In fifth grade, I had a life-changing experience. And while many experiences have made me open my eyes to certain things, this time I had opened my ears! I was attending a once-a-week, music class in public school and our teacher asked us to do something different than the norm. He asked us to separate ourselves from each other around the room, sit on the floor, and close our eyes. I was skeptical at first, leaving one eye open to see what came next. The lights were turned off and the music was turned on. It wasn't the type of music I would normally hear on my Sony cassette player. (Yep, I said cassette player.) Or any radio station my parents car would have been preset too, for that matter. He played the Theme song for the Phantom of the Opera, followed by songs from Les Misérables, and the Star Wars Theme song. He only asked us to close our eyes and listen, but I started to cry. The music alone, took over me...I know what you are thinking. I should have been a musician! But it wasn't playing an instrument that intrigued me. I found out that day, that just listening to music had the power to move people emotionally and even act as therapy. As a homeschool mom and wife to a "hobby" musician, I am always thinking about how to instill the love we have for music and the visual arts. Here are a few ways we go about it, (often unintentionally): 1 ) "Stop, collaborate, and listen."- Vanilla Ice Whether it's a train horn off in the distance or a seashell pressed up to their ears, we find ourselves highlighting sounds we hear around us. Children at an early age are often asked to identify animals by what sound they make. As Christians, we are reminded to hear His voice with an eternal reward. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10: 27-28 2 ) Live performances. Community colleges or universities provide some awesome opportunites to see real musicians inexpensively. Over the years, we have attended numerous folk arts festivals, musicals, church concerts and choir performances, just to name a few. One word of caution though..Bring ear protection if you want to bring your children to a rock concert! Our children may have looked silly, but it prevented them from having hearing loss and that annoying ringing in the ears afterward. 3) Sing, play an instrument, or take lessons yourself. Having a parent play or taking lessons is great encouragement for a child to persue a hobby in music. An inexpensive alternative is to create music using everyday objects at home. A few rubberbands streched over an empty klennex box, a pot and wooden spoons, and a old spice container with beans or rice in it (to make a shaker) not only make great instruments, but encourage imagination. 4) Play a variety of music styles. Had I not been introduced to new music in fifth grade, I may not have realized it's theraputic power. When I was in fifth grade, my grandmother died and I was still dealing with the divorce of my parents. Music comforted me in ways nothing else could. 5) Gift instruments and lessons. The best resources I have found for new and used instruments have been craigslist, ebay, and Goodwill. We have personally purchased an electric guitar, bag, strings, pick, and mini amp for less than $100 on ebay. If you don't mind a little shopping, check your local Goodwill for instruments. Some may require some work and a cleaning, so buyer beware...But we found quite a few instruments that could be used with very little work. At Goodwill alone, we have purchased several ocarinas (South American wind instruments), a lap harp, a keyboard, and several percussion instruments. How do you instill a love for music in your children?
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