Toronto musicians unite for 5th year to create lullabies for new, expectant parents

As a Toronto initiative aimed at connecting music artists with new and expectant parents marks its fifth year, there are hopes of expanding the program.

Vanessa Smith, the manager of education and outreach at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, brought The Lullaby Project to Toronto after it was developed by Carnegie Hall in New York City.

“I just knew it was something to bring here. The effects it was having on the parents, the effects it was having on these longstanding parent-child bonds. There are so many benefits to music in childhood,” she told CityNews on Friday.

Smith said the charitable program works with Jessie’s Centre, the Regent Park Community Health Centre and the Krembil Brain Institute.

“[The artists and the parent(s)] work together to write these incredibly raw, authentic, vulnerable expressions of love,” she said.

“I feel like a lot of people think of a lullaby and they just think of a really simple rhythm and a lullaby, something like Rock-a-bye Baby, and that is really great for parent-child bonding and that simple rhythm and repeatable melody can be really important for that, but we get these incredibly authentic expressions that come out.”

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To date, Smith said 45 lullabies have been created. Each one is sent to sound engineers to be developed as a professional recording.

The goal is to 10 to 15 lullabies a year, but Smith said they’re hoping to increase that number through donations.

Justin Rutledge, a Toronto-based songwriter, is one of the artists involved with the program and reflected on his experience working with an expectant mother.

“I mean to write a song is a powerful thing, but to write a lullaby for your child is extremely personal and touching and emotional and moving. The way I handled it was just to listen to my partner and everything she was conveying to me, you know everything down to tempo and emotion and even just little words she would say about her kids and her expectant baby,” he told CityNews.

“Just speaking as a parent myself, It’s a very confusing time early parenthood. There are so many emotions, and especially for the mother, there’s so much happening within their body. There’s a lot going on… it’s very therapeutic to work these emotions out through song. It’s very helpful.”

Click here to learn more about The Lullaby Project.