Music in the Home

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!"

"Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things."

"Let them sing for joy on their beds."

Music in our home is very important and a very joyful thing. It is not a drudgery to be done for a half an hour each day, but rather a time of fun, participation, and joy. Here, I'd like to share with you some of the ways which we enjoy music in the home.

HOW WE DO IT

Children love to sing and be sung to--even if the mother is a bit off-key. In our home, we have sung everything from old folk songs, patriotic songs, songs in round, and hymns. I usually play guitar to accompany the children's singing, but not always. We also sing a capella (no instruments) and with tape recordings. We've especially enjoyed the Lester Family tapes of a capella music in rounds, cannons and hymns.

22 Traditional Rounds - Traditional Christmas Carols - Homestyle Harmony - Favorite Traditional Hymns
Cassette tapes $9.95 + tax (CA res.)+ 2.50 S&H
3 tapes for $25.00
Orders only 1-800-793-5309
The Lester Family
P.O. Box 203
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
The children like to play their own instruments too which happen to be common household items. Below, I have listed some of our favorite songs and instruments to give you a taste of music in our home.

FOLK SONGS

Shortnin' Bread - Skip to My Lou - Git Along Little Dogies - Dinah - Oh Susanna! -

Camptown Races - Wait for the Wagon - Down in the Valley - Erie Canal

PATRIOTIC SONGS

Yankee Doodle - You're a Grand Old Flag - When Johnny Comes Marching Home - Dixie Land - Battle Hymn of the Republic - America the Beautiful - Battle Cry of Freedom

SONGS IN ROUND

Row Row Row Your Boat - Are You Sleeping/Frere Jacque - Canoe Song - Horsie, Horsie! - Upward Trail - The Merry Lark

HYMNS

This is My Father's World - Fairest Lord Jesus - Great is Thy Faithfulness - Doxology -

A Mighty Fortress is Our God - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

CHRISTMAS SONGS

Because these are some of the younger children's favorites, these may be sung at any time of the year in our home!!

Jingle Bells - Silent Night - The Holly and the Ivy - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! - I Heard the Bells - Up On the Housetop - Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer - Away in a Manger

WHERE DO YOU FIND THESE GOOD OLD SONGS ?

One of the best sources for these songs are the old school music books. Often you will find them on the discard table at your public library (where I found mine) or ask your public school if they have any they are discarding. My book is called Together We Sing by Irving Wolfe and is considered an "all grades edition". Mine was published in 1952.

Another good source is church hymnals. I have a very old Lutheran hymnal which I love using.

I have found a few Golden Book song books. We have a very good Christmas songbook which works nicely for caroling. Another book is called the Golden Song Book by Simon and Schuster which has a copyright of 1955. It includes hymns, singing games, cradle songs, fold songs patriotic song and rounds.

One favorite resource is History Alive Through Music by Hear and Learn Publications. These are books which contain a little snippet of history that explains each song. Also included is the music and lyrics, along with an audio cassette to listen and sing along with. We own Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Diana Waring authors America 1750-1890 and Westward Ho! which we have enjoyed borrowing from the library.

INSTRUMENTS

We are known to use a variety of instruments during our family singing which every family has around their house.

Spoons: two held between thumb, index finger and middle finger and clapping against the other hand or the leg while sitting.

Wooden Spoons: one in each hand and hitting together to the beat of the music.

Pan Lids: either clanging together as a cymbals or one lid played with a wooden spoon tapping to the beat of the music.

Sandpaper Blocks: two wooden blocks with rough sandpaper stapled to edges and rubbing together to the beat or as an accent.

Drinking Glasses: filled with water to different heights, they make a nice ringing sound when gently tapped with a utensil or wooden spoon handle.

Cheeks: mouth opened, tightened cheeks and tapping gently with the hands. Open and close mouth to make different pitches of sound.

Lips and Teeth: practice whistling a tune through the lips or teeth.

Hands: practice clapping to different beats and times (4/4 and 3/4), snapping of fingers.

Voice: singing or making your joyful noise!

MUSIC APPRECIATION

We also enjoy good music to listen to in our home. We have a variety of music too! We like anything from classical to country/western to folk songs to 50's to pop. If it's good music, we like it!

I did not grow up listening to classical music and so I learned to know it and enjoy it while homeschooling. It is amazing how easily a child can pick up on a different composer's music as they casually listen to CD's throughout their lives. I do not demand deep study into the lives of the composers or their styles, but rather choose to gently expose them to the great composers by simply playing it in our home. Soon they find their favorites and even ask for one! "Mother, please play Brahms at Bedtime while we fall asleep."

We have studied composers at various times and try to learn the most interesting things about them. One book we found quite amusing is called Bach, Beethoven and the Boys by David W. Barbers. It is a book about many of the great composers and some funny or odd things that they did or that happened to them. Check for this at your library.

I have learned to see the importance of giving my children the knowledge of all styles of music, and we look for the best in each variety. We live in the Mid-west where country/western music is popular. We do enjoy it, but realize that it isn't all good. I enjoy some of the "oldies" and the children have learned to like them too. Of course, there will always be pop music and so we try to find the best artists to listen to. I enjoy folk music with fiddle, dulcimer, guitar, banjo, and bass. So the children are exposed to this too just because I play it and listen to it.

FORMAL LESSONS

Some of our children do take formal music lessons from a teacher. Three take piano and one of these is determined to take violin. I convinced him to get a few years of piano under his belt first and learn about notes, time, and dynamics. Some of them wish to learn guitar and I will teach that as far as I am able. We have found a neat way of taking lessons at home. We have purchased cassettes from Homespun Tapes and have found them to be invaluable. The student can listen to them over and over again and take his lessons at any time and at his own pace. The cost is very reasonable - especially when compared to weekly lessons from a teacher, and these tapes are made by the best in their fields and are guaranteed! How can you beat that?

I hope you have found encouragement to give your children the gift of music in your own home.

Tra la la, la la la la....

Jody

NEXT...Classical Music Curriculum that works! an article by Chari Bryan

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