FYI Music/Piano Instruction Course (Classical Sources Message Board)

FYI Music/Piano Instruction Course
Author: KC	July 31, 1999 at 06:14:43

Re: Musical Instruction for our Homeschool

I do not have formal training in music instruction, but can
play the piano a bit, and played violin all

through school; play guitar a bit. I love this quote from a fellow hser: "my husband plays the radio"... !....yes, that's the
extent of my dh's musical talent! (He *can* play the CD player, too! [s]). I definitely see the many values
to a musical education, and want it very much for all our children. They will all have piano instruction
all through school (as long as that's possible) regardless of personal instrument tastes. As much as we are

able, we will let them choose another instrument (we have
an organized homeschool music program that is quite
extensive).

But for starters! I initially used musical scales and finger drills (books like "A Dozen a Day" and

others) with my first til I felt like she should be taught
to read music (of course, there is controversy over

a starting age! Can't ANYTHING be straightforward???!). My first is quite gifted with a good ear, and

before learning to read music, she could/can pick out
melodies and simple accompaniments.

Our first course: Mark Kapner's "The Home School Music
Course: Easy, Self Instruction On How To Play

Any Song for Keyboard and Piano". This was an inexpensive ($25-ish) book with audiocassette. I
thought it provided a very good start. (Available through "Eight Winds Music Company, 26425 104th
Ave., Suite F-101, Kent Washington 98031"). This assumed no prior knowledge for instructor or student.

After having accomplished this, (and after having sought
high and low for a piano teacher to come to

our home...no such luck. I recently found an excellent

alternative for those of us who can't instruct piano beyond
a certain point and/or can't find/afford

instructors. This program is put together by Dean Kincaid specifically for homeschoolers. His purpose is

"to come into your home and give piano instruction"...the
whole course (4 books and 4 video tapes)

shows EACH lesson as instructed to a live student on the tape. It uses a metronome from the outset, and
all music is either classical or christian pieces. Theory is scattered throughout, as needed in each piece, as

are scales, and historical/biographical information is
provided with each new piece from a classical

composer. This entire set cost approx. $120, which I figured would not go very far with 2 students with a
piano instructor in the [expensive] Northeast. We have just started this program, and so far I am thrilled
with it. I had a friend of mine with a music degree review it, and she was highly impressed with it's
format and content. My daughter can actually do the lessons independently (we put a small portable
VCR-TV next to the piano). This series could easily last up to 4 years and that would be with diligent

progression through the material (there are about 70
lessons in each of the four books; our plan is to go

through 2 a week). There are lessons even post this program, and Dean Kincaid has arrangements for
holiday music, etc. available. His information is:
"The Piano Course for Christians Books 1-4: A Course Leading to the Mastery of the Piano, Especially
Designed for Those of the Christian Faith" by Dean Kincaid, 348 S. Peck Avenue, LaGrange IL 60525.
708-354-4574 and they have a brand new website at www.kincaidmusic.com

Each book can be purchased separately for $12 (not sure
about the price individually of the accompanying

video...can't find my brochure at the moment!). Some local Christian bookstores and Music stores carry

his program.

Supplemental: we have products from Friendship House
Catalog (www.friendshiphouse.com) such as

games to learn notes, and "Famous Composers" cards, etc. I am considering using Keyboard Capers in

our co-op this fall...anyone have experience with this??

Happy making music!! KC, current "Elementary HS Teacher"
husband-Glenn, former educator/administrator; current HR VP
students: 9yo Rebecca (SL4), 6yo James (SL4 modified/SL2
readers), 4yo Lia (SLK LA and Math), 18mo Kip 6th year
hsing; 4th year doing SL (SL4 History and Science, LA mix
IEW/SG/Latin/SL) 2nd year combining SL and classical
methods Loops: SL4, classed, CCSDigest

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> Re: Musical Instruction for our Homeschool > > I do not have formal training in music instruction, but can > play the piano a bit, and played violin all > > through school; play guitar a bit. I love this quote from a fellow hser: "my husband plays the radio"... !....yes, that's the > extent of my dh's musical talent! (He can play the CD player, too! [s]). I definitely see the many values > to a musical education, and want it very much for all our children. They will all have piano instruction > all through school (as long as that's possible) regardless of personal instrument tastes. As much as we are > > able, we will let them choose another instrument (we have > an organized homeschool music program that is quite > extensive). > > But for starters! I initially used musical scales and finger drills (books like "A Dozen a Day" and > > others) with my first til I felt like she should be taught > to read music (of course, there is controversy over > > a starting age! Can't ANYTHING be straightforward???!). My first is quite gifted with a good ear, and > > before learning to read music, she could/can pick out > melodies and simple accompaniments. > > Our first course: Mark Kapner's "The Home School Music > Course: Easy, Self Instruction On How To Play > > Any Song for Keyboard and Piano". This was an inexpensive ($25-ish) book with audiocassette. I > thought it provided a very good start. (Available through "Eight Winds Music Company, 26425 104th > Ave., Suite F-101, Kent Washington 98031"). This assumed no prior knowledge for instructor or student. > > After having accomplished this, (and after having sought > high and low for a piano teacher to come to > > our home...no such luck. I recently found an excellent > > alternative for those of us who can't instruct piano beyond > a certain point and/or can't find/afford > > instructors. This program is put together by Dean Kincaid specifically for homeschoolers. His purpose is > > "to come into your home and give piano instruction"...the > whole course (4 books and 4 video tapes) > > shows EACH lesson as instructed to a live student on the tape. It uses a metronome from the outset, and > all music is either classical or christian pieces. Theory is scattered throughout, as needed in each piece, as > > are scales, and historical/biographical information is > provided with each new piece from a classical > > composer. This entire set cost approx. $120, which I figured would not go very far with 2 students with a > piano instructor in the [expensive] Northeast. We have just started this program, and so far I am thrilled > with it. I had a friend of mine with a music degree review it, and she was highly impressed with it's > format and content. My daughter can actually do the lessons independently (we put a small portable > VCR-TV next to the piano). This series could easily last up to 4 years and that would be with diligent > > progression through the material (there are about 70 > lessons in each of the four books; our plan is to go > > through 2 a week). There are lessons even post this program, and Dean Kincaid has arrangements for > holiday music, etc. available. His information is: > "The Piano Course for Christians Books 1-4: A Course Leading to the Mastery of the Piano, Especially > Designed for Those of the Christian Faith" by Dean Kincaid, 348 S. Peck Avenue, LaGrange IL 60525. > 708-354-4574 and they have a brand new website at www.kincaidmusic.com > > Each book can be purchased separately for $12 (not sure > about the price individually of the accompanying > > video...can't find my brochure at the moment!). Some local Christian bookstores and Music stores carry > > his program. > > Supplemental: we have products from Friendship House > Catalog (www.friendshiphouse.com) such as > > games to learn notes, and "Famous Composers" cards, etc. I am considering using Keyboard Capers in > > our co-op this fall...anyone have experience with this?? > > Happy making music!! KC, current "Elementary HS Teacher" > husband-Glenn, former educator/administrator; current HR VP > students: 9yo Rebecca (SL4), 6yo James (SL4 modified/SL2 > readers), 4yo Lia (SLK LA and Math), 18mo Kip 6th year > hsing; 4th year doing SL (SL4 History and Science, LA mix > IEW/SG/Latin/SL) 2nd year combining SL and classical > methods Loops: SL4, classed, CCSDigest
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