Quote: A Little Spring Cleaning

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.  ~Berthold Auerbach

Yes, when I play music, my spirit is reminded that under the dust of everyday life is peace and joy. Life is good.


I have found that a great way to wash away the dust of the day is to play the piano before hitting the sack. It's refreshing. 


Really, this works at any time of the day. . . if I can get a minute to myself in the first place :) The sound of the piano seems to attract the little ones who are usually the reason for my initial draw to the piano :). Even with the kiddos playing away, on my lap, in my space, it still has the washing effect.
-Kendra

Quote: a Soul Refreshed

"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul" -Bach

Quote: Life is Beautiful

Music is the expression sound that reflects the beauty of life.

Quote: Handel

"Whether I was in my body or out of my body as I wrote it, I know not. God knows." 


-George Handel on composing the Hallelujah Chorus of Messiah




The sketch  below was taken directly from http://www.dailycelebrations.com/02230a.htm

"Called "the greatest composer that ever lived" by Beethoven, Baroque master Georg Friederich Händel (1685–1759) was born on this day [February 23] in Halle, Germany and trained in Italy.

A brilliant organist and violinist, Handel composed Italian operas while in his teens. Moving to England in 1712, he gained fame with his first opera,Rinaldo.

His best-known work, Messiah (1742) was composed as an Easter oratorio (from the Latin oratio which means "prayer") about the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus and featured the famous Hallelujah chorus. Amazingly, he wrote this choral masterpiece in just 25 days.

Admitting that God was his inspiration, Hadel said upon completing Messiah, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the Great God Himself."

Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed, "Raphael paints wisdom, Handel sings."

A celebration of passion, drama, and spirit, his rich and varied works include over 40 operas, over 20 oratorios, and secular vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. As performers throughout the world sing the grand Messiah every Christmas, the beauty of his melodies lives on...

Handel once said, "What a wonderful thing it is to be sure of one's faith! How wonderful to be a member of the evangelical church, which preaches the free grace of God through Christ as the hope of sinners! If we were to rely on our works--my God, what would become of us?""

Benefits of Music

These quotes were found on the back of an Honor Band recital program (Thanks Sanya):


-Music has always played a major role in society. It exalts the human spirit and enhances the quality of life.




LOVE this next one!


-Music helps students to develop and mature. Musical potential is one of the basic abilities that exists in every human being.

Music education with little humans :) increases that potential!

-Music uses one of the most powerful and complex symbol systems in existence, which can be used for the development of critical thinking skills in all students.






I also found this interesting jpeg from here, referring to a study published on nature.com about how science has proven music is good for us. Good stuff!

And then I found this cute image :) :

"In addition to being one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century, Albert Einstein was also an avid violinist."

(http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/fall-2009/music-in-the-brain-the-mysterious-power-of-music)

As a child, I had a poster of Albert Einstein up in my room that said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge". I loved it :)

Quote: Stressed? Blue? Overwhelmed?

...Take some medicine :)


Music's the medicine of the mind.  


~John A. Logan

Love this quote!

Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were left to itself.  ~Henry Ward Beecher


This goes along with what I had to say about music in a post a couple weeks ago :)

quote: Music Speaks

I love these two quotes that express why we all need more quality music in our lives. For someone who's not so great with words (moi), they remind me of why I love to play music.

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

"Where words fail, music speaks." ~Hans Christian Andersen

Thank you Natalie!

quote

Music is what feelings sound like.  ~Author Unknown

Zoltan Kodaly

"The pure soul of the child must be considered sacred; what we implant there must stand every test, and if we plant anything bad, we poison his soul for life." 

(Selected Writings, p. 141)

I had a GREAT time at the Let's Play Music symposium on Saturday! We were treated with a presentation on one the past music education philosophers who is integrated throughout the Let's Play Music program. I am a Kodaly teacher! 


I was inspired by the presentation and am thrilled to be teaching his brilliant methods and theories.


I can't help but want to study him more when I read quotes like the one above. 

Music Aptitude

If music aptitude were a bucket. . . 

start filling your child's bucket early!

"Edwin Gordon, a preeminent music educator and researcher, states that 'Music aptitude is a product of both innate potential and early environment experiences. . . regardless of the level of music aptitude with which children are born, they must have early formal and informal experiences in music in order to maintain the level of potential. Otherwise, the level of music aptitude they may be born with will never be fully realized in achievement . . . . (a child's) innate music aptitude, be it high or low, will diminish, possibly vanishing to almost nothing, without an early stimulating music environment.' ("All About Audiation and Music Aptitudes," Music Educators Journal, No. 41, Sep. 99)" 

Where I found it: (Music Is Important for Young Children, 

www.musiceducationmadness.com, Jan 7, 2009) 

sorry for not being APA correct tonight :)

pic found at www.babygadget.net

Music strengthens family relationships

I found this as I was reading an insert to a baby DVD series I have called Classical Baby. It was written by Gene Beresin, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and father of 4 children.

"Sharing creative and loving experiences can help build what child development experts call a 'secure attachment' between your children and you..."

Attachment theories are normally associated with infants and toddlers, but in this instance I feel it can be expanded to apply to your children!

"...This fosters healthy intellectual, emotional, social and moral development. The process of listening, playing and learning together not only brings you closer to your child, but stimulates your child's self-expression, appreciation of arts, and motivation to explore."

As if you needed any more motivation to play music with your child :)

Musicians are Mathematicians

Music is a great tool in mathematics education.

A study of 237 second-grade children involved with both piano keyboard training and innovative math software scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than students only using the math software.

Amy Graziano, Matthew Peterson, and Gordon Shaw, Neurological Research 21, March 1999

Music and Morals

The laws of morals and the laws of music are the same.

-Zoltan Kodaly