Homeschooling allows us to dive into subjects that many public schools are abandoning. Often this is due to very tight budgets. Other times it’s because those subjects simply aren’t found on the state mandated tests.
Music appreciation is one of those subjects. But in homeschooling, we can embrace these subjects. That’s why I’m bringing you this music appreciation resources list.
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Books to Use as a Guide for Music Appreciation for Homeschool
I believe, that music appreciation should be taught through listening, observation and participation. But, sometimes we need to have a guide for what to introduce to our kids. I suggest using these books to guide YOU the homeschool teacher, not to give to your kids for them to read without some context.
Teaching about Music Genres
- Popular Music Genres: An Introduction by Ron Moy
- World Music: Traditions and Transformations by Michael B. Bakan
- How to Listen to Great Music: A Guide to Its History, Culture, and Heart by Robert Greenberg part of The Great Courses
- American Popular Music by David Lee Joyner
- Excursions in World Music by Bruno Nettl and Timothy Rommen
- Music of the Peoples of the World by William Alves
- What to Listen for in Great Music by ATaron Copeland
- The Classical Music Experience: Discover the Music of the World’s Greatest Composers by Julius H. Jacobson II and Kevin Kline
- Thinking Musically by Bonnie C. Wade
- The Infinite Variety of Music by Leonard Bernstein
Books to Learn about the Lives of Great Composers
Discovering composers and the lives of the composers does have it’s place. However reading about them shouldn’t replace learning about their work through listening. For example, if your child is reading an historical non-fiction book about Schubert they should also be listening to compositions by Schubert.
- Meet the Great Composers by Maurice Hinson and June C. Montgomery
- Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades
- I highly suggest that you purchase the companion books from The Great Musician Series as these are integral to the completion of this hands-on, unit study. I’ve included a few links but there are many books in this series by Opal Wheeler. (Also these are EXCELLENT for literature studies.)
- Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia by Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher
- Ludwig Beethoven and the Chiming Tower Bells by Opal Wheeler
- Mozart, The Wonder Boy by Opal Wheeler and Mary Greenwalt
- Great Musicians by DK Publishing
- Maestro Classics by The London Philharmonic
- World’s Great Composers Series by Mike Venezia
Do you know of resources that aren’t listed here? Share your favorites with me in comments.
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