The Budding Musician

1. Before listening to each lesson, spend 15-seconds to read through the lesson objective (printed below).

2. Questions are sprinkled through each lesson.  Take time to really listen to your child’s answers.

3. Re-teach concepts (or re-listen to that portion of the lesson) that your child does not grasp.  With this approach, you will deepen your relationship and strengthen the bridge of communication between you and your child.

Teacher Introduction (23:20)

If you are a music teacher, it is recommended you listen to this first.

Parent Introduction (23:11)

Objective:  Learn how to use this program successfully.  The most important thing you can do is to have fun with your child.

Lesson 1 (7:46)

Objective:  The student will revel in the joy of hearing and sound.  Many different sounds will be explored and created.  The value of commitment will be discussed.  Assignment:  Look and listen for interesting sounds during the week.  Discuss how the sounds are made.

Lesson 2 (11:03)

Objective: The child will understand the concept of high and low sounds.  Assignment:  Test each other at the piano (or with your voice, or other instrument) on the concept high and low.  (Some children find this easy.  Others have difficulty.  No worries.)  It is an important pre-reading skill that will gradually strengthen with experience.

Lesson 3  (12:58)

Objective:  Most children have difficulty keeping a steady even beat.  This lesson develops the concept within the child of a steady even beat and gives the child practice in both recognizing and practicing a steady even beat.  Assignment:  Practice clapping the beat with songs on the radio, or other devices.  Clap as you sing songs together for fun.  If the child is learning an instrument, listen their pieces and help them obtain a steady, even beat on each piece.

Lesson 4 (9:09)

Objective:  Lessons in the sequential development of rhythm.  Learning to audiate quarter notes and rests.  The child will learn to recognize and perform 7 different rhythmic patterns.  It may sound boring but it actually can be a lot of fun.  The value of accepting responsibility for our choices is discussed  Assignment: Work together to keep an even beat on all the child’s piano pieces this week.  Praise the student for being well prepared for their piano lesson. If your child is not studying an instrument, praise them for keeping a steady beat with you as you clap and sing or listen to songs.

Lesson 5 (9:14)

More activities to develop the concept of even and uneven beats in music. Introduction of the scale (do-re-mi).

Lesson 6 (7:33)

Concepts of accelerando (getting faster) and ritardando (getting slower) are explored.

Lesson 7 (10:00)

Practice with accelerando and ritardando.  Responding emotionally to music.

Lesson 8 (8:26)

Hop on your four wheelers or truck

to further experience concepts of fast and slow.  But be prepared for rain!  The scale is introduced.  Eighth notes are also introduced

Lesson 9 (9:20)

More adventures in eighth notes and climbing up and down the scale await the student!

Lesson 10 (10:02)

We go hoe, hoe, hoeing with Farmer Bob.  But watch out for rabbits.  Songs and activities help us feel what changing rhythms feel like.

Lesson 11 (9:27)

Developing an inner concept of melodic and rhythm patterns (audiation) is practiced.

Lesson 12 (10:23)

The Law of the Harvest is discussed.  Solfeg syllables are attached to the scale.

Lesson 13 (10:20)

Audiation is further developed through songs and activities.  New eighth note patterns are practiced.

Lesson 14 (10:16)

The value of the child’s uniqueness is discussed.  This is an appropriate time for the listening partner to share their feelings about the child’s work and progress.  Further activities are provided to help practice the scale.

Lesson 15 (11:40)

The long, hot summer of weeding and watering becomes a platform for the listening partner to instill values of work and industry in the student.  So, mi, and a new note, la, is practiced.

Lesson 16 (11:12)

Review and practice previous melodic and rhythmic patterns.  The student discusses with the listening partner the many people they have to help them succeed in life and with music.

Lesson 17 (9:56)

The child learns and practices two new notes, ti and do.  While riding in the car, doing the dishes, or going to bed, sing the notes so, la, ti, do together.

Lesson 18 (10:27)

Rhythmic and melodic patterns are combined.

Lesson 19 (9:36)

The student will learn to recognize and perform new rhythmic patterns.  The value of showing respect for your parents and teachers by being well prepared for lessons (if a child is taking lessons) is emphasized.

Lesson 20 (13:34)

The last three lessons continue to strengthen the child’s concept of  melodic patterns using so, la, ti, and do.

Lesson 21 (9:20)

The story of the Young Bear, Brown Bear and Real Bear.  The usefulness of music is explored with the child.

Lesson 22 (10:32)

Songs, rhythmic patterns, melodic patterns and other musical concepts are reviewed as the child is reminded of all the wonderful skills they have developed.