3 ‘Shockingly’ Simple Ways To Teach Children To Appreciate Different Genres Of Music In The Homeschool

3 ‘Shockingly’ Simple Ways To Teach Children To Appreciate Different Genres Of Music In The Homeschool

3 ‘Shockingly’ Simple Ways To Teach Children To Appreciate Different Genres Of Music In The Homeschool

I guess you are surprised to know that there are a variety of very simple ways in which, you can teach your kids to appreciate different genres of music in the homeschool. 

Yes, even if you have no background in music and no formal training, you can still help your kids to appreciate music and you, yourself can learn it in the process as well. 

So let’s get started with the first method. 

 

Listening Activities

Yes, by simply listening to different genres of music, you can help your kids learn to identify the different nuances therein. 

You can learn about the different musicians and composers who excel in that genre. 

Furthermore, with some online research, you can gain an in-depth understanding of the history of the genre, the greatest players, and much more. 

Want to learn more about adding easy music appreciation activities to your homeschool? Then read my posts 5 Ways To use A Musical Playlist To Learn Music Appreciation, 6 ‘Unbelievably’ Simple Ways To Teach Your Kids Music Analysis and 7 Ways Unschoolers Can Incorporate Or Encourage Kids To Appreciate Music. 

 

Teaching Music Theory

Yes, now this might not be possible unless you, yourself have a knowledge of music theory. 

But don’t fret. There are a variety of different options that are available to everyone, even musically untrained parents. 

You can join me for 5 Free Piano Lessons, where I will give you the guidance you need to teach your kids to Read Music Music Notes and Play the Piano in just 5 Days, and thereby teaching you music theory as well. 

On the other hand you can find a music theory only course online for your kids to learn or you can join my music theory programs and have your kids learn right here. 

 

History Of Music

This is another great way to teach your kids to appreciate music, even if you don’t have the know how and don’t have the time right now, to learn music, so you can teach them. 

How you ask, can you teach kids to appreciate music through music history?

Simple.

Simply learning about different composers, and instruments and eras in music history, will teach them so much about the different genres in music and get them really interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of the subject

Here are some blog posts I wrote on how you can incorporate composer studies and instrument studies as well as history of music lessons into your homeschool routine. Musical Theme Immersion Activities Categorized By Age, 6 Ways To Incorporate Instrument Studies In Your Homeschool, and 4 ‘Unimaginably’ Easy Ways To Incorporate Composer Studies To Your Homeschool. 

 

Want a made for you music appreciation course? Then sign up right here, for my 4 week music appreciation course and let’s get started. 

Karen Cadera

Karen Cadera

Founder/Creator

Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.

My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.

Lisa Tanner

Homeschool Mom

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5 Shockingly Simple Ways To Provide Music Lessons For Kids In The Homeschool

5 Shockingly Simple Ways To Provide Music Lessons For Kids In The Homeschool

5 Shockingly Simple Ways To Provide Music Lessons For Kids In The Homeschool

If you’ve been a reader of my blog or listened to my podcasts in the past, you will know that I’m a great advocate for helping parents who have absolutely no training or minimal formal training in music, to teach their kids music in the homeschool. 

One of the biggest hurdles that I know parents come across when trying to teach their kids music in the homeschool is the mental block. 

Parents with no formal musical training and even those who’ve learned music tend to believe that music can only be taught by someone who has a degree in it. 

This is so not true. 

So in this blog post, I’m going to teach you 5 different yet shockingly easy strategies that you can incorporate to provide music lessons in the homeschool even though you may have never learned music yourself. 

 

Clapping

Yes, it can be as easy as clapping. 

You don’t need a degree in music to clap, do you?

So clapping is something that you and your kids can easily do in your homeschool. 

Learning to clap along to a song, teaches your kids rhythm and beat. 

Clapping to a beat is a very important skill and that is one of the reasons why many music examination bodies include it as an essential skill to be tested at music exams. 

Still not convinced that clapping can help you teach your learn music in the homeschool? Then read my post 5 Important Reasons Why Your Child Needs To Learn To Clap. 

 

Rhythm & Beat

Teaching your kids rhythm & beat in the homeschool can be as easy as 1, 2, 3. 

Our natural environment is filled with natural rhythms and beats from our hearts to the flow of water, rhythm and beat is everywhere. 

Listening and trying to imitate different rhythms and beats and creating your own, are some of the easiest ways in which to learn to identify, imitate, appreciate and create music. 

Want to learn how you can teach rhythm and beat in the homeschool? Then read this post 4 Super Easy Ways To teach Rhythm & Beat In The Homeschool. 

 

Singing

Yes, it can be as easy as singing, just as it was as easy as clapping. 

Singing uses a variety of different skills, such as the ability to change pitch, dynamics, tempo and much more. 

However, you don’t have to have a degree in music to be able to sing. 

Singing is something that comes naturally to all of us and can be done daily in the homeschool. 

Still not convinced? Then read this post 3 ‘Must Know’ Reasons Why Learning To Sing Is Important and 3 ‘Super Easy’ Ways To Teach Your Child To Sing In The Homeschool. 

 

Learning About An Instrument or A Composer

Learning the history of music is one of the easiest and most fun ways to bring music into the homeschool and it does not require any additional skills from you as a parent. 

In the following posts, I don’t only go in to detail about the importance of the history of music but also give you specific strategies on how you can incorporate history of music, composer studies and instrument studies, into your homeschool. 3 Reasons Why Your Child Needs To Learn History Of Music, 6 Ways To Incorporate Instrument Studies In your Homeschool, and 4 ‘Unimaginably’ Easy Ways To Incorporate Composer Studies Into The Homeschool Environment. 

 

Listening To Music

Yes, another really easy strategy. 

Listening to music is another great way to bring music lessons to your kids in the homeschool and does not require any formal training on your part. 

Read my post 9 ‘Shockingly’ Simple Ways To Use Your Amazon Prime/Apple Music/Spotify To Add More Musical Joy To Your Home, and 5 Ways To Use A Musical Playlist To Learn Music Appreciation to learn how you can use the simple act of listening to music, as a bridge to teaching your kids music in the homeschool. 

 

So what do you think? Are these strategies easy enough? 

Will you be implementing any of them starting today? If so, which one?  

Karen Cadera

Karen Cadera

Founder/Creator

Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.

My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.

Lisa Tanner

Homeschool Mom

Play Piano Today!

Teach your child to play piano, today.

Yes, in as little as 30 minutes I can show you how to teach your child to play the piano, for FREE.

What are you waiting for?

This program reminded me (and allowed me to teach my son) how to read music. To me, that was the most important thing that we learned together. Of course, it was very rewarding for me to watch my son play the piano with both hands at the same time, while reading sheet music. His favorite parts of the course were actually playing the songs and doing the worksheets provided.

Carrie M.

Stay At Home Mom

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3 ‘Super Easy’ Ways To Teach Your Child To Sing In The Homeschool

3 ‘Super Easy’ Ways To Teach Your Child To Sing In The Homeschool

3 ‘Super Easy’ Ways To Teach Your Child To Sing In The Homeschool

Singing is one of the easiest ways in which to incorporate music in your homeschool routine. 

And it is something that can be done every single day without too much hassle. 

Also singing has one of the biggest advantages, and that is almost all of us can sing. 

Yes, even if you think that you are not a good singer, I can bet you anything and I’m sure you will be able to hold a short simple tune. 

Furthermore, you don’t need a degree in music to teach your children to sing, yet the simple act of singing will teach them so many different aspects of music such as rhythm and beat, dynamics, tone, pitch, tempo and much more. 

Singing is so important that even in instrument study exams, examination bodies the world over, incorporate and test singing because they consider it to be an essential skill. 

So in this blog post, I’m going to give you three strategies for teaching singing in the homeschool. 

 

Play A Note And Try To Match It

If you have an instrument like a piano or a keyboard in the house, just play a single note and ask your kids to pitch the note. 

That’s it. 

As simple as that. 

Know that they may struggle at the start and you may too, but with practice they will get it. 

Try to stick to the middle of the keyboard and try to pitch the note correctly before moving to another note. 

 

Play Two Notes

Now, that your child is able to pitch one note, it is time to move from one note to the very next. 

Play the first note and ask him or her to pitch it and then move to the next note and ask him or her to pitch that as well. 

By doing so, in no time you would have pitched all the notes. 

Don’t have a piano or a keyboard in the house? Look for an online keyboard and start by pressing middle C and proceed with this exercise. 

 

Sing Back Easy Songs

One of the reasons we think that we are unable to sing is because we attempt to sing really difficult songs. 

In fact if we try to sing easy songs and start off with nursery rhymes and work our way up to more complex songs we will often see more success and gain more confidence. 

So as a first step start off with really easy songs like Twinkle, twinkle little star and move on. 

 

Now that you’ve read this post, what do you think? 

Do you think this is easy enough? 

Then go in order and try the first two strategies, get familiar with it before you move to the third strategy. 

Not convinced that singing is a really important musical skill to develop? Then, read my post, 3 ‘Must Know’ Reasons Why Learning To Sing Is Important. 

Karen Cadera

Karen Cadera

Founder/Creator

Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.

My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.

Lisa Tanner

Homeschool Mom

Play Piano Today!

Teach your child to play piano, today.

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7 Super Simple Ways To Incorporate Music Lessons In All You Do At Home

7 Super Simple Ways To Incorporate Music Lessons In All You Do At Home

7 Super Simple Ways To Incorporate Music Lessons In All You Do At Home

Did you know that, whether you have had any formal training in music or not, as a parent you can incorporate music lessons at home with very little trouble?

Well, you can. 

Most parents irrespective of musical knowledge are really surprised and don’t even believe me. But I love to explain to them how easy it is and watch that light bulb go on. 

So let me do that again in this post, and imagine the light bulb go on in your head as well. 

 

Play Music In The Background

Do you have a playlist on on your iPad, or a favourite list on YouTube? 

Do you have an Amazon/Spotify or Apple subscription, then just pick a playlist and get started. It doesn’t matter what music you play as long as you play it. 

Don’t think that simply playing music will help or have no idea how to get creative? 

Then read my blog posts 5 Ways To Use A Musical Playlist To Learn Music Appreciation, and 9 ‘Shockingly’ Simple Ways To use your Amazon Prime/Apple Music/Spotify To Add More Musical Joy To Your Home.

 

Recognize and Repeat Common Beats In The Environment

Do you know that the natural environment we inhabit as well as the artificial environments we have built, all have their own beats? 

Think of your heart, that is a natural beat. 

Think of the flow of water down a stream, do you hear the rhythm?

How about the sound made by a woodpecker? 

What about the sound made by a clothes dryer?

Recognize these beats and rhythms when at home and out on hikes and nature walks and imitate those sounds. 

Want to know more about how you can teach rhythm and beat at home without too much hassle? Then read my post 4 ‘Super Easy’ Ways To Teach Rhythm & Beat In the Homeschool. 

 

Blend It Into History Lessons

Do your kids learn history? For example if they are learning about the civil war, then research the types of music and composers of that time, create a playlist and listen to the music of that era. You can even do this with musical instruments and research what instruments were invented during that time and listen to music played with those instruments. 

 

Blend it Into Geography Lessons

Same as the above. Let’s say your kids are learning about Austria, then research the names of some great Austrian composers, create a playlist and listen to the music. Why not go a step further and learn about the composers themselves? 

Want to learn more about how to blend music into other subjects your kids learn? Then read my post 5 ‘Innovative’ Ways To Blend Music With Other Subjects. 

 

Dancing And Skipping

Use the playlists that you have already compiled or have found online and create dance and skipping routines. Why not take it a step further and learn to dance? 

Think learning to dance costs money? 

Think again. Read this post, I wrote a while ago and find many free online dance classes – Top 10 Dance Classes On YouTube. 

 

Reading Stories To Tunes

This is a really fun one to do with all ages, however, in my experience it is the little ones who enjoy it the most. 

Pick a tune that you can easily sing and then read a story out loud to that tune. 

 

Singing, Creating Your Own Lyrics Etc

Now take it all a step further. 

You can sing any song, anytime of the day, but why not have kids create their own lyrics and put it to different tunes. 

Why not sing to each other instead of speaking to each other? 

 

Now that you have learned so many different strategies to incorporate music lessons in all you do at home, I would really love to hear which one you will start off with today. So please comment below. 

Karen Cadera

Karen Cadera

Founder/Creator

Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.

My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.

Lisa Tanner

Homeschool Mom

Play Piano Today!

Teach your child to play piano, today.

Yes, in as little as 30 minutes I can show you how to teach your child to play the piano, for FREE.

What are you waiting for?

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11 Shocking Reasons Why Private Music Lessons Are So Unaffordable

11 Shocking Reasons Why Private Music Lessons Are So Unaffordable

11 Shocking Reasons Why Private Music Lessons Are So Unaffordable

One of the complaints I hear from parents over and over again is that private music lessons are so expensive and take a huge bite out of their budget. Therefore in the last few blog posts, I have been discussing why that is so and what you can do to reduce the cost. 

 

In this post, I’m going to hone in specifically on why private music lessons are unaffordable, so you can identify, exactly what is costing you and then do something about it immediately. 

 

Once you’ve read this post, if you are still not sure how to reduce the cost of private lessons for your entire family, I have provided links to previous posts I have written giving exact steps on what you can do, to reduce the cost. 

So even if you can’t identify the specific problem that is resulting in high costs for you, you can still implement some of the strategies suggested in the previous posts, to reduce the cost. 

 

As a first step however, I suggest that you read this post and try to identify the problem that is unique to your family. 

 

Lack Of Focus

When I refer to lack of focus, I’m not talking about your children’s inability to focus for too long on a specific subject. That actually is problem we all face. 

On the contrary I’m talking about the focus on musical learning in the family. 

If each child in the family is focused on learning a different instrument, then that is definitely a recipe for high costs of music lesson. 

In your family are you focused on learning just one instrument or are your children learning a variety of different instruments?

 

Studio Lessons

Most parents like to opt for studio lessons, because of the benefits of having kids learn on professional instruments, the opportunity to perform at the year end concert and so on. 

But did you know that the tuition often includes costs of overheads, which include but are not limited to just rent, but rather for all the musical instruments and audio equipment and much more that your children may not even be benefiting from?

Do your kids learn at a studio? What overheads do you think are included in the tuition? Do you think if you changed studios or had a teacher visit your home to teach your kids, the costs could be reduced?

 

Individual Lessons Per Child

Having individual one on one lessons per child can also be very costly. 

If this is one of the reasons that your family’s music lesson costs are so high, it maybe time to look at alternatives such as group classes for the kids who are closer in age. 

 

Starting At The Very Beginning

There is a common myth that private lessons are the best, and for very young kids and even older kids from the very beginning lessons should be face to face. 

This is not always true and actually using online courses to learn the basics can be very cost effective, thus saving much money, which can then be used for private lessons, when the children reach an advanced stage. 

If your kids are interested in learning to play the piano, then why not enrol your kids in my FREE Read Music Notes & Play The Piano In Five Days course and shave six months of private piano  lesson costs. 

 

Buying Instruments For Different Ages

This is another huge cost factor. 

When kids are learning different instruments, it is necessary to buy different instruments thus increasing the cost of music lessons in the family. 

Also if kids are learning to play instruments like guitars and ukuleles buying age appropriate sizes is important, but it can also result in high costs for the family. 

Is this an area where costs are sky rocketing for your family? 

Want to know how you can fill your home with instruments without actually spending too much? Then you should read my posts 

9 ‘No Fail’ Ways To Fill Your Homeschool With Musical Instruments

Desperate To Play The Piano, But No Piano/Keyboard At Home?

 

Lack Of Planning

Parents go head long into paying for music lessons often based on the monthly cost. 

However, they forget to factor in the costs of musical instruments, concert fees, books and material costs and much more, and often see their family budget for music lessons shattered, when these unplanned costs pop up. 

Has this happened to you as well? If not, remember it still can happen, so before you go any further, have a chat with your children’s music teacher and discuss upcoming costs. 

Find alternatives to incurring those costs, wherever possible.

 

Lack Of Sharing Knowledge

In families with multiple kids ranging from teenagers to really young kids, there are many opportunities for sharing knowledge. 

Knowledge that the older kids have, which can be imparted to the younger ones is very valuable

Not making use of these opportunities also ends up costing families a pretty penny in the long run. 

 

Not Asking For Discounts 

Often, having different teachers for each of the kids’ is another reasons music lessons cost so much. 

If you can have just one teacher for all your children, then you can request a family discount or double up learning time and/or have group classes etc to reduce the cost of the lessons. 

 

Not Being Creative

Parents forget that one on one music lessons are not the only way to provide their kids with a musical education. There are numerous ways in which to provide a musical education to kids. 

Kids can join the church choir and be trained to sing for free. 

They can join a local orchestra etc. 

Can you think of some creative ways, how you can bring music lessons to your kids without private music lessons? 

Want ideas? 

The read my post 5 Creative Ways To Add Music To Your Homeschool.

 

Not Practicing

When children don’t practice and review what they have learned, they will be often be stuck in one section and not progress. 

Does this frequently happen to your kids? If so, this is another reason why you will end up paying much more than you should, for your children’s music education. 

 

Not Supplementing Learning

Parents don’t often think of supplementing their kids music lessons with additional online courses etc. Remember, not all music education needs to be gained with a face to face teacher. 

Music theory for instance can be learned online, so why waste the one on one music teacher’s time learning music theory and paying for it, when you can just learn that component online?

 

Now it is your turn to chime in and let me know, which of the above mistakes you have made and what you are going to do in the future, to reduce the cost of private music lessons in your family. 

 

Want to read more about how you can reduce the cost of private music lessons for your family? Then you should read my previous posts

10 ‘Ridiculously’ Simple Ways To Make Music Lessons More Affordable

11 ‘Amazingly’ Simple Ways To Have Affordable Music Lessons For The Entire Family

Karen Cadera

Karen Cadera

Founder/Creator

Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.

My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.

Lisa Tanner

Homeschool Mom

Play Piano Today!

Teach your child to play piano, today.

Yes, in as little as 30 minutes I can show you how to teach your child to play the piano, for FREE.

What are you waiting for?

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3 ‘Ridiculously Simple’ Ways To Incorporate Music Education In To The Unschooling Lifestyle

3 ‘Ridiculously Simple’ Ways To Incorporate Music Education In To The Unschooling Lifestyle

3 ‘Ridiculously Simple’ Ways To Incorporate Music Education In To The Unschooling Lifestyle

Most unschooling parents tend to think of piano lessons or any specific instrument lessons as very structured, and therefore may not always be a good fit for their kids. 

However, I’m here to say that, it is not always true. There are many different ways in which, music lessons can be incorporated in to the unschooling lifestyle without actually following a thorough and structured program. 

In this post, I will introduce all those three methods to you. So here goes. 

 

Keeping A Lot Of Instruments 

Yes, simply keeping a variety of musical instruments around the house has helped numerous unschooling parents to introduce music in the homeschool and to get older kids into instrument studies, without too much trouble.

Just having the instruments around, arouses curiosity in younger kids, who start to play with the instruments and older kids often find their way to online music lessons very easily with little urging from their parents. 

Want to know more about how you can add musical instruments to your home, without breaking the bank? Then you should read my blog post, 9 ‘No Fail’ Ways To Fill Your Homeschool With Instruments. 

 

Music History, Composer Or Instrument Studies, Movie Musicals

Keeping books around the house or simply borrowing books that teach about the history of music (such as the different eras in music), or composers, or musical instruments is one way to get your kids interested in music. 

Want to know more about incorporating history of music, composer and instrument studies to your unschooling lifestyle? Then I think you will like my posts 6 Ways To Incorporate instrument Studies To Your Homeschool, Composer Biographies For All Ages, and 4 Unimaginably Easy Ways To Incorporate Composer Studies.

Another very effective, but unfortunately ignored method is through watching movie musicals. This method not only results in much family fun, but also helps kids to appreciate music unknowingly. Thus, again, fitting in perfectly with the unschooling lifestyle. 

Don’t know where to start with Movie Musicals? Then read my blog post on 7 ‘Must See’ Musicals and Top 12 ‘Must See’ Musicals Categorized By Age. 

 

Incorporating Music Into The Daily Routine

There are many different ways in which, you as a parent can add music to your unschooling lifestyle.

Clapping while listening to songs on the radio or songs in your playlist, are one big way of introducing your kids to rhythm and beat. 

Singing is another great and yet very easy way to introduce your kids to music. Dancing is yet another healthy and physical way of appreciating music.

Need more ideas on how you can add music to your unschooling routine, then continue on and read these posts for even more ideas. 4 Ways To Incorporate music In The Homeschool, 5 Ways To Use A Musical Playlist To Learn Music Appreciation, 6 Ridiculously Simple Ways To Bring Music To Your Homeschool Without Private Lessons, 7 Ways Unschoolers Can Incorporate Or Encourage Kids To Appreciate Music. 

 

Now that you’ve read this post and got an idea of how you can incorporate music education to the unschooling lifestyle, do you have any questions for me? 

What is the first thing you will attempt to do to introduce your kids to music? 

Karen Cadera

Karen Cadera

Founder/Creator

Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.

My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.

Lisa Tanner

Homeschool Mom

Play Piano Today!

Teach your child to play piano, today.

Yes, in as little as 30 minutes I can show you how to teach your child to play the piano, for FREE.

What are you waiting for?

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