This one is a matter of preferance. Greg Percy's CD really hasn't grabbed
their attention. About 1/2 way through the first song they begin talking and
I'm fighting for attention. So, I turn the CD off and everything returns to
normal. I am not putting down his work, but I tried it with every class
(well, I left my high school students out! *L*) and for me it just hasn't
worked. I do play music with my classes. If my primary aged students are
painting I put in "Silly Songs" (that is part of the title, but not all of
it). They sing while they work and it really helps keep them on task. As for
upper levels, I have purchased several CDs on E-Bay. Aboriginal music for
Australia, African music, Native American, and Japanese Flute music are all
part of my collection. I purchase both modern and traditional when I find
them to give a larger understanding. If it is not cultural music or chosen
specifically to go with some lessons then my rule is "no words", so we play
instrumental. My students balk at first, but then they really start enjoying
it and often will purchase instrumental music of their own and want to play
it in class. :-)
~Michal
K-12 Kansas Art Teacher
http://www.geocities.com/theartkids
> Last night I stumbled across the website for Songs in the Key of Art, and
> I am delighted and intrigued.
>
> Anyone here own any of the cds? Do you use them in lessons? Do the kids
> just love them?
