S5E63: Singing in the Homeschool with Heather Bunting
Aug 3, 2023
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Heather Bunting, former public school music teacher, joins Cindy Rollins on the podcast. They discuss the significance of music in a Charlotte Mason education and the benefits of learning solfege. They explore integrating culture and traditions through folk songs in homeschooling and highlight the importance of singing together as a family. The podcast also touches on the connection between nature and human life.
Folk songs in homeschooling create a positive atmosphere and contribute to the three instruments of education in Charlotte Mason's philosophy.
Learning solfège through Heather's YouTube channel enables children to develop their ear, voice, and appreciation of music.
Deep dives
The Importance of Folk Songs in Homeschooling
Folk songs are essential in creating a positive atmosphere in homeschooling and contribute to the three instruments of education in Charlotte Mason's philosophy: atmosphere, discipline of habit, and life of ideas. By incorporating folk songs into morning time, it can enhance the learning experience and serve as a transition point between readings. Singing is not just a habit, but also conveys ideas and sustains life. Folk songs are simple, poetic, and engaging, passing down through generations. Heather's YouTube channel, Children of the Open Air, aims to make music accessible and enable every child to learn the basics of music and feel comfortable and confident with singing.
The Value of Solfège in Singing
Solfège, also known as solfa or sulphadge, is a language for music that is specifically useful in singing. It assigns syllable names to each note, facilitating the understanding of how notes relate to one another. Learning solfège is like learning a language, beginning with two notes and gradually adding more. Heather's YouTube channel offers videos teaching solfège for children, introducing basic rhythms and covering the pentatonic scale. By learning solfège, children develop their ear and voice, enabling them to sing in tune and appreciate the beauty of folk songs and other musical genres.
Benefits of Singing Together as a Family
Singing together as a family provides numerous benefits. It creates a bonding experience and connection with one another, unifying voices and allowing each family member's unique voice to blend harmoniously. Singing folk songs and hymns helps connect us to our cultural heritage and generations before us. Folk songs were traditionally sung while working and can enhance cooperation and mental diversion. By incorporating folk songs and singing into homeschooling, families can build a positive atmosphere, instill the habit of singing in children, and convey rich ideas through music. Singing together as a family fosters growth, enjoyment, and the cultivation of lifelong musical skills.
In teaching music, again, let him once perceive the beautiful laws of harmony, the personality, so to speak, of Music, looking out upon him from among the queer little black notes…
Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, Parents and Children, p. 278-279 Show Summary:
On the New Mason Jar today, Cindy is joined by Heather Bunting, homeschooling mother of 4 and former public school music teacher
How Heather first came to learn about Charlotte Mason and her philosophy
What is solfege or solfa, and why it is helpful to learn?
They are the earth and the wind and the home and the heather and all the gracious commonplaces of human life and circumstance. They are children of the open air.
from The Joyous Book Singing games by John Hornby
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