Music appreciation

One of the most followed tenets of Charlotte Mason around here is the 'Composer Study' along with 'Picture Study'.  Not all done the same; but everyone I have met who says they are a CMer does them.

We do too in a way.  We don't restrict ourselves to CM approved artists, or Composers.  I am just as likely to spend a few weeks on Queen, or the Beatles as I am to spend time on Brahms  (well maybe more likely?)

I once read that CM felt music should delight and be a 'joy to the soul'.  Well I happen to be quite delighted listening to 'weird Al's', "An Amish Paradise".  So why not spend some time talking about him, and what a parody is.  And maybe even what the Amish are really like, we go to PA enough we aught to have some history there.

Lately I have been in the mood for some of the songs I heard most in my childhood.  My husband has an interesting time searching for the 'right' version.  I had no idea how many times 'These boots are made for walking' was done!   Of course with all the versions we had to talk to the kids  about how a song once written can be sung by many in different ways.  Which relates to classical.  Not every recording of Beethoven's 5th is the same.

"Cats in the Cradle" inspired quite a bit of talk about priorities.  Songs like Pink Floyds "We Don't Need No Education" or Twisted Sister's "I want to rock" (the line at 1:20) bring up discussions of the right and wrong way to educate (along with double negatives), as well as with plans for ones life.  Actually Prydz' version sparked discussion on energy conservation, and personal freedoms.

I might have a harder time coming up with a good educational reason to listen to Metallica, but give me a few minutes I think I could come up with something better than it was the first band all my kids listened to within days of their birth.

In 100 or 200 years time, who will be remembered?  What classics will our children's grandchildren study?  Will they have only wordless songs of the ancients,  thought provoking lyrics, discordant electric synth, or something else entirely?

One thing I try not to do with my kids is insult a song just for being 'different'.  I try to explain to my kids why I dislike songs with rude lyrics, and just what crosses the line for me.  An arbitrary line it must be admitted. (discussing things  like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is fine, using a word I would wash their mouth out with soap for quite unacceptable, speaking of words using the ones I shouldn't eh no big, using ones I never do, end of the world, so a song is only allowed to be as 'bad' as me no worse.)

Ah well, if nothing else I will have had many a pleasant afternoon spent listening to songs I love with children I love.