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WINTER 2017
HOMESCHOOL IOWA 13
“M
elody, I took lessons as a child, but I quit. Now I
regret it!” Then she took a deep breath and took a
step back. I saw that familiar look of regret in her
eyes. This is a phrase I hear constantly. In fact, I’ve heard it so
often I started trying to keep track of everyone I had heard this
from, but I lost count.
Music seems to be buried deep in our DNA as humans. One
song can bring back memories, and immediately we are flooded
with emotions. There are other songs that make us feel happy,
complete, and carefree. Music is relaxing and intense, sorrowful
and joyful. Watch the face of a baby when its mother begins to
sing. This is the power of music.
It’s no wonder the yearning to learn music is buried deep with-
in our souls. Its benefits are subtle yet powerful. The ways music
can help children advance is astounding.
Students who take music lessons have higher grades and grad-
uation rates. Music wires a child’s brain to understand math.
Scales help them develop the ability to recognize patterns.
Learning rhythms can boost their ability to understand division.
There are some studies that suggest that starting music lessons
before age 7 causes the brain to develop faster, enhancing a
child’s memory retention.
Fill the room with the sounds of a fiddle and banjo playing a
bluegrass tune.Watch fingers begin to snap. Turn up the jukebox
with a ‘50s jitterbug song. Watch feet begin to tap. Drive down
the road and look for people singing and bobbing their heads to
the radio. Music makes us move. The rhythm of music develops
our coordination. Playing the piano will enhance a child’s fine
motor skills. Learning to play the same patterns with both hands
and then learning to play the hands and fingers separately is a
skill specific to playing an instrument. Not only are they learning
to use the hands separately but also to play the fingers on sepa-
rate notes and rhythms.
The routine of daily practice is the perfect way for children
to learn the art of discipline. Before they ever play a note, they
will learn how to sit, hold their hands, and where to place their
feet. Consistent practice through the days and months will
show them how working toward a goal pays off. Playing piano
requires lots of attention and thus will develop their ability to
focus on an important task.
The free-spirited child who finger paints and a firstborn who
doesn’t like mud are two totally different humans. Parents know
this: all children are different. And that means that children have
different learning styles. Some are visual learners, while others
learn by doing. The benefit of home education is that you can
more easily accommodate both learning styles. Maintaining a
good level of self-esteem and promoting healthy habits are all
keys to a child’s ability to succeed.
Every Tuesday afternoon, after school, Mom would pick us up
with a snack ready to devour. We’d get in the car and make the
one-way 60 mile-drive to our weekly piano lessons. The adven-
ture was fun. And by the time we got back home it was time for
bed. The drive was worth it, and it brought great rewards “I don’t
regret driving you to lessons every week,” my mom will still say.
Unfortunately, finding a good piano teacher isn’t always easy.
Distance, location, and schedule can all be barriers that hinder
children from being able to participate in a music class.
Online education has opened a brand new spectrum of learn-
ing to students with online music lessons and curriculum giving
parents the tools they need to successfully incorporate music
education into their homeschool. Online lessons give students
the ability to learn and practice at their own pace. For many
parents, enrolling their children in music lessons can be over-
whelming! However, most quality music programs focus on
learning in bite-size chunks, making it is easier for students and
less stressful for parents. Consider adding music lessons to your
child’s homeschool program!
Melody Wedergren is the Minister of Music at her local church and
released her CD “Devotion” in 2015. In 2008, she founded Tune Bucket
Music offering online music lessons in playing the piano and bass by
ear after years of people expressing their interest in taking music les-
sons from her “if only you lived closer.” Based on the understanding
that people lead busy lives and have full schedules, Tune Bucket allows
students to access music lessons at their convenience.
Incorporating Music in Home Education
BY MELODY WEDERGREN