Music Appreciation

Music appreciation involves introducing children to beautiful music from great composers.

For young children birth to age 7, try to make good music a part of the home atmosphere, and also play certain appealing short pieces of classical music to the child more regularly.

For a description of one way to create a musical atmosphere in the home, see the excellent article Our Relations with Music and Art by Mrs. Glover.

“Do not imagine that you must play down to your little child; as in everything else, give him the very best from the commencement, though you may do well to select simple and melodious compositions with well-marked rhythms. Let your répertoire take a wide range, embracing operas and oratorios, as well as pieces specially written for the piano. I might suggest the March from Faust, the “Harmonious Blacksmith,” Schumann’s Kinderscenen, Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words, the prelude to Act III. of Lohengrin, among many others. Do not, however, bewilder him by too many new things at first, but let him learn to recognize a few, and then gradually extend the list. Next comes the astonishing discovery that the baby has an ear, and can sing and hum the tunes you have played to him, weeks before he can speak. I believe from my personal observation, (and many parents present will bear me out) that most children who have a musical ear and are not tone deaf, can sing before they talk.”

The article Music Appreciation in the PNEU is helpful for getting a more in depth overview of how Music Appreciation came to be included in the PNEU curriculum.

Additional resource for all levels: Masters of Classical Music, Vols.1-10 (Box Set) (Also streaming on Amz Prime)– An economical set of 10 CDs, each featuring works by a different composer. Ideal as follow up listening to the Music Masters CDs (Includes Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Johann Strauss II, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Chopin, Schubert, Verdi.).

Prep Level

Pre-K and Kinder age

Make music a part of your home environment. Try to “peg” folk songs and instrumental music into your routines. For example, you could play upbeat classical music while the children play in the morning, listen to or sing folk songs in the afternoon, and play quiet classical music during meals.

The following are some albums and resources you may find useful for young children.

Listen, Learn and Grow series from Naxos music

Listen, Learn and Grow Playtime Imagination

Listen , Learn and Grow Vol. 1

Music Program

Making Music Praying Twice covers rhythm, world music and instrument types, seasonal folk songs, hymns and songs for the Church liturgical seasons.

You might want to listen to music from around the world that corresponds to the countries you are learning about in geography.

Folk Songs:

Go in and Out the Window: An Illustrated Songbook for Children or other book of folk songs

Albums by:

Elizabeth Mitchell

Sharon, Lois and Bram

Raffi (Singable Songs for the Very Young, The Corner Grocery Store)

LEVEL 1B

Use this year to introduce your child to classical music. Choose from the suggestions for suitable music below, or feel free to add any family favorites.

Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten

Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens

Maestro Classics – Carnival of the Animals

Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky (book)

Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev

Sergei Prokofiev on Classics For Kids – Overview and 5 short episodes about the composer including one about Peter and the Wolf (free)

Maestro Classics – Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf narrated by Sir Alec Guinness on Youtube (KiddieRecordsWeekly)

Peter and the Wolf (Ladybird book on archive)

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas

Maestro Classics – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice