VBS - Day Two

We had an interesting music lesson today - the kids learned what a fermata is!  We're singing "Trust and Obey" from the hymnal - a lesson in itself for some of them - and it includes that silly little"bird's eye" in the chorus.  The kids thought it was hilarious to see who could hold the note out longest!  I guess they won't soon forget that lesson!  The funny thing is, just as I finished writing about this, my kids came into the office/music room to get the hymnal, and I can hear them in the living room singing it now!

Hopefully they won't forget the spiritual lesson they learned today - that God will provide.  The Bible story was about Elijah, and how he was fed first by ravens and then by a poor widow with only enough flour left for one loaf of bread.  That is a hard thing to get our minds around as adults, though maybe it's easier for kids to grasp, because they're used to being provided for by their parents.

It's amazing to me that God wants us to call him "Father."  Can you imagine?  The creator and sustainer of the universe wants to be our Dad?  To provide for us, and take care of us?  Unbelievable!  But we're called to believe.  We have to.  Maybe that's why Jesus said that we had to be born again, and that we had to be like children.  Children have a definite advantage over the cynical, hardened adults we can become.

But that's one of the joys of working with children.  You get to see first hand what Jesus was talking about.  It can be hard work, but just being around a group of kids puts more joy into your life than you can imagine! I am so thankful for this VBS week!  I think the adults might just learn as much as the kids.

Check out the rest of the week!
Vacation Bible School - Day 1
VBS - Day Three 
VBS - Day Four
VBS - Day 5!!

Enjoying Music with Your Children

This post was originally published April 5, 2011 on aquietsimplelife.com.  That blog is being taken off the web, so Sallie gave me permission to reprint it here.  Enjoy!

 I have worked as a Christian school music teacher and a music therapist in the past, and currently teach piano lessons and play piano at my church.  I am a full-time homeschooling mom, and part-time writer.  Music has always been part of my life, and I enjoy sharing it with my children.

One of the easiest ways to enjoy music with your children is to listen to different styles of music.  Introduce them to your favorites, and explore new genres together.  You can buy CD’s, borrow them from the library or friends, or simply tune in to different radio stations.    When you listen, tell them what type of music it is (i.e. classical, jazz, rock, country, etc.)   If possible, tell them about the artist or composer.  Generally a search on the internet will yield information, and there are many illustrated children’s biographies available.

While you are listening, give the children something to actively listen for.  Examples would be a particular phrase (i.e. “e-i-e-i-o” in Old MacDonald), or when the music gets louder or softer, or a particular instrument.  Ask them to do something when they hear whatever they are searching for, such as sing along, or raise their hands.  For really active children, have them try to sit still until that moment, when they get to jump up!

Moving to music is fun for most kids.  Activities could include marching or dancing to the beat, playing instruments, or clapping.  Try to have them listen for a certain element of the music and use their movements to describe it.  For example, they could reach high if the tune gets higher in pitch and crouch down to the floor as it gets lower, or make bigger movements when the music gets louder and smaller ones when it gets softer.

Artistic-minded children enjoy drawing to music.  Let them listen, and draw or paint.  It might be an abstract work, or a picture of something they “see” in the music.  This works especially well with instrumental music.

If you have a piano at home, I would encourage you to let your children play, even if they don’t know what they’re playing.  Don’t let them bang on it with toys or fists, but teach them to use their fingers on the keys.  It is sometimes difficult to listen to the cacophony which results from this free play, but your child may surprise you with a masterpiece.  Also, let them listen to songs as many times as they want.  My son became obsessed with listening to “Red River Valley” from an audiobook he had checked out at the library.  To my surprise, after listening it to what seemed like a million times, he went to the piano and picked out the notes!  At that time he was not taking piano lessons, and would not have been able to read the music for that song if he had it.  At the same time, my 2-year-old managed to learn all the words, and they put on a concert!  You never know what kids can do when you let them experiment.

Music is all around us.  It is part of every culture.  Giving your children a good start in music will help them to relate to their world better, and the more diverse their experience, the better equipped they will be to understand the music they are exposed to as they go through life.

For more ideas and information about this subject, please visit my website, Music At Home. 

E-Book Review - The Matthew 6:33 Piano Teacher: How to Teach Piano for the Glory of God

Click here to view more details

I have been privileged to be allowed a free copy of this book to review, and I do mean it was a privilege.  It is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or 633music.net, and truly costs less than you'll make teaching your first lesson.  It is written to the first-time piano teacher, but I have been teaching for years, and found plenty of information in this book to help me improve both my teaching and my business skills.

The book is set up in a question - answer format, and it covers everything from the spiritual to the practical.  Just the fact that it includes a spiritual component sets it apart from and above other piano teaching books I've read.   The first question addressed is "Can Teaching Piano Really Affect the Kingdom of God?"  I have to admit that as a Christian and a piano teacher, I had never really considered this question.  I am so grateful that K.M. Logan did, and that she has shared her insights with the rest of us!  It really brings a new meaning to my teaching.  

This book has, in fact, given me a jump-start in getting my own business off the ground.  As I said, I've taught piano lessons for years, but I have never considered it a serious business.  This book came along just when I was trying to figure out how to acquire and manage more students, and I am completely inspired!  Using the information in this book, I have been able to work out a teaching schedule, decide how to bill students, and even set up my own website using an online program she recommended in the book.  I also feel better equipped to help students and prospective students with questions they may have.  

I would recommend this book to any piano teacher, or anyone thinking about teaching piano.  I have read it through and have already started implementing some of the ideas, but I expect to go back to it again and again.  It is 104 pages of great information, covering everything from "Is teaching piano something I want to do?" to "How should I file taxes?" and "Should I require my students to participate in music competitions?"   It includes information from the author's own experience, along with a list of her favorite books and resources.    

Now, I have to get back to working on my advertising!  

Sing a Song!

Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; 

Praise is becoming to the upright.

Give thanks to the LORD with the Lyre;

Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.

Sing to Him a new song;

Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

For the word of the LORD is upright;

And all His work is done in faithfulness.

Psalm 33:1-4

We are a musical family.  When we celebrate together, it seems natural to break out the instruments and have a sing-along.  Celebrations are a great time to sing and make music together.  Everyone is in a good mood, we've had some good food, maybe some gifts if it's that kind of holiday, and everyone is enjoying being together.

But what about those times that you're alone?  When there's nothing to celebrate?  When you're hungry, or sick, or worried?  When the cares of the world weigh so heavily on your shoulders that you feel like you'll crumble under the pressure?  When all you see ahead of you is more of the same, with no end in sight?  

That's when you sing.  It may be hard to start.  But start anyway.  Sing a hymn, or a worship song, or even something from Sesame Street if that's all you can think of!  Just start singing.  Sing through the tears and the fears and the sadness and the pain.  Start wherever you are.  Sing to the LORD.  Praise Him.  Give Him a sacrifice of praise.  Then, receive the blessing of joy that surpasses understanding. 

Learning an Instrument

As a piano teacher, I have had people ask if it is possible for them to learn piano on their own.  I've also had parents (especially homeschoolers!) ask if they can teach their children how to play if they don't play, themselves. You may have to be a homeschooler yourself to understand a question like this, but we are a strange breed, and always think of doing it ourselves, first!  This question doesn't have a simple yes or no answer, so I wanted to draw your attention to an article I wrote on my website, "Music at Home".  It is called Can I Teach Myself To Play An Instrument?  I hope it clears up some of the questions you may have!

For the record, I do encourage you to give your children the opportunity to learn an instrument.  If you don't know which instrument to try, read this article.  It gives ideas for choosing the right instrument for your child.

Summer vacation is a great time to try something new, and some parents like to start music lessons while their children don't have as many other things to worry about.  However, there is no best time to start.  It really depends on the kid.  I actually made the mistake of starting my son's piano lessons too early.  He seemed interested, and he seemed to be able to understand it all, but was tortured by having to practice every day!  We ended up quitting for a while, and he is doing much better now.  So, don't be worried if you try an instrument and it doesn't work out.  There's plenty of time.  Waiting a while or trying a different instrument might make all the difference.

Happy music-making!

Games and Activities For Teaching Musical Tempo to Young Children

Tempo, or speed, is one of the building blocks of music. Activities and games can help pre-school and elementary-aged children learn to recognize it.

Young children tend to respond to different types of music in different ways. If you have spent time with babies or toddlers, you have probably seen them relax to the soothing sounds of their mothers' lullabies, or bounce and wave their arms to a song with a fast rock beat. They are innately feeling the tempo of the music. The following cross-curricular games and activities can help children to recapture this feeling, and begin to understand it cognitively.

What is Tempo?

When teaching music to children, it is best to use the proper terminology. Even if they are years away from learning to play an instrument or read music, using the correct terms when they are young will increase their understanding later. Tempo refers to the speed of a song or musical composition. When writing music, composers sometimes use a metronome marking to communicate the tempo of the song. Alternately, they may use Italian words (adagio, allegro, presto), or English words (slowly, fast rock beat). It is fun for children to learn the meaning of these words.

Using a Metronome

A metronome is a machine which measures beats per minute. You may have the old-fashioned type, which has a weighted stick that swings back and forth, or one of the newer electronic ones. Children love to use these, adjusting them to make the ticks go faster and slower. In metronome markings (M.M.), quarter note = 60 means that there are 60 beats in a minute, or one beat each second. M.M. 40 would therefore be slower, and M.M. 100 would be faster. Traditional march beat is M.M. 120, or two beats per second. If you do not have a metronome available, you can use a clock with a second hand, or a timer which ticks seconds.

Movement Activities

Moving to music is one of the easiest ways to learn to recognize tempo. The following activities can be done while listening to music or making your own music. As the children gain experience, introduce music that speeds up or slows down during the song.

Clapping hands, stomping feet, or playing rhythm instruments along with a song help children to feel the beat.

Marching and dancing use the whole body to feel the tempo. Make sure to give the children direction, however. If they are dancing freely, they may or may not be paying attention to the tempo of the song. Demonstrate the steps you want them to do, and then dance along with them.

Ask the children to move at different speeds - using descriptive words, or even metronome markings as the basis. Try using the Italian words instead. If you don't know the proper words, some of them are written on metronomes, or you can get an inexpensive music dictionary.

Children's games such as "Ring Around the Rosie" or "Motorboat, Motorboat" help children to move in tempo. "Motorboat" is especially good, as the circle goes faster as the game goes on.

Language Activities

Some language arts activities lend themselves well to learning about tempo.

Poetry reading - from Mother Goose to Shakespeare's Sonnets, poetry has its own sense of rhythm. Reading poetry aloud to children helps them to connect feeling to the words.

Try saying words in ways that describe their meanings (i.e. "quick!-quick!" and "sloooow").

Have the children act out a particularly exciting or sorrowful part of a story, using their movements to help show the mood. Point out the connections to emotions and tempo.

Art Activities

Engaging in artistic pursuits while listening to music can help children focus on different elements of the music.

Have the children draw a picture. This works well with instrumental music. Note if their hands are moving slowly when the music is slow, and quicker when the music speeds up. Ask the children to explain their drawings when they are done.

Instead of drawing, you can have the children mold something out of clay while listening to music.

Children enjoy making their own instruments. Have them decorate an oatmeal box or coffee can for a drum, or make shakers from empty plastic bottles filled with rice or beans. Cut one-inch dowels into ten or twelve inch lengths, and have them paint them. Use the hand-made instruments for some of the previous activities.

Games and cross-curricular activities can enhance your children's understanding of music. They can also help children who are reluctant to learn, by associating music with another activity they enjoy. Refer to the article "Teaching Music to Your Children" for more information about musical elements your children should know.


Copyright Robin Wheatley

originally published at Suite101

Raising Musical Kids

I have a new book review on my website.  The book is called "Raising Musical Kids:  A Guide for Parents" by Dr. Robert A. Cutietta.  If you click here, it will take you to right to the review.  I encourage you to check it out, whether you are a musician or not.  It is a very clear guide on things every parent can do to help their child learn to enjoy music throughout their lives.

If you would like to order the book, you can come back here and order directly from the affiliate link on this page.  Or, do as I did and borrow it from your local library.  I actually intend to buy the book, as there is a lot of information here that will come in handy as my children get older.

Johnny Cash - Five Feet High And Rising

This about sums it up.  I'm up early after a late night of shoveling muck, bailing water, and trying to move everything to high ground.  We had a huge amount of rain which, combined with the melting snow, ended up in our basement.  The sump pumps are working, but weren't quite enough for the deluge last night.  On a good note, we got the basement cleaned a little more.  Lots of bags of garbage and soaked cardboard boxes went out the door.  On a bad note, I didn't want to be doing it at midnight.  I praise God that he prompted me to check on the basement before I went to bed.  The water was just starting to come in, then.  It would have been SO much worse to have noticed it after the fact.

Make sure you turn off my playlist at the bottom of the page before playing the video! 

Bush and the Marine Corps Band

I just realized that I had saved this a few weeks ago, intending to post it.  Well, better late than never!  Enjoy!

My Second Article

Teaching Music to Your Children

So I haven't made any money yet on the first article, but I figured I would submit another one while I was on a roll.  So, here it is if anyone would like to read it!  I hope that it will help people who are not musicians themselves, but would like to give their children a good start in music.

Pages!

Hello, everyone - I (ta-ta-TAA!) have figured out how to add PAGES  to my blog. (big cheer, applause, bowing, bowing, flowers...).  Yes, if you look to the right of this post  (>), you will find a new section, called...PAGES!  In this new section, you will see three whole pages - Home, which is the page you're on now, Music In the Homeschool, which includes a gateway to my music teaching website, and Schoolhouse At Glen Hill, which has a link to my new blog at homeschoolblogger.com, which will focus only on homeschooling.  So, from this ONE blog, you can actually access THREE sites.  Pretty fancy, huh?  I thought you'd be impressed.  Okay, now I have to lay down.  Ahhhh.

New Website - Music At Home

Well, I've decided to start a new website.  It's called "Music at Home", and you can find the link at the top of this blog.  I plan to include articles, lesson plans, and hopefully worksheets (if I can figure out how that works!) to help homeschooling parents to teach music to their kids.  So far, I have three pages (not a lot of help, I realize), but if you have time, please stop over and give me some feedback.  Also, if anyone has ideas of material they'd like to see on the site, please let me know that, also!

Just a note - the picture in the background is actually a picture of my two kids playing piano together - I couldn't resist!