For several years (ok, so many multiple years that I hesitate to admit their vastness!), we have tried to incorporate a tiny bit of knowledge and appreciation of great music and art into our "regular" school schedule (I do not even begin to pretend it is a "normal" schedule :) !). Over the years, I have tried to pass along to others how very easy it is to take 5-10 minutes once or twice a month to instill in your children of all ages the richness and treasure of good art and music. Of course, we would all agree that our tastes vary in those areas to a much greater degree than most other subjects, but overall there are some well-established artists in both realms that almost everyone would include on their lists of "greats". No, I do not personally care for Wagner or Picasso (gasp!!), but I will gladly admit that they both had a great impact on later artists. I understand when you cringe at Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain" or are puzzled by the draw of Grandma Moses' simplicity (two of my own favorites), but you must agree that it can only be good for your children to at least have a vague understanding of great artists whether you or I either one "like" them. So, if you want to expose your children to great works, and have no background in either yourself and do not want to spend a fortune on texts or bore them to tears, what better way than to use that great classic research tool - the internet!Several friends have asked me over the years to share this list with them and recently when two other, newer homeschoolers asked what my children meant by "Is this a birthday date?", I decided to post the list here WITH A DISCLAIMER. This list is my own personal one, and was developed from long conversations with two knowledgeable people and this one very ignorant homeschooling Mom. These two wonderful people were Mrs. Ruth Boal, who was a professional classical musician and helped to conceive and organize the initiation of WCPE "The Classical Station" and whom I had the great honor of being next-door neighbor to for several years. The other knowledgeable person was Ms. Linda Funk, a former professor of art at Appalachian State University, and a great inspiration to all of her drawing
students (including this poor one) to truly appreciate great art. So, with those two giving me extensive lists of the great masterpieces, and a few short hours with my great assistant Google, I developed this list years ago and have rarely "tweeked" it since.
I would love to hear any additions, corrections or contradictions to this list. Seriously. You might totally disagree with the list, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it :) . Just as in all things subjective, add, delete and change for your own family, students or enemies. In the meantime, I'm going to go listen to the "Great Gates of Kiev" while I clean my bathroom.
Intro
to the Orchestra and Classical Music:
*** http://www.classicsforkids.com/
http://theclassicalstation.org/
Intro to Famous
Art:
http://gardenofpraise.com/art.htmhttp://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/
http://library.thinkquest.org/3059/
FAMOUS MUSICIAN AND ARTIST BIRTHDAYS:
January 19: Cezanne, Paul - "Still Life", "The Card Players" http://www.harley.com/art/abstract-art/cezanne.html
January 27: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus "The
Magic Flute"," Symphony #40"
http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Winslow-Homer/Breezing-Up-1876-Print-C10083497.jpeg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yscAvQ88KYY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdcAo1OZWQA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0t0ehnhXeU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX3mQkSNjiU
http://www.tickitaly.com/images/tickets/last-supper/vinci-supper.jpg
http://www.abcgallery.com/R/rembrandt/rembrandt119.JPG
http://sunsite.nus.sg/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/1660/return-prodigal-son.jpg
http://www.topofart.com/images/artists/Harmenszoon_van_Rijn_Rembrandt/paintings/rembrandt007.jpg
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/self/rembrandt.1640.jpg
August 22 Debussy, Claude La mer (The Sea) Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpQl1cCl8
http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/exhibitions/exhib_pages/GrandmaMoses.html
September 8 Dvorak, Antonin The New World Symphony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctfXIqugXc
Slavonic Dances
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d98ZTGHmJqE
September 26 Gershwin, George Rhapsody in Blue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYwYj3U_f18
October 9/10 Verdi La Traviata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGtZHcC39do
October 22 Liszt, Franz Hungarian Rhapsodies
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2885260177798582866
October 25 Strauss, Johann Blue Danube Waltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiF5glYvfcw
October 31 Vermeer, Jan Girl with a Pearl Earring
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Vermeer
http://www.ncarts.org/email/sept06/3-W1788-Water-Lilies.jpg
http://images.andale.com/f2/111/103/10125972/1041778876657_monet1.jpg
http://www.monet-on-canvas.com/images/la_rue_montorgueil_fete_du_30_juin_monet_15.jpg
December 16 Beethoven, Ludwig van 9th Symphony, Piano Concerto #5 in E-flat, op. 73, "Moonlight Sonata"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwzvMslu7e0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imv2M64t_og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akc0v_KTZBM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQVeaIHWWck
