This podcast episode’s focus describes Charlotte Mason’s inclusion of art and music in her essential curriculum. How has our cultural and educational background prejudiced us to favor core subjects over “fine arts” and how did Ms. Mason view these subjects. Further, how are these subjects included and implemented in the week’s feast–especially if the mother is unfamiliar or even fearful of tackling this unknown territory?
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“We cannot measure the influence that one or another artist has upon the child’s sense of beauty, upon his power of seeing, as in a picture, the common sights of life; he is enriched more than we know in having really looked at even a single picture.” (Vol. 1, p. 309)
“They are never copied lest an attempt to copy should lessen a child’s reverence for great work.” (Vol. 6, p. 216)
“A great promise has been given to the world––that its teachers shall not any more be removed. There are always those present with us whom God whispers in the ear, through whom He sends a direct message to the rest. Among these messengers are the great painters who interpret to us some of the meanings of life. To read their messages aright is a thing due from us. But this, like other good gifts, does not come by nature. It is the reward of humble, patient study.” (Vol. 4, p. 102)
“As in a worthy book we leave the author to tell his own tale, so do we trust a picture to tell its tale through the medium the artist gave it.” (Vol. 6, p. 216)
“[F]or though every child cannot be a great performer, all may be taught an intelligent appreciation of the beauties of music, and it is a wicked shame to clang the doors of music, and therefore of endless channels of delight and inspiration, in a child’s face, because we say he has “no ear,” when perhaps his ear has never been trained, or because he never will be able to “play.”” (Miss Pennethorne’s PR Article)
“Hearing should tell us a great many interesting things, but the great and perfect joy which we owe to him is Music.” (Vol. 4, Book I, pp. 30-31)
“Use every chance you get of hearing music (I do not mean only tunes, though these are very nice), and ask whose music has been played, and, by degrees, you will find out that one composer has one sort of thing to say to you, and another speaks other things; these messages of the musicians cannot be put into words, so there is no way of hearing them if we do not train our ear to listen.” (Vol. 4, p. 31)
“Many great men have put their beautiful thoughts, not into books, or pictures, or buildings, but into musical score, to be sung with the voice or played on instruments, and so full are these musical compositions of the minds of their makers, that people who care for music can always tell who has composed the music they hear, even if they have never heard the particular movement before.” (Vol. 4, p. 31)
If you would like to study along with us, here are some passages from The Home Education Series and other Parent’s Review articles that would be helpful for this episode’s topic. You may also read the series online here, or get the free Kindle version from Fisher Academy.
Home Education, Part V, Chapter XXI
School Education, p. 239
Towards a Philosophy of Education, Book I, Chapter X, Section II: f
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| Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin, Marguerite Henry | Stories of Favorite Operas, Clyde Robert Bulla | More Stories of Favorite Operas, Clyde Robert Bulla |
| Stories of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas, Clyde Robert Bulla | The Ring and the Fire, Clyde Robert Bulla | I, Juan de Pareja, Elizabeth Borton de Trevino |
| Opal Wheeler’s Composer Biographies | Millet Tilled the Soil, Sybil Deucher | Art for Children series by Ernest Raboff |
| Elizabeth Ripley’s Artist Biographies | Spiritual Lives of Great Composers, Patrick Kavanaugh | I, Vivaldi, Janice Shefelman |
(Contains affiliate links)
The end of the podcast cuts of abruptly. Not sure how much is missing. Thanks again for another great conversation.
Thanks Laurie, it's all fixed now!
Any recommendations for actually CDs (or MP3) to purchase? I prefer this, but get overwhelmed with the selection (or lack with some composers). I like purchasing from Amazon because I can get an actual CD (for our old car, and ease to use at home), but have a MP3 copy on devices for when that is easier.
Thanks for another great episode!
Thank you so much for your podcasts. Listening is my Sunday afternoon treat to myself.
One thing that really resonates with me is how often you mention children with disabilities. My youngest son was born with a brain malformation. His story is long and intricate, but because of his layered medical and developmental needs, every time you share a story that includes a child like him my heart squeezes with encouragement.
The "he sounds like Mr. Bach" story in this episode made me LOL. It was precious!
It reminded me of a story that happened in our home this week which I think you'll appreciate and relates to the topic…
We do picture study on Mondays. I hang our current picture study picture on the fridge. Napoleon Crossing the Alps is our current. My son's ABA therapist was walking with him through the kitchen earlier today and without even looking at the picture he slapped his hand on it and simply said, "David." He just kept on walking nonchalantly by. It was incredible and adorable all rolled in one.
I had to call a time out so I could explain to her that the painting was a creation of Jacques Louis DAVID!
Because of his various struggles (including speech delay) it's difficult to get a pulse on exactly what he's connecting with until WHAM, he reminds you to stop trying and just trust the method. <3
Thank you for sharing this precious story. These are the moments that keep us mommies going on cloudy days. There is no knowing which seeds we sow will bear what fruit in what lives. The artist's thought from God was for your son.
-Liz
Cassie I completely agree! As much as I love how Youtube is free, having a good CD makes composer study so much more doable because I defines boundaries. 🙂 Listening in!
So much for me to chew on in this podcast!!! Thank you!!!
Amy,
I think our name and Mason's equating ideas to brain food makes us fall into the chewing mode.
-Liz
Thank you for another inspiring podcast with lots of valuable information! Do you know the legality of printing art images from the Internet? e.g. I would like to study Benajamin West next term and neither Emily or Riverbend Press have prints for this artist. Can I print images at a local copy shop? Or, Emily, could you please, please, please create a portfolio for him?! I would be your first customer to snatch one up! 🙂
Benjamin West is definitely on my list to create a portfolio for! Unfortunately, that will be some time before it is released. You may print images from the internet if the artist has been deceased for 70 years–you're in the clear for West! (the only concern is you will need to find high enough resolution images to achieve high quality prints) You shouldn't have trouble at the copy shop.
Have fun with West!
Emily
Three composers/artists a year for twelve years. Oh the choices!!! I wonder if there are any you found worked better for the younger kids. (I have an only so won't be mixing grades). Some art is a bit much to understand and I would rather wait, but how much is covered in the early years is remembered so if you do Mozart in grade 1, will the kids remember? Yup, over analyzing again.
Good question, Laurie.
I think you should try to keep in mind that there isn't a goal for "Understanding" from the standpoint we often think about. You are showing children good, beautiful works of art that they are engaging as their own person. You will be amazed at the comments and questions you will get–but they are not the goal. Your child needs to develop a relationship with the artists you study, and will if you take the slow, steady, simple method CM outlined. I find that artists that paint subjects of interest to specific children are sometimes good first artists to study–not pictures of all the same subject matter but distinct pieces. It is nice to tie the art into the time period being studied, but don't over-reach that.
Once the child studies (or listens to) an artist's work, it becomes a lifelong possession. And they will want to return to looking at and listening to these pieces over and over.
Trust the process.
Emily
You mention in the History podcasts and again in this one that your choice for Artist/Composer should go hand in hand with the historical time period you are studying. Who do you recommend using for Form 1B/1st Grade when following your recommended history streams and beginning with American History?
I've really enjoyed your podcasts!
Jenna
Hi Jenna,
Thanks for your question!
In the earliest years of a child's education, it is not *necessary* to coordinate the art/music/literature/poetry with their history studies, as the child doesn't have a developed idea of chronology. Is this your only student? If so, I do still feel like it is beneficial to look at art from the time of the discovery of America–think of all those explorers setting out from Spain, Italy, France, etc. at the time of the Renaissance. The ideas that gave birth to the notion to pursue great dreams and sail off into the unknown expanse to discover new worlds were present "in the air" as it were and those same ideas gave birth to the proliferation of Renaissance art. That art will help that age "live in your young student's mind" and I'd start there.
If this is a younger student doing their year of "Tales" of America's Discovery while older students are at a definite point in the chronology, I would have the IB student join in picture study with the older siblings' artist–even in Mason's schools the entire school studied the same artist as one another during the term.
Blessings,
Emily
Thanks Emily, for the ideas. I have twin girls starting 1st grade this fall. They are my first students with a 4 year old and 6 week old coming up behind them.
Thank you for the podcast. I am new to CM method and want to learn about her when I search podcast on itunes. I found yours ! So rich and in-depth and yet so simple to do. It gives me a picture of how to do it with my son. Thank you so much. I am listening to your old podcasts one by one and jumping to this one as I really want to do picture study with my 6 year old. This encourages me that no matter who the artist I choose, it will enrich my son's mind. And I bought one of your portfolio at SCM, and it really saves me the time and the quality is so good too. Thank you so much !
Susan,
We are so glad you are enjoying the podcasts and that the Picture Study Portfolios have met your need. Term by term, artist by artist, your child will acquire a love of beauty and knowledge of individual artists' gifts to the world. It's also great to tie the artist to your time period in history study once you are systematically studying history.
-Liz
Could you share the quote that was referenced from CM, something about God "whispering into the ear of the artist?" I came looking for that one…what a beautiful thought to contemplate.
This was my first time to listen to your podcast and I am smitten. I can't wait for another round of errands in the car so I can listen to more! Thank you!
Oh dear! I'm sorry, I just saw it! I'm not sure why I missed it when I read them all over!
Andrea,
I'm so glad you found it–it is a lovely thought.
Liz
Hello! I've been listening to and enjoying your podcast since the beginning. Thank you for the work you put into it. I am just beginning this cm homeschooling journey with my 5 year old, but I am also a certified art teacher and teach part time at an organization that offers classes to homeschooled kids. As I have been studying in preparation for homeschooling, I have found that I want to tweak the way I teach art to my middle/high school students. I am planning to choose an artist for each term of our year and do cm style picture study. I'd like to read them a short, living bio, as well. Do you have recommendations for a spine of sorts that I could use? Do you have thoughts about "A Child's History of Art" by Hillyer or "Stories of the Painters" by Steeman? I'd also love something like this for more modern artists, but I don't know if that exists! Thank you for your time. 🙂
Kerrie,
I had the same reaction as you when I first discovered Miss Mason's method! I have seen great fruit develop in the lives of the children I've taught as they form deep relationships with the artists they study.
I like both of the books you mentioned, very much, and as far as spines go, those are the two books I'd recommend, though I think Hillyer is a bit more of a spine since Steedman focuses on the various schools of painting. Janson's Story of Painting is also very nice, and if you are using with middle and high school students, take a look at that one. It does go up through the mid-20th Century, I believe. However, you don't need to use a spine since you are limiting your study to one artist per term. I love Elizabeth Ripley's biographies listed above, and she does have several artists that Steedman doesn't include. And Ernest Raboff's have short biographies at the beginning of each book and he includes more modern artists as well.
Enjoy the feast!
Emily
Kerrie,
If you are familiar with Emily's Picture Study Portfolios, they each contain a short biography of the artist, some written by Emily herself. I know of some chapter books on various artists, so perhaps you could share which artists you will cover. It is wonderful to hear how CM's ideas about art are influencing the children in your life who
are in other families as well.
Liz
In coordinating the artist and composer with the historical era of study, what does that look like when studying multiple historical streams? Ancient and British/American (Form III 1000-1650 A.D. and Form IV 1492-1650 AD). Am I selecting the 3 composers and 3 artists from Ancient Near East/Egypt or the British/American era being covered? Some from each? Thank you! Your podcasts has been such a blessing, THANK YOU!
Hi Jennifer,
Usually I choose the artist from the modern stream: American & British/European–but I don't always choose an American…just someone who was painting during that era as the ideas of the age influence all of culture and that helps (unconsciously) develop a sense of a certain time period.
Music is a little harder as we don't have as many easily accessible works from some time periods, but that's okay. It's not something to be forced, but to co-ordinate if it is natural and inevitable.
As far as Ancient contributions, these come up quite naturally as most Ancient history is cultural survey, and as children look for artifacts to draw in their Books of Centuries, they gain knowledge of much Ancient art. When the student is in high school, however, they have an extra lesson each week for both Music Appreciation and Art Appreciation, and that is the time to read through a survey of both of those fields, putting the isolated composers and artists into their historical context.
-Emily
Super helpful. Thank you so much Emily. You three are doing a great job with these podcasts, book recommendations, visual aids etc…So looking forward to this school year and implementing all of these ideas that up to this point have been difficult for me to flesh out. Thank you so much. This is such a blessings. Bless you and your family.
Oh, one other question Emily. Above, you indicated using survey books for Music and Art in high school, which books would you recommend? Thanks!
Hello lovely ladies:)
Thank you so much for all of your hard work, planning, and shared discussions. You have, each one, contributed significantly to my understanding and implementation of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. My 7 year old daughter loves all that we are doing and my super silly 5 year old does too, when he’s in the room….
About picture study –
Thank you Emily for the portfolios you have put together. We are studying Turner right now.
My question: If we only look at 6 (or 8) pictures a term, what do we do on the other weeks? Is there a reason why 6 in particular is suggested? So the other weeks, we spend 10 minutes (Form 1A) reading about the artist?
Any help you can provide with this will be appreciated.
Thank you!
Autumn Botts
Thank you Autumn!
I am thrilled to hear that your family is enjoying their lessons. Miss Mason, accurately, understood that after looking at 6 pieces by a single artist, the child would be able to recognize that artist’s style without any direct teaching. We include 8 works to give you options as a parent/family about which you’d like to look at. You are welcome to look at all 8 during the term, but please look at at least 6. On the other weeks you can read the included biography, while the child studies the pictures, or give a picture talk using the included background information. Enjoy building a relationship with Mr. Turner’s pictures!
Emily
Thank you for your helpful response Emily:)