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tovlo4801
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| Posted: Nov 14 2005 at 7:23pm | IP Logged
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I've been learning this year as we try out our odd form of unschooling about the effectiveness of teaching from and working with loves. I've discovered that when I'm in love with a subject my kids are so much more likely to fall in love with it to. When they are in love with something and I go with them, it can be a joy.
So... today I was thinking music. I've not really had any good exposure to quality music. Most of my exposure has been in the realm of "I should" and lists of "got to get through". I am grabbed by stories and by emotion. I tend to like soundtrack type classical music and I think it's because I have the emotion and story to go with it. Too often when I've been exposed to classical music otherwise it's been divorced from the context of it's story.
I want to fall in love with classical music, so that I can help my kids fall in love with it. I just don't know where to start. I was thinking there were probably a few of you out there who would be willing to share some of your loves and why you love them, so we have a place to start.
Thanks.
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ladybugs
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| Posted: Nov 14 2005 at 7:45pm | IP Logged
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Hi Richelle,
Why don't you check out some of the composer dvds from Devine Entertainment...
There's the "new" The Phantom of the Opera with Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum. We enjoyed that....
Just some ideas...
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Maria P
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ALmom
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| Posted: Nov 15 2005 at 11:50am | IP Logged
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I think I know where you are coming from as I have 0 exposure to classical until my dd began piano. I had played CDs in the background (of Gregorian chant mostly) so that dc would have some exposure. When dd began lessons she naturally requested classical - even though that teacher was more modern/choral accompaniment.
I liked the Bach simply because it was so beautiful - peaceful (which was good for background music). My dd now really likes the Romantic period (which tend to be very emotional). She is playing a piece by San Saens which I really like the theme that repeats over and over (in the master class she had the teacher had dd think of "Giovanni" dancing and created an entirely made up story for dd).
I think it helped me to read some lives of the composers - I read Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers (a little belaboring the point and a bit Protestant but a complement to the other one I read) and The Lives of Great Composers by Schonberg. It helps me to have a tad of background. I don't "know" this stuff but the book is a reference - ie when there is a piece that something grabs me (or something dd is starting to work on) then I pull out the books and look up the composers.
I think that familiarity breeds a certain something. I tend to like the pieces dd plays - and I think it is because I hear them constantly as part of the background for months on end - and then see them performed. I see this too with dc - they will perk up at dd concerts when they hear something somewhat familiar.
I have liked Mendellsohn, Mozart, Haydn, Bach, Handel. With Christmas approaching - what about the Handel oratorios - like the Messiah.
Hope this helps.
Janet
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Nov 15 2005 at 12:21pm | IP Logged
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My father-in-law gave us Beethoven Lives Upstairs, a cd where the composer tells his life story with a background of his music? That one seemed a bit noisy to me, but I really liked Mr. Bach Comes to Call. We listened to that a few times when we drove cross country this summer. You can find them on Amazon.
FIL also gave us Bugs Bunny's Overtures to Disaster video, with the infamous "Kill Da Wabbit" piece.  The kids loved it! It's an easy way to introduce the music, although I don't know what the characters are doing since I always napped through it! 
Just recently I pulled out our 10 disc set the Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music 1685-1928. I pick one disc where I recognize some of the titles, and we dance together or talk about how the music makes us feel.
Last idea before I take my nap, I took the kids to the youth symphony in Hawaii last Dec. Since it was a performance for public schools basically, there was an explanation of what the pieces were before they were played. They were all fairly short and catchy. I remember one they played was the can-can. Since we homeschoolers were put in the top row of the theater (of course  ), there was plenty of room for my kids to dance  (all 5 and under at the time).
Can't wait to see other's suggestions!
Blessings,
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Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Cheryl
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| Posted: Nov 15 2005 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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I love Handel's Messiah. Like someone else said, I think that is a great place to start at Christmas time. My brother used to listen to classical music when we were in high school. My room was across from his, so I used to listen to it too, although I never really knew the names of the pieces we were listening to. I remember cleaning our rooms with Mozart. One I do remember loving was Romance by Dvorak. It relaxed me. I've been using the Classical Kids CD's with my kids. I think Vivaldi was a favorite so far. I just ordered the Handel one.
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tovlo4801
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| Posted: Nov 15 2005 at 4:35pm | IP Logged
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I love your ideas! As I was reading through them, two things caught me. Learn about the piece and the artist. Duh! That will help me see the story better. Also, rather than try to speed through some list of classical music to be familiar with, just get comfortable with something for a while until it becomes a friend before moving on.
One of you mentioned making up stories to go with the music. I really like that idea. Talking with the with kids about what stories the music makes in their head and sharing the stories in my own.
I might find a CD of Handel's Messiah and make that our friend for the next month or so.
Can't wait to hear what other favorites people have. Thanks so much!
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Sarah
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I was a music major in college and both my parents are professional musicians/ teachers. So, I grew up with tons of music. I would start with a CD of classical music "hits." There are many out there. They usually tend to have the basics and a nice variety. Sometimes listening to an entire CD of one composer can get on your nerves. Make sure you get Bach, Handel, Mozart, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky in your diet. Bach and Handel may seem similar since they are from the same era. Those are all composers to start with. Any of those variety CD's will have those and more. Then you'll say to yourself, "Hey, I like so and so, maybe I'll try more of him." Don't feel bad if you don't care for a certain piece or composer. Sometimes we want to like someone because we feel we have to. Form your own opinions. Watch the paper for concerts and take your kids to them , provided they can sit through them (5 and older), or just go yourself. I sat through many a concert as a child and older and it was very good. You'll soon be in love with it, particularly if you hear something live! Gregorian chant and Palestrina done live in a church will bring you to tears!
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Sarah
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| Posted: Nov 15 2005 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
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pppppppppppppppppppppppp
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Nov 16 2005 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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How about Bach for Breakfast. I had a slew of recommendations (most are on my very unfinished music page), but the whole post disappeared for some strange reason. Gosh, the whole post was pretty interesting... 
Oh well...Here are just a few of the ideas I had:
Aaron Copeland (familiar and current "classical" music)
Movie Classics (music used in films, not written for them)
String Serenades (background music for dinner)
Fortress (the music of Sting performed by the London Symphony)
Cello Submarine (hehehe)
And while we are talking music, I'll plug my favorite Christmas CD:
Cello Christmas
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Sarah
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I think my dd 2 posted that above. She came to me yesterday and said "Mommy, dot com!"  I am so sorry! Yes, we are in control here at our house!! 
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Kelly
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| Posted: Nov 16 2005 at 8:37pm | IP Logged
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Do you have a good video rental place? If so, you should check out Zefferelli's movie version of "La Traviata". It has subtitles and is a sumptuous movie. It really turned my cousins onto opera. Another one that has beautiful music and is very view-worthy, is the movie version of "Carmen" with Placido Domingo. The music is so great, but being a movie, you really get a sense of the story. But you watch it first. Neither story line is very appropriate for children., tho both movies would probably be over kids' heads.
Kelly in FL
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ALmom
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Ditto about what someone said about not sweating if you do not like a certain composer. Our very musical dd went to a concert with me and I asked if she wanted to get the CD of the piano trio we heard. She said she didn't really care for the composer that much. It was fine to listen to in person where you could watch the performerance (see the technicality, emotion of the performer) but she wasn't going to listen to it over and over at home. The composer was Russian composing under communism and the music is very depressing, I guess - very intense in any case. It is rather popular at the moment. DD could appreciate it and the way the Russian-born pianist brought the piece out. But it wasn't going to be a piece she chose to listen to over and over or go out and look for a bunch more of his stuff.
So if there are composers that just don't grab you, don't worry about it. Although you may build some appreciation for them in a live performance as opposed to on CD.
Janet
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Rachel May
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I was first turned onto La Boheme from watching "Moonstruck". I used to listen to it while I did Calculus homework in college. My roommate never liked it though. Funny about how the introduction to the music makes such a difference.
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Karen E.
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tovlo4801 wrote:
I want to fall in love with classical music, so that I can help my kids fall in love with it. I just don't know where to start. I was thinking there were probably a few of you out there who would be willing to share some of your loves and why you love them, so we have a place to start.
Thanks. |
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Stick with that connection you like to make -- check out
this site
You can search by movie title, and find out what music was used in the movie. For example, watch "Amadeus" for Mozart, "Master and Commander" for Bach's wonderful cello suite, etc. Look up movies that you love to get you started with a particular composer, and then listen to that composer at greater length.
Also, with your kids, don't forget Mike Venezia's terrific books -- take a look at his website here.
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Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Nov 17 2005 at 7:37pm | IP Logged
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Sarah wrote:
| I think my dd 2 posted that above. She came to me yesterday and said "Mommy, dot com!" I am so sorry! Yes, we are in control here at our house!! |
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Sarah,
That was cute.
I just found one more "music/movie" site, Richelle:
Here it is.
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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tovlo4801
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| Posted: Nov 18 2005 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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Karen E. wrote:
You can search by movie title, and find out what music was used in the movie. For example, watch "Amadeus" for Mozart, "Master and Commander" for Bach's wonderful cello suite, etc. Look up movies that you love to get you started with a particular composer, and then listen to that composer at greater length.
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Thanks for the suggestion and the sites! Great idea.
Thanks everyone...
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Tina P.
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Coming in to answer this late. One of my all-time favorite composers is Tchaicovsky (don't ask me to spell it correctly more than once). He's the Swan Lake, Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty composer. There's also a Mr. Tchaicovsky Discovers America in the Classical Kids CD collection. And I like Brahms for his sweet lullabies.
A couple of people in my family were involved in the opera Carmen as kids. We really enjoyed it and it opened our minds to classical music.
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tovlo4801
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| Posted: Dec 19 2005 at 9:20pm | IP Logged
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This month we've been loving Handel and Tchaikovsky. I found a CD of a selection of Handel's music at the library and my dh got a free CD of the Nutcracker at the grocery store.
I fell in love with a menuet by Handel after repeated listenings and when I played it for my family to share my dh said, "It sounds like a pop song." Sigh. I guess I'm just a pop music kind of person at heart.
Today I asked my little one what we should listen to while I worked. I was thinking Wee Sing Around the World, but he suggested the Nutcracker. Pretty cool!
I'm really enjoying our music and I think the key is repeated listenings. Maria and Karen, I found some of the things you recommended at Netflix and I think I'm going to try one of those composers for January and get a movie to go along with it.
Thanks so much for all your suggestions.
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MacBeth
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tovlo4801 wrote:
I fell in love with a menuet by Handel after repeated listenings and when I played it for my family to share my dh said, "It sounds like a pop song." Sigh. I guess I'm just a pop music kind of person at heart.
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If you like pop songs, try Rachmaninoff...
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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Kelly
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You know, you might check out the movies, Fantasia I and II. They're both great, and your children ---and you---will learn as you enjoy.
I also second the above recommendations for all the Classical Kids movies. I personally LOVE their movie, "Strauss, the King of Three Quarter Time. My children and I have watched this movie many times (tho there is an element about an abusive father, you might want to preview it-though it's more implied than anything) Beautiful movie, beautiful set.
Kelly in FL
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: What music do you love?
