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Molly Smith
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| Posted: July 10 2009 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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I always say "this is the year we're doing music and art app" and it never happens  . It's really not my thing, I have absolutely no background in either, and it's the first thing to be stricken from our days.
However, I found out this morning that one of our activities for this year for which I'd already budgeted fell through and I have an extra $350 in my education budget category. I'm not looking to spend it all, but I would like to devote some to music and art appreciation. Curriculum, books, art supplies, whatever else comes up.
Long story short, what should I buy? My school aged kiddos are 13, 11, 9, 7 and 5, plus we have one almost 3 and a baby. How Great Thou Art was stricken from my list a month or two ago due to cost, but I could do that now. A few of the things I had been looking at there covered 2-3 years' material, so it would be an investment. That's more practical art as opposed to appreciation. I'd like to do both, though! Any art app recommendations?
Last year I bought a bunch of Music Masters cds very cheaply, but didn't use them. What do I do with them? Just listen? Maybe I just need direction and motivation instead of "more stuff" in this department. Advice?
TIA!
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Molly Smith in VA
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 10 2009 at 9:46pm | IP Logged
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Molly -
How are you working the arts into your days? I ask because last year I had great success setting an entire day of each week for pursuing the arts in a concentrated way. This kept me accountable - the kids really enjoyed our **Fine Arts Fridays**. Throughout the week we would listen to certain pieces of classical music from composers we had learned about the previous Friday as well as some art appreciation and expression.
I've been eyeing a program I've heard really good things about - it was written by one of the Dominican Sisters in Nashville and is a sequential progression through art history with the culmination of each lesson being an art project.
The Christian Heritage Art Program
For teaching classical music I like Emmanuel's program How to Teach Your Child Classical Music in 52 Easy Lessons.
Of course, you could certainly spend some of your budget $$ replenishing and beefing up your art materials and supplies - a lovely set of watercolor pencils, some watercolors (I like the Grumbacher set), clay and tools, watercolor paper, nice markers, etc. My favorite choice for good (not top of the line, but really good quality) art supplies are Prang supplies. They're very affordable, and the crayons, color pencils, markers, and paints are really great! They're my preference for my little guy!
Hope there's something helpful in here, Molly.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: July 14 2009 at 6:59am | IP Logged
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That's the thing, Jennifer--we're not actually working the arts into our days. The only time we had some success (not with music or art though) was when we did the Serendipity poetry plans (which were awesome, by the way!!). I love the idea of Fine Arts Fridays!
I've looked at the Christian Heritage Art Program a few times but had never heard any recommendations. I'm glad to finally hear something! I'll definitely look into it more. Anyone here used this? I don't mind being the guinea pig :-), but I'd love to have some idea of how anyone has used this in their home.
The music book you recommend sounds great, too. Does it come with any of the music?
Thank you for the great ideas, Jennifer!
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Molly Smith in VA
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Stephanie_Q
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| Posted: July 15 2009 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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I got a few responses in this thread last spring.
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dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
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TracyFD
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Here's an idea for music -
Look at the upcoming concert schedule of your local orchestra. Check out the children's concerts and pick one, two or three concerts to attend over the school year.
In weeks or months proceeding the concert, study up on the featured composer. Listen to the Music Master's CD, check out Classical Kids at the library, look on Amazon for children's books about that composer and see if you can get them through the library. Look for the composer bios by Zeezok publishing to read aloud or have the older children read one on their own. There are alos some decent videos by Devine Entertainment we found at the library on composers, artists and scientists.
For art we have liked the Come Look with Me series. We have also enjoyed the Art Explorers books - these combine art appreciation with art projects in different mediums in the style of the featured artist. The instructions are clear and there are color pictures of examples as well as materials list.
When we did the Alphabet Path I added a composer and artist when appropriate. Feel free to look at my blog posts under the Alphabet Path category for ideas!
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SuzanneG
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Music probably doesn't require buying anything unless you don't have access to the picutre books at the library.....
**I would start out by picking just TWO composers for the year. One for Fall, and another for Spring.
**If you don't have a cd of that composer's music, borrow one, get from the library or buy it....they are usually quite inexpensive
**At a certain time of day (we usually do it right before lunch when everyone is cleaning up and getting ready for lunch, my 8 yo is in charge of putting it on. We do this a few times / week. We'll also listen to a piece, just concentrate on it, picking out the instruments, talking about it, etc....a few times. It really only takes 5-10 minutes.
**Check out a few picture books from library about the composer and read them over the first month. Do some copywork, write about the piece, watch a video, concert, youtube post of a performance.
**Notebooking Pages has a neat Composer Package. They also have a few free composer pages (down at the bottom). This is the time I would "schedule" in....just to make sure it happens. But, "peg" the listening to something that happens daily.
There may be something helpful in these posts:
Higher Up and Further In - Composer 10 and Composer Study 102. Also, Ambleside's Composer Study Resources
We did Artistic Pursuits last year, and I liked it. It's all laid out for me, which makes it easy for mom. They even give you a pre-determined list from Dick Blick to order....I just pushed "buy" and didn't waste time picking out supplies....so I do like that aspect of it.
I like the Can you find it? books for the younger ones. There are several of them......they are fun "I spy" books with famous works of art. And, Can you hear it? has always been a fun thing to "do" every few weeks.
Helen has compiled her classical music posts here.
And, I second replenishing the watercolors and paper....maybe setting up an "area" that is more accessible for them??? We all know re-arranging can cost $$$$$ !!!! 
HTH,
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Suzanne in ID
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 8:39am | IP Logged
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SuzanneG wrote:
Music probably doesn't require buying anything unless you don't have access to the picutre books at the library.....
**I would start out by picking just TWO composers for the year. One for Fall, and another for Spring.
**If you don't have a cd of that composer's music, borrow one, get from the library or buy it....they are usually quite inexpensive
**At a certain time of day (we usually do it right before lunch when everyone is cleaning up and getting ready for lunch, my 8 yo is in charge of putting it on. We do this a few times / week. We'll also listen to a piece, just concentrate on it, picking out the instruments, talking about it, etc....a few times. It really only takes 5-10 minutes.
**Check out a few picture books from library about the composer and read them over the first month. Do some copywork, write about the piece, watch a video, concert, youtube post of a performance.
**Notebooking Pages has a neat Composer Package. They also have a few free composer pages (down at the bottom). This is the time I would "schedule" in....just to make sure it happens. But, "peg" the listening to something that happens daily. |
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Those are helpful suggestions for you, Molly, and I meant to say that in using How to Teach Your Child Classical Music in 52 Easy Lessons this is sort of the relaxed approach we follow. I don't try to squeeze in a lesson a week. I do choose a focus for the year, maybe the romantic period composers and pull all the lessons related to that, or a single composer or two like Bach or Mozart. No, the music doesn't come with the book, but I download the piece they refer to from iTunes for our lessons (you could download it from Amazon or another online MP3 source - I generally pay 99 cents per download).
A nice set of classical music is worthwhile if you're looking for ways to spend your money. You can find several out there. Don't try to overthink this one. Just find a nice general collection - something to play during the day while the children have clean up time, or during quiet time. I was gifted a simple set several years ago and we play it ALL.THE.TIME. I'd link but I can't find it anymore. It's a set of 20 CD's that span the history of classical music from chant forward and includes a few key pieces from significant composers.
I've heard a lot of people talk about this program that have really liked it.
I found one thread here with a review on The Christian Heritage Art Program here.
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Jen Mackintosh
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SuzanneG
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Also, linking the compilation of the Monthly Composer Studies from the archives. I use these to chose the pieces that we'll listen to, if I don't already have a dvd. And, also use the booklists to get books from the library.
And the Monthly Artist Studies!!!! Lots of suggestions for picture books and pieces of art to "study".
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Suzanne in ID
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 4:04pm | IP Logged
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SuzanneG wrote:
| **I would start out by picking just TWO composers for the year. One for Fall, and another for Spring. |
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Thank you so much, ladies, for the great advice and suggestions! This is really the key to our success, I believe, to choose just two composers for the year. I guess I feel like I need to make up for lost time, but then I put too much on the schedule and it ends up getting dropped. So, which two would be most interesting for this year to get my children and I hooked? We'll definitely work from the Monthly Composer Studies from the archives.
I think we'll do the same thing with the Monthly Artist Studies from the archives and hold off on something huge like the Christian Heritage program. We'll start with just two for this year. Again, which two might be the best to get us hooked?
Artistic Pursuits looks interesting, alot like How Great Thou Art. I think we will finally invest in some good art supplies and a nice place to keep them.
Thank you all so much for taking the time to help me sort all of this out!! Please let me know if you can recommend two composers and two artists to get us started!
Thanks!!
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Molly Smith in VA
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SuzanneG
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Molly Smith wrote:
| So, which two would be most interesting for this year to get my children and I hooked? We'll definitely work from the Monthly Composer Studies from the archives. |
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Maybe Bach and Mozart??? Because there are many good picture books about them, and they will "hear" them in random places, the most often.
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Suzanne in ID
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 4:42pm | IP Logged
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Molly Smith wrote:
| Artistic Pursuits looks interesting, alot like How Great Thou Art. I think we will finally invest in some good art supplies and a nice place to keep them. |
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Sorry to quote myself, but I must correct this statement. I've just spent some more time on this website and it is not at all like HGTA aside from the spiral binding! I like HGTA because it is a little more self-contained, but it is more similar to a coloring book. Artistic Pursuits is more "real life". I can't think of a better way to put it. This page from their website offers a much better explanation.
It is quite expensive, considering I'd need three levels (assuming they are not consumable) and supplies for 4 children. The preschool book looks like fun, too, for my almost 3 and 5 year olds. I've got to make my wish list, do the math and then do nothing for a few days to let it all sink in.
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Molly Smith in VA
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: wish list for music & art appreciation?
