We have a new course—a mini-course actually—a version of Discovering Music for children. In fact, it is our latest response to those of you asking us to increase our offerings for younger children.

The course is called (drum roll) Discovering Music for Grades 2-5. It addresses a child’s marvelous, inborn capacity to love and express music. That capacity cries out to be developed consciously, through exposure to musical compositions, inquiry into how instruments and voices are used, and connections of music to historical events and all aspects of our human experience.

Few things affect a child’s temperament and development as much as music. From the moment little ones learn to produce tones (along with cries, screams, and laughs), move their limbs to rhythmic music (marches, polkas), and collect an initial repertoire of classic songs (Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star), they simply vacuum music up!

But they acquire it indiscriminately. They are not born with a filter that identifies music as good and noble, ready to feed their artistic, intellectual, and spiritual development. Thus, we adults must bring them worthy music, especially in that first decade of life (when our influence holds the most weight).

And yes, there is “good,” “noble,” and “worthy” music. Such music ennobles our spirits, sculpts our minds, and opens our ears (sometimes to musical ideas that are challenging); boring, insipid, poorly constructed, and base music eviscerates our spirits, dulls our minds, and shuts our ears. The difference is that simple. Teaching a child how to approach music, therefore, is important.

We’ve organized this course along traditional, classic lines (the teaching of music is, after all, an embedded cornerstone of Western culture). The course’s contents will serve children, but also parents and teachers, especially today when some adults have not received the musical training once standard in schools, homes, churches, or their communities. We also include practice in mastering the principles for listening to music, as well as practice in discerning the qualities of pieces that will enter the child’s repertoire.

The course is live now, and part of our Circle of Scholars offerings. We hope it will bless your children, your classroom, and your family.