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Our Strategy For Our Son’s Music Education
By Deborah Lee | October 12, 2009
I often get into discussions with other parents about music lessons and classes for kids. We have a very definite plan for our five-year-old son that grows from our musical training and experience, our work as music teachers, and our passion for homeschooling.
We are both firm believers in general music classes for young children, followed by a foundation in piano, and then private study and ensemble experience with the instrument of their choice. Up until about age 8 or 9 music is more developmental and process oriented, and we don’t believe in structured private lessons at too young of an age.
We have taken him to Kindermusik classes since he was about 15 months old. (The Kodaly and Orff music education methods are also good). He has two more years of Kindermusik and then he will begin keyboard training through a program called Music Makers at the Keyboard. It is a wonderful program where the kids learn to hear music first then write it–just like language is learned. In St. Louis we enroll him in Community Music School, but these classes are offered across the country (and possibly internationally).
We will begin private piano instruction when these classes are over or toward the end. We really have to assess it as it goes. Somewhere in the process he will most likely choose a different instrument he wants to be his focus of study.
As part of our homeschooling we will soon begin playing music from a single composer. We will have the music playing in our home for several weeks with some of the time spent actively listening and discussing the music. We will tie it in with other things he is learning such as history, geography, science, art. It will change over time. Since he is only five, much of what we do will be learning through play and through reading.
The goal is so he can build a relationship with the music and the composer. We will begin with Tchaikovsky since we are seeing The Nutcracker ballet in December.
This is our approach for our structured music training. There are many ways you can tailor this in your own family and we have seen many approaches. This is not a set in stone plan, either. For instance, if our son had a super focused interest in a particular instrument we would have weighed that in with our decision making.
When it comes to activities for our son, music is our priority. If we can’t afford anything else, we will have music class–even if it is a sacrifice.
Our main goal is to create a musical foundation for him that he can stand on no matter what his musical choices are later. That foundation includes developing musical skills, understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation. The added brain and motor development is a big plus, too.
Musically yours,
Deborah
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