Music, Music, Everywhere!!

This week we're all participating in a Fine Arts/Music camp.     Miss B and GMan are campers, and I am teaching three sections of recorder classes each day.   It is a circus themed week.  GMan's group is just half day, and he gets lots of movement, art and music.  Miss B's camp is full day and she gets choir, art,  handbells, conducting, dance, recorders, and several guest performances.


I wanted to tell you about the recorder portion because I'm so excited to be teaching this.   We are doing Recorder Karate, which is essentially learning pieces on the recorder, and when students play a certain piece correctly they earn a specific "belt" to go around the end of their recorder.   It is the first time I have taught this program and I must say I am IMPRESSED!   

We are working on note reading, fingering, good tone quality, rhythms, etc...   There are so many decisions to be made per second.   I cannot stress enough what a valuable skill music making is for everyone!   It is also a great chance for me to teach music to groups of children again (this is what my profession used to be before I had my children).  I enjoy it so much!   I have a section of 2nd and 3rd graders, 4th and 5th graders, and 6th and 7th graders.   On Friday the week will culminate with a performance, which is always a lot of fun.   


The camp is in midtown Atlanta and we live nearly an hour outside of the city.  So, each morning at 7:30 a.m. we leave our house and go to camp.... I come home at half day with GMan and thankfully my husband (who works downtown) picks Miss B and her friend up each afternoon.  I think it's a great experience for all of us ~ I'm grateful to have the opportunity.   


This morning we heard a professional percussionist perform.... he let the children make music with him, introduced them to different types of music, and just let them have FUN. I think their favorite thing was the Limbo!  

So, this week we aren't really doing "school", but we sure are LEARNING!    

Have You Seen These Music Education Resources?

I've been fielding readers' questions about music education this week. Tuesday, your questions about piano lessons were answered. Some readers also left some interesting comments on that post, so check them out!

Here's another question that really was all encompassing and I'll address it in today's post:

For music education in general - what do you think is important?

I know music can be intimidating if you aren't a musician. I've heard so many people say "I can't carry a tune in a bucket" or "I just don't sing!" , which makes me so sad. Music is actually one of the easiest things to bring into your homeschool because you don't have to DO anything except provide music for your children.

Exposure, in my opinion, is critical. Children are innately musical (in fact, all babies are born with perfect pitch, did you know that?) and if that musicianship isn't fostered they lose it over time. It is my belief that all children should be exposed to the great musicians of history, have an opportunity to learn a musical instrument, and respond to music in their own unique way (song, dance, ensemble playing, etc...)

Here are some low cost ways to do just that:

1. Have a composer of the week- go to Classics for Kids and listen to their radio shows. This site lays everything out for you (including listening to the music free online). Wouldn't it be great to keep a composer notebook with your kids? This site makes it so easy.
2. Keep a set of quality rhythm instruments at home for younger children. I recommend this set. Let them make their own music to accompany poetry, their favorite songs or just about anything. Music should be FUN.
3. Make sure you have a lot of music playing in your house. Classical music always soothes the soul, but highlight a different GENRE each week in your house. How about playing classical one week, then jazz the next? You can use Pandora to get lots of free music in your home! (for fun, go to the link I gave you and create a "Louis Armstrong" station. This is one of our favorites!) Other favorite recordings of ours include Beethoven's Wig, (classical music with funny lyrics that kids REMEMBER!) Raffi, Greg & Steve, and Veggi Tales.
4. Are you a member of a homeschool co-op? Is there someone willing to teach a music class for your child's age group? I teach a music and movement class to K-1 grade children once a week. We learn songs, play instruments, highlight a different composer each week, and recently started talking about different musical forms.
   
5. Have you checked to see if there are any homeschool choirs or bands in your area? I know there are several where we live! Exposing your child to music making in a large group is a gift. There is something special about working with a group towards a common goal.
   
6. I love the plan for composer study on Simply Charlotte Mason. It's all laid out for you. We follow this plan.
   

I wish I could speak more about packaged music education curriculums for homeschools, but I have never had experience with them. I have recently received a trial membership to an online music community for homeschoolers, so I'll keep you posted on what my thoughts are.

I hope this has been helpful.... if you have any other resources you can share with me, I'd love to hear about them. Or, if you have additional questions, ask away!!

I'm linking this post to Many Little Blessings today.... she is also reviewing a great music education resource, so click her button and check it out!

Your Piano Questions Answered!

When I put the call out earlier this week for questions about music education, the most popular topic that came up was piano lessons. I'll answer those questions in this post, and if I didn't cover something, feel free to ask me some more!

I feel so very strongly about music lessons for children. I see discipline, self confidence, and a love of something beautiful as valuable things to teach our children. Learning a musical instrument provides all of these. I heard once that a pianist makes at least seven decisions per second while they are playing. That's an amazing thought, isn't it? As an adult I love having the piano to go to when I am nervous, stressed, happy -- just about any mood. I play the piano and can express my emotions and often calm my emotions as well. In short, music is a gift from GOD.

To get the discussion started, I will tell you my nine year old daughter does take piano lessons. I started working with her when she was seven, then sent her to an outside piano teacher when she was eight. She could have continued to learn from me, but there is a teacher here whom I love and who I knew my daughter would get along with wonderfully. It has been a great fit, and Miss B is flourishing as a pianist.

My six year old son isn't showing nearly the interest his sister did, but I will start him in the next year or so with some no stress piano adventures. I'm trying to instill the love of music in him through fun songs, dancing, and by teaching a co-op music class for his age group. It's all about exposure!

Here are some of the questions readers had about piano lessons:

I asked a family friend who teaches piano about lessons and she stated that she refuses to teach children under the age of 8! Says they are too wiggly and have no attention span. What are your thoughts?

I have taken children as young as five... depends on that particular child, and it depends on the teacher's style. My lessons are thirty minutes, and for the younger ones we use a program where the child is singing, moving, and playing the piano. I don't expect any child younger than seven or so to be able to sit still for a "traditional" piano lesson. That's torture!

Find out your teacher's style! There are many teachers who take younger children, and many who don't take them until the age of second or third grade. If you wait to start your child until they are a little older I do think their fine motor skills are more developed and they will be more self-motivated to learn. (That's just my experience.) I advise parents of young children to have a trial lesson with me - usually it will be obvious if the child is ready or not.

So, I guess I just answered the next question:

What age do you like to see a child start private lessons?

This is all a matter of your child and their maturity level. It's kind of like the age a child is reading - one size does not fit all. If you need a ballpark age, though, I would say eight.

What, if any, are your favorite piano curricula?

For the littlest ones, I love Music for Little Mozarts. It is the sweetest little curriculum, and you can do it with your children if you aren't a musician, too. Check out the program here. Many of the reviewers have great thoughts. The Curriculum Choice also has a wonderful review of the program.

For children eight and up I recommend a couple of curricula. These are the only two I use in my studio. I'm sure there are other good ones out there, but most of the teachers I know stick with these.

1. Nancy and Randall Faber's Piano Adventures: I like this series because it has children transposing music within the first two years. Theory seems to go hand in hand with playing in this series, too. This series also doesn't have a lot of childlike pictures, which appeals to the more mature students. I've had great success with this method, and students continue to use these books for several years.
   
2. Alfred's Premier Piano Course: This is the series I use the most in my studio. It also seems to be the most popular one out there. The songs are very catchy and the kids always love the words and pictures. I can't put my finger on it, but I think this would be the students' favorite.
   

If you are thinking of piano lessons for your child, you can always find a qualified teacher through Music Teachers' National Association. Teachers who are in this organization (I am a member) are qualified by degree and are up to date on current piano pedagogy, etc...

I hope this answered some questions.... stay tuned this work for more posts about music education!

*This post is linked to Teach Me, Tuesday - I am so glad Maggie is "back" and hosting this linky again. She has a beautiful blog, so please check it out!

And, as always, I'm linking up with some Hip Homeschool Moms!