Music in our HomeschoolingNEW by: Southern Fried Catholic Mama
As a former violist and pianist (pain in hands now), music is a big part of our lives. My boys (4 and 2) LOVE music. We sing and dance as much as we can. I did Kindermusik for a session with our oldest, and the youngest was ready to participate the last couple of classes. It was a great experience but was really too expensive to put both kids in.
At a homeschooling conference last summer, we purchased Making Music, Praying Twice program. It is a great program that is similar to Kindermusik but Christian/Catholic based, and the entire program was less expensive than 1 session with 1 child of Kindermusik.
Like another poster said, we have instruments for the boys. They are allowed to play on the piano (respectfully), we have drums, maracas, a lyre, xylephones, and flutes from Ireland. When the boys get a little older, we want them in formal lessons and already have appropriate sized violins.
This past Christmas, anytime we were in the car, we listened and sang Christmas songs. I would explain what the song's meaning was and my 4 year old picked up very quickly. Ovation TV also played 4 different performances of The Nutcracker. We watched them and I explained what each dance was about. It was cool when after the 1st viewing, my 2 year old heard the sounds of the "Coffee from Arabia" theme and came running exclaiming "Nutcracker? Nutcracker!!! May I watch??"
There is also a great online resource at Kididdles.com which has printable music for tons of Children's songs.
I hope this helps!!!
Dec 21, 2009 Rating
Music Appreciation And What To Do For Music by: Mary
These are really great ideas, Judy. They are similar to what we have done in our home with eight children. Four and six of our children play real instruments due to a start like you mention. Our second daughter plays in the Topeka Symphony Youth Orchestra as a result. They'll learn to play if they want to. Music appreciation studies are what encourage them to want to play, especially if you take them to some live performances. The first parish concert my daughter went to was what charged her up.
Now she is our resident expert who reads music encyclopedias and helps the others. Our oldest will join her for the Oboe Concerto in Dm by Marcello at the piano as back up to her Oboe. We are so grateful for this. We don't think that they would have had the time to do it if they were in an institutional school. We have only one who doesn't like any music at all, even hardly to listen to it; but we do not force him.
Amongst us we have 3 piano players, 5 recorder players (the one did his first book as we asked and that is all we will ask), 2 violin, players, 2 penny whistle players and our one Oboe player (who also makes her own reeds, which is a big help financially).
May God bless your efforts here and we wish you a holy Advent and a joyous Christmas!
Thanks for your question SAHMinIL!
We have found that Music Appreciation can be enjoyed in many ways throughout the homeschooling experience without formal music lessons. (Although we'd love formal lessons, this has not been an option for us thus far, so we've learned to incorporate other things instead!)
Perhaps a few of these ideas will suit your family:
1) Melissa and Doug toys sells an inexpensive instrument kit...including a triangle, tambourine, maraccas(sp?) and more! We found these to be of very decent quality and the kids REALLY enjoyed experimenting with the different sounds. Get Mom and Dad in on the act, and try a few simple rhythms together...before you know it, you'll be belting out some good ol' Patriotic tunes like "This Land is Your Land" and the like!
2) Study a different genre of music each week...play it in the background during dinner.
Visit websites with the history and famous composers/singers of the style. Play various examples of ONE type all week long and continue doing this for 6 weeks. At the end of the 6 weeks, celebrate your learning by playing a game with the various types of musics being played and the kids trying to correctly identify the genre of each piece!
3)Learn basic reading of notes and fundamental playing skills of the recorder. This woodwind instrument is inexpensive, easy to learn, and lots of fun!
4) Choose an instrument and spend a few days studying it. Try to find examples of it for your child to enjoy in songs. Search your community area for free concerts and take your kids for a live performance.
5) SING together as a family. Don't be shy! It doesn't matter if you're not that good...(maybe you'll be surprised!) Learn the basic octave scales and practice them, along with simple breathing exercises each morning. Try a little harmony...some singing rounds, etc...
These are just a few simple ways to enjoy learning Music Appreciation without the benefit of formal lessons!
Can't wait to read what others have to share on this great topic!
