FINER THINGS: ART AND MUSIC
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Main Notes
- Author (Susan) enjoyed homeschooling, with a flexible schedule and focus on favorite subjects
- Excelled in college despite initial nervousness, testing out of many courses
- Noticed a lack of basic skills among college peers, even at selective institutions
- Classical education follows the trivium pattern: grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages
- Grammar stage (grades 1-4) focuses on absorbing information and memorization
- Logic stage (grades 5-8) develops analytical thinking and understanding relationships
- Rhetoric stage (high school) emphasizes expression, originality, and specialization
- Classical education is language-focused, systematic, and views all knowledge as interrelated
- Curriculum organized around historical periods, repeated at increasing depth over 12 years
- Rigorous study develops virtue and allows students to join the "Great Conversation"
Cue Column
- How did the author's homeschooling experience prepare her for college?
- What skills did the author notice were lacking among her college peers?
- What are the three stages of the trivium in classical education?
- What is the focus of the grammar stage, and which grades does it cover?
- How does the logic stage differ from the grammar stage?
- What is emphasized in the rhetoric stage of classical education?
- Why is classical education described as language-focused?
- How is the curriculum organized in classical education?
- What are the four historical periods used to structure the classical curriculum?
- What are the two main purposes of rigorous, systematic study in classical education?
Summary
This chapter provides a personal account of classical education from the perspective of Susan, who was homeschooled using this method. She describes her positive experience with homeschooling and her subsequent success in college, contrasting her skills with those of her peers who often lacked basic writing and analytical abilities.
The chapter then outlines the classical education model, based on the trivium: the grammar stage (grades 1-4) for absorbing information, the logic stage (grades 5-8) for developing analytical thinking, and the rhetoric stage (high school) for honing expression and specialization. Classical education is characterized as language-focused, systematic, and interconnected, with a curriculum organized around four historical periods repeated at increasing depth over 12 years of schooling.
The author emphasizes that classical education is rigorous and systematic, serving to develop virtue in students and enabling them to participate in the "Great Conversation" of great minds throughout history. While acknowledging the challenges of implementing this educational approach, the author attests to its long-term benefits in terms of academic preparation, independence, and career readiness.
Action Items
- Aim for at least one block of 1-2 hours per week
- If possible, schedule two blocks: one for art, one for music
- If only one block is possible, alternate between art and music weekly
- Conduct art projects using recommended drawing resources
- Practice picture study using Charlotte Mason's method
- Read biographies of great artists
- Use at least one painting from the artist for picture study after reading their biography
- Have the child listen to classical music for 30 minutes, twice a week
- Start with music designed for children, like 'Peter and the Wolf'
- Play the same piece multiple times for familiarity
- Allow the child to do handwork while listening, but avoid activities involving words
- Play classical music during family activities (e.g., housework, meals)
- Provide piano lessons if possible, aiming for at least two years of study
- For other instruments, require two years of lessons before allowing the student to stop
- For 1st-2nd grade: Alternate weekly between art lessons, artist biographies, music listening, and composer biographies
- For 3rd-4th grade: Implement a more structured weekly schedule with art lessons, artist biographies, picture study, music listening, and composer biographies
- Acquire art appreciation materials like Dover Art Postcards and books by Mike Venezia
- Use art skill development resources such as Artistic Pursuits curriculum
- Obtain music appreciation materials like the Classical Kids series and various composer collections
- Consider self-teaching resources for piano (John Thompson's Modern Course) and violin (The Violin Book Series) as introductions to instrument skills