Music Appreciation

This year we are using Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades from Zeezok Publishing.  We are really enjoying this program.

 The first composer we read about was Johann Sebastian Bach.  The story books for this composer is entitled Sebastian Bach: the Boy from Thuringia.  The book is also published by Zeezok, and the Music Appreciation workbook is based off the books you read about each composer.  The books are well written, and the stories make learning about the life of the composer fun.  The series also comes with a CD of music which you are directed to play at certain points as you read the book.  The girls love listening to me read the books.
The workbook is full quick experiments like this Oxidation Experiment to explain why the lantern of the church at St. Michael's is green.

In chapter two , Sebastian Bach and Erdmann take a break from their journey to stop and rest.  They eat a small lunch of black bread and sausage.  We made German Rye Bread one Friday and served it with Sausage for dinner.  The girls were excited to explain our meal to their dad and siblings!

Over the few weeks it took us to complete the book and workbook pages, the girls were also completing lapbook pieces each week.  The girls assembled their lapbooks on the last day after they took the little quiz in the workbook.

Our next composer was George Handel.  The book for this composer was Handel at the Court of Kings.  Again, the book was great and the girls enjoyed it!  After I read each chapter, there are comprehension questions for the girls to answer about the chapter.  The workbook also has a "character qualities" section for each chapter where difference character qualities are discussed and explained.

There is also a section for each composer where different "Elements of Music" are introduced.  So far, these have been been a good review for the girls since they have been exposed to them at piano lessons.

A small geography lesson is included with each composer.  These help the girls put the composers on the map!

They have also had to do a little instrument research from time to time!

At the end of the book, the girls took their quiz and put together a folder of their weekly projects.  They are excited to go hear The Messiah this year at Christmas, and so am I!!!!

Next up is Joseph Haydn!  All of this is new to me and the girls, and learning is fun!