Music

Do Re Mi

Author(s): 
Susan Roth

A dear blog reader recommended this picture book on the life of Guido d'Arezzo, the Benedictine monk who came up with the system for writing music one thousand years ago–the same system we still use today. I requested it via inter library loan since our library does not own the title.

Making Music Praying Twice

Author(s): 
John and Katherine Daneluk
Illustrator(s): 
Cover Art by Shelly Dieterichs
Virginia Kearns, Margaret Kearns, Katherine Daneluk and several talented kids
Making Music Praying Twice is a music and movement program for the young Catholic child. There are a variety of ways the parent can use the program. It can be used with your own children or with other families in a homeschool co-op or a group class for the parish. Because the program is highly adaptable, the age range is quite wide.

The Priests

Author(s): 
Fr. Eugene O'Hagan
Fr. Martin O'Hagan
Fr. David Delargy
Call it an impulse buy. I was standing in line to buy some CDs for Christmas when I caught the title of The Priests out of the corner of my eye. Not the typical CD title in a music store. After reading the selections on the back, I thought I would give it a try. It is the best impulse buy I've ever made. I am not alone in calling this CD wonderful. After a few short weeks, over 300,000 copies were sold, making it platinum, and that was a few months ago. What is incredible is who they are and what they sing.

Our Musical Year

Book cover: 'Our Musical Year: Songs of Faith, Freedom and Fun'
Author(s): 
Sandra Harrison
Laura O'Kelly-Farrell

Level 1 (1st and 2nd grade) includes 93 songs 130 pg. spiral-bound manual and two CDs - one learning CD and one sing-along (instrumental) 

Level 2 (3rd-6th grade) includes 91 songs 142 pg. spiral-bound manual and 3 CDs. Includes music instruction and basic theory lessons 

Baby Mozart

Author(s): 
Baby Einstein
It is commonly believed today that Mozart's music is so beautiful and well-ordered that it can have a beneficial effect on the brain's development in children who listen to it during their developing years. Using this theory, the Baby Einstein company have made an audio and video package meant to capitalize on these ideas. The audio CD takes some of the most famous (and most beautiful) compositions of Mozart and performs them with alternate instruments (small bells and/or a xylophone I believe) to make them more "baby-friendly." I didn't really care for this version of music.

Wee Sing: Around the World

Book cover: Wee Sing: Around the World
Author(s): 
Susan Hagen Nipp

This audio tape or CD and booklet take you around the world, continent by continent, by introducing you to favorite folks songs or children's songs from each country. Someone from each country introduces themselves in their own language and then in English and the song is sung in each language as well. The booklet includes all the words to the songs in the native language and English, simple piano notation and guitar chords. There are charming illustrations including each country's flag. You'll also find a little description of each country.

Beck Family Musical Series

Each set in this series contains two or three tapes and a book. The books contains the lyrics and music to a wide variety of folk tunes from around the world, hymns, and Gregorian chants. The Gregorian chants are relatively difficult, but the other songs are fairly easy to sing. I didn't know many of the songs, but we have enjoyed learning them. Each set of a book and tapes is roughly aimed at different ages, but I am having no trouble using the 4th-6th grade set with my seventh grade daughter. The sets are 1st-3rd grades, 4th-6th grades, and 7th-8th grades.

Gi'Me Elbow Room, Folk Songs of A Scottish Childhood

Book cover: 'Gi'Me Elbow Room, Folk Songs of A Scottish Childhood'
Author(s): 
Bonnie Rideout

Three time national fiddle champion Bonnie Rideout put together an enchanting collection of songs and poems for children on this mp3 album, originally released on CD. She has set traditional poems and nursery rhymes (such as "Bobbie Shafto" and "Wee Willie Winkie") to traditional Scottish tunes and includes familiar songs such as "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" and "Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be."