Lullaby Project at Alliance Theatre helps parents and babies bond through music

Artists at the Alliance Theater are helping parents come up with their own lullabies for their babies.

The Lullaby Project is part of the Early Learners Program and takes place every week in the new PNC PlaySpace.

Artists from diverse backgrounds contribute to the program, which is offered in partnership with the Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute.

"We've had musical theater artists, singers, musicians... Our last composer was a professional recording artist who lent his time and energy to create ten original lullabies," said Olivia Aston Bosworth, the Dan Reardon Director of Youth and Families at the Alliance Theatre.

Aston Bosworth says the Lullaby Project has produced a wide range of results.

"We hear all kinds of lullabies: from musical theater to sweet, calm, gentle lullabies to up on your feet,  cajun-style...it's all really across the board," said Aston Bosworth.

Chris Miller may not be the next Taylor Swift when it comes to songwriting, but after the workshop, he has something special to sing to his daughter, Maya.

"I'm going to have to remember, but I think it'll be good —  it'll be a memory we have together," said Miller.

Miller has taken his 3-month-old to several of the Alliance Theater's Early Learners programs.

"It kind of plays into the fact that we try to sing a lot at home and talk to Maya. And this kind of gives us a little more to go on when we sing to her," said Miller.

Artists help parents identify their childrens' personality traits and habits to create  a unique lullaby.

"You can kind of get your creative juices going a little bit more," said music educator Sara Fanucchi.

Every week, the Early Learners Program offers a variety of music and dance classes for parents and kids.

"Having the Lullaby Project and similar programs that are free, light-touch, and easy to drop into has been nice because it gives families an activity to do in the space and a first step toward engaging with their baby in a workshop setting," said Aston Bosworth.