage say whatever is on your mind, because you can change it later. (A good time for ABBA fans to confess) This list should contain as many genres as possible, see appendix for ideas. Five hundred songs would be a great start.

Hint: For more songs, print out a list from the internet look under Best Songs Ever on Google. Also see my appendix for list of artists.

Step 2: Listening to the music.
This is really great fun. Turn off the TV and turn the computer on. Plug in some decent speakers and download your favourite songs from the list. You might have to register with Kazaa or another reputable music download site, but this shouldn’t take more than a few minutes,and chances are your kids have already registered. Now listen to the songs on your list together.

Each family member has the right to veto songs that they really don’t like (if they give good reason). This might take a few good sessions, but it’s great fun and you can have a dance and a sing along at
the same time.

Continue this process until you have it down to about twenty to thirty songs. This list should contain some songs chosen by every member of the family. This will involve some level of compromise, but that’s part of the fun.

Stage 3: The Final Playlist
Use your final list to compile a CD of your family’s favourite music. This is a great CD to keep in the car, especially for long trips as it has something
for everything.

Note: you can repeat this activity over and over again and keep the CDs as family mementos. This activity will definitely broaden your children's appreciation for music, and you might learn a little yourself.

Appendix
GENRES
Jazz
Acid Jazz
Rap
Rock
Techno
Afro-Cuban Jazz
Folk Music
Punk
Australian Music
Big Band
Country
Blues
Brazilian Jazz
Bluegrass
Classical
New wave
Disco
Electronic
Emo
Heavy Metal
Gospel
Hip Hop
Klezmer
Children’s Music
Trance
Jamaican
New Age
Psychedelic
Rumba
Salsa
Samba
Surf Music

ARTISTS TO INCLUDE
Frank Sinatra
Billie Holiday
Elvis
Dylan
Bob Marley
Beatles
Santana
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
David Bowie
Elton John
Cole Porter
Raman
Allan Brothers
Pink Floyd
Johnny Cash
Jackson Five
Tony Benet
Led Zeppelin
The Eagles
Pink Floyd
Mozart