Thursday
Apr192012
Learning to Hear in a Noisy World - Music History Giveaway
Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 5:00AM 
Welcome to Day 4 of The 10 Days of Teaching Music!
I'm so happy to bring you a post today from my former music professor, Dr. Carol Reynolds. She is also the face of Discovering Music - a wonderful music curriculum for homeschoolers. I reconnected with Professor Carol at a homeschool conference two years ago, and when we made the connection back to 1990 and Southern Methodist University it was such a happy coincidence! She has been full of humor, encouragement, and advice for me.
I think you will love what Professor Carol writes about today, and also the great giveaway at the end.
Learning to Hear in a Noisy World
It was a quieter world when J.S. Bach wrote his music. The loudest sounds he heard were the clop of hooves on cobblestones, the caw of crows, the peal of church bells, and thunder. Consequently, back when our Classical music was written, the gentlest melody wafting through the air drew attention.
Until the gramophone (late 1880s) music happened only when someone made it. If you couldn’t sing or play, you needed to be near someone who could.
Music’s power is impossible to grasp in our noisy world. Ask your child to imagine a world without the roar of busses, motorcycles, or airplanes. Try to erase the sounds of leaf-blowers and jack hammers. If those aren’t enough to destroy our ability to hear, think how we are bombarded by electronic pop music everywhere we go. Not to mention those tiny ear buds people screw into their heads (so that “their” music can mask the noise around them).
What does all this have to do with studying music? The study of music forces a person to cut through the noise and listen. It’s true for beginning students, as well as advanced. Whether it’s matching the pitch produced by one’s voice teacher or seeking an exact finger-position between two notes on the viola, a music student has to listen in focused way to. And he or she is listening to sounds that, by today’s standards, aren’t loud.
But hearing the sound isn’t enough. The student has to penetrate the sound, analyze it, and then do something about it.
Learning to hear is the unsung benefits of music study. Discerning, responding to, and controlling sound are high-reflex skills: right-brain activities that pay big benefits in the development of a whole and balanced mind. And even an unsuccessful try at music lessons opens the door to appreciating music later on.
Homeschool parents inquiring into our Discovering Music curriculum ask if a musical background is necessary. “Not at all,” I say. (People who have never played a note can still enjoy and understand music, just as I can study art without any ability to paint.) Some follow their question by “confessing” that they once took a year of piano, band or choir. They tell me this apologetically, since it may not have led to much proficiency.
My reply always is to express delight: “You did? That’s wonderful!” Am I being solicitous to potential customers? No. It is wonderful.
Even the briefest period of musical study causes a child to tune out the roar of the world.
Focusing on the careful production of sound is a boon to a child’s neurological development. Music study affects coordination and many other developmental aspects. But the greatest gift is learning to hear.
In an American Idol world where grotesquely amplified sound, risqué wardrobe, and social media presence masquerade as musical mastery, the smallest sound your child makes from a real instrument or vocal chord is a cause for celebration.
Now for the giveaway! Professor Carol has given me a copy of her DVD set, Exploring America's Musical Heritage. In Exploring America’s Musical Heritage, Professor Carol – along with 38 historians and artists – takes you on a journey through America’s musical history. The two-DVD set contains more than four hours of engaging instruction. It is most appropriate for middle and high school students (and also parents who want to learn a lot about the history of American music!). I think you'll LOVE IT!You can enter by simply leaving a comment here about Professor Carol's remarks today. AND, you can earn additional entries by liking Professor Carol on Facebook and liking Homegrown Learners on Facebook and leaving a comment for each. Please be sure there is a way for me to reach you via email!
This giveaway will be open until midnight on Friday, April 27th! Good luck!
Tomorrow I'll give you my two cents on piano lessons. I'll talk about why I require piano lessons and share my favorite books and tips.
Other posts in this series:
Day 1: The Importance of Music in Our Children's Lives
Day 2: A Simple Way to Incorporate Music - SQUILT Notebooking Download
Day 3: Five Resources for Incorporating Orchestral Music In Your Homeschool
Day 2: A Simple Way to Incorporate Music - SQUILT Notebooking Download
Day 3: Five Resources for Incorporating Orchestral Music In Your Homeschool
Reader Comments (48)
Yes! I would love to win this! My son loves music and plays 3 different instruments. As you know, I'm looking for an academic music appreciation for next year. I've looked at Professor Carol's program and I think we will definitely be buying it. Thanks for hosting & sharing!
Sounds like a wonderful resource!
I agree - the world is so noisy and I think we rush to fill the silence when it happens by habit. I think one of the best ways to really notice how much noise is going on in our homes is to simply have an electronics-free day. Stretching it out to a few weeks would be a great instigator for children to start making their own music on some available instruments, I would think.
Fun post! I'm enjoying the series!
I have never thought about how our modern society has trained us not to listen. I think that I have unconsciously been working to counter this in our homeschool. I would find this DVD set would be a wonderful addition to our school.
I'm loving this series so far! Thank you : )
It's crazy how programmed we are to need noise. Silence is strange! We all could do with a little more of it, I'm thinking.
I found this blog on Pinterest while I continue my never-ending search of how to better myself as a teacher. I think this DVD would be an excellent way to help my understanding as well as my students. Thanks!
This would be so great, thanks for the chance! We all truly need to stop and listen, I love music and how it can calm your soul, really.
I like your site on FB
My sons would love this.
Lived Professor Carol on FB
Liked Home Grown Learners on facebook.
I have really enjoyed this series! It's astounding how our society has lost the ability to really listen. We have found Dr. Carol to be absolutely right, music has helped us to stop and listen.
I was discussing this very thing with one of my piano students. We were talking about how forgotten classical music is...how the radio was a blessing and a curse when it was created!
I am enjoying your series immensely!
Liked Dr. Carol on Facebook
Liked "Homegrown..." on Facebook.
Wow, this looks fantastic! I know it's meant for older kiddos, but I'd love to try it for my 6-year-old! The kiddos do appreciate classical music....but Dr. Carol is right about the NOISE everywhere.
I read this: "The loudest sounds he heard were the clop of hooves on cobblestones, the caw of crows, the peal of church bells, and thunder." and thought - wouldn't that be amazing if those were our loudest sounds today? Is it just me?
Anyway, thanks for this review. I, too, want my children to have piano lessons (I took them for 14 years!)....I think EVERYONE should know how to read sheet music!
I like Dr. Carol on FB.
I like Homegrown Learners on FB.
This is so timely, I was just trying to put together a curriculum on my own for American Music and composers, I would love to have a copy of what Dr. Carol has done! Oh, and your series is my favorite of the "10 days of homeschooling"!
This sounds wonderful! ;-) I took some music as a middle and high schooler and I agree... even a brief experience with music ed can lead you to appreciate music more. We'd love to have this curriculum!
I liked Home Grown Learners.
I liked Prof Carol.
This looks great and would definitely enhance my high schoolers American History study.
Very
Interesting!!! Would love this for
My 2 boys
I love the way Dr. Carol begin this post: by reminding us of how *quiet* the world once was, and how we've lost the appreciation for classical music in 2012! I'd love to win this giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity!