I have been asked to teach a music class for our home school co-op. We will learn some simple music theory, sight singing using shape notes, music appreciation, patriotic songs, hymns and folk songs.
Patriotic songs? I want any child who attends my music classes to be able to confidently sing the national anthem. The same goes for other patriotic songs. It is such a joy to stand at a ball game or a symphony concert with people of all faiths, races, political ideas and sing The Star Spangled Banner. We may not agree on anything else but we can agree that we live in a country that allows us the freedom to have all these differences and still come together to enjoy whatever event we are attending. If we would sing this more often at more events, I think the feeling of community would be stronger. I tell my students that they should sing along. Don’t be someone who just listens to someone else singing our national anthem. The very act of singing together with everyone creates a sense of unity — something that would benefit us all.
Hymns? God has asked us to sing hymns to each other. Why? It’s has the same effect as singing the national anthem together. When we sing with others, we are drawn closer to each other. There have been studies showing that when a group of people sing together, their hearts begin to beat in sync. When the words we sing are praising God, what a powerfully emotional experience. When the words are encouraging and teaching each other, what a sense of unity as the hearts and mouths unite in the same thought. Too many children are not getting to participate in this type of experience. Modern religious organizations have turned the congregational singing into an audience/performer experience…much like a concert. Many children have not learned to sing true hymns. Hymns are poetry that praises God and encourages/admonishes others and is set to music which has traditionally (since the beginning of the church) been a capella. Hymns that have lasted through the years and even centuries are filled with beautiful language that fills the heart and mind with awe and adoration of God. My goal is to teach the children some of those wonderful ancient hymns, maybe a few modern, well-written hymns, and I may toss in a couple that I’ve written as well.
Folk Songs? Folk songs are typically a little more “fun” than patriotic songs and hymns. Like patriotic hymns, they instill a sense of community. There are some folk songs that everyone should know. While I wouldn’t want my children to be aware of some of aspects of our cultural I think cultural literacy is very important. Cultural literacy is not being taught at home or school much. The songs our parents, grand parents and great grand parents sang on the front porch after dinner at night are not being passed down to our children. The good folk songs teach a little bit of history in a light hearted sometimes tongue in cheek way and have usually been passed down from generation to generation connecting the present with the past, connecting the young with the old and connecting the individual with the whole.
Folk songs can also make teaching other subjects easier but only if everyone is already familiar with it. I teach violin and piano lessons. The curriculum I use attempts to use songs that the children know to introduce new concepts. The idea being that if they are already familiar with the song, playing it on an instrument should be much easier. I have found that many of these students don’t know even the most common folk songs. Singing these fun and sometimes silly songs help children improve their ear training, rhythm and build confidence to go on and learn more music skills. You would do your children a favor by teaching them songs like Go Tell Aunt Rhodie, She’ll Be Coming Around The Mountain and Yankee Doodle (yes, this could pass as a patriotic song as well).
Choosing which folk songs to sing with children can be a challenge. Usually if you just sing the first verse, the meaning is lost but sometimes the meaning that is revealed in the subsequent verses can be inappropriate for children. Choose the folk songs wisely. If you plan on learning to play an instrument, Hot Cross Buns and Merrily We Roll Along are a must. I think every instrument plays these early in the process of learning to play.
What are the folk songs I plan to teach this year? I’ve Been Working On The Railroad, The Erie Canal, The Riddle Song and The Barnyard Song have made the cut so far.
What are the patriotic songs and hymns I plan to teach? I haven’t gotten that far yet but The Star Spangled Banner, America and God Bless America are a must. I like to choose hymns that create a visual picture in the children’s minds like This Is My Father’s World, or that encourage children to look to God’s Word for guidance like How Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts, or that quote scripture or are closely based on scripture like Holy, Holy, Holy or Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah.
All of these songs, patriotic songs, hymns and folk songs, are part of our heritage, creating a sense of community and teaching profound truths that will stay with our children their entire lives.
