tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181995613012845425.post8916831573289879874..comments2024-01-26T02:18:42.995-06:00Comments on Blue House Academy: Weeks 22-24 in ReviewKelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16095729633573268457noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181995613012845425.post-49201570639437968672009-03-10T12:27:00.000-05:002009-03-10T12:27:00.000-05:00Carrie,I have a limited musical background (and kn...Carrie,<BR/><BR/>I have a limited musical background (and know very little about the piano), so keep that in mind as you read my observations! This instructor takes the kids into music theory right away and she has us do quite a bit of memorization compared to the materials our previous instructor used. Many of our current instructor's books are hard to find or out of print, so I guess her method is not as common today. <BR/><BR/>Anna and Ryne are learning their hand positions for the different keys, whereas before most of the keys would have been much farther down the road (they had only learned the C and G majors). I've been taking lessons along with the kids and previously I was a few books ahead of the kids, but I still hadn't learned most of those positions. She has them learning chords, transposing, and playing by ear. When Ryne quit his lessons after a year his book was just starting to have him play with two hands at the same time, and he clearly needed to be doing that earlier. With Grace, who is just starting out, it is more simple, but she still does some transposing, playing by ear, and uses both hands at the same time. <BR/><BR/>I've probably made no sense with all this! : ) Let me know if you want her name. She actually lives not far from you.<BR/><BR/>Kellieargsmommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15871201210451384398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181995613012845425.post-73857397358753766252009-03-09T01:36:00.000-05:002009-03-09T01:36:00.000-05:00Oops, I just realized that I asked what music prog...Oops, I just realized that I asked what music program you were using...and I realize you're using an instructor. It's very late (or early depending on how you want to look at it), anyway what is your instructor doing differently that the kids really seem to like?<BR/><BR/>CarrieCarrie Pettiecordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09798642083768336217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181995613012845425.post-84137111062629343992009-03-09T01:33:00.000-05:002009-03-09T01:33:00.000-05:00Hey Kellie,What music program are you using? We st...Hey Kellie,<BR/><BR/>What music program are you using? <BR/><BR/>We started Simply Music in the latter part of January. It can be instructor led, but the only guy around that I could find was in O.P. so we opted for the video for now. Nathan is loving it! He has really taken advantage of rewinding and replaying certain parts until he understands what he's supposed to do. It has been very simple for him to learn. He's playing several songs already and it isn't hard at all to get him to practice--usually he does it without even being told to. Glad to hear you have found something your kids like too. I'd like to know who you are using though so when we're ready to move to an instructor will have an option to consider. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>CarrieCarrie Pettiecordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09798642083768336217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181995613012845425.post-26040570563785206092009-03-07T05:53:00.000-06:002009-03-07T05:53:00.000-06:00I love this review! You really make me feel not s...I love this review! You really make me feel not so alone in these yucky winter months and you are right - there are many of us who are struggling through slumps, colds, and blogging droughts.<BR/> <BR/>But the awesome thing about homeschooling is that it looks like you've still taught the kids so much! A new reader, new piano lessons, observation of church leadership, a tv show, etc! I often have to remind myself that our schooling isn't about balancing it all perfectly but about Who we lean through along the way....<BR/>Good job!<BR/>AndreaUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163997878278258997noreply@blogger.com