...another great quote!

"My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require." -Edward Elgar


Such a wonderful concept. We are what we are, we are what we aspire to be. We are able to find the things that we "require" when we just stop and take a moment to breathe in the fresh air.

Quote of the Day

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo

What does music do for you? How are YOU using music to give a voice to the things in your life that need to be expressed so deeply? Something to truly think about.

Kid-Friendly/Educational Websites

I thought I would use my post today as a resource for the parents of my piano students. In this day in age kids love being on the computer (or maybe even that is becoming outdated with the iPad!) I wanted to share some interactive and educational websites that my be of use to your child who is either wanting more music education in their life, or could use a nudge in certain aspects of their musical education (note reading, theory, etc.) 

Disclaimer: The order that I write about these websites have nothing to do with how I would rank them. These are also just my opinions about the sites- it is up to you to make good judgement in how you use them. I hope you and our children are able to take bits and pieces from each site and learn something new. Id' love to hear your thoughts!

www.classicsforkids.com/music

This is probably one of the first classical music sites I came across when I first started teaching, and I still enjoy visiting it. Students can learn about classical music, various instruments, listen to different styles of music, play theory and ear-training games and much more. There are also several games that will aide students in becoming better note and rhythm readers. Other games will allow them to learn about the masters in composition and even give them the opportunity to do some composing themselves!

www.kusc.org/kids

While this website does not appear to be as kid friendly as some of the websites I’ve posted, please remember the old saying to “never judge a book by its cover.” I would say that the website could be more beneficial with parental oversight and guidance. In fact, there are many family listening activities. This site is a great educational resources, and will aide students in learning about various styles of music and where that music came from. The interactive “tours” of the cities where great composers lived and worked is definitely time worth spent. Students will also have the opportunities to learn about some of the music literature, and the stories that lie behind them.

www.sphinxkids.org

This is an interactive website where students can learn about composers, the instruments of the orchestra, and various other musical concept. I am very fond of the fact that this website goes beyond the typical picture and short clip of the instrument. The emphasis is not only on learning what any given instrument is, but how it sounds in context, how it’s played, how it actually works. I would say the same thing about the composer section of the website. Students are not only learning what the composer looked liked and a short excerpt from their most famous piece. Instead they can choose to learn about composers based on the country they are from, style etc. I particularly enjoy that they have a section on minority composers. This website also includes various musical games.