Earl Scruggs has left this world. Called by some the “Prometheus of the Banjo,” he was a musical hero to many of us. He’s credited with popularizing a style of picking (3-finger) that “super-charged” the banjo style. Tunes that our pepper our musical landscape today … Read more
I love conferences. From the moment we hit the exhibitor’s parking lot, it’s an adventure. After long hours of driving, it’s a relief to jump out of our ’99 Ford Expedition and enter the lofty exhibit hall. I register, locate our booth, and look around … Read more
You asked for it . . . And now it’s available on CD-ROM. The Discovering Music Teacher’s Manual gives you a syllabus, unit-by-unit course plan, four comprehensive exams with answer keys, and a new detailed listening plan. See sample pages here. Highlights: Exams designed for high-school … Read more
Professor Carol is in Europe with her husband Hank where they are collecting more materials on history and culture. Paul Bass of The Homeschool Channel is traveling with them this time, adding his film-making expertise to the project. The first few days have resulted in some great video, including … Read more
That is the question. You are at a concert. It certainly seems like the piece is over, and it was amazing, so you enthusiastically applaud . . . alone. Since recent posts have explored where to find concerts and performances which your family might enjoy, … Read more
In a previous post, I shared the thinking behind our purchase of season tickets to a symphony orchestra. Maybe you liked the idea but would rather not commit in advance for either scheduling or financial reasons. You still have lots of great options! While all … Read more
Are the arts really at the “end of the chain of necessity”? Charles C. W. Cooke at National Review Online argues that they are. His underlying concern is a legitimate one: too few students studying the sciences. And he points to John Adams’ writings for … Read more
We have thought about it for years, and we’ve finally pulled the trigger: we hold season tickets to the symphony. For the kids, of course – we’re always going to take a kid! But how, in this economy, on one income, can we possibly justify … Read more
There it was right in front of me: an 1803 edition of Haydn’s oratorio The Creation. Our hosts, the owners of a private collection of 18th-century music, were pulling out treasure after treasure, piling the volumes on every available corner of the table. Every item … Read more
How long is each DVD-lecture? Lectures range from c. 25 minutes to 1 hour. Is it necessary to watch all the lectures in order? Yes and no. Understanding any given lecture does not depend upon having viewed the previous lecture. However, a student’s … Read more