Music Inspiration

I am inspired by Beautiful Sun Montessori's post on Music in the Classroom. Over the years, I have succumbed to Koko telling me that she wanted "her music" on. Okay, perhaps Rachmaninoff is a bit scary for some kids, but she likes all the Music Together songs and though the music is more folksy, I noticed that children can start enjoying almost any kind of music if they have enough exposure to it. I forgot how much Koko liked Carmen as a tot. And now that we left her Kiddie music at grandma's house, she is forced to listen to my classical music and enjoys it! (I don't play Rachmaninoff anymore.)

Music can have a strong overarching influence on our emotions. Some can energize, others soothe. My children can be hyperactive, so after reading Calm and Compassionate Children: A Handbook which emphasizes relaxing music for children, I try to make it a point to play calming music after bouts of vigorous activity including slower hymns and praise music, mellow music like Elizabeth Mitchell music, and I am hoping to teach at least one Korean classical lyrical song this year which is also slow-paced. (I have yet to succeed teaching my children deep diaphragmatic breathing which also relaxes. Has anyone else have better luck in this area?)

Some adult-friendly non-classical kid music we enjoy are Jim Gill, especially his "Silly Dance Contest", the above mentioned Elizabeth Mitchell, (I like this album which includes a Korean song!) Hap Palmer's pre-school classic "Sammy", and Music Together albums, especially the Sticks collection.

We also both enjoy listening to the free songs offered on this Korean traditional website I mentioned a while back. And now, she is asking, "Mom, what instrument is that?" So, I think she's ready for some introduction to instruments. So I am slowly compiling a list for music appreciation books/resources. Though I am going to have to probably sort through many Koreana magazines to find examples of Korean instruments.

Story of the Orchestra
Those Amazing Musical Instruments
Peter and the Wolf
Carnival of the Animals
Can You Hear It?

I recently purchased Susan Striker's recommended Threshold to Music by Mary Helen Richards and I find the animal-themed pictorial beat charts fascinating. I showed a few to Koko and she could grasp the concept of rests and whole and half beats.

And while I am on this music rampage, I must point to the freebie Montessori Instrument Cards
which will be fun supplement to those orchestra/music instrument books.

If you have any suggestions on music resources and/or how to make music more accessible to children, please leave a comment!