Home school music!

Now, remember in the last post… I told you I would make another post on our excellent weekend, right? Well, it’s all about Home School Music!

Ok, think with me here for a second… and let me know if this isn’t true. For one, around our part of the woods, I hear music has been kicked out of our public school system along with art. Since we don’t use the public school system, we rely on what we hear from our family who does go to public school.

About a month ago, my oldest son was telling his cousin Cassie about his art class that he goes to each Monday. Cassie said she would love to go with Branden to HIS art class (She’s 11) - because they get art class around here for like the first 8 weeks of school, then that’s it. No more art.

Now tell me how “super” that is, that my niece would LOVE to get out of her own classes - just to tag along with her 7 year old cousin for the day - because she does NOT have that opportunity to learn art in her own school system.

Imagine how I felt hearing that, when I personally got my first blue ribbon in Kindergarten. I had first place, honorable mentions, and other ribbons clear through ALL of my years of school, because there was never NOT an Art class… all year round.

Some of my favorite teachers - were ART teachers! My high school art teacher directed me through a gold key at the governor’s art show in Cleveland, Ohio - and suggested that I attend the art institute in Pittsburg, Pa. My art teachers were AWESOME, and I cannot believe that kids now days do not have the opportunity that I did back when I was in school.

It gets worse. Guess what… MUSIC has been tossed out along with ART!

WHY?

I played the “recorder”, I had choir in school, I learned to sing and play SOMETHING, and had the opportunity to go into the “marching band” if I desired. Of course I didn’t want to go into the marching band, and I’ll show you why here in a minute… but my LORD - what are these people thinking?

They are taking the two most creative opportunities for young kids, and killing them. Doesn’t that really make you wonder? Doesn’t it?

Why would they rather fill our kids with “data” that is needed to pass a test, whether or not they understand it - (and oh by the way - let’s teach them about 9 different ways to do a math problem) without allowing them any opportunity to go into any kind of creative arts?

I’ll tell you why. Because they are “dumbing the children down.” Don’t believe me? I’ll give you links for that in another post, but right now I’m on a roll and don’t feel like looking it up. They are systematically creating “burger flippers” and “factory workers” and “army personelle” because that’s what they want! I won’t even get into “who they are” and I won’t even go into how incredibly MAD I get when I get into this kind of stuff.

I got my first singing lessons in “choir” through a public school system. I learned how to draw, and learned that I was GOOD at it starting in KINDERGARTEN. You have no idea how awesome my Jr. high, and high school art teachers were. I learned about music from my DAD - but also IN SCHOOL. PUBLIC SCHOOL.

Not any more.

Parents, I don’t care if you homeschool or not… please give your children the opportunity to learn about art and music, creative writing, and let them KNOW - that it is OK to learn those things! You might be lucky enough to have a public school that has art all year round, and who still carries music, but we’re not that lucky around here apparently.

The public schools all LOVE their SPORTS. Don’t they?

That’s all fine and dandy, but when it comes to my boys being on a football field, learning how to hit, run, cup a ball whatever - I would ALSO like them to learn about “crosshatching” - “Playing by ear” (without having to read music) - and how to treat another person kindly.

Instead of remembering “data” for a test, or how to do the same dang math problem 9 different ways - I would like them to UNDERSTAND WHY and HOW they get an answer, the background BEHIND that answer, and how to get that answer using the BEST method. They don’t need to know 15 different ways to add numbers, ONE will work. ONE WAY that they UNDERSTAND.

Want to play some music? How about giving them the option to play guitar, or bass, how about the option to play on a WHOLE drum kit instead of some kit they have to carry around in a marching band. How about the violin, piano, how about going back to some choir so the kids can learn how to sing?

Honestly, I think I know their game plan, and our family isn’t playing it. Sucks to be them! LOL!

Cause here is how MY kids learn about music. They learn from their family. Yep, as most things can be learned. I’m sure that in every family, there is ONE person who plays music, ONE person who is good at art, that your children can be exposed to. If not? Guess what, there are certified teachers outside of the public school system that would be happy to accept a bit of cash to teach your kids what you feel you can’t.

Even though I’m an old hand at art, my boys love to go to art class to learn from someone other than me. This is great, and I just reinforce what she teaches here at home, because I’ve “been there done that” thankfully.

Now, I’m going to link a video below that I created this weekend at my dad’s big 65th birthday/halloween party, and I want you to know what absolutley made my whole evening. Not only did my boys get to see how much work goes into a big party like this, they learned things like how the light man runs the lights while the band plays, that a fog machine requires dry ice, and how that works, - they got to see their grandpa play in a band…

and here is the topper. As soon as my dad played the first song, my youngest son came running up to me - pulling on my shirt, and saying in his loudest 3 year old voice “MOM! I LOVE IT!!!”

Now how much better can it get, when your 3 year old follows in your family’s footsteps with the love of music that we all have. :-) Ready for that video?

Here is my dad, the man behind the keyboards, with his all time “old geezer” band - playing the rock and roll I grew up with since I was my youngest sons age. Absolutely NO better way to learn about music on this earth! You’ll see the camera shaking as I pull it down for Michael to see what I’m recording during “flirtin with disaster.” You’ll also hear him talking to me, and you’ll see him run in front of the camera and back. Yep, that’s my boy! And yep, my dad is not only playing the keys, but also swapping to guitar now and then. He taught me everything I knew on guitar!