We try to start the day after breakfast with music. It's a marvelous suggestion I read in Simplicity Parenting. Before now we've had music after lunch. So far I think this is better.
I have wanted to put the kids in a music class like Kindermusik, First Steps, Gymboree etc for a while. But it's at least $60 a month for each child. That's a lot when you think about it. So some investigation led me to the curriculum used by many music educators.
It is laid out simply. There are two volumes. The first is for 1-36 months. Volume two is for 3-6 year olds. It lists the lessons, the music and rhymes and instruments needed. The cost is a fraction of class and I can do it right here at home. You just need to know how to read music to teach it!
They follow along each other's lessons.
We start out the day with F's level. She just started year two of level one. There are lullabies, hand claping games, circle games, and even tickls to enjoy. T often demands "give me a turn!" as F laughs and laughs and laughs. Then we move on to the preschool lessons for T. There's pitch exploration, echo songs, arioso, movement, beat, and at the very end I have to sing a story. It's delightful.
We have all been delighted with it. T never liked singing before. Now he's not only starting to keep a beat, learn pitch, he's also singing his own songs.
We start out the day with F's level. She just started year two of level one. There are lullabies, hand claping games, circle games, and even tickls to enjoy. T often demands "give me a turn!" as F laughs and laughs and laughs. Then we move on to the preschool lessons for T. There's pitch exploration, echo songs, arioso, movement, beat, and at the very end I have to sing a story. It's delightful.
We have all been delighted with it. T never liked singing before. Now he's not only starting to keep a beat, learn pitch, he's also singing his own songs.
Here you see F learning to tap along with the beat as we listen to some music.
