Music
Nine-Note Recorder Method: Easy Duets for Beginners
Whether you are an accomplished musician or a complete novice, this simple, inexpensive book will have you playing beautiful music in less than an hour. (I have children in both categories, and have been unable to pick up the book to review it for almost three months since it's been in constant use!) By learning the nine easiest notes to play, and then playing music in parts, learners at all levels are immediately successful.
The book begins with an explanation of how to read music (notes, rhythm, etc.), and directs those to whom those concepts are new to Penny Gardner's website for more information. Correct recorder technique is then covered. By page 4, you are playing music, by page 5 you are working on a duet! Over 70 arrangements include folk songs ("Shoo Fly," "Michael Row the Boat Ashore") and Christmas Songs ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "Ding-Dong Merrily on High"), as well as classic melodies by Mozart and Bach and popular fiddle tunes such as "The Irish Washerwoman" and "Old Joe Clark." The variety lends itself to lessons and/or performances. Several of the pieces include a third part for use by a trio.
In her introduction, Penny Gardner reminds us that a recorder often proves to be a springboard to further music study. Armed with the knowledge in this one book, your child(ren) will have a great start in both music theory and technique.
Our Musical Year
Level 1 (1st and 2nd grade) includes 93 songs 130 pg. spiral-bound manual and two CDs - one learning CD and one sing-along (instrumental)
Level 2 (3rd-6th grade) includes 91 songs 142 pg. spiral-bound manual and 3 CDs. Includes music instruction and basic theory lessons
We've had a lot of frustration with finding a good music program for our family. We were unable to use the songbook that came with our package curriculum because I did not know most of the songs and we don't have a piano or the ability to properly play them if we did. When I tried to find recordings of the songs from the songbook, I was told it was out of print. I looked for other songbooks with tapes or CDs to go along with it but I was not happy with the ones I bought. They either did not have the traditional Catholic songs for children or when I was able to find some of the music for the songs I wanted my children to learn, there was no words for it to help them follow along. Also, it was very difficult to teach them when there was other children singing on the tape. I had a hard time getting them to put forth any effort and participation in music class and felt they were not learning much about music.
Finally, we purchased Our Musical Year at a homeschool conference. Since we have started using the book and music in this program, our children have increased their participation so much because they enjoy it and I feel they are really learning. Now they want to use it not only for music class, but also for fun. They are already singing some of the songs around the house and we have only used it a few times. I feel it is well worth the money because I can use it for more than one year and for more than one student. Also I think of all the money I wasted on other things to try to help me teach music class. I really like how the book is set up to go along with the liturgical year and the fun and patriotic songs are great too. I feel these are the kind of songs I want my children singing instead of what they hear on the radio. They are not just learning songs to sing either. They are learning about how music works with the notes going up and down. The learning CD is slow enough and clear so they can really hear the notes and they can understand the musical terms I teach them. This is my first year home schooling my 7 year old and 4 year old. We also have a 1 1/2 year old and a baby due this summer. This is just what I have been looking for all year long. Now I will feel better prepared for next year.
The Adoremus Hymnal
This is a beautiful hymnal with all the favorite traditional Catholic hymns and the parts and prayers of the Mass in English and Latin. It avoids any use of "feminized" (a.k.a. inclusive) language, which has destroyed so many of the Church's beautiful hymns and even tried to remove the use of "he" or "him" when referring to Jesus. Our family has taken to pulling out this hymnal every morning after prayers and each person picking out their favorite song to sing together before beginning the school day. My six year old daughter who is just reading likes to scan through the index in back to look for something familiar. She is unwittingly introducing herself to the concept of "alphabetical order" and getting a little reading practice as well. The choir edition (424 pages) contains all four parts for those who wish to learn the harmonies and the chant parts of the Mass are in the traditional chant notation.I think this is an excellent resource for the Catholic homeschooler's music curriculum. Included are traditional Christmas Carols (such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing), favorite Marian Hymns (such as Salve Regina and Hail Holy Queen), hymns for every liturgical season and special feasts. Many hymns are offered in both English and Latin (such as O Come All Ye Faithful). The multiple indices in back are also helpful for finding particular songs and you'll even find an "Index of Scriptural References Related to Hymns."
Copyright 1997/ 2nd edition 2011.
See more information here, at the Adoremus Hymnal Landing Page. The page includes a link to mp3 audio files of the hymns and Mass settings, hosted by Ignatius Press. These aren't "great" recordings intended for pleasurable listening – but they are a great way to help teach your children some of the great treasures of the Church even if you're not very musical or aren't familiar with the hymns.
The Priests
You can here short snippets of their music at Aquinas and More.
The Story of Mozart (Music Masters Series)
There is one troubling part, however. Even according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Mozart was apparently involved in the Freemasons which are an anti-Catholic society (membership in the society is forbidden to Catholics). This story mentions that the opera The Magic Flute contains symbols of Freemasonry of which Mozart was a member. Some Catholic parents have asked if it is appropriate to have their children listen to Mozart and in fact develop a "relationship" with his music and operas, given this connection.
I would answer that the music is suitable to listen to for several reasons. First, although we do know that Mozart was a freemason (his personality does appear to be naive enough to be involved with this, although not necessarily caught up in the anti-Catholic aspects of it), it is difficult to know
60:27 Minutes Audio (CD or Cassette)
Wee Sing: Around the World
This audio tape or CD and booklet take you around the world, continent by continent, by introducing you to favorite folks songs or children's songs from each country. Someone from each country introduces themselves in their own language and then in English and the song is sung in each language as well. The booklet includes all the words to the songs in the native language and English, simple piano notation and guitar chords. There are charming illustrations including each country's flag. You'll also find a little description of each country. This has been our family's very favorite tape in the Wee Sing series.
Easy Christmas Duets
Bravo for another treasure from Penny Gardner! The 40 plus songs in this book provide plenty of material for Christmas programs or supplemental lesson work. Organized according to ease of playing, these pieces presume some prior recorder experience. (For those brand new to the instrument, I highly recommend the original Nine-Note Recorder Method text which includes instruction and 30 familiar Christmas songs.)
The duet and trio arrangements in Easy Duets for Christmas allow for creative use of any two or more "C" instruments; imagine "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" or "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" on combined recorder, violin and piano. Our seven year old is reading some of the easiest pieces ("Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" and "We Three Kings"), and a little augmentation from siblings - easy with the duets in this book - makes his efforts sound very polished.
If you are looking for some new music to add to your Christmas repertoire, this book would be a wonderful, affordable choice.
Easy Duets For Catholics
This book is a special companion to Penny Gardner's original Nine-Note Recorder Method text. Containing almost 50 traditional Catholic hymns, it offers arrangements suitable for Mass as well as lesson work. Prior recorder experience is assumed.
As with the other books in this series, the duets and trios in Easy Duets for Catholics can be played on any combination of "C" instruments. While the creative possibilities are seemingly endless, perhaps my family's favorite part of this particular book is that the lyrics are included, allowing us to be steeped in the truths of our faith while making beautiful music!
Titles include: "Immaculate Mary", "O Saving Victim" and "Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest."