Music Appreciation…

** I thought that I would follow up my old Art Appreciation post with one on Music Appreciation or Composer Study. This post was written in 2011 but we still use the same method – it works for us :o). Enjoy the post. **

…our way, inspired by Charlotte Mason ;o)

I have to admit that I have not made any concerted effort to include Composer Study into our weekly learning. There is no reason other than we are a family who have a very wide range of musical tastes, the classics being amongst them.

I approach our music appreciation in a similar way to Picture Study. I will pop on some Strauss or Vivaldi or whoever, while we work on our nature journals, or art projects. If we are going to be in the car for a loooong drive, we always make sure that one of the CD’s we bring along has a nice mix of classical music.

Our music appreciation does not happen in a set lesson, it happens within the context of life for us. It works! My children are able to recognize pieces that they are familiar with, they even get excited when Bach’s ‘Cannon’ is played – a family favourite!

The girls are familiar with Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’. I thought today we would focus on the ‘Autumn’ arrangement, (yes, appropriate for the season)  – with a little visual treat to go with it. YouTube has once again brought a little something extra to our studies. We loved the beautiful autumn images which popped up to compliment the music. Once we had listened and ‘ooooed’ and ‘aaaaaahhhhed’ – Ms V-L dashed upstairs to retrieve our Vivaldi CD from….her bedroom!

 I was quite amazed. I had no idea that she had taken this CD upstairs to her room for personal pleasure! So not only am I amazed – come to think of it – but also really quite chuffed! It just goes to show that a relation has been formed by our relaxed and simple way of listening to music if my 13 year old has chosen to include this, along side more contemporary artists! I love it!

So, may I encourage you to include an appreciation of the classical composers – your way!