I've had the kids continuously enrolled in Music Together classes since Milo was a baby; we haven't missed a quarter. I'm not very musical, and so I prefer to outsource music education. The children really love it, or at least they do from ages 2 to 4. Mary Jane sings the songs all the time, changing the words to suit herself as she goes about her day. Milo's five now and his interest is starting to flag. He wants to be like his big brother, and sit outside the studio and work on math problems while MJ and I are in the music class.
But Milo seems to have developed a different interest. Lately at Hannah's house you will find him sitting at the piano -- not pounding on the keys, but picking out little one- and two-finger melodies of his own. I have a few school recorders in my cabinet, and I gave him one a few months ago; he very much enjoyed trying to play it. I taped over some of the holes so he could easily play a simple melody and he learned it quickly and was pleased with himself.
What's this? Interest?
I don't know, but I suppose it's time to give him a chance to find out.
I'm not about to buy a piano -- no room for it. Instead, I was able to find a local teacher who would give him lessons on the soprano recorder, an instrument which I very much like for the slacker home school because it is inexpensive, portable, accessible, and does not really require very gentle handling. So that is one of our summer projects: finding out if Milo is interested in formal instrument lessons.
Oscar was a little bit appalled that I would offer something to Milo that I never offered him. "Oscar," I pointed out, "you never asked to play an instrument, and you've never shown any particular interest. I taught you a little bit of recorder when you were five, too." He had to admit that when he was five he didn't want to practice or take lessons.
This decision highlights three aspects of my teaching style, I think.
(1) My philosophy about musical instruments: Everybody should have a little bit of instrumental instruction whether they're interested or not, but we can wait until the interest appears or until high school. Instrumental education is too expensive to waste on a child who doesn't want it, except as needed for developing the basic musical literacy that every high school graduate should have.
(2) My philosophy about teaching multiple children: You can't give all your children identical educations, even if that was a good idea (which I doubt). It's okay, therefore, to dole out certain opportunities to the child who's most likely to appreciate them. In other words, I don't have to deny Milo instrument lessons at age five just because Oscar didn't seem interested in lessons at age five. And I don't have to enroll Oscar in lessons just because Milo's getting them (though if Milo's experience really gets Oscar interested, I'll consider it).
(3) My determination not to overschedule us. Because during the summer while Milo's taking recorder lessons at MacPhail, I'm suspending the preschool Music Together class. In some ways it's hard! Mary Jane really loves the class, she has clearly learned and developed a repertoire of real musical skill, and I hate to take it away from her even for a quarter. But I know it won't seriously damage her, I know I want to give Milo a chance to try out instrument lessons, and I work really hard to keep our family activities from overwhelming us, especially when we don't yet know whether Milo's lessons will turn out to be something we will want to continue. In the fall, we'll decide whether to pursue the lessons, the preschool music class, or both, based on how much value we're getting out of them.
I tend to agree with you on all three. On point #1, on the recommendation of a book whose name I've forgotten, I am hesitant to allow any formal lessons until at least age 8. That doesn't mean they can't have fun playing Rock Band, though.
I'm really dealing with point #2. My oldest daughter does not like being read to, and I've realized that fighting with her about it has discouraged me from trying much with my younger girls. This something that really needs to change.
Point #3: It's easier for us in some ways because we are a one-vehicle family, but I still stay very cautious about it.
Posted by: Barbara C. | 09 June 2009 at 10:43 AM