For many of us it is hard to find time to listen to great music. Even though convinced it would be good for us, we struggle to fit it in. Perhaps we can combine two good things: doing dishes and great music. In any case, both are worth making time for.

This is a suggestion for everyone, but especially directed to dads. Are we already doing dishes? Then here is an opportunity to combine this good work with the deeper enrichment of music. Are we not doing dishes as often as we might? Then let’s consider what a win/win situation it would be for us to do more dishes and add beautiful music to boot.

Sometimes we miss these simple, obvious opportunities in our home. Doing dishes with a helpful, positive attitude can be a remarkable way to make our love tangible through physical presence. It can say to the whole household, beginning with our spouse, “I embrace even tedious work because this is part of our making a life together.” And often for husbands, this is a significant even if small way to lighten the burden of our wife’s daily work.

Attitude and disposition are key. Conveying that this is unpleasant for us, or acting as though we are ‘super-dad’ because we do dishes will notably diminish if not undermine our effort. Inviting or directing others to join us is often in order. Such work is not peripheral. While not the most satisfying aspect of our shared life it is an important one, and an intentional approach here can have far-reaching fruits.

Adding music might not work for us—indeed, doing dishes together can be the context for many great conversations which would be hindered by music. Nevertheless, it might bring a further enrichment complementary to the value of the work.

Aristotle said that music can provide “education [i.e., moral formation] or amusement or intellectual enjoyment.” The first and third of this great trio are often overlooked and thus absent in our music-listening practices, especially with our current culture of music. Here I make a simple suggestion: consider choosing music that raises the bar, especially by forming the soul and feeding the mind.

You can introduce yourself and others to a great piece of music you’ve never listened to before. Is your family already familiar with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons? One or two of the seasons could be the perfect length for dish time. How about Haydn’s Cello Concerto, or Mozart’s Harp and Flute Concerto? Take two minutes right now to listen to the beginning of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto; can you see yourself swaying to this beauty as you work?

One of the things we often miss about great classical music is how it can be at once very lively and dignified. Just like our shared life in the home. Check out Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major. Such music actually helps to bring our feelings more into alignment with the objective hierarchy of reality. What a gift to give to ourselves and to our loved ones!

Are you doing dishes alone? This might be the time for contemplative music, such as a Bach violin solo sonata, or even Gregorian chant.

You can find a number of suggestions out LifeCraft’s YouTube playlist, a playlist we made to encourage people to take a two-week music challenge explained here.

Renewing our homes and society is a matter of slow cultivation in the ordinary channels of daily life. Doing dishes and listening to great music are two wonderfully ordinary things; and sometimes they go quite well together. ~ ~ ~

Join us to focus on MUSIC and DANCE at LIFECRAFT DAY at the BARN! ‘Doing Music and Dance Right in Our Homes and Communities.’ Join us IN PERSON and get a whole new perspective on music in the home, dancing at weddings, schools, and youth groups, and more! Information and Registration HERE.

LATES PODCAST ON VACATIONS: Join Sofia and me in discussing how to be intentional about vacations in this episode of the Intentional Household podcast. Also check out our podcast on MUSIC. 

Finally, be sure to be checking our growing library of  LifeCraft audio read-alouds (we add one every Friday)! Use them at home, in the car, on vacation. We have short stories, essays, philosophy classics, spiritual classics, and history classics. Check out for instance this wonderful Irish short story by Walter Macken.

John Cuddeback

Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.