Teaching Music: Enhancing Learning Through Music Education – Andrew Pudewa (Homeschooling Every Subject)
“Listening is a skill that can be cultivated.”
“Art should bring the mind of man closer to the mind of God.” ~ Andrew Pudewa
🎻✨ Yvette Hampton sits down with Andrew Pudewa, for our Homeschooling Every Subject Series, to discuss the profound impact of music education on language and cognitive development. Learn how intentional and focused listening can enhance children's learning and communication skills.🎹📖
Recommended Resources:
Mischa Maisky plays Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G
Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Language Arts Curriculum taught by Andrew Pudewa
However Imperfectly: Lessons Learned from Thirty Years of Teaching, by Andrew Pudewa
Podcast Recommendations:
More from Andrew Pudewa on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast
Homeschooling Every Subject Series
Homeschooling Through the Years Series
Schoolhouse Rocked Series and Topic Directory
Stream Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution for FREE Tonight!
Get your FREE Homeschool Survival Kit!
Discussion Questions:
Andrew mentioned a strong connection between music and language development. Can you think of any personal experiences or observations that support this connection?
What are some intentional ways you can incorporate music into a child's daily routine to enhance their focus and listening skills?
Andrew talked about the benefits of focused listening to great music for young children. How do you think this practice can be adapted for older children or adults?
The concept of using repetition to create familiarity and joy was discussed. What are some other areas in homeschooling where repetition might be beneficial?
Andrew suggested starting with non-vocal instrumental music, specifically Bach, for focused listening. What composers or specific pieces of music would you consider starting with and why?
Considering Andrew's emphasis on the importance of cultivating listening skills, what other activities or subjects in homeschooling do you think can help develop these skills?
Andrew highlighted the idea that we should be intentional about the kind of music children are exposed to. What criteria or guidelines do you think parents should use to select music for their children?
Andrew focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing as the four arts of language. How do you see music fitting into this framework, particularly in the contexts of homeschooling, language arts, and the development of communication skills?
Andrew Pudewa emphasizes the unique stimulation of the brain through playing a musical instrument. Can you think of any activities that similarly engage multiple sensory pathways simultaneously?
The episode touches on the mathematical aspects of music. How do you think this mathematical structure affects the way people learn and appreciate music? How do you see this aspect of music illustrating the beauty and order of God's creation?
Andrew mentions the seven liberal arts, including the quadrivium and trivium. How can understanding these classical areas of study influence modern homeschooling approaches?
For parents who are not musically inclined, what do you think are the main challenges in teaching music to their children? Can technology like YouTube help bridge the gap? What other good resources can be accessed by non-musical parents for teaching music?
Andrew makes a distinction between the simplicity of instruments like the tin whistle and the complexity of instruments like the violin. Does this influence your thoughts on what instruments are best for beginners?
Yvette Hampton shares her personal experience of teaching the tin whistle despite not being musically trained. Have you ever had a similar experience in teaching a subject you were not familiar with? How did you handle it?
The conversation highlights the therapeutic benefits of playing music over activities like video games. What other extracurricular activities do you think can offer similar benefits for children?
Andrew talked about the importance of not comparing oneself to an expert. How can this principle be applied in other areas of homeschooling or parenting?
The episode concludes with a powerful example of Chinese students mathematically analyzing Bach's music and becoming Christians. How does this story illustrate the intersection of faith, education, and the arts?
Yvette underscores music as part of God's creation and its intrinsic value. How do you integrate biblical discussions into your homeschooling curriculum through subjects like music or the arts?
Personal Background and Music in Homeschooling:
How has your personal background, like Yvette’s, influenced your approach to incorporating music into your homeschooling curriculum?
Music Listening Preferences:
Do you agree with Andrew’s view that some music can be considered "junk music"? What criteria do you use to determine the quality of the music you or your children listen to?
Importance of Classical Music:
Andrew Pudewa mentions the value of classical music for mental, physical, and spiritual nourishment. How do you feel about introducing classical music to your children? Have you already implemented this in your home?
Child Development and Music:
How do you feel simple children’s songs like "The Ants Go Marching" contribute to early childhood development? Have you used similar methods to teach other concepts?
Music and Subjectivity:
Andrew discussed the objective quality of music versus subjective preference. How do you balance personal preference with objective quality when selecting music for your home?
Artistic Expression in Music:
Andrew mentioned two schools of thought regarding art—self-expression versus elevating the mind towards God. How does this perspective influence your choice of music?
Repetition and Appreciation:
Andrew suggested listening to a piece of music multiple times to understand and appreciate it better. Have you tried this approach with your children? What was the outcome?
Auditory Environment:
What steps do you take (or could you take) to reduce auditory pollution in your home to create a more conducive environment for learning and music appreciation?
Music as a Maker vs. Consumer:
Andrew highlighted the shift from being music makers to music consumers. How important do you think it is for children to learn to make music rather than just listen to it? What methods have you employed or considered for teaching music?
Impact of Focused Listening:
How do you plan or encourage focused listening in your homeschooling routine? Have you noticed any benefits from implementing focused listening practices with your children?
Sponsors:
Apologia is a Christ-centered, award-winning homeschool curriculum provider. Our mission is to help homeschooling students and families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith through our print and digital curriculum and online classes.
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation
CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.
The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network. Our mission is to support and encourage the family by providing the very best podcasts on family, discipleship, marriage, parenting, worldview, culture, and education, all from a Biblical perspective. Visit the website for more great shows, like the Thinking Dad, Culture Proof, Homeschool Insights, and Made2Homeschool.
Topics Covered:
• Connection between music and language • Techniques for using instrumental music in learning • Cultivating Listening Skills with Music • Benefits of Focused Listening for Children • Intentional Use of Music in Learning • Benefits of Repetitive Listening • The stereotype of a musical homeschool • The impact of music on children's development • Are children's songs beneficial or harmful? • How to evaluate the quality of music • How your auditory environment affects learning • The benefits of making music versus consuming music • How to teach music in your homeschool • The impact of different musical styles on learning • Practical tips for integrating music into daily routines • The impact of music on the brain • Music reveals the beauty and precision of God’s creation • The perfect relationship between math and music • Benefits of learning musical instruments • The science behind music and cognitive development • Practical advice for non-musical parents • Affordable ways to introduce music education
