The Sound of Music Through Our Toddler's Ears
- Rachel Joyce Burce
- Jun 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 1, 2025
I know it's still too early to tell, but we might be raising a musical genius.
As some of you may already know, my husband Aaron and I are both musically oriented. My side of the family has had a deep love for music growing up, while Aaron has a natural talent for it. He can sing, perform, and play the guitar very well. So having Lauren exposed to music, as early as when she was in my belly, has always been part of our everyday normal.
Whenever I felt uneasy or had trouble falling asleep, I would ask Aaron to sing. He'd grab his guitar and sing mostly love songs from our generation (yes, Spongecola and Hale), then some moments later, he'd hug me warmly so we could both fall asleep. At times, I'd do the singing myself, belting out my favorite songs from Disney, Ben&Ben, and SB19. On weekends, we'd blast our speakers and listen to a classic pop punk playlist headlined by Fall Out Boy and Simple Plan, or a chill Sunday old-school one with mostly Air Supply or The Carpenters.
After Lauren came into the world, though parenting was hard for first-timers like us, one thing that remained constant was music. Aaron and I took turns singing her lullabies. I still sang the same songs, but added Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Mandy Moore, Ebe Dancel, and Broadway classics to the mix. For Aaron, it felt like an extension of the solo performances he used to give me. Listening to "Araw, Oras, Tagpuan" or the quiet version of "Blue Sky" was both heartwarming and endearing to me.
Months later, we found Lauren grabbing her Daddy's guitar and trying to pluck the strings. Her favorite time of the day was when we'd sing nursery rhymes together, complete with instruments like a xylophone, maracas, and ukulele.
At one year old, Lauren would hold her xylophone mallet, or anything that could serve as a drumstick, and strike it against any surface that gave her a sound of her liking. Whether it was a cabinet, bed frame, tabletop or its legs, the refrigerator, a tumbler, or even the retractable barriers at the airport (which made a high-pitched ringing sound), she was always drawn to the music in her surroundings.
By the time she was one and a half years old, Lauren could be at a birthday party not throwing tantrums when the speakers were blasting, but standing right in front of them just enjoying the sound and the vibrations. On some days, she'd play random keys on her Tito JR's piano with a big smile on her face.
Then, August of 2024 came. I introduced Lauren to the Philippine national anthem and some Filipino songs, just in time for Buwan ng Wika. Two days later, I found her already singing along to "Lupang Hinirang" and "Bahay Kubo."
At the age of two, Lauren had already mastered her go-to nursery rhymes. Her pitch and timing were spot on. Some days, she'd lead her Daddy on guitar to play her favorite songs. Keeping up with her was a challenge, since she preferred the jamming fast-paced. When Daddy played an intro, Lauren would jump right in and finish the song.
The national anthem, which she once sang with a mix of "Hickory Dickory Dock," had become a complete version, now sung with clearer words and no extra nursery rhymes mixed in. Beyond her nursery rhymes in various arrangements, BINI's "Cherry on Top" and "Blink Twice" also made their way into her growing playlist. So, as you can imagine, not a day passes without music in our home.
Now that she's nearing her third birthday, what actually prompted me to share Lauren's musical journey in detail was what happened after we watched K-Pop Demon Hunters. While I'd love to swoon over the film and share why it has more hits than misses, I'll save it for another day. The main character in this story is Lauren, and the musical gift she's showing.
Just last Saturday, I played the entire K-Pop Demon Hunters playlist on Spotify, again on full blast through our speakers. Lauren got into the mood and was excited for a while. Moments later, she seemed unamused already and told us to change the music. I didn't give in and continued playing the playlist, to which Lauren eventually didn't mind and let it play.
Fast forward to Sunday night, I was scrolling through random reels on Instagram when a snippet of "Golden" played. To my surprise, Lauren was already singing along. Her favorite part? Rumi's pre-chorus: "I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin' like I'm born to be…" That part was actually pretty high, but she nailed it. Honestly, she sang it even better than I did! 😅
Take note: Lauren only heard the song once. That moment was the real gold, right?
And so, I've been researching since last night. While I found articles that say she's definitely musically gifted — thanks to both genetics and her environment — I wouldn't want to pressure her in any way. I'm just so proud of her talent and the huge potential she's showing at such a young age. I hope we can continue to nurture her musical inclination while keeping music fun and fulfilling for her. More than anything, I hope she grows up in a world that may be changing, but still has the heart to appreciate music and every art form that keeps our sanity and humanity alive.
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