Music in The Charlotte Mason Home

Music study int he Charlotte Mason Home is much like Art Study.  There are several ways that it is pursued.

Firstly there is COMPOSER STUDY.  Typically a composer is picked each term and studied.  His biography is read, his timeline made up and written out, and the children listen to his music at all times when music is allowed.  This is a great option during quiet times, meal times and in the car.  Biographies do not need to be extensive, no do the timelines.  The timeline is merely to help the child visualise when something was written, and is not necessary, but often fun.

Secondly there is the MEMORISATION OF HYMNS AND FOLKSONGS.  Again, several tunes are picked throughout the year to learn.  You may wish to pick as many as one or two a month, which allows for seasonal choices (especially good around Christmas).   There are numerous online sites with lyrics and tune for you to hear the hymns at.  Folk tunes are a little different in that they are somewhat harder to find than hymns.  Still the resources are there for those who search, and you may know several tunes that you can teach your child.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT LESSONS are highly recommended for your child, but while they are younger, you may wish to wait until they show an interest in a musical instrument.  There are huge numbers of instruments that they can learn, and any you can play yourself are the first to be recommended.  Apart from that, the only limitation is the size of the child and the instrument.  Certain instruments cannot be played by children who are younger than 8, because they simply do not make the instrument small enough!

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